Mahindra Mojo vs KTM Duke390 vs Royal Enfield Thunderbird350 vs Honda CBR250R: Spec Comparison

Design and Engine

All the four motorcycles are different, in terms of the design approach to what category they serve. The CBR250R is the only faired motorcycle, while others are naked. All these bikes may not be the flashiest or coolest bikes available, but when around, they do make their presence felt. The Thunderbird 350 still follows the old muscular Royal Enfield styling, while the KTM Duke 390 is all about lightness and chiselled looks. The Mojo is distinct. Its styling – particularly the bikini fairing design - might not be to everyone’s liking, but at least it helps the motorcycle stand out. The Honda CBR250R meanwhile is your old-school fully faired sportbike which has now started to look a bit jaded.

However, looks are subjective and what matters next is what is at the core of these motorcycles. The CBR250R has the smallest engine here. It displaces 249cc; has a single cylinder; is liquid cooled and fuel injected. This motor churns out 26bhp of power and 22.9Nm of peak torque. Next up is the Mahindra Mojo. Powered by a single cylinder, liquid cooled 292cc engine, it too is fuel injected and pumps out 27bhp of power and 30Nm of peak torque.

But, it is the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 which is the least powerful here, and it is also the only one that’s air cooled and breathes via a carburettor. It displaces 346cc and only produces 20bhp of max power. But, its long stroke design helps it pump out more torque compared to the Honda and the figure for the Thunderbird stands at 28Nm. The KTM Duke 390 is at the other end of the spectrum. Single cylinder, liquid cooled, 373cc, but with engine output figures that are nothing short of sensational! It produces 44bhp and 35Nm of torque.

Features & Cycle parts

The Thunderbird 350 is the only one that gets projector headlamps and an analog instrument cluster, while the other three get the multi-reflector bulb type setup and digital consoles. The Mojo stands out with DRLs. The muscular look of the Thunderbird 350 is mainly due to its large 20-litre fuel tank, which still falls short of capacity in front of the Mojo's 21-litre tank. The 13-litre and 11-litre tanks of the CBR250R and the Duke 390 respectively, are too puny in comparison and with the latter being thirsty, its range is seriously limited. But the big fuel tanks also mean the Royal Enfield and the Mahindra are heavy, tipping the scale at 182kg and 192kg respectively. The Honda in comparison weighs 167kg but it is the KTM that’s a lightweight with just 139kg.

As for cycle parts, the KTM Duke 390 and the Mahindra Mojo get upside down forks upfront and a mono shock at the rear. The Honda CBR250R also gets a rear mono shock, but has regular telescopic front forks. The Thunderbird uses a similar setup at the front but gets conventional twin gas charged shock absorbers at the rear. Ground clearance of the Thunderbird and CBR250R is 140mm and 145mm respectively, while the Duke390 and Mojo stand taller at 170mm and 173.5mm respectively. The Thunderbird gets a 19-inch front wheel and an 18 inch rear, while all other bikes here run a 17-17 setup. Also, all bikes here are equipped with front and rear disc brakes, but it’s only the Duke 390 and CBR250R that feature ABS.

Price

In a price sensitive market like ours, however good a product is, most of the consumers take the final call by looking at the price. Out of these four bikes, the ex-showroom Mumbai price of Rs 1.37 lakh for the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 is the lowest with the costliest of the lot being the Honda CBR250R Repsol-ABS version at Rs 2.01 lakh. The KTM Duke 390 with ABS costs Rs 1.88 lakh and the Mahindra is expected to come for less than the Duke’s price.

These motorcycles, unlike high-end machines, give riders the choice to opt for something that’s more manageable and friendly, but still fast enough. We will tell you more about their road mannerisms and ride and handling when we put them through a proper road test. So stay tuned.