KTM 250 Duke Professional Views 2025

 

KTM 250 Duke Professional Views

Rajesh Kumar have developed a deep connection with the world of motorcycles.

Has the new KTM 250 Duke undergone any changes?

 

Is this an upgrade worth doing if youre coming from a 150cc motorcycle?

 

Overview

 

 After testing the brand new KTM 390 Duke both on the track and on the road we have already covered all the information you want.

And I was really thrilled with that motorcycle when I returned.

Its smaller twin the 250 Duke which also got a generational makeover in 2023 is here with us today.

The 250 Duke is fairly new and more crucially costs the same as the 390 even though the improvements are not as extensive.

 What has changed?

We spent a few days riding the 2023 KTM 250 Duke in order to get answers to these questions and this is what we discovered.

 

   

image credits : bikewale

The Pictures

 

 The color schemes come first. The motorcycle is also available in a white and orange color scheme with orange wheels in addition to the orange and grey combo you see here.

 Although it has a full LED configuration the 250 lacks the 390s LED DRLs and appears smaller overall.

 The 250 Duke benefits from the rest of the motorcycle which is undoubtedly difficult to distinguish from its larger sibling.

Nevertheless the motorcycle has a high end build. The paint panels and switchgear all appear to be of the highest caliber.

image credits : bikewale

 

The Bundle

 

 Now ironically that is a compliment….

The KTM app can be used to pair this Bluetooth enabled device with a smartphone.

You can then use the navigation and audio toggle buttons on the screen itself.

The screen utilities layout is comparable to that of the 390 Duke and allows the user to adjust various controls and customize the display.

 Among these additional controls is a brandnew Quickshifter+ a bidirectional device that is incredibly addictive to use and is comparable to the new 390.

Both this and the ABS on the back wheel in the 250 Dukes Super moto mode can be disabled if necessary.

 In addition to altering the frame and subframe KTM has lowered the seat height to a very reachable 800mm which will also appeal to riders who are shorter.

Compared to the previous generation model which had you somewhat hunched over the handlebars the riding triangle is generally considerably more relaxed when you sit in the seat.

 The Journey

 Lets start with the 250 Dukes power source. You may be asking yourself isnt this a somewhat more powerful version of the same 248cc engine?

 Not really though. According to KTM the 2023 motor is completely new in contrast to the previous generation which used a detuned version of the 390 Dukes 373cc motor.

One of the most significant distinctions is that the previous model featured a DOHC or dual overhead camshaft comparable to the 390 however this one has a SOHC or single overhead camshaft.

 Because of this the 250 Dukes engine has brandnew internals.

 You might wonder why a new engine is required.

 It would have been expensive for KTM to engineer the 373cc engine to be more compact economical and fit inside the 250 Dukes

performance range.

Power numbers havent altered significantly though. The 250 Duke now has 31 horsepower which is one horsepower more than it had previously and 25N which is also one Nm more.

However the torque appears a little early in the range of revs. In order to achieve larger gear ratios KTM also modified the bikes sp rocketing by removing a few teeth from the rear sprocket.

 As a result the midrange punch between 4 and 6000 rpm has significantly increased.

For comparison the previous 250 Dukes rather linear power curve made it feel a little slow.

The opposite is true with the 2023 250 Duke.

 Filtering through traffic feels lively passionate and like fun.

 The new bidirectional quick shifters butter smooth shifts and light clutch feel add to the excitement.

 With its relative agility the new 250 Duke makes navigating through confined spaces a breeze.

The Wrated set appears to be a legitimate improvement over the prior set of MRFs and provides good grip.

 An offset preload adjustable rear shock is part of the new Dukes upgraded suspension system.

 It had a reasonably soft ride that did a good job of absorbing tarmac shocks and undulations.

However it was more comfortable to ride with a pillion and the 250 Duke was even better at hiding the broken parts.

 The brakes were now the only painful aspect of the ride.

Is it worth purchasing?

We think its well worth the money. 

Notwithstanding the modifications KTM has kept the motorcycles exshowroom pricing at Rs 2.39 lakh unchanged from the previous model.

 

 

 Naturally the modifications have made it even more useful the low seat height will appeal to a larger audience and the engine has enough power to keep you interested.

Even its feature list is admirable and roughly correct. 

There will never be a need for anything more than this provides.  Furthermore it now seems larger and better.

 

 Furthermore because of its accessibility its an excellent upgrade from a 150  160cc motorbike. 

With a bigger tank and updated internals it should also be economical but we havent tested its mileage yet.

  Having said that the only other choices are the Honda CB300R which costs Rs 2.40 lakh and the BMW G310 R which costs Rs 2.90 lakh. 

In contrast the BMW delivers somewhat greater power but is more expensive and has fewer amenities. 

However in contrast to KTMs nationwide presence the CB300R is only offered via Hondas BigWing dealerships.

Author Bio Rajesh Kumar

Rajesh Kumar is an avid bike rider and passionate motorcycle reviewer based in Pune Maharashtra India.

Over the past two years Rajesh has explored diverse terrains across India gaining first hand experience with various bike models in real world conditions.

His deep enthusiasm for biking combined with technical knowledge allows him to provide insightful reliable and engaging reviews that help fellow riders make informed decisions.

resource

https://www.bikewale.com/ktm-bikes/duke-250/

credits

All image and featured by bikewale