Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

[I Ride Alone]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Did anyone try to modify/remove the rear mudguard?
It looks very ordinary, sort of brings down the rest of the bike.

It serves the purpose though.

[xearoum]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

@alok urs Congrats on ur purchase .

Point 4, durability of bajaj .
Unlike Re bajaj is not a money pit(i have used 2 re).

Hi Ijs, thanks for letting us know about your experience with Bajaj. There are too many people, bashing pulsar's about reliability. I know these boys have not been very kind to their bikes but the scare had given me discomfort at times. If there was a fz25 or Duke250 with ABS, I probably would have never considered D400. Happy to report that my experience has been positive with D400, apart from a noise above 4K RPM, bike has been giving me lots of smiles.
and Yes, I will go ahead and compare it with RE, Honda and Mahindra(because I have owned all these brands) and they are all commuter at the end of the day.

About RE, My father still owns a bullet(since1969). This is when they used to import it directly from England. Yes, it gets rusted and we keep modding it. but apart from this one time electrical failure, bullet has always been fuss free. Things might have changed with the modern bullet though.

[drvmtm]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Hello riders, this is my first post in this thread but I was following the thread since it was started and have gone through every post, I bought a white D400 abs a month ago and have covered around 1000kms. Previously I owned a Honda unicorn, Hero Honda Karizma ZMR, CBR 250r STD, CBR 250r ABS and now the D400. Having ridden Honda engines for 10yrs n close to 2lakh kms I feel the same towards D400 as you feel for RE.

Each bike has its own pros n cons so lets not bash any manufacturer coz riding is an experience and what matters is the feeling you get when you ride a bike, I bet D400 cant give the same feeling of an RE.

Coming to D400 my list of pros n cons when compared to Honda bikes :

Pros
1. Power - engine is well balanced for more power and torque at 35bhp and 35NM which pulls two adults effortlessly but u do notice a drop in pick.

2. Looks - bike looks rly cool wen viewed from the front and rear quarter angles. The headlamp adds a character to bike.

3. Brakes - the abs braking system is on par with CBR 250.

Cons
1. Engine Refinement - can never even come close to a Honda. The gearbox is too clunky and slipper clutch is not of much use for street riding as we don't downshift rapidly like in track riding. Engine feels very rough n lots of vibration.

2. Rider comfort - the ergonomics of ZMR was perfect for touring, I have covered 400 kms without any pitstop and didn't break a sweat ( both the rider and the bike ). Even though CBR 250 was a bit on the racier side the rider seat was perfect for long distance touring.

3. Quality - I don't have to explain more on this as its a well known fact about the quality of bajaj bikes, just to give u guys an example one of my friend who works in chakan plant showed a pic of pulsar frame which had a crack, they just welded the crack and it was tested OK.

4. Durability - u cant keep any bajaj bike in pristine condition for more than 2 yrs

5. Mileage - m getting a poor mileage of 25 kmpl after 1st service. Before i used to get 19kmpl.

6. High Speed Stability - I cudnt go beyond 142 kmph on speedo as the bike started wobbling in light wind. I have touched 165 kmph on speedo on cbr 250 and the bike was rock solid. The D400 is not aerodynamic and is not designed for high speeds, it is perfectly stable upto 130kmph. Absence of a wind shield tires the rider soon and cant be ridden above 100kmph for long.

7. Vibrations - the ZMR known as king of vibrations was far easier to fix the vibes from the fairings using a double sided tape but u can never fix those annoying vibes in D400 between 3500-6000 rpm.

8. Suspension - both front and rear suspension are very hard on rider and makes u feel uncomfortable to ride in city with humps n potholes.

9. Pillion seat - the seat is very flat and doesn't offer any lumbar support, the pillion foot pegs are rear set placed very high, a small twist of throttle makes the pillion fly off the seat. A pillion of height above 5'10" feels uncomfortable to sit. The grab rails are only for aesthetics and not for practical use. Compared to length of the bike the seat length is very small, the bike was designed for posing rather than riding I guess.

10. Headlight - this is one of the MSP for this bike but its actually not a practical design. The white led headlight doesn't perform well on wet roads and this of the beam is too less. Strictly it isclimited to city use and not meant for touring.

11. Mirrors - height of the mirror post is too short and visibility is only 60%.

12. Maneuveribility - the turning radius is too big to ride in busy city traffic conditions. Feels like riding a car.

13. Weight - inspite of having a fibre fuel tank the bike weighing 182kgs is a big let down. This drops the power to weight ratio and also affects mileage.

There are many other issues with this bike like power loss while riding, faulty fuel gauge, oil seal leakage on a brand new bike, etc.

I am not happy with this purchase and definitely not a worthy replacement for my cbr 250. I think I got carried away by the overwhelming response from the early owners and paid reviewers.

I may upgrade sooner or later to a bigger cc tourer and D400 wud be my secondary bike, no offence to fellow owners but this is jus my experience with this bike from past one month.

Same here. Changed from Cbr 250 abs. Echoing my heart out.
Made few mods to make life easy like lights horn rear carrier. Seat mod next on the list.

[IamAditya]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Bajaj has Increased ₹2000 for both variants of D400!

[drvmtm]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Better rear view mirror for dominar.

Tried apache mirrors but not happy as the mirror is not even surfaced. So have to think about it. Any recommendations.

[Ijs]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Bajaj has Increased ₹2000 for both variants of D400!

Still worth every penny. It is a high class product from bajaj. It has been launched internationally also and response is very good.
I am hoping u recover soon and buy something like it or better Dominar itself.

Better rear view mirror for dominar.

Tried apache mirrors but not happy as the mirror is not even surfaced. So have to think about it. Any recommendations.

I have seen thunderbird kind of mirrors on one bike and that looks big enough to provide good view.

[sman999]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Hello riders, this is my first post in this thread but I was following the thread since it was started and have gone through every post, I bought a white D400 abs a month ago and have covered around 1000kms. Previously I owned a Honda unicorn, Hero Honda Karizma ZMR, CBR 250r STD, CBR 250r ABS and now the D400. Having ridden Honda engines for 10yrs n close to 2lakh kms I feel the same towards D400 as you feel for RE.


Coming to D400 my list of pros n cons when compared to Honda bikes :

Pros
1. Power - engine is well balanced for more power and torque at 35bhp and 35NM which pulls two adults effortlessly but u do notice a drop in pick.

2. Looks - bike looks rly cool wen viewed from the front and rear quarter angles. The headlamp adds a character to bike.

3. Brakes - the abs braking system is on par with CBR 250.

Cons
1. Engine Refinement - can never even come close to a Honda. The gearbox is too clunky and slipper clutch is not of much use for street riding as we don't downshift rapidly like in track riding. Engine feels very rough n lots of vibration.

May be "you" dont downshift rapidly. You are the first person i came across who actually said slipper clutch as a con. Regarding engine try the 2016 ktm duke.

2. Rider comfort - the ergonomics of ZMR was perfect for touring, I have covered 400 kms without any pitstop and didn't break a sweat ( both the rider and the bike ). Even though CBR 250 was a bit on the racier side the rider seat was perfect for long distance touring.

So whats your point on D400 here?

3. Quality - I don't have to explain more on this as its a well known fact about the quality of bajaj bikes, just to give u guys an example one of my friend who works in chakan plant showed a pic of pulsar frame which had a crack, they just welded the crack and it was tested OK.

Agreed! Its on the downside to cut costs. But you get what you pay for.

4. Durability - u cant keep any bajaj bike in pristine condition for more than 2 yrs

Wrong. Depends on your maintanance. Little hard if you live in a coastal area.

5. Mileage - m getting a poor mileage of 25 kmpl after 1st service. Before i used to get 19kmpl.

again depends on rider/riding conditions. I was able to extract 33kmpl on 60-40 highway-city riding. Speeds maintained between 90-110kmph.

6. High Speed Stability - I cudnt go beyond 142 kmph on speedo as the bike started wobbling in light wind. I have touched 165 kmph on speedo on cbr 250 and the bike was rock solid. The D400 is not aerodynamic and is not designed for high speeds, it is perfectly stable upto 130kmph. Absence of a wind shield tires the rider soon and cant be ridden above 100kmph for long.

You dont downshift as in track but ride beyond 130kmph on indian roads? You should have thought abt a full faired bike in that case. Try changing your tires to metzeler and try the same again, it should be better.

7. Vibrations - the ZMR known as king of vibrations was far easier to fix the vibes from the fairings using a double sided tape but u can never fix those annoying vibes in D400 between 3500-6000 rpm.

Wrong again. It was an easy fix for me. No such vibrations except the chain making noise when riding over pot holes & undulations.

8. Suspension - both front and rear suspension are very hard on rider and makes u feel uncomfortable to ride in city with humps n potholes.

you can always soften it and compromise on cornering.

9. Pillion seat - the seat is very flat and doesn't offer any lumbar support, the pillion foot pegs are rear set placed very high, a small twist of throttle makes the pillion fly off the seat. A pillion of height above 5'10" feels uncomfortable to sit. The grab rails are only for aesthetics and not for practical use. Compared to length of the bike the seat length is very small, the bike was designed for posing rather than riding I guess.

Agreed!

10. Headlight - this is one of the MSP for this bike but its actually not a practical design. The white led headlight doesn't perform well on wet roads and this of the beam is too less. Strictly it isclimited to city use and not meant for touring.

Agreed!

11. Mirrors - height of the mirror post is too short and visibility is only 60%.

Agreed! Try a mirror extender it does solve this.

12. Maneuveribility - the turning radius is too big to ride in busy city traffic conditions. Feels like riding a car.

Wrong! Depends on the rider. You got to get used to the wide handle bar.

13. Weight - inspite of having a fibre fuel tank the bike weighing 182kgs is a big let down. This drops the power to weight ratio and also affects mileage.

Well, please understand that you paid only 1.75lakhs. Also the weight plays a major role in the stability of the bike. In my opinion, coming from a CBR 250r 168kg it shouldnt be a big issue for ya.

There are many other issues with this bike like power loss while riding, faulty fuel gauge, oil seal leakage on a brand new bike, etc.

Agreed!

I am not happy with this purchase and definitely not a worthy replacement for my cbr 250. I think I got carried away by the overwhelming response from the early owners and paid reviewers.

please dont blame it on others. Always we ourselves are responsible for the outcome.

I may upgrade sooner or later to a bigger cc tourer and D400 wud be my secondary bike, no offence to fellow owners but this is jus my experience with this bike from past one month.

Each bike has its own pros n cons so lets not bash any manufacturer coz riding is an experience and what matters is the feeling you get when you ride a bike, I bet D400 cant give the same feeling of an RE.

Then why did you go as per the owners/paid reviews? Why didnt you decide based on your feeling?

And i also see that you havent completed 2000kms run in yet. Please have some patience.

Sorry if it was offensive bro. But i couldnt tolerate on seeing such a post. Try to put things nicely so that every one has a pleasant experience. Cheers.

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Better rear view mirror for dominar.

Tried apache mirrors but not happy as the mirror is not even surfaced. So have to think about it. Any recommendations.

Try a mirror extender it should solve the issue. Everything else messes up the aesthetics.

[AkshayMithyantha]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Quick question, bike has run 2600kms.. The engine oil level seems to be too low, as in I can't see the oil in the small window provided.. (Did check the way specified in manual, idle for a minute and keep the bike straight) Does the bike really use so much oil? Should I just top up or replace? How will know how much to top up and should I top up the same Bajaj Oil or can I use Shell full synthetic or Motul? Is replacing oil a better option?

I know too many questions, but need advice..
Thanks in advance..

[BikerKid]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

10. Headlight - this is one of the MSP for this bike but its actually not a practical design. The white led headlight doesn't perform well on wet roads and this of the beam is too less. Strictly it isclimited to city use and not meant for touring.

Any headlight above that is white, above 5000K will be dispersed in rain. So keep that in mind before plonking on aux lights too! Yellow light at 4300k will provide the best illumination in all conditions, but some people don't like it as it doesn't look cool according to them :P

A bike that is bad according to someone, is a gem according to another. An opinion is not an final verdict!
Choose what is right for you and what thrill you or makes you smile after a ride!
A stroll through the ownership threads of diff manufacturers will tell you what i mean!

Ride Safe!

[I Ride Alone]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Quick question, bike has run 2600kms.. The engine oil level seems to be too low, as in I can't see the oil in the small window provided.. (Did check the way specified in manual, idle for a minute and keep the bike straight) Does the bike really use so much oil? Should I just top up or replace? How will know how much to top up and should I top up the same Bajaj Oil or can I use Shell full synthetic or Motul? Is replacing oil a better option?

I know too many questions, but need advice..
Thanks in advance..

After 1st Service, I too observed the engine oil to be on the Minimum marker. I'm planning to get it topped up at the service center. You will not need to have it replaced as the oil replacement is suggested in the manual at 10,000 KMs.

Cheers.

[AkshayMithyantha]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

After 1st Service, I too observed the engine oil to be on the Minimum marker. I'm planning to get it topped up at the service center. You will not need to have it replaced as the oil replacement is suggested in the manual at 10,000 KMs.

Cheers.

I'm planning to ride to some 160kms today and I don't have enough time to go to SVC.. Is it taking too much risk to ride with oil in minimum??

[Ijs]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Quick question, bike has run 2600kms.. The engine oil level seems to be too low, as in I can't see the oil in the small window provided.. (Did check the way specified in manual, idle for a minute and keep the bike straight) Does the bike really use so much oil? Should I just top up or replace? How will know how much to top up and should I top up the same Bajaj Oil or can I use Shell full synthetic or Motul? Is replacing oil a better option?

I know too many questions, but need advice..
Thanks in advance..

If the level is between min and max or lil above min u are safe for now. But id it is below min then do top up with similar grade oil if possible same make.
Best way to check oil is to have a small ride so that engine gets warmed up. And then straightened the bike wait for a min for the glass to fill up.

After 1st Service, I too observed the engine oil to be on the Minimum marker. I'm planning to get it topped up at the service center. You will not need to have it replaced as the oil replacement is suggested in the manual at 10,000 KMs.

Cheers.

Bhai 10000kms claim looks like crap better change at 5000kms max.

[shriomman]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

I'm planning to ride to some 160kms today and I don't have enough time to go to SVC.. Is it taking too much risk to ride with oil in minimum??

I hope you'll are checking the engine oil when the bike is completely cold state (preferably check early morning after the bike has been idle for over 8-9 hours ). Then ask your friend to sit on it and hold it straight and then you check it. If you keep it on the side stand it would cause the oil to move in that direction and you might get false reading.

[zegend]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

I placed my online booking in December and got my White Dominar Non-ABS in February. So far, I have only ridden around 1060 kms and it has had the first free service at 600 kms (30 days). I have only used it to commute to office so far and an occasional joy ride. I am very conservative of my bikes and this is my 4th bike. But by far, this one is the magnificent beast. Called me a nerd, but I have diligently followed the manual. The exact speeds at the exact gear they mention. Which means that I only touched 73 kms before the 1k mark and now I will not exceed 85 until the 2k mark. Every bike that has had a good 'childhood' has been excellent later on, in my experience. Here is my take on what I love and dislike in my white Dominar:

Love:
- The comfort, handling, linear power delivery. The bike is so spot on with its power delivery that you feel like gliding rather than shooting forward.
- The looks, lights and sound. This is one beautiful bike and it has such good road presence. The sound is amazingly good too. Unfortunately the BSIV standards killed the horn.
- The weight to power ratio. This is a big bike for large sized people. It feels composed and even with 182 KGs, it feels like a jet.

Dislike:
- The pillion seat. This could have been a little larger, wider and could have better foot pegs to ensure those nearer journeys are more comfortable.
- The tyres. It might be custom MRF for the Dominar but it would have gone a long way if it offered better road grip like the Pirelli Rosso on the Mahindra Mojo.
- Colours. The white is awesome but I would have loved to see more variants of the Dominar.

[IamAditya]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread