KTM Duke 250 Test Ride Review

KTM in India had only four motorcycles, the Duke 200, Duke 390, RC200 and RC390. The 200cc motorcycles had the same engine but one was a naked sport where the other was the fully faired. It was the same case with the 390. The motorcycle sold in a huge quantity, it was and is still loved by most of the youngsters, just for the sheer power and riding experience it provides. Then KTM wanted to update their line up, so they updated the 390, a lot of spy pics were caught and were posted in almost every automobile portals.

During the new Duke 390's launch, there was another surprise from KTM, the Duke 250. It was a nice surprise from KTM, most of the youngsters loved this and wanted to ride it as soon as it was launched. It was a good alternative for someone who wanted something in-between the Duke 200 and Duke 390. We finally got our hands on the bike and we had ridden it to the best of its abilities. Here are the findings.

Looks and Design: The front section of the motorcycle looks pretty similar to the new Duke 390, except for the fact that the 390 gets a full LED lighting system and this doesn't. The headlamps are placed higher on the 250 and provide decent visibility, I wish they had the projectors from the RCs which work really well in the throw of light that is provided. The DRLs look impressive but are not very bright during the morning light.

The indicators are well integrated and are not flimsy. The side profile is similar to the Duke 390, with a visible split trellis frame painted in orange and black colors. The radiator also gets a guard that says KTM on both the sides. KTM has done a good job with the stickering department, it is not too fancy or not too simple, it looks decent. The rear section gets clear tail lamps and looks exactly similar to the new Duke 390. The rear gets a grab rail, making it easier for the pillion rider to hold on to something. The side mounted exhaust is another addition to clear the BS4 norms. The mirrors are a bit small but offer a decent visibility. The addition of crash guards is a great move from KTM so that the safety of the engine can be ensured during crashes. The tire gets a hugger which also has an integrated Saree guard.

Instrument Panel and Switchgear: The new Duke 250 retains the standard instrument panel that is seen on most other KTM motorcycles, they should have included the TFT display that is provided on the new Duke 390, to make it more appealing and value for money. The instrument panel is loaded with hell a lot of features such as a speedometer, tachometer, gear shift indicator, trip, average fuel economy, clock, trip meter and so much more. KTM have also added loads of sensors to the motorcycle like lean angle sensor, side stand sensor, and much more. The quality of the buttons are pretty decent and do the work just fine. The headlamp switch has been removed for the AHO feature.

Ergonomics: The Duke 250 is built around a new tubular trellis frame that has a bolt on sub frame. The foot pegs are set in such a way that the motorcycle wants you to burst open the throttle under any circumstances. The motorcycle just pushes you to a forward aggressive stance. It feels so easy to ride the motorcycle even under heavy traffic. It has been so well designed that balancing it can be done with ease, eliminating the need to keep the foot down very often under slow moving traffic conditions. The pillion seat is pretty comfortable if the rider is thin, but does get jerky at times. The motorcycle weighs 161kgs and has a fuel tank capacity of 13.5 liters. It has a saddle height of 830mm, ground clearance of 185mm and a wheelbase of 1357mm.

Engine and Performance: Before I begin writing about the engine, I highly recommend you to wear a pant if you ever ride this motorcycle. I thought I'll take the Duke 250 out on a dinner date, and I was wearing shorts, it was the biggest mistake of my life, the left side alone heats up so much, like so much, I had to ride the motorcycle on dirty rain water to keep my left leg cool, I didn't care even if my leg got dirty, I couldn't just resist the left side heat in spite of the radiator fan running.

Alright coming to the engine specs, the Duke 250 is powered by a 249cc single cylinder, four stroke, liquid cooled engine that produces 29.60 bhp at 9,000 rpm and a peak torque of 24Nm at 7,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox which is assisted by a slipper clutch. The 6th gear does not do much of a job but has been used for a better cruising experience.

The torque in the Duke 250 kicks in a little earlier than the Duke 200, so after 60kmph, the motorcycle picks up in a smoother and faster fashion. Overall, if you give it a gentle and a smooth acceleration, the motorcycle feels like a charm to ride. If the throttle is twisted without a linear fashion, it feels jerky for the rider as well as the pillion. The motorcycle misses out on the 'Ride By Wire' technology from the Duke 390. The vibrations begin to creep in from 6500-7500rpm and then slowly dampen out.

Braking and Suspension: The Duke 250 gets a 300mm disc upfront and a 230mm disc at the rear. It is the same braking system used in the Duke 200. They lack out on the sintered pads that are offered on the Duke 390. The Front brakes do a pretty good job, but the rear brakes need a static improvement, they tend to lock up too much under aggressive braking. The Duke 250 gets the MRF REVz-C1 tires, which does a fair job as far as the road grip is concerned. KTM could have offered ABS and Metzeler tires at least as an optional variant.

The suspension quality was pretty impressive for both the rider and the pillion. The monoshock used for the rear felt a bit towards the stiffer side. The front gets a 43mm WP Upside Down Forks, to be honest, I did like the front suspension a lot. Both the suspensions have a travel length of 150mm. The suspensions happily dampened out the pot holes without any hassle.
Pros-

* Comfortable riding position.
* A very lovable and peppy engine.
* Larger fuel tank capacity.
* Easy to handle in the traffic.

Cons-

* Engine on the left side heats up too much.
* Lack of TFT display.
* Brakes should be improved.
Conclusion:

The new KTM Duke 250 without a doubt is an exceptional motorcycle, a few changes like inclusion of ABS or even better brakes can make it a far worthy motorcycle.

Review By: Rishath Suresh
Photographs By: Arvindan
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