The Dominar 400 is doing fairly well for Bajaj in the market segment it is aimed at, i.e., touring. To aid the same, the Chakan based manufacturer has been updating it timely with modern-day necessities. But this time around, Bajaj has kept things simple and pepped the Dominar 400 up with touring-friendly accessories. Straight from the factory! And this brings us to one obvious question.
To make the Dominar 400 more suited for touring, Bajaj has plastered a few bits across the motorcycle. For creature comfort, it gets a tall visor for better wind protection while the handguards protect your fingers from tiny stones tossed by any vehicle ahead of you. More on the safety front of things, it gets an engine bash plate and a leg guard. And of course, there is a carrier along with a back stopper and a cast aluminium saddle stay (optional, sold separately at dealers) available for its touring credentials. There is a navigation stay on the handlebar so that you can mount your navigation device. But instead of navigating using a third-party device, we think that turn by turn navigation via smartphone connectivity would’ve been much more usable. Also, the Dominar now comes equipped with a USB charging port.
The mechanicals of the Dominar remains to be the same in this upgrade. Meaning, it uses the same 373.3cc DOHC liquid-cooled FI engine which produces 39.42bhp at 8800rpm and 35Nm at 6500rpm. It continues to have a 6-speed gearbox and can accelerate from a 0-100kmph run in just 7.1 seconds going all the way up to a top speed of 156kmph. The Dominar is suspended on 43mm USDs on the front and a mono-shock at the rear. Braking duties are handled by a 320mm disc up front and a single 230mm disc at the rear.
Commenting on the new Dominar 400 launch, Narayan Sundararaman – Head of Marketing, Bajaj Auto Ltd., said “Dominar 400 has been able to create a strong following for itself and has become the preferred choice for city riders and long-distance tourers, alike. Customers have pushed the bike into long distances and challenging geographies with aplomb, which inspired us to strengthen the sports tourer credentials in the new Dominar. Basis interactions with Dominar riders, we have thoughtfully designed and smartly handpicked the touring accessories that don’t just accentuate the style and tour-worthiness of the motorcycle but also amp up the rider’s safety. These accessories are factory-fitted and will ensure that the riders will have the best touring experience.”
The fully accessorised Dominar 400 is priced at Rs 2.17 lakh ex-showroom, which is a price premium of ₹5000 over the standard model. Having factory-fitted touring accessories available as an option liberates many owners who had to face the hassles of fitting the after-market parts and products to make their bikes more touring friendly. And in turn, take a risk of voiding the warranty. So the optional accessories are welcomed! However, there is no official word if the existing Dominar customers can benefit from the newly launched touring accessories.