Full speed cruise

The Bajaj Dominar 400 hopes to make a dent in the 300cc-plus market

With the Dominar 400, Bajaj Auto wants to redefine motorcycle riding in India.  The Dominar 400 is powered by a single cylinder 373.3 cc, liquid cooled, fuel injected motor. While many believe it to be powered by the same engine found on the KTM Duke, Bajaj has reworked the design and shares only a few parts with KTM’s power plant. The motor puts out 34.5 hp at 8,000 rpm and 35 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm. The meat of the power is found in the mid-range and the Dominar reaches its peak performance with ease. While peak torque is achieved at 6,500 rpm, the engine belts out 28 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm, and the climb up to 35 Nm comes in another 3,500 rpm, thus catering to a thrilling ride with adequate power when required. 

The engine has been mated to a six-speed transmission. The bike is quick through the first three gears and gets going with ease. Bajaj has also added a slipper clutch to mitigate the effects of engine braking while decelerating. The bike can zip to 100 kmph from a standstill position in just 8.23 seconds.   

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The Dominar doesn’t lose its momentum easily and is comfortable cruising between 110 kmph and 120 kmph. The ride feels solid even in some tight corners. The rigid perimeter frame also enables precision steering of the motorcycle, allowing the rider to change direction at the blink of an eye. The suspension setup is on the softer side, soaking in most of the undulations and bumps with ease. 

The bike features a 320 mm disc up front and a 230 mm disc in the rear. The discs are linked to a two channel ABS setup that is incredibly efficient. The specially designed dual compound tyres provide good traction and grip.      

The bike flaunts an all-LED headlamp cluster that provides good visibility of the road, while also looking sharp. The overall design language is muscular with a stubby front and arched tank section. 

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Bajaj Dominar 400
 

Engine: 373.3cc, fuel injected, liquid cooled

Torque: 35Nm @ 6,500rpm

Power: 34.5hp @ 8,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed

Price: Rs 1.5 lakh

(ex-showroom, Delhi)

Reports: Motown India; www.motownindia.com