New Bajaj Dominar 400 First Ride Review

• Dec 18, 2016
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Dashing looks, stunning performance, a bag loaded with features, and a killer price tag has just got a new name, Bajaj Dominar 400. Bajaj began their Pulsar legacy way back in 2001, where it proved to be one of the greatest successes in the Indian market. People all over the country believe in Bajaj simply just because it is made in their own nation. The Pulsar 200 NS was a phenomenal bike, which made the whole country go mad for it, and still has high demands, even after it has been discontinued in India. Similarly the RS200 also has set a benchmark in its segment.

In the year 2014 Bajaj surprised the market with a concept called CS400, meaning Cruising Sport 400. Later the motorcycle was named VS400 and Kratos. On the 15th of December 2016, Bajaj unveiled their most anticipated flagship motorcycle of the year, something that was most heard and most searched motorcycle on the internet the Dominar 400. What surprised the market the most was the price tag. At a price tag of 1.38 lakhs (Ex-showroom, Chennai) for a non ABS version and 1.58 lakhs (Ex-showroom, Chennai) for the ABS version. Competing against the KTM Duke 390, Mahindra Mojo and last but not the least Royal Enfield 350, can the Dominar dominate the segment? Let’s find out-

Styling- At the first glace the D400 looks like a pure street fighter, with a mean and masculine look that no other motorcycle would want to mess with. The headlamp looks simple, the full LED mosaic headlamp with balanced white light and AHO lights are first in the segment and are neatly integrated providing stupendous visibility for night rides. The indicators are placed above the head lamps on the visor and look good when they are turned on. The tail lights look similar to the 200NS but with a cleaner layout. Ok fine it looks like the Ducati Diavel I didn’t want to lie on that. A chiseled tank set up, 320mm front disc brakes, mono shock suspension make the motorcycle look astounding. The canister exhaust is aimed to centralize mass for a better handling. Bajaj haven’t compromised on the quality either.

Instrument cluster and Switchgear- The instrument cluster is split into two parts one in its normal position and the other on the tank. The first instrument cluster is a fully digital white backlit display that houses a Tacho-meter, Speedometer, Fuel level indicator, Two trip meters, and a Clock. The second instrument cluster is placed on the fuel tank as seen on the Ducati Diavel, where the low battery, check engine, coolant warning light, ABS and side-stand indictors are displayed with the Bajaj emblem housed in the middle. The switchgear too is back light for a better night time visibility. The buttons on the switch gear feel premium.

Ergonomics- Weighing in at 182 kg kerb, the motorcycle certainly isn’t light, but feels light as you begin to ride it. The center set foot pegs and single piece handle bar do not offer a very sporty riding posture, but Bajaj has ensured that the rider feels comfortable for long rides. The motorcycle feels easy to flicker under traffic conditions. The split seats feel soft and plush.

Engine and Performance- When the engine is turned on, it doesn’t offer a very bassy note that grabs the attention of the crowd, it feels like something similar to the RS200, but does sound pretty loud. The Dominar 400 is mounted to an engine that offers 373.2cc single cylinder, triple spark engine with a power delivery of 35bhp at 8000 rpm and 35 Nm of torque at 6500 rpm. Bajaj claims that 28 Nm of torque begins to kick in at 3000 rpm itself. The power doesn’t urge out too much for city rides until you push the bike hard, making city rides comfortable.

When I rode the bike I felt a good torque kicking in at 5000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox with a Slipper clutch which is the game changer. The Slipper clutch feels soft to damp offering good back up, avoiding wheel locks during aggressive downshifts. The gear shifts are short but could have been improved. The vibrations are nil and the engine feels buttery smooth. Bajaj has offered liquid cooled heat exchanger to reduce unwanted engine heat ups for city as well as highway riding conditions. The company claims a top speed of 148 kmph in less than 20 seconds and a 0-100 kmph mark in 8.23 seconds similar to the Benelli TNT300.


Braking and Suspension- This is where the bike comes in with two variants, an ABS variant and a Non-ABS variant. It is always the buyer’s choice to go for the variant he would like. I strongly suggest going for the ABS variant since Bajaj has integrated the dual-channel ABS system to the front 320 mm and the rear 230 mm disc brakes sourced by Bybre. We had received the ABS variant for the test ride and the brakes proved to be phenomenal with amazing stopping power and absolutely nil lock nor any lack in response up even under very hard braking conditions. Bajaj claim that the ABS variant will come to a standstill position from 100 kmph in under 9 seconds within a distance of 46.19 meter. The front suspension system has a 43 mm fork which is the largest in the segment and the rear receives a dual spring mono shock suspension system. The suspensions offer decent comfort, damping a good amount of shock that the bike would experience. Verdict-

The cons were so hard to find, I had to just pick up on some minor niggles that every motorcycle must have. The Dominar 400 has been launched to setup a benchmark for Bajaj in the cruising segment and has surely dominated its rivals in almost any aspect. Stay tuned to BikesIndia as we will bring you soon a detailed Test Ride Review of Dominar 400.

Review By: Rishath Suresh
Photographs By: Joel Samuel Raj
Ride Courtesy: KLN Motors, Chennai