KTM 250 Duke (2024) Maintenance Schedule / Guidelines
This is the maintenance schedule for the KTM 250 Duke made from 2024.
The KTM 250 Duke is a continuation of the 250 Duke line, originally made in 2012 through to 2023.
But the 2024 KTM 250 Duke is a comprehensive overhaul, with a new look, new frame and wheelbase, and new suite of tech features. It shares a lot in common with its bigger sibling the 2024 KTM 390 Duke, down to the ride aid electronics and many of the ride components, though in lower-spec form.
The 2024 KTM 250 Duke is powered by a 249 cc variant of the LC4c engine. It makes peak power of 23 kW at xxx rpm. Final drive is via a slipper clutch (quite amazing at this engine size), six-speed transmission, and chain drive.
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KTM 250 Duke Service Intervals
Overall, the KTM 250 Duke has service intervals of 4,650 miles / 7,500 km or one year. This is slightly more frequent than the 2024 KTM 390 Duke, but in line with the 2024 KTM 125 Duke. At every service, change the engine oil and filter, and do a once-over of the motorcycle, checking and greasing various parts (listed below in the annual service checklist).
The valve service is every 9,300 miles / 15,000 km with no time interval. At the same time as the valve service, change the spark plug.
Since the little 250 Duke has a liquid-cooled engine, KTM recommends changing the coolant every 4 years.
Finally, make sure you keep your chain maintained (clean and at the correct tension) — there’s guidance on how to do this below.
What You Need to Service your KTM 250 Duke
Below are the parts and consumable liquids you need to service your KTM 250 Duke. It shares many parts with the KTM 125 Duke.
| Item | KTM 250 Duke Spec |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | SAE 15W/50 partially synthetic, ideally Motorex Formula 4T 15W/50 |
| Oil filter | Hiflofiltro type HF155 |
| Spark plug | Champion REK6ZMC (quite hard to find — get it from KTM) Gap: 1mm / 0.04 in |
| Air filter | K&N type KT-1217 air filter |
| Cable maintenance | Use Protect All Cable Life, a well-liked and affordable cable lube |
| Brake fluid | DOT 4 or DOT 5.1, e.g. Castrol DOT 4 or Motorex DOT 5.1 |
| Chain lubricant | Motorex Chain Cleaner / Motorex Chain Lubricant |
| Coolant | The manual calls for Motorex Coolant M3.0, which is an OAT coolant based on ethylene glycol that’s silicate, nitrite, amine, borate, and phosphate free. |
KTM 250 Duke Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the 2024 KTM 250 Duke.
The full maintenance schedule in the manual is in a longer, more difficult to use format. So it’s simplified here into two parts: a “major items” maintenance schedule, and then a checklist of things to look over at every annual service.
KTM 250 Duke Maintenance — Major Items
Below is the “major items” maintenance schedule for the KTM 250 Duke. Note that rather than 4,650 miles, for simplicity of math, the schedule is below in intervals of 4,500 miles.
At the end of the maintenance schedule, repeat it in the pattern shown, servicing the bike every 4,500 miles / 7,500 km.
| mi x 1000 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 9 | 13.5 | 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 1 | 7.5 | 15 | 22.5 | 30 | Every |
| Standard annual service checklist (see below) — Perform all items (Note: Some items are excluded at break-in, see below) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Engine oil — Change (Motorex Formula 4T 15W/50) Tighten drain plug to 12.5Nm / 9 lb-ft | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Oil filter — Change (HF155). Clean the oil screen as well. Tighten screws for cover to 11 Nm / 8 lb-ft | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year |
| Air filter — Change (KT-1217). Clean the air filter box. | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Spark plug — Replace (REK6ZMC) Tighten to 11 Nm / 8 lb-ft | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Valve clearances — Check / Adjust | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Brake fluid (front and rear) — Change | 2 years | |||||
| Coolant antifreeze — Check level and effectiveness | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 2 years | |
| Coolant — Change | 4 years | |||||
| Steering head bearing — Check for play | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fork bearing — Check for play | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Wheel bearing — Check for play | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Headlight setting — Check | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Fork legs — Clean dust boots | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Frame — Check | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Link fork — Check | ✓ | ✓ |
Standard Annual Service Checklist
Below is the annual checklist for the KTM 250 Duke. Do these checks/service items according to the maintenance schedule above.
Notes
- [Dealer] marked items need specialist dealer tools.
- # items not required at break-in — but are simple to perform.
| KTM 250 Duke Annual Service Checklist |
|---|
| [Dealer] Read out the fault memory using the KTM diagnostics tool. |
| [Dealer] Program the shift shaft sensor. |
| Check that the electrical system is functioning properly. |
| Check the front and rear brake pads. |
| Check the front and rear brake discs for warp and wear. |
| Check the brake lines for damage and tightness |
| Check the front and rear brake fluid levels. |
| Check the shock absorber and fork for leaks. Perform service as needed and depending on how the vehicle is used. |
| Check the steering head bearing for play. |
| Check the condition of the tires |
| Check tire pressure (see below table) |
| Check the rim run-out |
| # Check the chain, rear sprocket, and engine sprocket for wear / damage. (Replace as a set if necessary) |
| Check and adjust the chain tension (see below guidance) |
| Check the cables for damage and routing without sharp bends |
| Check the coolant level. Top up as necessary |
| Check that the radiator fan is functioning properly. |
| Grease all moving parts (e.g. side stand, hand levers, chain) and check for smooth operation. – Use lithium soap-based grease for major moving parts – Use Motul chain lubricant for the chain |
| Check all hoses (fuel, coolant, bleeder, drainage etc.) and sleeves for cracking, leaks, and incorrect routing |
| Check that the throttle cables are undamaged, routed correctly (without sharp bends), and set correctly. |
| Empty the drainage hoses |
| Check the tightness of the safety-relevant screws and nuts which are easily accessible. |
| Check the antifreeze |
| Final check: Check the vehicle for safe operation and take a test ride |
| [Dealer] Set the service interval display. |
| [Dealer] Read out the error memory after the test ride using the KTM diagnostics tool. |
| [Dealer] Make a service entry in KTMDealer.net |
KTM 250 Duke Chain Maintenance
As an everyday bike used for everything from commuting to back roads scratching, the KTM 250 Duke’s chain is likely to see a lot of abuse — so tend to it regularly. Basic maintenance for the chain includes
- Cleaning and lubricating the chain
- Checking the chain for wear/damage
- Adjusting the chain tension
Clean and lubricate the chain with chain lubricant. A well-recommended and affordable one is Motul chain lubricant, or Motul chain paste for a portable option that’s well-liked.
To check the tension on a KTM 250 Duke, you measure the distance between the chain and the link fork (not the free movement of the chain, like on most other bikes).
To measure chain tension on your 250 Duke:
- Put the transition into neutral
- Raise the rear wheel
- Press upwards on the chain near the chain guard.
- Measure the distance between the middle of the chain and the link fork.
- Repeat the measurement for various parts of the chain (chain wear can be uneven)
Target chain tension for the KTM 250 Duke: 5-7 mm (0.2-0.3 in)
To adjust the chain tension, you need to release the rear axle, slide it forward or backwards, and then re-tighten it.
- Loosen the rear axle nut (you may need a breaker bar)
- Loosen the lock nuts for the adjusters on both sides of the axle.
- Turn the adjuster screws to move the axle position. If you’re reducing tension, you may need to physically move the wheel to make sure it’s moving with the screws.
- Make sure you turn them the same amount (checking the reference marks)
- Re-righten the lock nuts (not too tight)
- Tighten the rear axle nut (very tight, even on this little bike — 100 Nm / 74 lb-ft)
If you can’t get the chain tight enough, then it may be too worn. To check its wear state, hang a 15 kg / 33 lb weight on the lower section of the chain. Measure the distance between 20 rollers (counting 1 through 21), in a few parts of the chain. The maximum length should be 301.6 mm or 11.9 inches. If it’s longer, then your chain is too worn, and you should replace it along with the sprockets.
Wheels and Tires for the 250 Duke
The KTM 250 Duke ships with a 17-inch front and rear tire combo and with MRF revz FC or Apollo Alpha H1 tires. These are common tires in the markets in which the 250 Duke is sold.
| Wheel | Tire size | Tire pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 110/70 ZR 17 M/C 54W TL | 2.0 bar / 29 psi |
| Rear | 150/60 ZR 17 M/C 66W TL | 2.0-2.2 bar / 29-32 psi |
About the KTM 250 Duke (2024)
The KTM 250 Duke is KTM’s “middle” power motorcycle in the entry-level range that spans 125, 200, 250, and 390. It’s not available in every market, but is primarily available in Asian markets.
The revised 2024 KTM 250 Duke has basically the same engine (though optimised for Euro 5.2) but is equipped with ride by wire, but is based in a new steel trellis main frame with an aluminium subframe. The 250 Duke has lightweight cast wheels and overall has a lot of poke for a compact motorcycle.
What’s interesting about the 250 Duke is just how much of it is high-spec. While most of the suspension is non-adjustable (other than for preload at the rear), the KTM 250 Duke has WP Apex front and rear suspension — much like its bigger 390 sibling. The front brake is exactly the same, a 320mm single disc gripped by a ByBre radial-mounted 4-piston caliper.
There’s even a TFT display up front. And ABS is cornering ABS on the 250 Duke from 2024 (the 2012-2023 250 Duke did not have cornering ABS, just regular ABS), which means that it reacts intelligently to lean angle and speed. This used to be a high-end feature, introduced on top-end Ducati and KTM superbikes a decade earlier, but is now beginning to trickle down to truly entry-level motorcycles (well, some of them).
In fact, not just that — you can disable rear ABS on the KTM 250 Duke. It’s what’s called “Supermoto ABS”. (Little Dukes are informally known as Supermoto-like motorcycles, for being lightweight, based on single-cylinder engines, and loads of fun. Of course, they’re not based on dirt bikes.)
KTM managed to shave off 8 kg (around 20 lb) from the 250 Duke, so the already lightweight bike is even lighter. This makes cornering even easier. An upgrade to the base tires would improve that ability even more.
Maintenance on the KTM 250 Duke remains easy. It has a dual overhead camshaft, so there’s some fiddling to get access to the shims when it’s time for a valve service — this is one disadvantage over the 125 Duke, whose new incarnation has rocker arms. But still, it’s a naked bike with one cylinder, so nothing is that hard.
Reference — Screenshots from the 2024 KTM 250 Duke Manual
Below are screenshots from the manual for the 2024 KTM 250 Duke. You can check some of the above from this content.
You can get manuals for KTM motorcycles from KTM directly.
