KTM has unveiled 2018 Freeride 250 F. It is has been pegged as an alternative to traditional trials or enduro motorcycles and targeted at those who are new to off-road riding.
The Freedride 250 F’s chassis is similar to the Freeride 350, with minor revisions to accommodate the smaller engine. It gets a new front fender, headlight mask as well as funky graphics to set it apart from its siblings. At the heart of the Freeride 250 F is a quarter-litre engine which develops 20bhp and 18Nm of torque. There is also an unrestricted version which develops 26bhp and 22Nm of torque. The engine gets traction control with different modes. It rides on 43mm inverted front forks and a rear monoshock, both supplied by WP Suspension. It tips the scales at 99 kilograms. It gets a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheels shod with Maxxis off-road tyres.
This is the first time KTM has introduced a quarter-litre four-stroke engine in the Freeride platform, which until now included a 350cc four-stroke and a 250cc four-stroke variant. The Freeride 250 F aims to combine the characteristics of both these bikes – the light weight of the 250 and the usability of the four-stroke bike. While we do not expect to see the Freeride 250 F in India any time soon, enthusiasts can opt for a similar offering from Kawasaki – the KX250F.