New KTM Duke 250 Overview- Everything You Need To Know

After much speculation the 2017 KTM Duke siblings- 200 and 390 were launched today. To all of our surprise, KTM threw a bombshell by launching the all new Duke 250 in India. Though the previous generation styled Duke 250 was built and exported to European countries till 2016, Indian launch was highly unlikely considering that the Duke 200 was already on sale. What KTM did was pure genius, as they launched the Duke 250 which is a slight downgrade from the 390 in terms of power, and a big upgrade from the 200 mechanically and aesthetically. So basically the 250 Duke is a mix of the 2017 Duke 390 and the outgoing Duke 200. The design, engine, pricing and positioning of the 2017 KTM Duke 250 will be discussed below.

Style & Design:

The design is exactly same as its higher powered sibling Duke 390. To keep the prices in check, the 250 Duke looses out LED headlamps, fully digital TFT instrument cluster, Metzeler tyres, powder coated Orange paint in the frame and wheels as well. All the design cues come from the 2017 390 Duke, which in turn is heavily inspired by the 1290 SuperDuke. The front headlamp is chiseled and has a normal halogen bulb in place the LED unit. The sub-frame is now separately bolted on, which would aid handling. The bigger 13.5 litre fuel tank is now fully metal with aerodynamic slits, unlike the plastic panels in Duke 200. The belly pan is also redesigned and carried out from the new 390 Duke. The instrument cluster, switch gear, brakes and swingarm are similar to the Duke 200. The seats have been completely redesigned giving it more breadth and better cushioning. The grab rails are also borrowed from the 2017 Duke 390. The front suspension is also similar to the latest 390 Duke and gets an open cartridge USD forks. This open cartridge fork reduces the risks of oil leakage, which was a frequent problem in the previous generation Dukes. The front suspension is adjustable, making it first of its kind in the Quarter litre segment. The rear suspension also comes from the bigger sibling and gets a mud flap as standard. All these minor changes show that KTM has been keenly listening to the feedback of their customers.

Engine & Transmission: The KTM Duke 250 gets an all new 4 valve DOHC 248.8cc single cylinder engine. The engine is claimed to be completely new, rather than a re-bored Duke 200 engine. The engine probably would have been taken from the previous generation Duke and RC 250, which were exported from India. The fuel injected motor makes 30.87 Bhp at 8,500 rpm and 24 Nm of torque at 7,250 rpm. This is currently the most powerful Quarter litre engine available in the market. The ignition system is now electromagnetic, so it's not needed to hold on to the ignition until the engine is switched on. The clutch is now a anti-hopping unit (read "Slipper Clutch"). The transmission is an usual 6 speed unit, with 1 down - 5 up gear pattern. The radiator has been redesigned and helps in better heat dissipation. The exhaust is now side swung (FINALLY!!), unlike the underbelly units from Duke 200.
We now expect the sound of the motorcycle to be much sweeter. The most important feature missed out is the presence of Anti lock braking system (ABS). KTM could have at least provided it as an option.

Pricing and Positioning: The new KTM Duke 250 is priced at Rs. 1,73,000 (Ex showroom Delhi) which falls right between its siblings. With this unveiling the Duke 250 becomes the most powerful Quarter litre bike in the market. Its direct rivals would be the Bajaj Dominar 400 and Honda CBR 250R in terms of the pricing. As time goes, we expect the Duke 200 to be taken off shelves.

By: Aravind Rb
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