Hero Xtreme 250R vs KTM 250 Duke: There has been a lot of contention in the quarter-litre segment of late with new entrants from manufacturers including Hero. To rival against this segment, the brand made its first 250cc, liquid-cooled motor. We pitted it against its already established adversary, the KTM 250 Duke. Here’s how it fares.
Recently, some manufacturers such as Hero have also stepped in the quarter-litre segment which has seen some cut-throat competition. To address this segment, the brand built its first 250cc, liquid-cooled motor. We pitched it against its long-existing adversary, the KTM 250 Duke. Here’s how it fares.
However, the KTM 250 Duke features an adjustable-seat height that gives it a small ergonomic edge, along with higher ground clearance. The Hero Xtreme 250R also has a 4.5-litre smaller fuel tank and an additional 4.3kg on the bathroom scale.Both bikes get a similar brake assembly but the KTM sports a larger, 10mm rear disc. They’re identical in terms of the same 17-inch wheels and identical suspension setups.
We can see a lot of significance that the Xtreme 250R borrows from the 250 Duke like the LED headlight, color dash, connected features and rider modes but it’s the KTM 250 Duke that packs a lot of segment-first features including a bi-directional quickshifter.
New Hero Xtreme 250R priced Rs 65,000 less than the KTM 250 Duke It does come with better features and premium cycle parts on the 250 Duke. Since both the Xtreme 250R and 250 Duke will be made in India, it would be interesting to see whether potential buyers prefer a familiar product from KTM, or fresh blood.