We have been waiting for the Bajaj Dominar 400 for a long time now, and the Pune based two wheeler giant certainly made sure that the wait was totally worth it. Not only does the bike excel in design, equipment and performance figures, it also has been made available at a stellar asking price. Well, Bajaj says it plans to revolutionise the premium sports bike space. But with a host of establishing products like the Royal Enfield Classic 350, Honda CBR250R and Mahindra Mojo, can the Dominar shake the segment? We do a quick comparison to find out.
Bajaj Dominar 400
Engines and Transmission:
Having derived its engine from the KTM 390 Duke, the Bajaj Dominar 400 gets the biggest engine here and is unsurprisingly the most powerful as well. The 373.3cc DTS-i engine is tuned to produce 34.5bhp of power at 8000rpm and 35Nm of torque at 6500rpm. In comparison, the Mahindra Mojo matches the Dominar closely with its 295cc single-cylinder motor churning out 27bhp available at 8000rpm and 30Nm of torque available at 5500rpm.
Specifications Bajaj Dominar 400 Mahindra Mojo Honda CBR250R Royal Enfield Classic 350
Engine 373cc DTS-i 295cc 249cc 346cc
Power 34.5bhp @ 8000rpm 27bhp @ 8000rpm 26.15bhp @ 8500rpm 19.8bhp @ 5250rpm
Torque 35Nm @ 8500rpm 30Nm @ 5500rpm 22.9Nm @ 7000rpm 28Nm @ 4000rpm
Transmission 6-speed with Slipper Clutch 6-speed 6-speed 5-speed
Kerb Weight 182 kg 182 kg 163 kg 187 kg
In comparison, the 250cc unit on the Honda CBR250R makes 26.15bhp at 8500rpm and 22.9Nm of torque at 7000rpm. The Royal Enfield makes the least power in this comparison with the 346cc engine churning out 19.8bhp at 5280rpm and 28Nm of torque at 4000rpm. Barring the Classic, all bikes get liquid-cooling, while the engines are mated to 6-speed transmissions. The Classic continues to use an air-cooled motor that is paired to a 5-speed gearbox.
That being said, the Bajaj Dominar is also one of the heaviest bikes here at 182 kg, same as the Mojo but lighter than the Classic. The CBR tips the scales at 163 kg. However, Bajaj does say the Dominar can hit 0-100 kmph in 8.23 seconds. That’s something we will have to test in the real world.
Mahindra Mojo
Features:
The Bajaj Dominar 400 is a well thought out product and that shows in the number of features the bike has to offer. It is the first in the segment to feature a full-LED headlamp with Auto Headlamp On (AHO) function, while you also get a slipper clutch, illuminated switchgear, all digital instrument console with an auxiliary indicator unit on the fuel tank, split seats, twin disc brakes, dual-channel ABS among other bits.
The Mojo comes close with a host of features stacking up including the digital instrument console, illuminated switchgear, dual discs, twin pod headlamps with DRLs. It also gets a better suspension setup with USDs at the front as compared to the Dominar’s telescopic forks. The Mojo also rides on the better Pirelli tyres, as opposed to the MRF radials seen on the Dominar.
In comparison, the Honda CBR250R gets most of the features as the others including dual discs with Combi-ABS, fuel-injection, split seats, analog-digital instrument console among other bits. It is also the most tried and tested model here. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 being the retro-styled cruiser it is, does not boast of most features the rivals have to offer. The old school design and machinery with spoked wheels wrapped in CEAT tyres do tend to favour many.
Honda CBR250R
Safety:
Safety Bajaj Dominar 400 Mahindra Mojo Honda CBR250R Royal Enfield Classic 350
Brakes Dual Discs Dual Discs Dual Discs
Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)
ABS Yes No Yes No
The Honda CBR250R and Bajaj Dominar 400 are the two bikes in this comparison to feature ABS. The Mojo is expected to get one next year, and Royal Enfield is likely to introduce the same when the next major update comes for the Classic series.
Royal Enfield Classic 350
Price:
Factoring in both the ABS and non-ABS versions, the Dominar 400 manages to slay its competition by a healthy margin. In fact, Bajaj’s flagship even eats into the Pulsar RS 200’s segment partially which is priced at ₹ 1.33 lakh. We understand that the pricing is introductory, but even with a marginal hike expected later, the Dominar 400 will be an competitively priced offering.
Models (Non-ABS) Prices (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)
Royal Enfield Classic 350 ₹ 1,31,369
Bajaj Dominar 400 ₹ 1,36,000
Honda CBR250R ₹ 1,60,904
Mahindra Mojo ₹ 1,69,871
Starting with the non-ABS versions, the Royal Enfield Classic 350 is the cheapest here priced at ₹ 1.31 lakh, which makes it around ₹ 5000 cheaper than the Dominar which is priced at ₹ 1.36 lakh. Up next is the Honda CBR250R that is priced at ₹ 1.61 lakh, which makes it a good ₹ 25,000 more expensive than the Dominar. That said, what you do get is a full-faired model for the premium and Honda’s bomb proof reliability. The most expensive of all is the Mahindra Mojo priced at ₹ 1.69 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi), but is also a well built motorcycle. Neither of the models though manage to match the Dominar in sheer power. The non-ABS version also locks horns with the similarly priced KTM 200 Duke which starts at ₹ 1.44 lakh.
Models (ABS) Prices (Ex-Showroom, Delhi)
Bajaj Dominar 400 ₹ 1,50,000
Honda CBR250R ₹ 1,89,911
Coming to the ABS versions, only the Dominar and CBR250R qualify here, as the Mojo and Classic 350 do not have ABS equipped versions. The former though is expected to get one next year. The Dominar turns out to be the more affordable model by a hefty margin priced at ₹ 1.50 lakh, and is a good ₹ 40,000 cheaper when compared to the CBR’s asking price of ₹ 1.90 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom, Delhi).
Bajaj Dominar 400
Verdict:
In conclusion, the Bajaj Dominar is certainly a positive bet. With a host of tech on paper and more importantly a highly competitive pricing, the bike is most certainly expected to get the volumes that the company is aiming for. That said, a more comprehensive test is yet to be made and we are as eagerly waiting as you to test ride the Dominar and also do a shootout against its rivals. Do keep watch out for those stories soon.
[“source-ndtv”]