2026 KTM 250 Duke vs 2026 Honda CB300R - Spec Comparison
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2026 KTM 250 Duke
The 2026 KTM 250 Duke is a lightweight, agile naked bike designed for beginner to intermediate riders seeking an accessible entry into street riding. Its sharp handling and nimble character, powered by a liquid-cooled 249cc single-cylinder engine delivering 31 PS, make it ideal for urban commuting and spirited riding on twisty roads. Known for its aggressive styling and responsive performance, the Duke 250 offers genuine fun without overwhelming inexperienced riders.
2026 Honda CB300R
The Honda CB300R is a lightweight sport bike designed for beginner and intermediate riders seeking accessible performance and easy handling. Its 286cc single-cylinder engine delivers manageable power while maintaining nimble agility, making it ideal for urban commuting and track day introductions. Known for reliable Honda engineering and approachable ergonomics, the CB300R excels as a gateway to sportbike riding without intimidation. A factory ABS option was also available.
2026 KTM 250 Duke vs 2026 Honda CB300R: the key differences
Both are naked bikes, so this is a like-for-like choice.
- The 2026 Honda CB300R is 22 kg lighter (143 vs 165 kg).
- The 2026 KTM 250 Duke carries 3.6 litres more fuel (13.4 vs 9.8 L).
2026 KTM 250 Duke: Built primarily as a nimble city and commuter bike that also enjoys a spirited weekend ride through twisty roads.
2026 Honda CB300R: Built primarily as a nimble urban commuter and learner-friendly street bike rather than a performance or adventure machine.
Verdict: Choose the 2026 KTM 250 Duke if you want a bigger tank. Choose the 2026 Honda CB300R if you want lighter weight. Check the full table below for every figure, and the size comparison for fit.
| Specification | 2026 KTM 250 Duke | 2026 Honda CB300R |
|---|---|---|
| Other | ||
| Category | Naked | Naked |
| Color Options | - | Pearl Dusk Yellow, Matte Black Metallic |
| Comments | - | Model ID: CBR300RA. |
| Fuel Tank Material | - | Metal |
| Rake | - | 24.8º |
| Engine | ||
| Capacity: | 249.0 ccm (15.19 cubic inches) | 286.0 ccm (17.45 cubic inches) |
| CO2 Emissions | ✓67 CO2 g/km | ✓71 CO2 g/km |
| EPA Certificate No. | TKTXC.249DKE-015 | THNXC0.29CFD-016 |
| EPA Est. Fuel Consumption | 2.83 L/100km (83.1 US mpg) | 3.02 L/100km (77.9 US mpg) |
| EPA CO Emissions | 0.1 CO g/km | 0.2 CO g/km |
| Engine Type | Single, four-stroke | Single, four-stroke |
| Bore x Stroke | 72.0 x 61.1 mm (2.8 x 2.4 inches) | 76.0 x 63.0 mm (3.0 x 2.5 inches) |
| Cooling System | Liquid | Liquid |
| Fuel System | Injection | Injection |
| Starting | Electric | Electric |
| Ignition | Bosch EMS | Computer-controlled digital transistorized with electronic advance |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated | Naturally aspirated |
| Valves Per Cylinder | 4 | 4 |
| Lubrication System | Wet sump | - |
| Fuel Consumption | - | 3.30 litres/100 km (30.3 km/l or 71.28 mpg) |
| Compression | - | 10.7:1 |
| Performance | ||
| Power | ✓30.8 HP (23.0 kW) @ 9500 RPM | 30.8 HP (22.7 kW) |
| Torque | ✓25.0 Nm (2.5 kgf-m or 18.4 ft.lbs) | 22.9 Nm (2.3 kgf-m or 16.9 ft.lbs) |
| Power/Weight Ratio | 0.2110 HP/kg (dry) | 0.2149 HP/kg (wet) |
| Chassis & suspension | ||
| Frame | Steel trellis frame, powder coated | Steel tube |
| Front Suspension | WP APEX 43 | 41mm inverted fork |
| Rear Suspension | WP shock absorber with linkage | Pro-Link® single shock |
| Front Wheel Travel | 150 mm (5.9 inches) | 130 mm (5.1 inches) |
| Rear Wheel Travel | 150 mm (5.9 inches) | 132 mm (5.2 inches) |
| Rake (fork angle) | 26.5° | 24.7° |
| Ground Clearance | 185 mm (7.3 inches) | 158 mm (6.2 inches) |
| Trail | - | 94 mm (3.7 inches) |
| Transmission | ||
| Gearbox | 6-speed | 6-speed |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Final Drive | Chain | Chain |
| Clutch | Slipper clutch | Wet multiplate with coil springs |
| Brakes & wheels | ||
| Front Brakes | Single disc. Brembo ABS | Single disc. ABS |
| Front Brakes Diameter | 300 mm (11.8 inches) | 296 mm (11.7 inches) |
| Rear Brakes | Single-piston floating calliper | Single disc. ABS |
| Rear Brakes Diameter | 230 mm (9.1 inches) | 220 mm (8.7 inches) |
| ABS | Yes | Optional |
| Front Tyre | 110/80-17 | 110/70-17 |
| Rear Tyre | 150/60-17 | 150/60-17 |
| Dimensions & weight | ||
| Wheelbase | 1357 mm (53.4 inches) | 1328 mm (52.3 inches) |
| Seat Height | ✓800 mm (31.5 inches) | 803 mm (31.6 inches) |
| Dry weight | 146.0 kg (321.9 pounds) | - |
| Wet Weight | 165.0 kg (363.8 pounds) | ✓143.3 kg (315.9 pounds) |
| Fuel Capacity | ✓13.40 litres (3.54 US gallons) | 9.80 litres (2.59 US gallons) |
| Overall Length | - | 2017 mm (79.4 inches) |
| Overall Width | - | 803 mm (31.6 inches) |
| Overall Height | - | 1052 mm (41.4 inches) |
"Best" (✓) reflects that single spec only, not overall suitability - a bike can win on paper and still be the wrong choice for you. Ties are all marked; specs with no clear better/worse direction (e.g. displacement, wheel size) are never marked, only tinted where bikes differ.
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About this comparison tool
This tool puts up to four motorcycles side by side across their full specification sheets, drawn from a database of 43,000+ models and 1.60M+ individual specifications. Wherever a spec has a clear "better" direction - more power, less weight - the strongest figure in that row is highlighted automatically.
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Specs are pulled from the same categories used throughout the site: engine and transmission (capacity, power, torque, gearbox), physical measures (weight, seat height, fuel and tank capacity), frame and dimensions, speed and acceleration, and brakes, suspension, frame and wheels (including tyres) - plus general information and maintenance data where it's on record for a bike.
How the highlighting works, and its limits
A highlighted cell means one bike has the clearly better raw number for that spec - more power, less weight, and so on. Fields where "better" genuinely depends on the rider - seat height above all - are deliberately never highlighted: a lower seat isn't automatically the right choice, it's a fit question only you can answer. Winning a row also isn't the same as winning the comparison - a bike can lead on paper in half the rows and still be the wrong bike for you.
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