KTM Bike
Duke 250
The 30 bhp scalpel — a slipper clutch, WP suspension and no patience for slow lines.
- Price
- ₹2.19L – ₹2.29L
- Delhi NCR ex-showroom
- Mileage
- 35 kmpl
- Engine
- 249 cc
- Power
- 30 bhp
- Torque
- 25 Nm
- Top speed
- 140 kmph
- Kerb weight
- 168 kg
- Seats
- 2
- Fuel
- petrol
- Gearbox
- manual
Available colours
- Electronic Orange
- Atlantic Blue
- Black Metallic
Swatches are indicative.
Overview
The Duke 250 has become the cleverest choice in the 250s rather than the obvious one. With the 30 bhp rev-happy single, the updated WP Apex upside-down fork and the radial-mount front brake, it is the most performance-complete hardware package at this price in this catalogue — the machine that makes a rider feel competent, in the specific way that is part confidence and part chassis feedback.
The engine wants to be worked. 25 Nm arrives only at 7,500 rpm and the real character is between 8,000 and the limiter, so city riding means using the six-speed box often and the slipper clutch makes the downshifts as entertaining as the upshifts. On a back road that effort pays out: at 140 km/h the Duke still has a gear and a brake it has not used yet.
The costs are the sharpness tax. The seat is firm, the suspension is set up for good roads and will report every failure of a bad one, the 135 mm of clearance punishes careless lines over tall breakers, and the pillion takes more of the harshness than the rider. Nobody buys a Duke for a passenger; they buy it because at 168 kg it answers the throttle like a smaller motorcycle than it is.
- 30 bhp from the 249cc single — the strongest here under 300cc
- WP Apex upside-down fork and radial front brake
- Slipper clutch and SuperMoto ABS mode
Price
Ex-showroom price
₹2.19 lakh - ₹2.29 lakh
Delhi NCR
Launched April 2024
Range spread ₹2.19L – ₹2.29L
KTM Duke 250 variant prices
| Variant | Ex-showroom |
|---|---|
| Duke 250 petrol manual TFT console · Slipper clutch | ₹2.19L |
| Duke 250 GS petrol manual Quickshifter option · Special paint | ₹2.24L |
| Duke 250 Obsession Edition petrol manual Two-way quickshifter · Frame sliders · Matte livery | ₹2.29L |
Prices shown are ex-showroom, Delhi NCR, from MotoSutra's sample catalogue for this build.
Specifications
Engine and performance
| Engine | 249 cc, 1-cylinder |
|---|---|
| Max power | 30 bhp @ 9,000 rpm |
| Max torque | 25 Nm @ 7,500 rpm |
| Mileage | 35 kmpl |
| Top speed | 140 kmph |
| Gearbox | Manual |
Chassis and safety
| Kerb weight | 168 kg |
|---|---|
| Seat capacity | 2 persons |
| Suspension | 43 mm WP Apex upside-down front fork, WP Apex rear monoshock |
| Brakes | 320 mm front disc with a ByBre radial caliper, 230 mm rear disc, dual-channel ABS with SuperMoto mode |
| Tyres | Front 100/80-17, rear 150/60-17 |
| Safety equipment | Dual-channel ABS with a rear-off SuperMoto mode and a slipper clutch; no official crash-test rating exists |
Dimensions
| Length | 2000 mm |
|---|---|
| Seat height | 800 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1357 mm |
| Ground clearance | 135 mm |
Figures are MotoSutra sample catalogue data for this demonstration build.
Features
Instrumentation
- TFT display with multi-screen ride data on updated trims
- Bluetooth pairing with navigation and call alerts
- Ride-by-wire throttle with a mapped mid-range
- Gear indicator and lap-timer function
Safety
- Dual-channel ABS with a rear-off SuperMoto mode
- Slipper-assisted clutch
- 320 mm front disc with a radially mounted caliper
- LED headlamp and tail with the Duke signature
Chassis
- Trellis frame with a bolt-on rear subframe
- 43 mm WP Apex upside-down fork
- WP Apex rear monoshock with preload adjustment
- 14-litre fuel tank
Pros and cons
What we like
- The most powerful 250cc here and the quickest to a 140 km/h ceiling
- WP suspension and radial brakes are a class above
- Slipper clutch makes hard downshifts a feature, not a risk
What we would change
- Low, firm seat and stiff suspension tax the pillion
- 135 mm of clearance punishes tall breakers
- Service pricing and parts lead times above the Japanese majors
Expert review
MotoSutra editorial rating
4.3/5
Our verdict
The Duke 250 is the performance purchase of the quarter-litre class and should be bought with eyes open about what that means: wonderful on a back road and a proper commute, punishing as a two-up tourer or a bad-road scooter-substitute. The base ₹2.19 lakh motorcycle is the rational buy; the Obsession Edition at ₹2.29 lakh buys the two-way quickshifter, which on this rev-happy engine is the one accessory that genuinely changes the character of every ride.
Latest news on Duke 250
Frequently asked questions
What is the KTM Duke 250 price?
From ₹2.19 lakh to ₹2.29 lakh ex-showroom Delhi NCR in this sample listing, with the two-way quickshifter at the top of the range.
What mileage does the Duke 250 give?
The claim is 35 kmpl; sample reports put city riding at 30-34 kmpl when the throttle is used the way the engine invites. Ridden gently it returns low 40s.
Is the Duke 250 a good beginner motorcycle?
The power delivery is linear and the chassis is honest, which helps; the firm seat, tall brake lever and 30 bhp that all live up top demand more respect than a 200cc learner machine.
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