The battle of the quarter-litre motorcycle has become interesting with the launch of the KTM 250 Duke. Just a month ago, Yamaha launched their FZ25 at a price which is very competitive and we think that bike will succeed. But now with the introduction of the 250 Duke, Yamaha might face some problems moving FZ25s off the showroom floor. Yes, there is a major price difference between both the bikes and it makes more financial sense to compare the 200 Duke with the FZ25, there are many customers who want a 250cc naked streetfighter and won’t settle for less.
Performance
The FZ25 gets a 249cc single-cylinder air-cooled motor that generates 20.6bhp at 8000rpm and peak torque of 20Nm at 6000rpm. On the other hand, the 250 Duke is powered by a 249cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. This engine produces 29.58bhp – that’s 8.98bhp more than the FZ25. Such a big difference can easily be reflected in acceleration and the top speed. In short, the 250 Duke will be more thrilling than the FZ25 everywhere.
Design
The Yamaha FZ25 follows a more conventional design. This bike might not turn a lot of heads because of its design relation with the smaller FZ bikes. But in case of the KTM 250 Duke, the design is more radical and new. Something like this hasn’t been seen on the Indian roads, so there’s exclusivity attached to it.
Service
The FZ25 is serviced at the same Yamaha service centres where the rest of the Yamaha range is serviced. In fact, chances are the technician who works on a Fascino will also work on the FZ25. This might hinder the overall servicing experience. In case of KTM, the technicians service only KTM and Kawasaki bikes. The habit of working on premium performance bikes round the clock give the technicians the ability to fix and service a bike quickly and efficiently.
Access to races
Owning a KTM motorcycle gives the owner an access to a lot of fun and interesting events that are organised by the company across the country. The company regularly conducts KTM Orange Days and Orange Cup races that help the owner become a better rider and at the same time compete with other riders. Nothing like this is conducted by Yamaha at the moment.
