The kind of choice the motorcycle market is slowly churning out in India is something that’s grabbing a lot of attention, even from people who didn’t prefer looking at motorcycles a few years ago until they realized how empty and boring their lives really are. Even with the recent EICMA Expo, one can easily get a hint of the path that is being traversed upon which only gives the rider, the benefit of doubt, more brands to choose from, more engines to choose from and most importantly, more price ranges to choose from. If not presently, but definitely in the near future.
If you look at the way the Dominar’s placed and priced, it is rather confusing as to who this motorcycle is aimed at? Because firstly, it might not be very appealing by the way it looks to many, so a lot of the college kids may not prefer to use it as a tool to impress girlfriends, and boyfriends. It may not be for the speed freaks either because there’s KTMs and other ‘premium’ brands for them. Neither is it for those poor fellas who prefer to work as miserable slaves on every weekday of their life, save up money, and not use it, because they’d prefer riding a Hero Honda Splendor or a scooter.
There’s Harley Davidson and cruisers from Triumph for people who just turned 50, as they grow older and realize money isn’t everything in life. For the track enthusiasts, this motorcycle isn’t the perfect partner in crime so forget about them either. Who’s left? Celebrities, Business Tycoons? Well, the Dominar is too cheap for them and it doesn’t have enough ‘name and fame’ for them to be able to show off by the highway, it won’t do justice to their leather Dainese suits as well! Bitter Truth, isn’t it?
I personally think that the Dominar is for the exceptions, for people who don’t fit into just one segment of the society. For people who aren’t affected easily by adverts and psychological segmentation of products. It is probably for the practical breed of people who don’t like too much speed but prefer a whiff of it for those short early morning rides with the ‘wifey’ or for quick sprints to the office, in formal clothing. Not that this can’t be used by someone for touring because it is smooth, comfortable, pragmatic, fuel efficient and has the same torque figures as the KTM Duke 390. It is probably for that traveler though who prefers to cruise on a motorcycle which is suited for long distance riding but isn’t specifically a cruiser or tourer. The Dominar stands exactly at that threshold which separates mileage and power, comfort and performance, cruiser and street, cheap and premium. It is a motorcycle which is on neither side of the game and hence that makes it difficult to stereotype it.
Such motorcycles are therefore very rare. You can’t put a badge on them. The Dominar is a motorcycle with a personality and character that allows itself to blend in with any rider. Flexible is not what I would exactly call it because to be flexible, one needs try and be but this one already is by instinct. No matter what purpose you use it for, it would just blend in without feeling too much out of place. It is a motorcycle with a character that would just gel with whatever the rider intends to use it for and thanks to Bajaj, the replacement parts wouldn’t cost a bomb either! If you’re thinking of using it on dirt, I can understand your pain but you’ll have to continue to play with your Impulse for some more time. The Dominar though might throw you off its saddle if you complain about its introductory price but don’t you take that point seriously!
By: Ssaajan Manoj Jogia
If you look at the way the Dominar’s placed and priced, it is rather confusing as to who this motorcycle is aimed at? Because firstly, it might not be very appealing by the way it looks to many, so a lot of the college kids may not prefer to use it as a tool to impress girlfriends, and boyfriends. It may not be for the speed freaks either because there’s KTMs and other ‘premium’ brands for them. Neither is it for those poor fellas who prefer to work as miserable slaves on every weekday of their life, save up money, and not use it, because they’d prefer riding a Hero Honda Splendor or a scooter. There’s Harley Davidson and cruisers from Triumph for people who just turned 50, as they grow older and realize money isn’t everything in life. For the track enthusiasts, this motorcycle isn’t the perfect partner in crime so forget about them either. Who’s left? Celebrities, Business Tycoons? Well, the Dominar is too cheap for them and it doesn’t have enough ‘name and fame’ for them to be able to show off by the highway, it won’t do justice to their leather Dainese suits as well! Bitter Truth, isn’t it?
I personally think that the Dominar is for the exceptions, for people who don’t fit into just one segment of the society. For people who aren’t affected easily by adverts and psychological segmentation of products. It is probably for the practical breed of people who don’t like too much speed but prefer a whiff of it for those short early morning rides with the ‘wifey’ or for quick sprints to the office, in formal clothing. Not that this can’t be used by someone for touring because it is smooth, comfortable, pragmatic, fuel efficient and has the same torque figures as the KTM Duke 390. It is probably for that traveler though who prefers to cruise on a motorcycle which is suited for long distance riding but isn’t specifically a cruiser or tourer. The Dominar stands exactly at that threshold which separates mileage and power, comfort and performance, cruiser and street, cheap and premium. It is a motorcycle which is on neither side of the game and hence that makes it difficult to stereotype it.
Such motorcycles are therefore very rare. You can’t put a badge on them. The Dominar is a motorcycle with a personality and character that allows itself to blend in with any rider. Flexible is not what I would exactly call it because to be flexible, one needs try and be but this one already is by instinct. No matter what purpose you use it for, it would just blend in without feeling too much out of place. It is a motorcycle with a character that would just gel with whatever the rider intends to use it for and thanks to Bajaj, the replacement parts wouldn’t cost a bomb either! If you’re thinking of using it on dirt, I can understand your pain but you’ll have to continue to play with your Impulse for some more time. The Dominar though might throw you off its saddle if you complain about its introductory price but don’t you take that point seriously!By: Ssaajan Manoj Jogia
