FB Mondial HPS 300 vs KTM 250 Duke: Spec Comparison

We pit FB Mondial’s upcoming quarter-litre scrambler against KTM’s naked, the 250 Duke. Which one is superior on paper?

The 250cc motorcycle segment is witnessing quite some action right now. This segment is currently dominated by the KTM 250 Duke and the Yamaha FZ25 / Fazer 25. The former is the only motorcycle in the segment to have a liquid-cooled engine, apart from the sports tourer, the Honda CBR 250R. Another interesting point to note is that the scrambler segment in the country is still at its nascent stage, with the most affordable one being the Ducati Scrambler. 

FB Mondial intends to exploit this gap with its quarter-litre scrambler, the HPS 300. Let’s see how it performs against the Austrian hooligan in the segment, the KTM 250 Duke.

Design:

The FB Mondial HPS 300 is a proper scrambler with modern underpinnings. Looking at the halogen headlamp with sleek LED indicators, neatly designed minimalistic fuel tank, and twin scrambler exhausts with drilled heat shield, the motorcycle looks quite premium. The bar-end mirrors, ribbed seat and the single-pod circular digital console give the motorcycle a neo-retro feel too.

The KTM 250 Duke on the other hand has very aggressive design lines, a la the 1290 Super Duke R. There’s a lot of youthfulness in the motorcycle’s design too, which is apparent in the sharp fuel tank shrouds complementing the exposed two-tone trellis frame. Fittingly, the console is all-digital too. Riding position is upright but slightly aggressive thanks to the rear-set footpegs.

Powertrain:

Specifications	FB Mondial HPS 300	KTM 250 Duke
Engine	249cc DOHC, single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine	248.8cc DOHC, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine
Peak power	25.1PS at 9000rpm	29.91PS at 9000rpm
Maximum torque	22Nm at 7000rpm	24Nm at 7500rpm
Transmission	6-speed	6-speed with slipper clutch

Both motorcycles employ a dual overhead camshaft configuration with liquid-cooled single-cylinder engines. However, the Austrian motorcycle makes 4.8PS and 2Nm more than the HPS 300, making it theoretically superior to the HPS 300. It also enjoys the benefit of a slipper clutch, which lets the rider downshift aggressively without letting the rear wheel lock up. The KTM’s power delivery is gradual and the power band starts from 4000rpm and tapers off after 9500rpm. A detailed road test of the HPS 300 should give us an idea about how its motor behaves in real time.

Underpinnings:

Specifications	FB Mondial HPS 300	KTM 250 Duke
Front suspension	41mm upside down forks	43mm WP inverted forks
Rear suspension	Twin gas-charged shock absorbers	WP monoshock
Front brake	280mm petal disc with ABS	300mm disc
Rear brake	220mm petal disc with ABS	230mm disc
Front tire size	100/90 - 18	110/70 - 17
Rear tire size	130/70 - 17	150/60 - 17

From the table, it is clear that the KTM has superior suspension bits, bigger brakes and wider tyres. While the road-biased KTM employs alloys, the HPS 300 uses a bigger front and smaller rear spoke wheels. This setup coupled with the knobby tyres help the motorcycle have better off-road characteristics.

When it comes to safety, the HPS 300 gets standard dual-channel ABS while the 250 Duke lacks this feature. ABS helps in preventing the wheel from locking up under hard braking. 

Dimensions:

Specifications	FB Mondial HPS 300	KTM 250 Duke
Wheelbase	1370mm	1357mm
Ground clearance	155mm	185mm
Seat height	785mm	830mm
Fuel tank capacity	9 litres	13.4 litres
Dry weight	135kg	147kg

The HPS 300 is surprisingly light, weighing a whole 12kg less than the already light 250 Duke in terms of dry weight. However, it loses out on outright riding range with its puny 9-litre fuel tank. Interestingly, the street-oriented 250 Duke has 30mm more ground clearance than the scrambler, the HPS 300. The HPS 300, however, will be friendlier to relatively shorter riders, thanks to its low saddle height. To give you a perspective, the HPS 300’s seat is only as tall as the Hero Splendor Pro, despite having off-road-oriented underpinnings!

Verdict:

The HPS 300 is expected to be priced somewhere around Rs 2.5 lakh, ex-showroom, since it is coming in via the CKD route. So when it comes to value for money, at Rs 1.79 lakh, the KTM easily trumps the HPS 300 with its extremely competitive pricing. 

If you’re in the market for a reasonably powerful yet lightweight scrambler, the HPS 300 would be an ideal choice. For the premium pricing, you also get the assurance of ABS, a safety feature that the KTM misses out on.

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