Demand for bikes in the 200-400 cc segment is on the rise. Just this week, we reported that Honda and Suzuki are planning on making India base to manufacture 200-400 cc motorcycles. All these plans are definitely threat to the leaders in the segment. Though it is Royal Enfield who is the clear winner in this segment, but when we speak about segment which does not include cruisers, it is Bajaj which is the leader.
Thanks to products like Pulsar NS200, Pulsar RS200, Dominar 400, Pulsar 220, KTM Duke 200, Duke 390, RC 200 and RC 490. With rivals launching more and more motorcycles in the segment, Bajaj seems to have decided to offer the Duke 250 and RC 250 in India, which were eluded from the Indian market until recently.
Though launched in 2015 internationally, the 250 twins were not launched in India. We got the Duke 250 earlier this year, and now will soon get the RC250, which has now been spied completely undisguised for the first time in India.
Both KTM Duke 250 and RC 250 receive same engine specifications. They are powered by a 250cc single cylinder, liquid cooled, fuel injected engine offering 31 PS peak power at 9,000 rpm and 24 Nm torque at 7,250 rpm mated to a 6 speed gearbox. Of the two motorcycles, KTM Duke 250 is lighter by 8 kgs with a kerb weight of 139 kg while RC250 tips the scale at 147 kg.
Similar to the 390 counterparts, KTM Duke 250 and RC 250 sport steel trellis frames, WP inverted telescopic front forks and rear monoshocks. Like the KTM Duke 250, which does not come with ABS in India, the RC 250 is expected to be offered without ABS, as seen in the spy shots above. Price of Duke 250 is about Rs 1.75 lakh. Expect the RC 250 to be priced in the range of Rs 2-2.1 lakh.
