KTM 250 Duke Standard

Autocar India

•1w

The Hero Xtreme 250R is a machine that came out just over a year ago, and so early into its lifecycle, Hero is unlikely to introduce major updates or changes. If you want something in a similiar displacement bracket, then your options are Bajaj Pulsar N250, Suzuki Gixxer 250 and KTM 250 Duke. Of these, the first two are more commuter-y in their performance and fuel economy figures. The KTM is a properly sporty and feature-rich product and will feel like a clear step up over other 250s. It, however, is a pricey product. A test ride of these 3 will help you decide which is the best for you.

Autocar India

•2w

We would recommend you go ahead with the KTM 250 Duke purchase as your first bike. It will be an easier and friendlier machine to learn on. The upcoming 350 Duke will likely be similar in terms of its throttle response and power output to the 390 Duke, which will make it a much faster machine and thus less suited to a beginner.

Autocar India

•7w

Since you are looking for a bike that is good for daily commuting as well as long rides, and are presently a Pulsar owner, a good upgrade option would be the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z. The NS400Z is a sporty machine that isn't too aggressive and will also be usable on a day-to-day basis, while entertaining you on longer journeys. It also has an excellent price tag, which means you will come in well under your budget. If you want to look elsewhere, options like the KTM 250 / 390 Duke, TVS Apache RTR 310 and Triumph Speed 400 are what we would recommend. The Speed 400 will be the best option inside city limits, but at high speeds, its engine feels a little strained. The Apache and Duke models are good all-rounders with genuine sporting intent and come with a host of techy and feel-good features. Take a test ride of the bikes mentioned above to make an informed decision about your next purchase.

Autocar India

•7w

The KTM 250 Duke you have shortlisted will be a good option to step up to, and with its less bodywork than your RS200, you'll likely not run into the same issue again. The quarter-litre Duke is also an entertaining and punchy machine that feels at home both inside the city and out on the highway. In a similiar vein, you could also consider the TVS Apache RTR 310, which will offer you more performance and features, although it will be a little more expensive to buy even in base trim. If you are instead leaning toward an ADV, then you should consider bikes like the KTM 250 Adventure and TVS Apache RTX 300. A test ride of these bikes will help you decide what sort of bike is right for you and which one suits you best.

Autocar India

•9w

The omission of traction control on the Triumph Speed T4 should not be a concern because, given the performance ceiling of the bike, you'll rarely miss the system - if at all. The tyres, too, are commensurate with the Speed T4's performance and should be a non-issue. If you do want better tyres, you have a wide variety of aftermarket options which won't be very expensive either, so that should solve a potential issue for you.The stalling issues on the Triumph Speed 400 are restricted to isolated units and aren't very commonplace. If you buy a brand new bike that does have this problem, you should be able to get it fixed under warranty.The KTM 250 Duke is a much more sporty machine than the two Triumphs and has some features they don't, like a bidirectional quickshifter and a colour TFT display. It won't feel as quick or as effortless to ride as the Triumph 400s because of its smaller 250cc engine, but if you enjoy revving a bike out to its limit and want to have that sort of experience, this might actually work in your favour.Do bear in mind that the KTM will feel a little cramped if you are above 5'10", and the Triumph 400s also have better suspension comfort. We'd recommend taking a thorough test ride of all three before you make a decision.

Autocar India

•9w

Since you have mentioned that this will be your first bike and you'll be spending most of your time within the city, the TVS Apache RTX 300 isn't the ideal candidate for you. It is quite a tall and substantial motorcycle with decently punchy performance too and wouldn't be the most welcoming machine inside the tight confines of a big city, especially so for a new rider.If you are in the market for an ADV, we'd instead recommend the Hero Xpulse 210, which will be lighter, more manageable and friendlier for a newbie to motorcycles.If you decide you want something sporty, then the KTM 250 Duke would be a great option to start with. It has energetic yet friendly performance, great handling and features and will also be decently fuel efficient when ridden sensibly.Take a test ride of these bikes to see which one suits your riding style best and feels the most comfortable.

Autocar India

•11w

The KTM 250 Duke you are considering makes for a great one-bike garage to handle city and highway duties both. It has a punchy - yet not overwhelming - amount of grunt, engaging handling and will also return good fuel economy. Coming to the Triumph Speed T4, depending on how you ride, you should see decent fuel economy even inside city traffic. Since the bike is made by Bajaj, it shouldn't be too expensive to maintain. The advantage of the Speed T4 over the Duke will be its more effortless performance and more comfortable seating and suspension. And since you are shopping in this space, the TVS Apache RTR 310 is also worth taking a look at. The RTR 310 is a feature-rich machine with good performance and handling. Also, we will recommend you get the variant with the quickshifter as it is still priced sensibly, and this feature will enhance the riding experience. Since these are different machines in the riding experience they deliver, we'd recommend a test ride of all three before you decide.

Autocar India

•10w

The TVS Apache RTR 310 will be a good step up from your current Apache RTR 180. The RTR 310 is a sporty machine with good performance and handling, which doesn't feel overly stiff or uncompromising and makes for a good all-rounder. As you have pointed out, there have been sporadic issues with TVS' aftersales. But if you are prepared to deal with them - and it does seem like your heart is set on the Apache - then you can go ahead with the RTR 310.If you are open to looking at other brands, the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z, Triumph Speed 400 and KTM 250 Duke all make for genuinely capable alternatives, with the Bajaj and Triumph also offering you quite a bit more performance. We would urge you to take a test ride and speak to your nearest dealer for aftersales of each bike so you can make a more informed decision.

Autocar India

•9w

Since you have already used a 250 Adventure and are leaning toward getting a KTM naked bike for city use, the 250 Duke makes for a great option. The latest-gen model has a punchy engine that's easy to live with, a great chassis and is loaded with features like a colour TFT display and bidirectional quickshifter. The only reason not to get one would be its compact size, which will be a factor to consider if you are a larger rider, because you will feel quite cramped on the bike.If you don't fit on the 250 Duke, you can switch over to the Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 because both are essentially the same bike draped in different bodywork. A test ride will help you decide which bike suits you better.

Autocar India

•8w

Each bike you are looking at offers a very different user experience, so we'll list each bike's pros and cons so you can make an informed decision. The Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 is a KTM 250 Duke that is wearing a neo-retro suit and as such will be comfortable, engaging yet not overwhelming to ride and return good fuel economy too. The downside is that finding a dealer could prove to be an issue depending on where you're located. The Honda CB350RS is the slowest bike among the four you've shortlisted, but it is a proven machine offering comfort, good fuel economy and the promise of reliability in the long run. The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is the fastest, most powerful bike here and will feel the most lively to ride thanks to its punchy engine and eager handling. Its sporty - read: stiff - suspension setup may not be to everyone's tastes, however. Lastly, the Bajaj Dominar 400 is the oldest bike here, and also the heaviest, but it packs in a powerful KTM-sourced engine and for highway touring will feel the most adept. However, its heavy weight will mean more effort inside the city.We'd recommend you take a thorough test ride of all these bikes before you make up your mind.