Bajaj Dominar 250: Same Price, Other Options

The new Dominar 250’s pricing is at such a sweet spot that you could get different bikes from diverse genres for the same ballpark

Bajaj has launched the Dominar 250 at Rs 1.60 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Sure, it’s a whole Rs 30,000 more affordable than the Dominar 400 BS4. But if you think this is not exactly the kind of motorcycle you want, check out some interesting alternatives from different genres for the same ballpark pricing:

Suzuki Gixxer 250 BS4 Price: Rs 1,59,800

The primary rival for the Dominar 250 is the Suzuki Gixxer 250. Both bikes are do-it-all quarter-litre motorcycles with a little more emphasis on performance. In its BS4 guise, the Suzuki Gixxer 250 costs just Rs 200 less than the Bajaj Dominar 250 (Rs 1,59,800, ex-showroom Delhi). However, going by the price difference between the BS4 and BS6 versions of the 155cc Gixxer twins,  expect to pay a substantial premium for the soon-to-be-launched BS6-compliant version of the Gixxer 250.

The bike uses a unique oil-cooled 249cc SOHC (Single Overhead Camshaft) engine. It makes 26.5PS and 22.6Nm, which is 0.5PS and 0.9Nm less than the Dominar 250’s output. Also, the Dominar gets a more sophisticated engine (Dual Overhead Camshaft) with an additional spark plug. As far as the feature list is concerned, it gets a LED headlamp and tail lamp, a digital instrument cluster, and dual-channel ABS. While it gets a fatter 41mm fork, it is a conventional unit as opposed to the 37mm upside-down fork in the Dominar 250. 

More importantly, the availability of the Gixxer 250 BS4 might be limited as the deadline for BS6 transition is nearing. If you’re lucky, you could get good offers as select dealers try to get rid of the existing stock of BS4 models.

Jawa 42 BS6 (Teal) With Single-channel ABS Price: Rs 1,60,300

If you like motorcycles with a traditional design mated to a modern heart, the recently-launched Jawa Forty Two BS6 Teal colour variant with single-channel ABS is a good bet. It costs Rs 1,60,300 (ex-showroom Delhi), which is just Rs 300 more than the Dominar 250.

It comes with a bigger 293cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine. The engine was BS6-ready from the start, so Jawa says the power and torque figures of the BS6-compliant bike are similar to the BS4 version. In the BS4 model, the powerplant makes 27.37PS and 28Nm. Thanks to the bigger powerplant, it produces 0.37PS and more importantly, 4.5Nm more than the Dominar 250. This should result in good low-end grunt. 

Feature-wise, the motorcycle is pretty old-school a with halogen headlamp and an analogue speedometer. It gets a small digital inset to show the odometer readout. Sadly, there’s no tripmeter. Also, it compromises a bit on safety as the single-channel ABS acts only on the front wheel, leaving the rear wheel prone to locking up under hard braking.

KTM RC 125 BS6 Price: Rs 1,55,277

For around Rs 4,700 less than the Dominar 250, you could get the KTM RC 125 BS6. Priced at Rs 1,55,277 (ex-showroom Delhi), the KTM RC 125 will appeal to youngsters who are looking for the most affordable, fully faired hooligan from KTM. It is packed to the gills with features like twin projector headlamps, fully digital instrument cluster, front indicators mounted on the rearview mirrors, suspension by WP and disc brake on both ends.

However, its BS6-compliant engine makes just 14.5PS and 12Nm, which is considerably less powerful than the Dominar 250’s 27PS and 23.5Nm powerplant. So the engine could feel stressed while cruising at triple-digit speeds on the highway. Also, its aggressive ergonomics, thanks to the clip-on handlebars and rear-set footpegs, may not be all that comfortable for everyday commute in traffic-riddled roads. Also, like the Jawa, it makes do with a single-channel ABS.

Royal Enfield Classic 350 BS6 With Single-channel ABS: Rs 1,57,097

If there’s anything that’s even more retro than the Jawa, it has to be the Royal Enfield Classic 350 BS6. The single-channel ABS variant is priced at Rs 1,57,097 (ex-showroom Delhi). That’s a pretty steep asking price for a 346cc, air-cooled, fuel-injected motor that makes just 19.3PS. 

While the peak torque is pretty decent at 28Nm, the massive 195kg kerb weight considerably reduces the bike’s peppiness. If you’re a touring enthusiast, you’ll be happy if you stick to 80kmph, which is the sweet spot for this motorcycle, and it can cruise all day long at this seed. Feature-wise, there’s nothing that really stands out. The only point of concern is that the spoke wheels are shod with tubed tyres, so it tends to lose air rather quicker than tubeless tyres. 

Ather 450X Price: Rs 1.59 lakh

The only electric alternative in this list is the Ather 450X. It is also the most advanced, feature-packed, connected electric scooter you can buy in India. The Ather 450X costs Rs 1.59 lakh if you want to pay for it up-front (including FAME II subsidies, ex-showroom Bengaluru). 

It comes with 4G connectivity, a TFT touchscreen instrument cluster, all-LED lighting system and multiple rider modes (Eco, Ride, Sport and Warp). It offers a real-world range of 85km under Eco mode, which should be enough for your everyday commute. The 6kW (peak power) motor generates a peak torque of 26Nm. This coupled with a light kerb weight of 107kg helps the scooter accelerate from 0-60kmph in just 6.5 seconds, making it 1.4 seconds faster than the Aprilia SR 150! Since it runs on electricity and there are fewer moving parts, the overall ownership experience will be a lot more affordable. The only downside is that the scooter is available only in select cities as of now.