Introduction

The Domionar is pretty young. It was first launched in 2014 in the form of the well-known Pulsar CS400; and went into actual production at the end of 2016, officially as the Dominar 400. The journey of the Dominar 400 has been eventful and modified into something known as ‘hyper riding’ over the following years. It has kept the marketing division of the company on its toes with its muscular appeal. It is a well-thought package, rather a steppingstone to something more powerful and bigger. And the target base does not demand for a hooligan engine either and won’t find it intimidating at any point. 

How is the design? 

The 2019 Dominar 400 is just a little fancier than before. Visually, you may find this bike significantly unchanged, besides some changes in the bodywork that have been painted black and the swanky mirrors and mirror stalks. The wheels have undergone noticeable changes and instead of the gold colour it is now metal polished with black outer edges. The design is unconventionally bright for the original image of the bike. For over the past few years, Bajaj carried a noteworthy design language to its Pulsar line-up, each model flaunting a similar appearance as its predecessors with only some minor tweaks. The end-can of the exhaust has been given a double-end barrel which stealthily flaunts a black coat with a matte finish. The full LED headlight remains the same with some improved illumination. There are four bungee straps installed under the pillion which is considerably a thoughtful addition. The instrumental cluster is fully digital and a secondary display panel is placed into the tank at a peripheral vision. 

How is the performance?

This bike is faster than before with a 39.9 hp being produced at 8650 rpm and the same 35 Nm of torque at 7000 rpm. This bike immediately comes across as smoother and faster. Although it may not seem monumentally faster, it packs some extra punch which makes the 2019 Dominar 400 more confident and easy to take on the road. It feels easy and crisper at higher speed and manoeuvre with minimal efforts on long-distance rides. The response and effort of the throttle input has marginally improved and the niggle-free gearbox makes this bike live up to its ‘hyper-riding’ nature. Bajaj has achieved the power figures of KTM 390 Duke by turning to the DOHC set-up, without compromising with its three-spark plug styling. 

How does the Bajaj 2019 Dominar 400 ride? 

The Bajaj 2019 Dominar 400 has a good low-range and a rather stronger mid-range. The compression ratio has been increased for obtaining more power, causing the engine to feel lively. The bike pulls pretty well and picks up 100 kmph in only 7.1 seconds, faster than the previous model by 1 second. The clutch feel and the gearing continue to remain the same in the Bajaj 2019 Dominar 400, but the update in speed means one can ride it faster. The power-to-weight proportion of the bike has also been increased, making the ride a tad bit fun and sportier. Cruising the bike at 100 kmph is more enjoyable and smoother, thanks to the improved throttle response. The vibrations are drastically reduced and only felt at the seat and the foot-pegs. 

How comfortable is the Bajaj 2019 Dominar 400? 

This bike provides great comfortability even on long hauls and when ridden on uneven and bumpy terrains. The 2019 Dominar 400 has a plush suspension contributing to its overall comfortability. The added comfortability caters to the need of the younger target market who would want to use this bike for daily commuting. Bajaj worked hard with the ergonomics and seats are the same, well-crafted and generous. However, the smaller pillion does not make it quite of a family bike. The searing posture is almost straight and the rider won’t feel muscle aches from riding long distances. 

How's the tech? 

The 2019 Dominar 400 is propelled by a single-cylinder, liquid cooled, 4 valves, 373.3 cc engine with a fuel injection system. The powerful engine of the bike is coupled with a six-speed gearbox unit. The best thing about this bike is the dual channel ABS for improved braking controls. The front suspension is a telescopic USD fork, while at the rear this bike gets a mono-shock absorption with nitrox. The instrument cluster is fully digital and there is a secondary display panel on the fuel tank. Other specifications include engine-kill switch, gear indicator, low-oil indicator, pass light, fuel gauge and battery indicator. 

How's the mileage of the Bajaj 2019 Dominar 400? 

The Bajaj 2019 Dominar 400 can achieve an average mileage of 27 kmpl. It delivers a better average mileage than some of the well-known street bikes in its category. 

Is the Bajaj 2019 Dominar 400 good value for money? 

The Dominor 400 comes at a price of Rs 2.03 lakhs which means that it can undercut some of its closest rivals like the TVS Apache RR 310, BMW G310R, the new Honda CB300R and even its cousins in the same segment, the KTM 390 Duke and the KTM 250 Duke. 

How is the after sales service? 

Bajaj offers the first three services for free. Bajaj has good after sale reviews and a strong network of service hubs around the country. The first service of the 2019 Dominar 400 can be availed after 500-750 km and the second one after 4500-5000 km and the third one after 9500 or 10000 km. The following services are chargeable. 

Which motorbikes compete in this segment? 

Some of the motorbikes that compete in the same segment as the Bajaj 2019 Dominar 400 are TVS Apache RR 310, BMW G310R, Honda CB300R, KTM 390 Duke and KTM 250 Duke. 

Verdict (Value for money)

The Bajaj 2019 Dominar 400 is powerful and delivers excellent performance. It provides a comfortable riding experience even on long hauls. It also serves the purpose of daily commuting pretty well and comes at a lower price than most of its rivals in the same segment. Overall, this bike is a good value for money.