KTM 250 Duke vs Kawasaki Z900
Side-by-side comparison for used motorcycle buyers
KTM 250 Duke vs Kawasaki Z900. KTM 250 Duke: 30 hp @ 9,000 rpm hp, ~149 kg (329 lbs) weight, top speed ~140 km/h (87 mph), Motoryk rating 8.0/10. Kawasaki Z900: 125 hp @ 9,500 rpm hp, 214 kg (wet/curb weight) weight, top speed 225 km/h (estimated; electronically influenced), Motoryk rating 8.5/10.
Performance at a Glance
Green = winner per metric · Bars are relative to the higher value
KTM 250 Duke
Kawasaki Z900
Horsepower (hp)
30 hp
125 hp
Torque (Nm)
24 Nm
98.6 Nm
Top Speed (km/h)
140 km/h
225 km/h
Weight (kg) — lower is better
149 kg
214 kg
Type
Naked
Naked
Horsepower
30 hp @ 9,000 rpm
125 hp @ 9,500 rpm
Torque
24 Nm @ 7,500 rpm
98.6 Nm @ 7,700 rpm
Top Speed
~140 km/h (87 mph)
225 km/h (estimated; electronically influenced)
Weight
~149 kg (329 lbs)
214 kg (wet/curb weight)
Fuel
—
5.5–6.5 L/100km (approx. 15–18 km/L, typical real-world average)
Fairing
No
No
Individual Reviews
KTM 250 Duke
8.0/10
"The best 250 chassis money can buy, maintenance demands included."
Pros
+Razor-sharp chassis dynamics
+Addictive high-revving engine
+Premium components throughout
Cons
−Expensive dealership servicing
−Vibration above 7,000rpm
−Suspension wears prematurely
Kawasaki Z900
8.5/10
"The used streetfighter benchmark that rivals struggle to beat at this money."
Pros
+Fantastic power-to-price ratio
+Chassis feedback genuinely excellent
+Parts and servicing affordable
Cons
−Pre-2020 forks underwhelming
−Vibes above 8,000rpm noticeable
−Wind protection essentially nonexistent
Top 10 Accessories
Picks that work on either bike.
