2024 KTM 250 Duke first ride report - The quarter-litre thrill seeker

In September 2023, India welcomed one of the most exciting and highly anticipated motorcycles of the year in the form of the 2024 KTM 390 Duke, now we're out here today with another version of the motorcycle that has undergone a substantial amount of change like the bigger 390cc model – this is the all-new 2024 KTM 250Duke .

As you can see from the looks of it, this motorcycle looks completely refreshed, it's a big departure away from the older model that was sold out here in India. And there's more to it, because the Engine, the chassis, the suspension, the features, everything about this motorcycle has undergone a certain amount of change which makes it all-new. A major talking point of this motorcycle has to be its pricing which has pretty much remains the same as before at Rs 2.39 lakh (ex-showroom). So what this motorcycle is like to ride, out here on the road, out here in Mumbai, you're about to find out.

Like the 390 Duke naked sport, this quarter-litre version draws its design inspiration from the radical 1290 Superduke. The new 250 Duke's styling is very similar to that of the 2024 390 Duke, and it you'd think that they'd look identical if not for the displacement defining paint schemes they're offered in. But on closer inspection there's a little more to it than that. Yes, the aggressive appearance has been upped a notch overall, but it's broader headlight unit will divide opinion, even more so now that it misses out on the LED DRLs that flank the unit on the 390cc model.

Those sharp tank extensions are also smaller out here and this 250cc model gets an LCD display instead of the vibrant TFT instrumentation screen on the 390. Both the 2024 KTM 390 and 250 Dukes though, miss out on a belly pan which exposes the exhaust components more than how it was with the earlier models.

In terms of features, the 250 Duke ticks off a good amount boxes when it comes to modern essential bits like the ride-by-wire throttle, slip and assist clutch, a bi-directional quickshifter and there's also switchable ABS on the rear for you to hoon about. Like with the bigger 390 Duke, this one too sports the new switchgear which ups the overall feel good factor and it also gets Bluetooth connectivity which enables turn-by-turn navigation and call/music control. There's also nifty average fuel consumption reading along with other useful ride info in there as well. It does however, miss out on the ride modes, traction control and launch control features that the 390 Duke comes standard with. Still, all lovely additions that enhance the motorcycle aesthetic value overall, but the new engine, oh man, now that's one change that I really grew to appreciate.

The 249cc liquid-cooled motor now gets a bigger radiator with two fans, like on the 390 Duke, the cylinder head like the gearing with the six-speed gearbox has been revised, and the bike is up on power and torque as well. The LC4C engine makes around 31PS of max power and 25Nm of max torque which is up by 1PS and 1Nm over the older model. The power mill is smooth but not as refined as the 2024 390 Dukes motor, and you'll have to work the throttle a lot more to reach the speeds you'd like to be doing to keep up with that sort of motorcycle, but this one definitely isn't lacking in the performance department for a quarter-litre motorcycle because it weighs a lot lighter and packs more power than before, so obviously that's always going to be a good thing.

You could be doing 80kmph in top cog at 5,000rpm or even 100kmph for that matter at a little over 6,000rpm and the engine won't feel as strained as it used to at this speed on the older bike, because of the bigger airbox on this bike as compared to the older gen-2 model. It means that the new LC4C motor feels a lot more relaxed in comparison and breathes a lot better which keeps acceleration smooth and composed at practically all speeds. It doesn't feel like you really have to be on it all the time to extract the true potential from this motorcycle, because it all occurs a lot more naturally now. It's a lot more tractable and manageable at lower speeds with a strong midrange so you don't really feel shortchanged, but you will have to downshift to execute an overtake in a jiffy. When you want to go hard with this one, it certainly will not disappoint. You'll feel like a kid at a candy store all over again.

Riding posture on the new 250 Duke, like before, is almost upright with little weight on your palms while your feet are tucked back in a rather sporty manner. The bike is around eight kilograms lighter than before thanks to all the new cycle parts, including those lightweight wheels that are borrowed from the latest RC models, so it feels so incredibly light to agile at all speeds. This new die-cast aluminum sub-frame that's bolted on to the main steel trellis chassis allows you to take corners on with so much ease it feels almost unreal. And the fact that the ground clearance has increased by almost 25mm (176mm) means it'll take a while for you to build enough confidence to tilt low enough to scrape the pegs.

The MRF tyres held up nicely in the dry but let's just say that your desire for better running shoes will increase in tandem with your will to push this bike further to its limits, because hammering up and down the slick gearbox with the crisp quickshifter while taking on corners at speed, this KTM does loose a bit of its composure. And, if that's not your cup of tea, then you'll also be happy to know that it manages to clear every ungodly speedbreaker a city like Mumbai can throw at you while the clutch lever remains light and a treat to use in heavy traffic.

The WP big-piston fork up front is a real boon to have on here and you feel well informed and in control through it all, even though it isn't adjustable like on the 390 Duke. The pre-load adjustable offset monoshock gives the rear of the 250 Duke a good mix of absorption and stiffness. Like with the 390 Duke, the seat out here gives you a good amount of room to move about and find the right spot, but the longer you're saddled in, the more you'll crave a seat with higher foam density.

So overall, the 2024 KTM 250 Duke a lot more rider-friendly than before, while making more power and weighing a lot less than the previous model. And that's a brilliant thing because it delivers exactly on what you'd expect from a quality performance-focused 250cc single-cyl KTM motorcycle, and then some.

Now to sum things up with the quarter-litre KTM 250 Duke, it has definitely upped its ante in the segment, because for the same price you'd be paying a year ago, you're getting a better round package in terms of performance, handling, features, basically you're getting a lot more for the same cost, and in this day and age, that's really hard to come by. It definitely makes a strong case for itself as a performance motorcycle in this displacement category, even though it is one of the more expensive options you can get your hands on in this segment of motorcycle.