The KTM 250 Duke ABS faces stiff competition from the Bajaj Dominar 400 and the Honda CBR250R in the Indian market. In that case, we take a look at how they stack up against each other on paper.
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Dominar 400 [2018] key highlights | |
---|---|
Engine Capacity | 373.3 cc |
Mileage | 29 kmpl |
Transmission | 6 Speed Manual |
Kerb Weight | 182 kg |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 13 litres |
Max Power | 34.5 bhp |
The words ‘cruiser’ and ‘sporty’ might have been mutually exclusive till a while ago, but times have changed. Associated with low-slung and muscular styling, a torquey engine and a fat rear tyre, ‘power cruisers’ have introduced a degree of performance and charisma in a segment where it simply didn’t exist before.
The words ‘cruiser’ and ‘sporty’ might have been mutually exclusive till a while ago, but times have changed. Associated with low-slung and muscular styling, a torquey engine and a fat rear tyre, ‘power cruisers’ have introduced a degree of performance and charisma in a segment where it simply didn’t exist before. Bajaj has never flinched at the idea of trying its hand at new segments, always finding ways to attract attention among the masses. The Dominar 400 aims to be a do-it-all power cruiser – take care of your daily commute and double up as a touring motorcycle on weekends. The Dominar 400 has strayed away from the iconic Pulsar brand in order to create a niche for itself. But is the Dominar 400 impressive enough to carve its own identity?
Yes, Bajaj did inherit the engine from KTM, but the way they have tuned to suit the Dominar 400 is commendable. At the heart of the Dominar 400 is the 373cc single-cylinder KTM mill, though Bajaj has added two more spark plugs to the head and de-tuned it to 34.5bhp and 35Nm of torque. While this has watered down the fun factor, the upside is the easily accessible grunt. There is usable torque from as little as 2,500rpm along with a lovely spread in the mid-range. At the higher end, there's a nice little kick at 7,000rpm which adds a bit of zest. The slick six-speed gearbox gets a slipper clutch, and is a delight to use. That said, the slightly heavy clutch lever can wear you down after a prolonged ride in stop-and-go city traffic.
My light weight meant that the Dominar offered a bumpy low speed ride, but the ten-step preload-adjustable rear monoshock offers better insulation with more rider weight. Whatever the rider weight, the handlebar judders as it passes over the potholes and undulations. As you attain higher speeds, the beefy 43mm forks start gliding over these undulations offering a composed ride.
Even with the 183 kilogram bulk and the kicked out forks, the Dominar 400 is easy to hustle around the city. The turning radius isn’t great, though the light steering makes it easy to operate at slow speeds and while taking a U-turn. Through the twisties, the Dominar 400 felt easy to tip in with the wide handlebar and round profile tyres helping its cause. However, the Dominar 400 doesn’t respond well to mid-corner bumps which again cause the front end to judder, making you wish for a more forgiving suspension setup.
North of 4,500rpm, the Dominar 400 has its fair share of vibrations on the footpegs, tank, seat and to some extent, the handlebar. When you are cruising on the highway, the engine is always buzzing and I often found myself searching for another gear even though I was already in sixth. The vibrations smoothen out after 8,000rpm, but then you have a really small window before the limiter cuts in at 9,500rpm.
I have always liked the way Bajaj configures its brakes, and the Dominar 400 is no different. While it doesn’t have the strong initial bite that we have seen on the Pulsar range, this suits the Dominar 400’s character. Knowing that you have ABS watching your back goes a long way in inspiring confidence. However, the ABS cannot be turned off.
The Dominar 400’s exhaust note has different levels to it, discreet at low revs and loud when you rev it hard. The Dominar 400 also is the only motorcycle in the segment to feature a LED headlamp, which works brilliantly.
It gets a fancy multi-function ‘reverse LCD’ dash above the handlebar and a secondary display showing basic functions on the fuel tank. The dash looks lovely, but the backlight is a little too bright for night riding. The tachometer reads till 13,000rpm, but the limiter kicks in at 9,500rpm – meaning the entire vertical element of the tacho is redundant.
The Dominar 400 borrows several bits from its stable mates; the mirrors are from Pulsar NS200, indicators from the KTM 200 Duke and so on. There is a marked improvement in the level of finish and quality of components. The metallic paint finish and the alloy wheels add a premium touch to the motorcycle.
Bajaj has hit the right spot with seating triangle. It might first seem to be biased towards comfort, but works equally well for aggressive riding. The large touring oriented seat is soft and comfortable, but might be too soft for long hauls.
Power cruisers are conspicuous motorcycles, they might not suit everyone’s tastes but they sure do attract attention. Also, if you can overlook the vibrations, the Dominar 400 has one of the best engines with a perfect balance of real world usability and mid-range rush. It has enough power to keep you entertained, though not enough to scare you out of your wits. The Dominar 400 ABS version fits snugly into the gap between the Duke 200 and the 390 Duke, and is ideal for someone who finds the Duke range to be too hardcore and performance-oriented.
Bajaj makes no bones of its intentions of going up against the Royal Enfield range. In principle the Dominar 400 competes with the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500, but the introductory pricing makes it a rival to the brand’s cash cow – the Classic 350. It might not have the charm and the aspirational value of an RE, but the Dominar 400 compensates with its creature comforts. And then there is the Mahindra Mojo. It is pricier and not as well equipped as the Dominar 400, but the delightful powertrain makes up for the shortcomings.
1. Icon Airmada helmet –
Comfortable, aerodynamic, lightweight and a well-ventilated helmet with a wide peripheral vision. Oval headform fit might not suit everyone though. Price -Rs 15,000.
2. Joe Rocket Alter Ego 3.0 jacket–
An extremely versatile all-weather jacket. In this guise, it is being used as a ventilated mesh jacket, though it ships with two more liners - waterproof and thermal. Price – Rs 20,000.
3. Ixon Moto HP gloves –
High quality full gauntlet leather gloves suited for city riding, touring and track use. Offers good ventilation and a high level of protection. Expensive though. Price - Rs 9,500
4. AGV Sport Airtex pants –
Riding pants with mesh in the crotch, calf, back of legs and thigh areas which is a real boon in our hot weather. Price -Rs 6,500.
5. Sidi B2 boots –
All-round street and sportbike riding shoes also suitable for track days. Not ventilated, which can make it uncomfortable for everyday use. Price - Rs 17,000
Photography by Sanchit Arora
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As reported by Dominar 400 [2018] owners, the real mileage of Bajaj Dominar 400 [2018] is 29 kmpl.
Displacement 373.3 cc
Max Power 34.5 bhp @ 8,000 rpm
Max Torque 35 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
Stroke 60 mm
Valves Per Cylinder 4
Compression Ratio 11.3:1
Mileage - ARAI --
Mileage - Owner Reported 29 kmpl
Riding Range 377 Km
Top Speed 148 Kmph
Transmission 6 Speed Manual
Transmission Type Chain Drive
Gear Shifting Pattern --
Cylinders 1
Bore 89 mm
Ignition --
Spark Plugs 3 Per Cylinder
Cooling System Liquid Cooled
Clutch --
Fuel Delivery System --
Fuel Tank Capacity 13 litres
Reserve Fuel Capacity 1.5 litres
Emission Standard --
Fuel Type Petrol
Front Suspension Telescopic, 43mm Forks
Rear Suspension Multi-Step Adjustable Mono Shock
Braking System --
Rear Wheel Size 17 inch
Front Tyre Size 110/70-R17 Radial
Rear Tyre Size 150/60-R17 Radial
Front Brake Type Disc
Front Brake Size 320 mm
Rear Brake Type Disc
Rear Brake Size 230 mm
Calliper Type --
Wheel Type Alloy
Front Wheel Size 17 inch
Tyre Type Tubeless
Radial Tyres Yes
Front Tyre Pressure (Rider) --
Rear Tyre Pressure (Rider) --
Front Tyre Pressure (Rider & Pillion) --
Rear Tyre Pressure (Rider & Pillion) --
Kerb Weight 182 kg
Seat Height --
Ground Clearance 157 mm
Overall Width 813 mm
Overall Height 1,112 mm
Wheelbase 1,453 mm
Overall Length 2,156 mm
Chassis Type Beam Type Perimeter Frame
Standard Warranty --
Standard Warranty --
Odometer Digital
Speedometer Digital
Fuel Guage Yes
AHO (Automatic Headlight On)--
Shift LightYes
Headlight Type--
Digital Fuel Guage Yes
Tachometer Digital
Stand Alarm Yes
No. of Tripmeters 2
Tripmeter Type Digital
Low Fuel Indicator Yes
Low Oil Indicator Yes
Low Battery Indicator Yes
Clock Yes
Battery 12V - 8AH VRLA
Front storage box --
Under seat storage --
Mobile App Connectivity --
DRLs (Daytime running lights) --
Brake/Tail Light--
Turn Signal--
Pass LightYes
GPS & Navigation--
USB charging port--
Start TypeElectric Start
KillswitchYes
Stepped SeatYes
Pillion BackrestNo
Pillion GrabrailYes
Pillion SeatYes
Pillion FootrestYes
Additional features--
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As a proud owner who has traveled a remarkable 35,000 kilometers on my bajaj dominar 400 abs, i am delighted to share my captivating experience with this extraordinary machine. From the exhilarating performance to the stylish design, this bike has exceeded my expectatio
Inappropriate review? Report Abuse
Used it for
Everything
Owned for
> 1 yr
Ridden for
> 15000 kms
Got mileage of
27 kmpl
One of the best bike .. In this segment .. With best buying experience i ever feel .. Bajaj jodhpur ..Fully comfortable riding position and even pillion don’t feel any pain in back or anything like it .. Looks are really amazing if the Bajaj logo is not on engine than h
Inappropriate review? Report Abuse
Used it for
Everything
Owned for
3-6 months
Ridden for
5000-10000 kms
Got mileage of
30 kmpl
This is comfortable for cruising, breaking,speed and etc is best acceleration is like a horse and design like robot is very attracting but breaking is very poor ,terrible i think if rear break performance becomes well then rider will feel comfortable.I request to bajaj
Inappropriate review? Report Abuse
Used it for
Everything
Owned for
Never owned
Got mileage of
20 kmpl
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We ask the Dominar five questions that we know the Pulsar range managed to excel at, in one form or another.
Read more First Drive Review Bajaj Dominar 400 First Ride ReviewThe words ‘cruiser’ and ‘sporty’ might have been mutually exclusive till a while ago, but times have changed. Associated with low-slung and muscular styling, a torquey engine and a fat rear tyre, ‘power cruisers’ have introduced a degree of performance and charisma in a segment where it simply didn’t exist before.
Read more
The KTM 250 Duke ABS faces stiff competition from the Bajaj Dominar 400 and the Honda CBR250R in the Indian market. In that case, we take a look at how they stack up against each other on paper.
Looking at its pricing and purpose, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 ABS locks horns with the Bajaj Dominar 400 and the Jawa Forty Two. Let’s check which is better on paper.
The brochure for the 2019 Dominar 400 has been leaked revealing more details of the motorcycle.
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