Bajaj Dominar 400

The Bajaj Dominar 400’s story is a slightly sad one. I remember being very excited about the Dominar’s arrival back in 2016 since it promised to make performance accessible to everyone. A 400cc, nearly 40HP bike well under the Rs 1.5 lakh ex-showroom mark was exciting and I’m sure there were plenty of people like me back then. But then eventually, what could’ve been a revolutionary bike ended up being nothing quite like it and of late, it seems to have become even a bit obsolete. Here’s why and how exactly it happened: 

Bajaj Dominar 400 design

The Dominar 400’s design hasn’t really changed over the years but it’s still a muscular looking bike that a lot of people find quite handsome. The wide fuel tank, chunky fork, angry-looking LED headlight and the bike’s overall heft make it look like a big bike. And because there aren’t a lot of Dominars out on the road, I find myself turning my head and looking at one each time it passes by. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 colours

The Dominar 400 is on sale in 3 colours: Canyon Red, Aurora Green, and Charcoal Black. The black colour looks a bit too subtle on an otherwise handsome bike and there are a lot of red and green Dominars out there. I feel Bajaj should’ve given the bike a bit more variety in the colour schemes and even better graphics which would’ve definitely made it look more premium. The Pulsar N250, for example, has Racing Red and Metallic White colour schemes, both of which look quite nice and a similar treatment could be given to the Dominar 400. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Wheels

There are 17-inch wheels at both ends on the Doinar 400. At the front is a 110/70 tyre and at the rear it’s a 150/60 unit, both of which are radial units. These are standard tyre sizes in this range so you can easily get better tyres if you want to. As for the wheels, I actually quite like the 10-spoke alloy design, for it looks premium and classy. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 build quality

The Dominar 400 looks like a muscular, rugged bike and it feels that way too, in terms of its build quality. Its paint levels feel premium, the plastics don’t feel cheap and the overall heavy feel makes it feel solid and well built. The finish levels are good too, for there are no ugly welding spots to look at.

Bajaj Dominar 400 Safety Features

For 2025, the Bajaj Dominar 400 got a traction control system, something the bike needed for a while, especially given that even the smaller Pulsar N250 had it. Given that the Dominar 400’s engine enjoys being revved out, a traction control system goes a long way in keeping things safe. Apart from that, there is a 320mm disc at the front and a 230mm disc at the rear along with dual-channel ABS as standard. 

One thing which might not come under a ‘safety feature’ but I really appreciate is the Dominar’s brilliant headlight. A lot of modern day LED headlights are absolutely useless but the Dominar is different. It has a strong throw and even when commuting early in the day or late in the night, I had tons of visibility. Made as a tourer, it’s nice to see Bajaj has thought for those tourers who like to start early in the day. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Convenience Features

In its 2025 update, the Dominar 400 also got a new console straight from the NS400Z. And that means the Dominar 400 has a traction control system as well as 4 riding modes: rain, road, sport and off-road. Now while it is a fully digital console, it’s not the easiest to use and read. There’s a lot of information crammed into a relatively small space and that has compromised on the font size. Apart from the speed and gear position indicator, things like the odometer, ride mode and even tachometer are quite hard to read at first glance while riding. The dot matrix screen on the right side doesn’t have enough contrast for it to be properly readable on the move under direct sunlight.

Bajaj Dominar 400 Rider Comfort

Since the Dominar 400 was made as a tourer, it’s not surprising that comfort levels for the rider are spot on. The rider triangle is nice and relaxed and the overall riding posture is quite upright with just a little lean in to reach the handlebar. The lean is just enough to make the ride feel engaged and sporty without being too extreme. The seat itself feels quite nice. While it is soft enough to feel comfortable, it’s not too soft that’d make the rider just sink into the seat. As for the seat height, the seat feels quite approachable for riders of all heights. Even my 5’6 friend is more than comfortable climbing onto his Dominar, which he has been riding for almost 5 years now. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Pillion Comfort

The Dominar 400’s pillion comfort levels are acceptable but not brilliant. It’s not a stupidly tall seat so even shorter pillions will find it relatively easy to climb onto the back of the bike. As I mentioned earlier, the seat itself is quite comfortable so even the pillion will feel at home back there. That said, things can get a bit uncomfortable over long rides. But then that’s more to do with all bikes that aren’t ADVs. Adventure bikes have a lot of space and no other bike format can match them in terms of pillion comfort. If you plan to tour a lot with a pillion, you might want to look elsewhere. But for short city commutes, the Dominar 400 does an above average job of keeping the pillion comfortable.

Bajaj Dominar 400 Engine Details

The Dominar 400’s 373.3cc liquid-cooled engine makes 40PS at 8800rpm and 35Nm at 6500rpm. It has a six speed gearbox and also gets a slip-and-assist clutch. This engine is derived from the 2nd generation KTM 390 Duke and it enjoys being ridden hard and being revved out. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 City Performance

As I mentioned above, the Dominar’s engine prefers being in the upper half of the revs. Under 5000/6000rpm, the bike doesn’t really have a lot of power and it wants you to be in the right gear, or else it’ll take its own sweet time to get going. So if you like riding in a spirited manner and executing those quick overtakes, you will have to be in the right gear, or you may find yourself between cars moving at a much slower pace than you thought you would. 

That said, once you are in the right gear, the Dominar 400’s acceleration is brisk and the bike can feel quite exciting. Like the 2nd gen 390 Duke, the bike really comes into its own after 6000rpm and you’ll enjoy being there. What would’ve made things sweeter is a quickshifter. I know it sounds like I’m asking for a lot but remember even the Pulsar NS400Z now gets a quickshifter. So it’s not far-fetched at all to wish that Bajaj gave one to the Dominar 400 as well. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Highway Performance

Made with touring in mind, the Dominar 400’s highway performance is quite brilliant. The engine feels comfortable and relaxed at speeds upto 120kmph and it feels reasonably smooth at even 7000rpm. The bike’s heft also makes it feel very stable on the highway at high speeds. The windscreen is on the smaller side but it does a good enough job of protecting the rider from major windblasts. Even with my 6’0 frame, I felt that the wind blasting on my face was quite reasonable and even after an hour of riding out on the highway, I didn’t feel particularly tired. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Mileage

In the couple of days that I rode the Dominar 400, my mileage figures were right under 30kmpl. For a 400cc bike with a performance-oriented engine, the Dominar’s mileage is quite respectable. If you like taking it easy and riding at a gentle pace, the bike could even return 32-33kmpl. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Underpinnings

The Dominar 400 gets a chunky 43mm USD fork with 135mm of travel. There’s a monoshock at the rear with 110mm of wheel travel. The bike is built on Bajaj’s famed perimeter frame. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 City Handling

While the engine enjoys being ridden hard, the Dominar 400 isn’t a bike that you can really hustle around the city with its nimble handling, like say the KTM 390 Duke. And that’s mainly down to the 193kg kerb weight. If that sounds on the higher side, that’s because it is. And the bike feels every bit of that weight especially at lower speeds. The handlebar feels heavy at crawling, bumper-to-bumper traffic speeds and it’ll feel like you’ve to muscle the bike to get it to move quickly or even go through the narrow gaps when trying to filter through the traffic. And when you combine that with the fact that you’ve to keep the engine in the higher revs, the Dominar 400 isn’t the easiest bike to ride through the city, especially for newer, less experienced riders. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Highway Handling

On the highway too, the Dominar 400’s overall stability means there are compromises in terms of its agility. That said, because the speeds are higher, you don’t feel as much of the weight as you would in the city. You need much lower effort to change directions and just a little nudge at the handlebar does the trick. In sum, changing lanes at high speeds feels stable but far from rapid. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Braking

The Dominar 400 has a 320mm disc at the front and a 230mm one at the rear along with dual-channel ABS. The brakes have good initial bite and in all cases, I never really felt like the braking power was alarmingly less. That said, here’s where the weight takes away from the experience as well. Given its weight, the bike doesn’t stop as well and sharply as lighter bikes in this class do, like say the KTM 390 Duke or even the Triumph Speed 400. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Ride Quality

The Dominar 400 feels comfortable and stable for most of the part. The suspension is tuned well and in the city even if you go over the worst potholes, the bike will never really feel unstable. In fact, a 90kg friend of mine travels with his equally heavy wife on his Dominar and still the bike doesn’t really scrape its belly against even the worst speed breakers. At higher speeds, the suspension feels stiff enough for the bike to not feel bouncy or wobbly even if you try to make quick direction changes.

Should you buy the Bajaj Dominar 400?

The Dominar 400 isn’t a bad bike. It can tour well, can be a bit of fun in the city and looks nice for most people. But you can’t help but feel that it’s a bit obsolete. Even Bajaj itself hasn’t paid as much attention to the Dominar as can be seen in the lack of major cosmetic or hardware updates to the bike over the 10 years that it has been around. 

And what makes things worse is just the amount of 400s the Indian market has seen over the past couple of years. If you want performance, you’ve the 390 Duke, retro enthusiasts will love the Harley-Davidson X440 and if you want something in the middle, there’s the Triumph Speed 400. If budget is an issue, the Hero Mavrick 440 and the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z make for excellent value for money choices. And finally if something exotic is what you’re after, there’s the Husqvarna Svartpilen 401. In short, these 5 bikes cover most types of buyers and among these, the Dominar 400 feels a bit dated. So while it’s not a bad bike in itself, if you’re in the market looking for a 400cc bike, there are much better options. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 Variants

The Bajaj Dominar 400 is on sale in 1 variant only with 3 colour schemes. The bike’s priced at Rs 2,38,682 (ex-showroom Delhi).

Bajaj Dominar 400 vs Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z

The Pulsar NS400Z is more exciting, a lot more affordable and now even gets a quickshifter, something that the Dominar 400 misses out on. So if fun is what you’re looking for, the Pulsar is easily the better of the two. Where the Dominar 400 edges over the Pulsar by a little bit is the space on offer, which can make touring that much easier. 

Bajaj Dominar 400 vs Royal Enfield Classic 350 

The Dominar 400 was originally brought in to take on the Classic 350 but failed to do so. The Classic 350 is an authentically retro bike that focuses on chilled-out riding while having a very macho appeal. The Dominar 400, on the other hand, feels a bit confused because its engine is rev-happy but its weight means you can’t ride it hard like say a 390 Duke. In short, most of you might just enjoy the Classic’s easygoing nature a bit more.

📝Redditors’ Opinions on Bajaj Dominar 400

Reddit users often describe the Bajaj Dominar 400 as a power cruiser with a strong road presence and great highway touring ability. The engine’s refinement, performance, and muscular looks attract many riders. However, concerns about weight, suspension tuning, and city practicality are frequently discussed. Opinions are balanced, with many praising its value-for-money proposition, while others mention missed opportunities in comfort and refinement.

✅6 Positive Comments

• I wud say go for Dominar instead of Bear. Bear is like a high maintenance gf. Also the suspension of Bear is too stiff, it's plush on the Dominar. Mileage plays a big role too. says---West-Basket5342

• Perfectly summed up. Owned this bike for 6 years and 56000 kms and it was only bike which ive had an absolute blast in infact  it was a downgrade from the 2013 ninja 650 to the dominar but i never felt it was a compromise. says—JohnConstatine-1806

• Congrats to op on getting a D400! Wish I had gotten it online as well but it was not available online last year. Costed me around 3.3L plus 😭The bike is a beast to handle and I am sure you'll enjoy it. Be safe and enjoy riding!" says—-out_lost_in_the_dark

• GT 650 on long drives will give you back pain, Either go for interceptor 650 or Dominar. Personally I would recommend going with Dominar considering bad roads and long commutes. says—Fit-days

•  It is still legendary when it comes to touring. Dominar 400 is rare in city streets but very normal on the weekend touring bikes.says-----EGearMoto

• I want it. I need it. This sub 500CC class boom has arrived right on time says—ShortShiftMerchant

⚖️ 3 Mixed Comments

• The Dominar on the other hand is a great value for money bike that is not quite amazing at anything. It can go really fast in straight line, though not as fast as the KTMs. It has a lot of touring chops with the big seats, the seating position and tail rack for a lot more luggage if you buy the touring version. It is the more sensible bike, but it might not amaze you in anything if you have ridden better bikes before. says—-------TheKnowledgeableOne

• In my opinion Dominar will be a better choice. Better brakes, Electronics,Sporty etc. RE bikes usually fall into bikes with high maintenance. And I felt the RE engine heats more than Dominar. But the twin cylinder engine of RE hits different. Still take a test ride. says-----EmployPractical

• 400NS gives you more for less. It has TC, adjustable levers etc (which may be in new Domi too). But yes look wise I have always loved Dominor in its green color. But it's not a recommended buy now. I am waiting for updated mavrick 440 which I saw in Auto Expo. says--------EasyRider_Suraj

  ❌ 8 Negative Comments

• Its not the Dominar is a bad bike but Bajaj treats this bike as a unwanted step child... doesnt market it or care for its sell. the service experience for dominar is pathetic in my case... service centre guys are always trying to sell one part or another for this bike without even properly inspecting... i had a fuse issue and they made me change the battery for no reason... guess what... fuse issue persisted even after changing battery... they didnt even care about the fact that they made me spend 4000 for no aparent reason...says—-One-Ad1325

• Are you keeping the 250? Use that for when you want something sensible and go for the emotional now, if the Continental and Dominar are in the same ballpark budget wise I'd pick the continental anyday even though I know it's less comfortable. Comfort is subjective, see how your body fits on both, the dominar always felt unwieldy to me”says—-----publicStaticVolatile

• Secondary display looked badass, no doubt but didn’t really do much on the ride. The real issue with the Dominar is its sheer bulk. It’s a beast to handle. If they were serious about calling it an update, shaving off some of that weight should’ve been the first thing on the list.. says—Odd_Kaleidoscope8410

• Display is more like a downgrade to be honest. Even got rid of the secondary display
  says—TheDarkKnight04

• Bajaj has absolutely ignored Dominar series and it's been due upgrade now after many years. says—-colt0906

• Dominar 400 didn’t do well in the market... only few things that they need to sort out is the weight and correct pricing.says--Anxietybeing

• Actually domi is a bulky with vibrations vehicle. The features at this price point is the only plus. says—-Goldwyn1995

• It’s an old shell and an old engine. Only things new are the stickers, instrument cluster, and headlamp.Everything else is more than a decade old and has sold in tens of thousands. So yeah, low pricing is definitely no surprise with close to zero investment involved.."says —-the1672VTECboi

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