Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

[neeljinwala]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

After clearing all my confusions and doubts with the help of this forum, i narrowed down on Fz25 and Dominar 400. Currently i drive a 9 year old Pulsar 150 UG3.
I needed to ride them extensively before choosing the One. Hence i rented them out for a period of 1 day each and drove around 100 kms each of these bikes in Bangalore's B2B traffic, with pillion in traffic and on highways (without pillion).

Dominar:
- Felt big and heavy compared to Fz when riding in city or pushing around at fuel bunks with engine shut off
- Had the urge to move forward with or without pillion. (Liked a lot)
- Used to vibrate a lot near the tank (as i grip the tank while riding) around 4k rpm at lower gears (Hated it a lot)
- Vibrations were less annoying when riding in top gears at 4-5K rpm.
- Shifting gears was smooth
- The bike pushed itself with sudden urge and reached 90kmph in no time (Liked a lot)
- Didn't know the ECU firmware version since it was a rented bike
- Finding Neutral was a pain and had a lot of false neutrals where the dash indicated neutral but the gear box was engaged into a gear. The bike cranked as well in the gear (Hated it).
- Didn't bothered about engine heat since it is obvious from a 400 cc bike.

With respect to outright acceleration and the urge to move forward with or without pillion is pulling me towards Dominar.

Fz25's observations are posted on Fz25's thread.

[sman999]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

No load on the electrical system.

Of course there will be. But nothing of that sort to drain your battery. Btb you will use the aux lights only when necessary and with ignition on. Headlamp is 25w high beam + all aux lights together 64w. So totally ~80w which is not so much. The horn has a separate relay so no worries at all.

It would be good for you during the night ride but bad for the oncoming traffic. 😂 Try not to point them at eye levels.

[Cruisemonk]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

After clearing all my confusions and doubts with the help of this forum, i narrowed down on Fz25 and Dominar 400. Currently i drive a 9 year old Pulsar 150 UG3.
I needed to ride them extensively before choosing the One. Hence i rented them out for a period of 1 day each and drove around 100 kms each of these bikes in Bangalore's B2B traffic, with pillion in traffic and on highways (without pillion).

Dominar:
- Felt big and heavy compared to Fz when riding in city or pushing around at fuel bunks with engine shut off
- Had the urge to move forward with or without pillion. (Liked a lot)
- Used to vibrate a lot near the tank (as i grip the tank while riding) around 4k rpm at lower gears (Hated it a lot)
- Vibrations were less annoying when riding in top gears at 4-5K rpm.
- Shifting gears was smooth
- The bike pushed itself with sudden urge and reached 90kmph in no time (Liked a lot)
- Didn't know the ECU firmware version since it was a rented bike
- Finding Neutral was a pain and had a lot of false neutrals where the dash indicated neutral but the gear box was engaged into a gear. The bike cranked as well in the gear (Hated it).
- Didn't bothered about engine heat since it is obvious from a 400 cc bike.

With respect to outright acceleration and the urge to move forward with or without pillion is pulling me towards Dominar.

Fz25's observations are posted on Fz25's thread.

Read your fz 25 observation also. Congratulations , now you can make your mind if you will be riding mostly on highway without b2b traffic go for dominar and if in full traffic then fz25 otherwise people are touring on splendors also but then leaves taken will be more [emoji12]

[Shankubabu]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Neeljinwala

You have liked some aspects of both . If you have long tours in mind, go for Dominar . My Dominar has just crossed 2000 km and I am optimistic that its issues would be solved in future services and with little experimentation of the engine oil . I did face throttle wrist pain in two of my long solo rides but hopeful it would be taken care of with some modification and adjustment . If you have more of touring in mind , I would have considered the Avenger 220 as well or even the new Avenger (with detuned engine of Dominar) that is supposed to be launched in near future. I do not know much about the new Avenger but heard so . My fellow riders here, can enlighten perhaps . However , purchasing decisions are not always logical , Dominar has X factor attached to it .

[Indivar]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Hi riders
I am from Chennai
I am in motogear shop to buy helmet. They have orgine helmet. Any idea if it's good or what? They are giving me 50% off for not asking bill. Is it to safe to buy
I am getting 13k helmet at 6500

Why would you purchase an unknown brand when we have our homegrown brands who have been making excellent helments for half a century or more ? Try a Vega, Studds or Steelbird or any other known brand with the ISI mark and that is good enough to save your head. Fit and finish is excellent these days and so are the looks.

The IS 4151 : 2015 \specification for protective helmets for two wheelers' is aligned with the requirements of the latest UNECE regulation no. 22.05. That means, the ISI standard was updated in the year 2015 to match the ECE 22.05 rating of 2012. Before that, the standard was aligned with the older ECE rating from 2005.

[neeljinwala]

Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Neeljinwala

You have liked some aspects of both . If you have long tours in mind, go for Dominar . My Dominar has just crossed 2000 km and I am optimistic that its issues would be solved in future services and with little experimentation of the engine oil . I did face throttle wrist pain in two of my long solo rides but hopeful it would be taken care of with some modification and adjustment . If you have more of touring in mind , I would have considered the Avenger 220 as well or even the new Avenger (with detuned engine of Dominar) that is supposed to be launched in near future. I do not know much about the new Avenger but heard so . My fellow riders here, can enlighten perhaps . However , purchasing decisions are not always logical , Dominar has X factor attached to it .

How are vibrations in your bike? Vibrations and false neutral were the only turn off for me. Rest i was able to manage.
The bike i rented had clocked 12k kms and it was over filled with oil. The engine oil window was completely covered with oil with the bike resting at side stand.

[Ijs]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

How are vibrations in your bike? Vibrations and false neutral were the only turn off for me. Rest i was able to manage.
The bike i rented had clocked 12k kms and it was over filled with oil. The engine oil window was completely covered with oil with the bike resting at side stand.

Vibrations would remain in the 4.5 to 5k rpm range. False are not there in my bike which is from the first lot. You can feel the buzz in hand and foot but this would go down with usage and more services.
Gear shift is smooth if using a firm action otherwise it can be bit clunky first gear thud or clunk would remain always as it is natural to high revving engine.

[Shankubabu]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

How are vibrations in your bike? Vibrations and false neutral were the only turn off for me. Rest i was able to manage.
The bike i rented had clocked 12k kms and it was over filled with oil. The engine oil window was completely covered with oil with the bike resting at side stand.

Smooth till 72 km , after that vibrations creep in . I was thinking what should be the criterion for labeling a vibration as vibration , when the image on the mirror gets defocused could be one . Instances of false neutral have been too infrequent , so I would not label it as an issue . I would be taking my bike for second free service today , much before its due , to address the issues ( the other being throttle response ) , ECU update , if any . To address vibration in 75 -100 is critical since this is the general cruising range . Some widely travelled motovlogger of youtube thinks some vibration remains in Dominar even after clocking 20,000 km in odometer , which can be minimized wearing well padded gloves . I would also change my engine oil to Motul 7100 some time later and see the difference .


Update after second free service - Initial impression with few km ride , the machine runs lot smoother with noticeably lesser vibration at 75 . Could not go beyond it for prolonged period because of the traffic .

[Shankubabu]

Side indicator horn and hazard lights for Dominar

Dear fellow riders ,

Please suggest me side indicator horn ( that sounds while the indicator light is on ) and the hazard light for Dominar . I went to the Rolta Bajaj showroom , they said these are not compatible with Dominar ( creates problems in the circuit) and that they have been adviced by the company not to sell these accessories as the customers return to them when there is any problem . My Dominar has done 2000 km and hence within warranty period . I tend to forget, to turn off the side indicators many a times .

[Ijs]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Been a while since i updated about my Dominar.
Now its little more then 8 month and everything is going smoothly no issues no extra maintenance. Just chain lube at every 300 to 400kms.
Crossed 5000kms mark on odo around 15 days back and now getting closer to 6000kms. I know i am bit slower then other owners to reach here but most of this is done on highways.

Done with two services and two oil changes. Bike is performing good on all counts.

Bajaj is doing really good to promote this bike with about 2 official rides each week on Saturday and Sunday.

Just did another long full day ride Delhi to Paonta sahib Himachal pardesh last sunday. Officially organized by bajaj.
Total distance coverd is 498kms from home and back.

Did extensive riding in the pitch dark of the night on single road highway covered with fields on both side and i am overall satisfied with the performance of headlamp , only time it gets difficult to see when hit by fools driving on highbeam towards oncoming traffic and never felt the need to put extra lights.

City fuel efficiency is around 26 to 28kmpl and on highway it can easily do 35kmpl if ridden sane speeds under 120kmph.

Only things I added to the bike are a water resistant phone mount to use Google aunty and the other thing is the 30 modes highway indicator flasher which is useful in bad weather and dark of the night.

Now some pics from the Paonta sahib ride.

[zestbiker]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Gr8 going-keep up the miles and the smiles

[Ijs]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Gr8 going-keep up the miles and the smiles

Thanks bade bhai.

[rahulya007]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Hi Friends,

Have been through most of the pages on this blog but not all... someone might have shared already but I still wanted to ask if someone can share the PDI checklist. I have booked a white beast and would be taking delivery soon. Have read many posts on the issues faced by current owners in the initial days and some things which were fixed in the first service etc.

I have informed the dealer that I want to visit his stock yard to pick my ride myself and hence want to know what all things should I look for while selecting the bike. An extensive list of things to be checked during selection and before delivery will help a lot.

Also, is it suggested to take the bike to the service center after delivery for tightening nuts and bolts and other mountings ?

Any help in this will be greatly helpful.


Regards,
Rahul K

[Ijs]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Hi Friends,

Have been through most of the pages on this blog but not all... someone might have shared already but I still wanted to ask if someone can share the PDI checklist. I have booked a white beast and would be taking delivery soon. Have read many posts on the issues faced by current owners in the initial days and some things which were fixed in the first service etc.

I have informed the dealer that I want to visit his stock yard to pick my ride myself and hence want to know what all things should I look for while selecting the bike. An extensive list of things to be checked during selection and before delivery will help a lot.

Also, is it suggested to take the bike to the service center after delivery for tightening nuts and bolts and other mountings ?

Any help in this will be greatly helpful.


Regards,
Rahul K

There is different thread for pdi search for that it must be pinned.

Basic things to check are , head light tail light, indicators, handle bar, disk break rotors, wheel rims, tyres for any wear, odo meter reading, chassis number, engine number, battery volts, horn .
Abs rings, turn handle lock to lock it should not touch the tank.
Look for any rust, get tall the bolts checked before delivery like break paddle and gear lever.
Run the engine for 10 mins the radiator fan should kick in.
Coolant level , engine oil level.
Open the tank and peep inside to spot if there is any rust etc.
Have a small ride to feel the bike.

[Harideep]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

, only time it gets difficult to see when hit by fools driving on highbeam towards oncoming traffic and never felt the need to put extra lights.

True. Bro. For me this bike is like blessed.

Only prob is high beam makes Dominar Head light faded.