Everything You Wanted To Know About The Bajaj Dominar 400
The Dominar 400 allowed Bajaj to carve a space in the 400 CC motorcycle market segment. The bike was launched back in 2016. Till 2019, the bike did not receive any major updates. A comprehensive update package was applied to the D400 back in 2019. The overall sales figures of the bike have been commendable since 2019. So, what does the D400 offer that other 400 CC bikes do not?
This post aims to answer the above question in the following sections.
The price and mileage of the bike
Despite being a bike with a 400 CC engine, the real-world Dominar 400 mileage is 29 KMPL.
Apart from being one of the top mileage bikes in India in the 400 CC class, the D 400 is also aggressively priced. To put things into perspective, the D400 entails a single trim. The bike retails at the (ex-showroom Delhi) price of Rs. 2, 67,692.
Overall visual package
The Dominar 400 has a menacing road presence. The latest iteration of the bike is offered in a paint scheme that is marketed as Auroral Green. The bike also received upside-down fork suspension for its front wheel. The twin barrel exhaust manifold also reduces the overall visual bulk of the bike by several folds. The headlamp unit has been revised in terms of styling. The reworked headlamp unit has diminished dimensions. The pillion seat is equipped with a ‘D’ logo.
Overall electromechanical package
The latest iteration of the D 400 is powered by the same 375cc single-cylinder, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled engine. The engine is equipped with a dual overhead camshaft that controls 4 valves. The engine is also equipped with three spark plugs. The latest iteration of the engine produces a peak power of 39.5 bhp. The peak torque output on the other hand stands at 35Nm. The overall vibration levels of the engine have been reduced to a great extent. The USD fork suspension of the original D400 has been replaced with a 43 mm USD fork suspension.
This was done to enhance the overall ride comfort of the bike. The primary and secondary instrument clusters now display additional information. For instance, average and real-time fuel consumption as well as distance-to-service indicators are now shown by the primary instrument cluster. The secondary instrument cluster now also shows the gear position indicator.
The latest iteration of the D400 also sports rear-view mirrors that boast a more premium design. The rearview mirrors are mounted on cast aluminium stalks. The side stand of the bike has been reinforced. This was done to keep the bike upright even when it is loaded with luggage. The D400 has always been marketed as an endurance run and a touring-capable motorcycle. Hence, the addition of the bungee straps tucked under the seat of the bike is a welcome addition.
Overall ride quality
The Dominar 400 mileage has always been a fast motorcycle. The latest electromechanical upgrades allowed the D400 to become adept at covering huge distances as well!
It doesn’t take the bike to take long to touch 100 KMPH from 0 KMPH. On top of this, even after 130 KMPH, the bike’s engine continues to feel full of energy. The mid-range of the engine is the talk of the proverbial town. On top of this, the engine has been tuned to deliver power to the rider in a linear fashion. One can touch 120 KMPH in just 7000 RPM. The redline for the engine has been electronically limited to 9500rpm. Till the engine is below 8000 RPM, the vibrations are contained. After 8000 RPM, one can feel engine vibrations through the handlebar, the seats and the footrests of the bike.
The overall response of the transmission on the bike is sleek. The overall throttle response is smooth as well. The 43 MM USD allows the bike to remain more stable at straight lines and curves. The dual-disc + dual-channel ABS braking setup works amazingly at all speeds.
The D400 is one of the best value-for-money motorcycles in the 400 CC class. The asking price for the bike is reasonable as well. The bike’s ownership costs are low and spare parts are reasonably priced as well. For better insights, taking a test ride is highly recommended!