KTM 250 Duke vs Husqvarna Svartpilen 250 vs Husqvarna Vitpilen 250 vs Bajaj Dominar 250: Family Feud

  • Nov 2, 2020
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Four motorcycles, four personalities, one engine. Which one should you pick?

The KTM-Bajaj tie-up has opened up many options for Indian motorcycling enthusiasts. Take the 250cc segment for example, a segment once ruled by the FZ-25 has been witnessing a lot of action lately. With the decision to introduce the Husqvarna brand in India, we now have the Svartpilen and Vitpilen 250 here. It was only a matter of time before Bajaj utilised the KTM’s 250cc mill to bring out the Dominar 250. Interestingly, all the bikes offer completely different designs and characters despite sharing the same engine (except for the Dominar to a certain extent). So, which of these four machines makes more sense? Let’s find out.

Design

All of these quarter-litre machines offer distinct designs and riding styles. The KTM 250 Duke takes its design cues from the 390 Duke, minus the TFT display. The rider’s triangle on the Duke, in a typical streetfighter fashion, is slightly forward-biased. The Svartpilen 250 and Vitpilen 250 follow the neo-retro design language. The Svartpilen 250 is the Swedish brand's idea of a scrambler and hence, gets a tall handler and upright riding position. The Vitpilen, on the other hand, in a typical cafe-racer style, gets low clip-ons and a slightly committed riding posture. The Dominar 250 shares its design with the 400cc sibling and offers the most comfortable riding posture in this lot.

Performance

 

250 Duke

Svartpilen 250

Vitpilen 250

Dominar 250

Engine

248cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled

248cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled

248cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled

248cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled

Power

30PS at 9,000rpm

30PS at 9,000rpm

30PS at 9,000rpm

27PS at 8,500rpm

Torque

24Nm at 7,500rpm

24Nm at 7,500rpm

24Nm at 7,500rpm

23.5Nm at 6,500rpm

Gearbox

6-speed

6-speed

6-speed

6-speed

Saddle Height

830mm

835mm

835mm

800mm

Kerb Weight

161.9 kg (Dry)

154kg (Kerb)

153kg (Kerb)

180kg

Ground Clearance

185mm

145mm

145mm

157mm

Fuel Tank Capacity

13.5 litres

9.5 litres

9.5 litres

13 litres

 Even though the bikes share the same 248cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, the Dominar produces 3PS and 0.5Nm less than the KTM and the Huskies. Another factor that doesn't work in Dominar's favour is its 180kg kerb weight, making it the heaviest here. However, the low 800mm seat height makes the Dominar accessible to a wider range of audience compared to the KTM's 830mm and Huskie's 835mm seat height. When it comes to fuel tank capacity, the KTM flaunts the largest, at 13.5 litres, while the Huskies get a puny 9.5-litre tank.

Underpinnings

 

250 Duke

Svartpilen 250

Vitpilen 250

Dominar 250

Front Suspension

WP open-cartridge USD 43mm

43mm USD

43mm USD

37mm USD 

Rear Suspension

WP-Monoshock

WP-Monoshock

WP-Monoshock

Gas-charged monoshock

Front Brake

300mm

320mm

320mm

300mm

Rear Brake

230mm

230mm

230mm

230mm

ABS

Dual-channel

Dual-channel

Dual-channel

Dual-channel

Front Tyre

110/70-17

110/70-17

110/70-17

100/80-17

Rear Tyre

150/60-17

150/60-17

150/60-17

130/70-17

While the KTM gets 43mm forks from WP, the Huskies get a similar unit from Endurance in India. The Dominar meanwhile, uses 37mm USD forks at the front and a gas-charged monoshock at the rear. The Duke and the Dominar share the same 300mm/230mm brake setup, while the Huskies get a 320mm/230mm setup. 

Verdict

At Rs 1.65 lakh, the Dominar 250 is the least expensive of the four. The engine, combined with the comfortable riding position, renders the baby Dominar a great tool for highway touring and even urban commutes. The Huskies, on the other hand, are more of a lifestyle product with the highest visual appeal. If you are on the lookout for something stylish that can zip around the city with ease, the Svartpilen and Vitpilen are good options. At Rs 1.85 lakh, the Huskies sit bang in between the Dominar and the KTM 250 which is priced at Rs 2.05 lakh.

Bajaj Dominar 250 Video Review

Bajaj Dominar 250
Bajaj Dominar 250
Rs. 1.84 Lakh
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