2017 KTM 250 Duke review, road test

The 250 Duke tries to bridge the gap between the 200 and the 390.

Published on Apr 27, 2017 11:50:00 AM

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The 250 Duke is quite the accomplished motorcycle, especially for city riding. First, let's talk about the styling: it looks great, distinctive and unique. Then comes the engine; it boasts a punchy mid-range. The gearbox is precise and crisp, designed to tackle urban traffic at one end of the spectrum and highway cruising at the other. What takes the cake though is the handling. The bike feels completely at home when riding in the city, whether it is zipping through traffic snarls, overtaking slow moving vehicles or just cruising on empty midnight roads. The upright riding position simply makes things better. A great bike then? Yes. A great value proposition? Well, this is where things get tricky. At Rs 1.73 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the 250 Duke is a good Rs 30,000 more expensive than the 200. For that extra cash, you do get 5hp more power, 5Nm more torque, slightly better handling characteristics and a slipper clutch, but performance on the road is not extravagantly better. That said, the 250 Duke, when viewed in isolation, is a well-rounded bike, great for the city and not so bad on the highway either. Thus, if you are looking for a sporty but manageable bike to start off with, and are not exactly pinching pennies, the 250 Duke might just be what you're looking for.