KTM 250 Adventure Vs Hero XPulse 200: Spec Comparison

KTM’s smallest ADV vs India’s most affordable ADV - Which one’s superior on paper?

While the world was going gaga over the 390 Adventure unveil yesterday at EICMA, KTM made the party even merrier with the revelation of a smaller 250 Adventure in its website. Obviously, it wasn’t exactly a big secret as the bike was already spotted testing, that too in India. But now that the specs and other details have been revealed, we can finally see how the bike fares against India’s most affordable ADV, the Hero XPulse 200.

Powertrain:

The upper hand is pretty evident from the numbers, as the Austrian terrain tamer’s heart is much more sophisticated and is bigger in displacement too. It also offers the advantage of a 6-speed transmission, which should ensure higher cruising speeds on the highway. On the flip side, the liquid-cooled engine might command more expensive maintenance bills whereas the relatively simpler XPulse engine could be more affordable to maintain.

Underpinnings:

The KTM 250 Adventure may have the fatter, more sophisticated suspension, but as far as the travel is concerned, it is the XPulse 200 which wins hands down. It offers a massive 20mm extra travel up front, which should be more than enough for most of your off-road adventures. The rear travel may not be as much but it more than makes up for it with an even higher ground clearance.

The XPulse also has the added advantage of spoke wheels, which can take up shock loads much better than alloy units. Moreover, its bigger wheels will help in going over uneven terrain more efficiently. In essence, the Hero XPulse 200 will be more in its element off the road whereas the KTM 250 Adventure’s prowess will show up on smoother tarmac.

Dimensions:

Even though the XPulse has better ground clearance, its seat is actually 32mm lower than the 250 Adventure’s. This coupled with the lighter weight should make it easier to manoeuvre, especially for shorter riders. Though the 250 Adventure gets a slightly larger fuel tank, its more powerful engine could guzzle more fuel than the XPulse’s smaller 200cc mill. What works in KTM’s favour is the longer wheelbase, which should provide more confidence in straight-line speed compared to the XPulse.

Pricing & Verdict:

The Hero XPulse 200 is available at Rs 1,05,000 whereas the KTM 250 Adventure is yet to be launched in India. If we’re lucky, KTM could unveil the bike in December — and if that’s the case, expect KTM to launch the bike in early 2020. Otherwise, KTM is likely to launch the bike only post the implementation of BS6 emission norms. We believe KTM could price the 250 Adventure at around Rs 2.3 lakh (ex-showroom), which is literally over twice that of the XPulse 200. 

If you’re a hardcore off-road rider, the XPulse 200 makes a lot of sense. Moreover, being the more affordable choice, it wouldn’t hurt your pocket as much when things break during your off-road adventures. It may not be the case with the KTM. That said, the 250 adventure is ideal for a touring enthusiast who likes to have some mild off-road fun. All said and done, we will have a much clearer picture once we do a proper comparison review between the two bikes.