Hero Xtreme 250R vs KTM 250 Duke: Image Comparison: Auto Expo

We compared both the 250cc naked bikes to find out how they perform against each other, on paper

The all-new Hero Xtreme 250R was launched in India, at Auto Expo 2025. Prices for the bike start at Rs 1,79,900 (ex-showroom). The 250cc streetfighter rivals the KTM 250 Duke in the 250cc naked bike segment. Here’s how both the bikes compare against each other:

Design

In terms of looks, the Hero Xtreme 250R comes with an aggressive streetfighter design. It gets a single-piece LED headlight, a muscular tank, and a sleek tail section. The gold-finished inverted fork makes the overall design even more appealing. It has three colour options: Neon Shooting Star, Stealth Black and Firestorm Red.

However, the KTM 250 Duke has sharper and more aggressive looks than the Xtreme 250R. It has sharp fuel tank extensions, a sleek tank and sharp lines all around. It also has three colour options: Ebony Black, Electric Orange and Atlantic Blue.

Engine

The all-new Hero Xtreme 250R is powered by Hero MotoCorp’s brand new 250cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine which produces a peak output of 30PS at 9,250rpm and 25Nm at 7,250rpm. Whereas, the KTM 250 Duke gets a 249cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that makes a peak 31PS at 9,250rpm and 25Nm at 7,250rpm, which is 1PS more than the Xtreme 250R. Both bikes are mated to a six-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch. The Duke 250 additionally gets a bi-directional quickshifter.

Features

The Hero Xtreme 250R gets an LCD instrument console with smartphone connectivity offering turn-by-turn navigation along with call and SMS alerts. The Hero bike also has E-SIM-based connectivity with the Hero Connect app. It has all-LED lighting, hazard lights, and a USB type-C charging port. It also has other rider aid features like a lap timer, a drag timer, rear wheel lift-off control, and two ride modes: Sport and Rain. 

The 250 Duke is equipped with a 5-inch TFT instrument console with display modes, borrowed from the bigger KTM 390 Duke. It also provides smartphone connectivity for call and SMS alerts, turn-by-turn navigation, and headset pairing. Other features on the bike include ride-by-wire throttle and a switchable supermoto ABS mode. The 250cc KTM bike also gets all-LED lighting and a type-C USB charging port.

Underpinnings

The Xtreme 250R has a steel trellis frame. It gets an inverted fork and a pre-load adjustable monoshock. Braking is handled by 320mm front and 230mm rear petal disc brakes, with dual channel ABS as standard. The bike rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels, wrapped with 110-section front and 150-section rear tubeless tyres. 

On the other hand, The KTM Duke 250 has a steel trellis frame. It comes with a 43mm WP APEX big piston inverted fork and a preload-adjustable WP APEX monoshock. For braking, the bike uses a 320mm front disc and a 240mm rear disc, with dual-channel ABS (rear ABS switchable). The 250 Duke gets 17-inch alloys, fitted with 110-section front and 150-section rear tubeless tyres.

The 250cc Hero bike comes with an 806mm seat height, a 167mm ground clearance and a 167.7kg kerb weight. It has an 11.5-litre fuel tank. Whereas, the 250cc KTM features a 15-litre fuel tank capacity, 176mm ground clearance and a 162.8kg kerb weight. It has an optional 800mm or 820mm seat height.

Verdict

While both Hero Xtreme 250R and KTM 250 Duke come with impressive performance, and modern features and look stunning, the 250 Duke is significantly more expensive than the Xtreme 250. The Xtreme 250R costs Rs 1,79,900, whereas the 250 Duke is priced at Rs 2,45,114 (ex-showroom). That is a difference of Rs 65,214. Hence, the Xtreme 250R offers a better value-for-money proposition to the customers.