Is the Hero Xtreme 250R the smartest 250cc buy?

I’m looking at buying my first proper quarter-litre motorcycle. Since the new Hero Xtreme 250R is also the most affordable in its class, does it make more sense than the KTM 250 Duke?

Rishabh Singh, Lucknow

Autocar India says: The Hero Xtreme 250R has a clear price advantage at Rs 1.80 lakh, undercutting the KTM 250 Duke (Rs 2.30 lakh). It looks sharp, is well put together and delivers adequate performance for city and highway use. That said, it’s fairly simple on features – you get a basic LCD dash, LED lighting and two-mode ABS but no TFT or quickshifter. The KTM 250 Duke, meanwhile, is a better finished and feature-packed machine, offering sharper performance along with the wow factor of a TFT display and a bi-directional quickshifter.

If keeping costs low is your top concern, the Hero makes sense; if you want the more feature-packed option, the KTM is the one to pick.