KTM RC200 Vs Yamaha R15 Vs Honda CBR250R

Looks and styling

The overall layout of elements on all three motorcycles are quite similar but they differ for obvious reasons  , the top of which is that they are manufactured by three different companies.  The KTM and the R15 both have sharp features and a very similar stance but have  a larger front faring when compared to the R15. The CBR250R (in standard form) appears to be far more sedate in its appearance but seems like a much busier place despite the R15 and RC200 having heavier sticker jobs. 

In the front, the RC200 and R15 both get dual lamp setups as compared to the CBR250R’s single piece unit. The mud guard of the RC200 is the smallest of the lot but in terms of overall design all three motorcycles sport a similar setup. 

On the side, all three motorcycles are fully  -faired with the external body work extending all the way to the engine. The upward rake angle of the rear seat is the highest on the RC200 and much more sober on the CBR250R while the R15 sits in the middle of the equation. All three bikes have been fitted with LED tail lamps with the number plate holders fitted separately giving them the sporty touches. 

The RC200 when launched is likely to be offered with the KTM’s familiar orange and black colour combo and maybe the white and orange combination. The R15 is offered with four paint schemes while the CBR250R is offered in five shades including the race-replica Repsol colour scheme.     

Instrumentation and features

The RC200 gets the same fully digital instrument cluster from its naked sibling. This means a large orange backlit display with a digital speedometer and tachometer. The right side of the cluster has the button while the left row houses some of the warning lights. On screen information includes warnings, fuel, temperature, gear (with a shift indicator) and obviously the Austrian biker maker’s  tag line ‘Ready to Race’ when you turn the key. While the Duke 200 has a straight handlebar, the RC200 gets adjustable clip-on handlebars but with the   switch gear being carried over from the Duke. 

The CBR250R gets a dual setup of an analogue tachometer with a small digital display which shows fuel consumption, temperature and all the usual warning lights. The handlebars are adjustable clip-ons while the actual windscreen appears to be a little traditional as compared to the other two motorcycles. Much of the switchgear is familiar Honda design and while looking suited to the motorcycle is a little too familiar and can be found on other  Honda models too. 

Yamaha has fitted an analogue tachometer+digital speedo combination on the R15. It has been carried over from the first-generation R15 with almost no changes. The switchgear and clip-on handlebars too have been carried over from the first generation motorcycle but have been spruced up slightly to keep in line with v 2.0’s design philosophy. The windscreen on the R15 is smaller than that of both the motorcycles but this, by the look of it , has been done to keep the fascia as streamlined as possible. 

Engine, gearbox and suspension

Engines- The heart and soul of every motorcycle and the one thing that puts the ‘R’ in RC, CBR250R and the R15 respectively. At first glance, this subset is pretty much a two-way competition due to the fact that there is a Hero Splendor between two of the motorcycles. 

The R15 is powered by a 150cc liquid cooled engine that produces 16.7bhp and 15Nm of torque with power being sent to the back via a chain drive and a six-speed sequential gearbox. It gets a deltabox chassis with telescopics forks in front and a linked type monocross in the rear.

The RC200 and the CBR250R are powered by a liquid cooled 200cc and 250cc single cylinder mill respectively. Both have an output of 25bhp but the 250R’s 23Nm of torque is much higher than the RC200’s 19Nm. Both bikes use a chain drive which has been mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. 

The CBR250R is under pinned by a twin spar chassis with telescopic forks in front and a pro link setup in the rear.  The RC200 is underpinned by a trellis frame with upside down telescopic forks in front and a mono shock in the rear.  Stopping power comes courtesy  the disc brakes in the front and rear with the R15 getting 267/220, the CBR250R with 296/220 while the Duke gets a 300/230 setup. 

Verdict

At the outset, the KTM RC200 is a performance- oriented motorcycle designed to offer you the best performance on track. It is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 1.40 lakh to Rs 1.55 lakh which are likely to be introductory prices and will increase over the next 8 months as was the case with the Duke 390 when it was launched.  

The Yamaha R15 is a mix of touring, track and has been billed as a great learners’ tool for those looking to implement the basics of performance riding. However, we believe that it has been over engineered for a bike of that capacity and would perform just as well if fitted with a bigger engine. A suited competitor would be the recently launched Yamaha R25 which is more in line with the RC200 and CBR250R but will only reach the Indian market sometime next year.

Finally, The Honda CBR250R is a very capable touring motorcycle and has been designed to take the rider in decent comfort over long distances. It is much better suited to the highways and city roads. 

Also in this equation are the Hyosung GT250R and the soon to be launched Hero HX250-R. The former is priced too high to make any major impact while the latter maybe a game changer as it is more powerful than all three motorcycles and thanks to Hero’s economies of scale is likely to be priced very competitively.  

I have discovered that each motorcycle is suited to a specific purpose and excels in that purpose the best when oriented in that direction. Personally, I own a Yamaha R15 (v 1.0) and love the motorcycle but would rather have the CBR250R to go mile munching across the length and breadth of India.