KTM Duke 250

KTM Duke 250 is a brand new motorcycle from the Austrian makers. This motorcycle was displayed at 2016 EICMA Motorcycle festival at Milan, along with new Duke 390 and 125. The rising demand for quarter litre class bikes in India and other Asian countries has lead them to develop a 250cc motorbike.



Design and Features
KTM claims, Duke 250 as the only 250cc naked bike with real racing genes. The first thing you notice about this bike is the aggressive front. The dynamic halogen headlight cluster along with LED inserts are one good confident move from KTM, which is similar to the elder sibling 1290 Super Duke R. But it lacks the split LED headlight found in 2017 Duke 390. Another striking feature is the new 13.4 litre fuel tank with an extended shrouds at both sides, bears the '250 Duke' badge. It also provides the rider with perfect knee contact on a long ride. Duke 250 looks more sharp and dynamic from front, but KTM fails to feature a TFT display screen and uses the old instrument console which was seen on the very first generation KTM models. In the switchgear department, the ignition switch has been brought more closer to the rider as a part of efficient ergonomics.

Like the cosmetic department, KTM has added many useful features in the 250 package. One such attractive feature is slipper clutch, which is normally found in premium sportsbikes. The exhaust of the Duke has found a new place from the custom under belly position. The Duke 250 uses a side slung exhaust with black and silver shades. Another addition is the split seats, which provides long distance comfort and perfect support for both rider and pillion. The seat height is low enough for a secure standing position. Altogether, it is ergonomically efficient to provide plenty of space and freedom of movement.

Engine
The Duke 250 sits on a newly developed 249cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled engine, capable enough to deliver a maximum power of 30 Ps @ 9000 rpm and a peak torque of 24 Nm @ 7500 rpm. The engine is mated with a 6-speed constant mesh gearbox for optimum power transmission. KTM has used twin overhead camshafts for this 250cc motorcycle. The slipper clutch comes in handy for quick and precise shifting.

Suspension, Chassis and Braking
The bike is built around the ultra light weight, powder coated, split trellis frame. The masses are grouped close to the center of gravity to maximize maneuverability and precision to bring out all the horse power.

The front suspension system consists of an USD forks with shock absorbers and the rear side features aluminium swing arm with direct linkage to the WP shock absorber with extreme torsional stiffness. The preload is adjustable so you can balance the suspension according to riding conditions. The front suspension uses the latest open catridge technology, which offers easy maintenance and and simplicity in components.

Stopping force of the bike relies on 300mm disc brake at the front and 230mm disc brake at the rear. Two channel ABS system is available as an optional feature.

Conclusion
Altogether, Duke 250 is the perfect quarter litre class motorcycle with raw power and brilliant dynamics. Technically, KTM has been doing a very good job with their Duke 200 and 390 variant as well as RC range of bikes. And this time with the new Duke 250, we can expect same sort of technicality regarding the bike. As an extra element, the new design and styling scheme has increased the desirability of this bike among youngsters. Therefore, the good days of KTM is turning out to be far more better days upfront.