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KTM India has finally launched the newest entrant in Duke family, the KTM 250 Duke, a quarter litre motorcycle, which is expected to give tough competition to the likes of Honda CBR250R and Mahindra Mojo. The 250 Duke is loaded with a host of features for the riders in safety, electronics and is priced competitively as well. In this comparo, we pit these motorcycles to find out , which one offers the best value-for-money in terms of performance and features.
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Design: The KTM 250 Duke shares its design with its elder sibling 390 Duke and gets a lightweight steel trellis frame, halogen headlamps with LED DRLs, side-slung exhaust and open-cartridge USD suspension. The motorcycle gets a 13.4 litre fuel tank and for braking duties, the 250 Duke is equipped with a 300 mm disc at the front and a 200mm disc at the rear with ABS. In comparison, the Honda CBR250R is a fully faired motorcycle, that features Y shaped headlamps, matte black finish alloy wheels and front visor. The motorcycle, however, is positioned as a tourer and not a sports bike and hence it would compete with the 250Duke. The suspension system gets 37mm telescopic shock absorbers at the front and a 5-step self-adjustable mono shock absorber at the rear. Braking duties are controlled by a 296mm disc at front and a 220mm disc at rear with optional ABS. On the other hand, Mahindra Mojo, a cruiser motorcycle features a two round headlamps in a bikini fairing with LED guide lamps and twin exhaust. The braking duties are done by disc brakes at front and at the rear, 320mm at front and 240mm at rear, minus the ABS, which is not offered as an option either. In design part, KTM 250 Duke could be the first choice for the customers due to its freshness and edgy looks. In addition, ABS and a light weight also gives it a performance edge over its rivals.
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Engine: KTM 250 Duke is powered by a 250cc liquid cooled, single-cylinder engine that delivers 28 hp of power and 24 Nm of torque and is mated to a 6-speed transmission with slipper clutch technology. It's the only motorcycle in this comparo to come with slipper clutch, reflecting its performance-oriented focus. Honda CBR250R is powered by a 249.6cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled, fuel injected engine that produces 26.15 hp of power and 22.9 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission, however, slipper clutch is missing. While the CBR250R isn't the most powerful bike here, it surely wins top marks for a smooth and stress-free engine. Mahindra Mojo, on the other hand is powered by a 300cc, liquid cooled EFI engine that delivers 26 hp of power and 30 Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The Mojo is an all-out tourer and is more comfortable for relaxed cruising rather than quick sprints. The Duke 250 generates more power in comparison to the other motorcycles and is the only motorcycle with slipper clutch technology. While it is more expensive than the other two bikes, it also offers more equipment and the bike can also prove to be a good track-day tool.
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Features : KTM 250 Duke gets features such as an LCD instrument console that provides information like fuel quantity, speed, tachometer, clock, trip meter, service reminder, shift light. The amount of data readout is at par with cars but the small screen can at times make it hard to view things quickly. Honda CBR250R gets a silver garnished LCD digital meter with blue back light which shows digital speedometer, odometer, trip meter and fuel gauge. The setup looks old now and and offers a limited amount of information. On the other hand, Mahindra Mojo has an analogue tachometer and digital display with blue backlight. The console houses an odometer, speedometer, trip-meter and fuel indicator among other tell-tale lights. On the features front too, the KTM ends up a long way ahead of its rivals. However, it should be noted that its rivals are older and newer versions may change the game.
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Prices: KTM has launched the 250 Duke at a price of Rs 1.73 lakh and is available in two colours, while the Honda CBR250R is available in two variants Standard and with CABS with four colours. The price of Honda CBR250R for Standard variant is Rs 1.60 lakh and for CABS it's Rs 1.89lakh. On the other hand, Mahindra Mojo is available at a price of Rs 1.69 lakh. With this pricing of 250 Duke, KTM has nailed the tough competition in the 250cc motorcycle segment and given the past performance of the bike in terms of sales, it's safe to say that the 250 Duke is going to be another successful model from the company.
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