KTM 250 Duke ABS Launch In January 2019

Unlike the 125 Duke and 200 Duke, the quarter-litre naked will get a proper dual-channel ABS unit

• Like the 390 Duke, the 250 Duke too will get switchable dual-channel ABS
• Expect a price hike of around Rs 10,000 to Rs 13,000 over the non-ABS 250 Duke
• KTM RC 200 will also get the safety net, though it will be a single-channel ABS unit

After the 200 Duke and the 125 Duke, it is now the turn of the 250 Duke to get ABS. But unlike the single-channel ABS unit that is found in the 125 and 200 Dukes, the 250 Duke will get a switchable dual-channel ABS unit. To recall, the 390 Duke too gets a dual-channel ABS unit as standard. According to our sources, the 250 Duke ABS will be launched in January 2019. We understand that KTM is also preparing to update the RC 200 with the essential safety net. However, it will only get a single-channel ABS unit.

The inclusion of dual-channel ABS will push up the 250 Duke’s price by a fair margin. We expect the actual hike to be around Rs 10,000 to Rs 13,000. Currently, KTM sells the non-ABS 250 Duke at a price of Rs 1.81 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Apart from the inclusion of dual-channel ABS, the rest of the 250 Duke’s mechanicals will remain the same. The bike is powered by a 249cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine that produces 30PS of power and 24Nm of peak torque. The 250 Duke features a 6-speed gearbox and a slipper clutch. Its underpinnings consist of a steel trellis frame with USD forks at the front and monoshock suspension at the rear. Braking duties are handled by a 300mm front disc and a 230mm rear disc. A dual-channel ABS unit should give the 250 Duke better braking performance. And since it is a switchable unit, riders can simply turn it off for a more on-the-edge riding experience.

Although the KTM 250 Duke lacks a direct competitor, ABS-equipped bikes at a similar price include the Honda CBR 250R ABS and the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 X ABS.