KTM Bike

KTM Duke 250

The 30 bhp scalpel — a slipper clutch, WP suspension and no patience for slow lines.

On sale MotoSutra editorial rating 4.3/5 MotoSutra editorial rating: Rated 4.3 out of 5 ₹2.19 lakh – ₹2.29 lakh Delhi NCR ex-showroom
Price
₹2.19 lakh – ₹2.29 lakh
Delhi NCR ex-showroom
Mileage
35 kmpl
Engine
249 cc
Power
30 bhp
Torque
25 Nm
Top speed
140 kmph
Kerb weight
168 kg
Seat height
800 mm
Ground clearance
135 mm
Seats
2
Fuel
Petrol
Gearbox
Manual
Compare Price Specs

Price

Ex-showroom price

₹2.19 lakh - ₹2.29 lakh

Delhi NCR

Launched April 2024

Range spread ₹2.19 lakh – ₹2.29 lakh

KTM Duke 250 variant prices

Variant Ex-showroom
Duke 250 petrol manual TFT console · Slipper clutch ₹2.19 lakh
Duke 250 GS petrol manual Quickshifter option · Special paint ₹2.24 lakh
Duke 250 Obsession Edition petrol manual Two-way quickshifter · Frame sliders · Matte livery ₹2.29 lakh

Prices are ex-showroom, Delhi NCR, unverified MotoSutra catalogue estimates — not official or live quotations. Confirm current prices with the manufacturer and a dealer.

Mileage and fuel use

Published mileage

35 km/l

Fuel economy varies with traffic, speed, load, road conditions and maintenance. A published figure is not a promise of real-world consumption.

Performance and powertrain

Engine

249 cc · 1 cylinders

Maximum power
30 bhp at 9,000 rpm
Maximum torque
25 Nm at 7,500 rpm
Top speed
140 km/h

Specifications

Engine and performance

KTM Duke 250 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

KTM Duke 250 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

KTM Duke 250 dimensions
Length 2000 mm
Seat height 800 mm
Wheelbase 1357 mm
Ground clearance 135 mm

Figures without a named source document are unverified MotoSutra catalogue estimates, not official specifications. Confirm current numbers with the manufacturer.

What to know about the Duke 250

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

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

Our review

Our verdict

4.3/5

Overall score across 7 rated dimensions

MotoSutra editorial rating: 4.3 out of 5

Lowest rated

Comfort

3.6/5

Ride quality & long-distance comfort

  • Performance Power, acceleration & riding dynamics 4.7/5 Excellent
  • Features Equipment & rider features 4.4/5 Very strong
  • Design Styling, ergonomics & presence 4.3/5 Very strong
  • Safety Build quality, safety equipment & ratings 4.3/5 Very strong
  • Interior Rider ergonomics, seat & practicality 4.0/5 Very strong
  • Efficiency Mileage, range & running costs 4.0/5 Very strong
  • Comfort Ride quality & long-distance comfort 3.6/5 Good

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.

MotoSutra editorial rating on a 5-point scale. Rated across 7 dimensions; unscored dimensions are omitted.

Read the full KTM Duke 250 review

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Frequently asked questions

What is the KTM Duke 250 price?

From ₹2.19 lakh to ₹2.29 lakh ex-showroom Delhi NCR in this unverified listing, with the two-way quickshifter at the top of the range.

What mileage does the Duke 250 give?

The claim is 35 kmpl; MotoSutra’s estimate puts 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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