Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

[Barney.R]

Hi fellow bikers,

I need your help. I have been an avid reader of xbhp to understand the biking world, I have been following this thread as I have decided to buy dominar. But confused between 400 & 250. I went to amba bajaj, GB palya, Bengaluru to get a quote. D400 on road price is almost 2,80,000.

The sales person said for insurance only the first year would be comprehensive, remaining 4 years would be third party alone.

He didn't give me a break up of insurance and RTO, he said he will message later. There's no extended warranty, and any changes, extra fitting (like horn, fog lamps) etc will void the warranty. Please let me know if this is true.

My usage mostly will be within the city with occasional long rides. So is 400 better or 250, which one do you suggest, I equally like them both.

At the same time is there any major issues or complaints on both bikes on the longer run? I'll do basic maintenance without miss, at the same time I don't want to visit the ASC frequently for the same issue over and over. I know for a fact that no bike is 100% perfect, I understand that completely.

[B7ACKTHORN]

These are semi synthetic or in other words just mineral oil that has synthesized additives. The grades are same but the engine will feel resistance and the oil will not last more than 2500km.

The PETRONAS F900 series is fully synthetic.

Always use a fully synthetic oil.

Unless in emergency where you lost some oil and need to top up with anything available. The F700 you are using can cause more engine wear at higher rpm and cold starts for prolonged use. So use with caution, also don't rev higher than say 5000-6000rpm and preferably drain the oil after 1000km and go for a fully synthetic.

I beg to differ on these above points. Semi synthetic can very well be used vis a vis a fully synthetic counterpart. The reason being, semi synthetic offers the best of both worlds, mineral and synthetic blends give good overall protection. Synthetics are a breed apart, they are more finer, more slick and help lubricating finer tolerance machines better. The notion that synthetic can be extended upwards of 6k and 9k kms and semi synthetic is not correct. Different engines use engine oil differently, and mostly this is primarily related to the way the bike's ridden and maintained. A bike well maintained and ridden sanely with semi synthetic oil can last 4k to 5k kms easily, whereas a bike that is used with the best fully synthetic oil and is always ridden on the boil will see the engine oil either vaporize or requiring a change in less than 4k. And no, RPMs don't count on any engine oil, as long as oil the right viscosity oil is present, the engine will be happy, irrespective of the blend.

Hope it helps and clarifies.

Cheers!
VJ

[kiran2508]

Hey Kiran, so that can be done only at the SVC, am I right? Or can it be done by a trusted local mechanic? Pls advise..

If the local mechanic is capable of dealing with 400cc bike (373cc) and has earlier experience of opening up these big engines, then yes you can give a try.

Else best stick to SVC(but it might cost 30% more due to higher prices at SVC)

[Greymatter]

These are semi synthetic or in other words just mineral oil that has synthesized additives. The grades are same but the engine will feel resistance and the oil will not last more than 2500km.

The PETRONAS F900 series is fully synthetic.

Always use a fully synthetic oil.

Unless in emergency where you lost some oil and need to top up with anything available. The F700 you are using can cause more engine wear at higher rpm and cold starts for prolonged use. So use with caution, also don't rev higher than say 5000-6000rpm and preferably drain the oil after 1000km and go for a fully synthetic.

Yes I know these are Semi Synthetic and like you mentioned I use them only till 2500 KMS. And yes company recommends Fully Synthetic but my LIMITED USAGE PATTERN doesn't justify Fully Synthetic hence I switched to SS 🙂

[prajnyan]

Hi Everyone,

For those who don't know, soon after completing first service of my 2019 D400 BS4 I ditched Bajaj Oil and start using Valvoline 15W50 SS Oil. Though I had no complaints with that oil as it performed pretty well but this time I decided to try a different brand. So, recently I bought these Petronas from Amazon and it cost me around Rs.789 for 2 bottles. I've just completed 100 KMS and will post my experience once I start clocking more KMS.

Regards.

These are semi synthetic or in other words just mineral oil that has synthesized additives. The grades are same but the engine will feel resistance and the oil will not last more than 2500km.

The PETRONAS F900 series is fully synthetic.

Always use a fully synthetic oil.

Unless in emergency where you lost some oil and need to top up with anything available. The F700 you are using can cause more engine wear at higher rpm and cold starts for prolonged use. So use with caution, also don't rev higher than say 5000-6000rpm and preferably drain the oil after 1000km and go for a fully synthetic.

[Greymatter]

Hi Everyone,

For those who don't know, soon after completing first service of my 2019 D400 BS4 I ditched Bajaj Oil and start using Valvoline 15W50 SS Oil. Though I had no complaints with that oil as it performed pretty well but this time I decided to try a different brand. So, recently I bought these Petronas from Amazon and it cost me around Rs.789 for 2 bottles. I've just completed 100 KMS and will post my experience once I start clocking more KMS.

Regards.

[Usual suspect]

Hey Kiran, so that can be done only at the SVC, am I right? Or can it be done by a trusted local mechanic? Pls advise..

[kiran2508]

Hey Vishal, Coolant was topped up just 1 month back when engine oil was replaced so both of them are good to go..
I'm just unable to understand that what else could be wrong as the warning light is still coming on as described in previous post 🙄

Your oil jets are clogged in the Engine head, need to remove valve cover and all the jets in the Head and jets in Cam Guide needs to be thoroughly cleaned using compressed air. Also clean the entire oil guides channel from both oil pumps.

[B7ACKTHORN]

The vehicle shouldn't cut off just like that, that's why the RPM limiters kick in at particular RPM and they are set to a set value during running in and post the recommended service interval, they will open the RPM limit. If the vehicle is stalling every time you hit that particular speed perhaps it can be a simple RPM limiter issue, but if doesn't happen every time, then the issue can be something more.

Good luck.

Cheers!
VJ

[gods_toy]

I just bought a dominar 400 bs6 april 2021 model. Though I know its not good for a new motorcycle to go past a certain rpm limit, after 500+ km i tried to get the motorcycle to 100kmph and to my surprise the bike just shut itself off after 95+. But it did start again pretty easily when I tried. Why is this happening? I am very confused!

[Vishal Wagh]

Hey Usual suspect why I'm telling you to check, is because in higher rpm and speed, circulation of fluids is high. At the time of filling some amount of air get trapped inside the system which gives false reading of fluid levels. So best way to measure it after few km of trial.

[Usual suspect]

Hey Vishal, Coolant was topped up just 1 month back when engine oil was replaced so both of them are good to go..
I'm just unable to understand that what else could be wrong as the warning light is still coming on as described in previous post 🙄

[Vishal Wagh]

Hey Usual suspect that means thermostat and radiator fan are ok. Check the coolant level and oil level (Engine should be little warm).
Note:- Be Careful while checking the coolant level.

[Usual suspect]

Hey Usual suspect does the radiator working.

Yes, the radiator is working absolutely fine..the fan also turns on & off when it should..
Another point here is that when I keep the rpm below 3500 & then take it to a stretch where I would keep it consistently above 3000, then in a about 2 mins or so, the warning light comes on..
Then when I switch off the engine, all lights become normal until the next time it happens again

[Vishal Wagh]

Hey Usual suspect does the radiator working.