Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

[Throttlefreak]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Thank you, any thoughts on buying dominor as a first rider bike?

Get used to riding a smaller bike (borrow a friend's bike) and then buy this bike. Atleast that's what I did. The power delivery is linear. It is the weight and the bulk that feels intimidating for a first time rider.

[anuraagshenoy]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

IMO Dominar will be a great beginner bike.

Personally, I would suggest to start with a good 150/160 cc bike and then upgrade.

Get used to riding a smaller bike (borrow a friend's bike) and then buy this bike.

I'm also in a similar situation though. My previous 2 wheeler riding experiences are:

Honda Unicorn (2006-2009) = 33,000 kms
Hero Honda Karizma R (2009-2016) = 25,000 kms
Honda Activa 125 (2016-present) = 11,600 kms

Of the 10 kms test drive that I went for of the Dominar loved every minute that I was astride.

Just in dilemma if I'll be able to live and use the bike to its fullest or not. It'll be a mixed usage with more use in the city than highway (60:40).

Confused between Dominar 400 & Interceptor 650 but my first preference is Dominar 400.

[tripping_billie]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

I'm also in a similar situation though. My previous 2 wheeler riding experiences are:

Honda Unicorn (2006-2009) = 33,000 kms
Hero Honda Karizma R (2009-2016) = 25,000 kms
Honda Activa 125 (2016-present) = 11,600 kms

Of the 10 kms test drive that I went for of the Dominar loved every minute that I was astride.

Just in dilemma if I'll be able to live and use the bike to its fullest or not. It'll be a mixed usage with more use in the city than highway (60:40).

Confused between Dominar 400 & Interceptor 650 but my first preference is Dominar 400.

Go for Dominar, you will enjoy it. Interceptor is so an excellent choice, if you have the budget for it. Mind you interceptor will have higher service and spare parts costs

[anuraagshenoy]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Go for Dominar, you will enjoy it. Interceptor is so an excellent choice, if you have the budget for it. Mind you interceptor will have higher service and spare parts costs

Thank you for the quick response.

On my radar, the Dominar 400 is the priority, then comes the Interceptor 650.

Have seen the video by 'Bulu Biker' on "cost per km" etc for both the Interceptor 650 and Dominar 400.

Not a heavy user so finding the Interceptor 650 an overkill for me. Found the Dominar 400 ideal in all aspects except for customer service from Bajaj on pre-sales. Can't imagine how the post-sale experience will be. Being a DIY guy, will do service myself.[emoji3] [emoji14]

[tripping_billie]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Thank you for the quick response.

On my radar, the Dominar 400 is the priority, then comes the Interceptor 650.

Have seen the video by 'Bulu Biker' on "cost per km" etc for both the Interceptor 650 and Dominar 400.

Not a heavy user so finding the Interceptor 650 an overkill for me. Found the Dominar 400 ideal in all aspects except for customer service from Bajaj on pre-sales. Can't imagine how the post-sale experience will be. Being a DIY guy, will do service myself.[emoji3] [emoji14]

Same here. After being fed up of TVS service center, I started doing my bike's service myself. It is still going strong @105,000 kms and post 12 years. Dominar is also quite easy to DIY. Just be sure to get it serviced within warranty period from Bajaj authorized center, or they would void the warranty.

[ghatotkatch]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

One of my friends had the same problem in his Hornet. The mechanic had mistakenly put some oil on the disc. I think yours is a similar case, you need to get that oil off the disc. I am no expert in this but, I think you need to rub the lubricating layer off the disc manually. Wait for others opinions too.

Happened to me when I gave my ZMA for a so called 'TEFFLON' coating at the SVC.

Buggers waxed my brake rotor, to get that extra shine maybe!

To restore bite, take the caliper off and scrub the brake pads with some sandpaper, then using detergent and dish scrub, generously scrub the rotor and clean it thoroughly.

Or if you're lazy you could drag and overheat the pads though not recommended as it takes quite a bit of dragging to get back the initial bite.

Thanks guys for the tips. I will rather clean it up than drag with brakes at their 50%.

As part of the wash, they apply polish to the whole bike, including the disc. And that makes it more slippery due to which the brakes don't have the bite immediate. It takes time for the polish to wear off and get it to Normal. Solution? Ask them not to apply polish on the disc rotors. Simple.

Even with the avenger, I had never been to the bajaj SVC, and always stayed with neighbourhood mechanics for anything that I couldn't do myself. Have never had this problem of brakes slipping after a wash. Will have to keep this in mind, next time I am there. Thanks.

Talking about the "high security" number plate, I have been getting calls from my dealer to get it fixed. They tell me my RC will be held at the RTO if I don't get it fixed. Sounds very hilarious though. I'm based at Chennai. Jai Bajaj, Tambaram is my dealer. Any thoughts on this, fellow riders?

Well I don't know about the RC being held. Could be as true as the 5000 RPM lock on new Dominar till 2000kms
I even wondered whoever suggested to call this 'high security' - was actually joking; then someone took him seriously, and it stuck.
In a jugaadu country like ours, it doesn't even need a jugaad to take that number-plate off. The plate is riveted to the holder, which is BOLTED to the headlamp assembly! All you need is a spanner, and a new number-plate holder. Take the riveted one off, put the new one in, and voila! You have a new number plate. In a rare case that such a holder is not available off the shelf, I don't think it would cost more than 50-100 bucks to custom fabricate one.

Thank you, any thoughts on buying dominor as a first rider bike?

It's heavy and it's powerful. If you think you can handle both, why not? It also depends upon how you are built, and what's your age as well.
Personally, I come from a 160cc Apache RTR for city ride and fun, then a 220cc Avenger for touring, and now Dominar for that thrill of power (though linear still). If I were to start all over again, I would definitely start again with a 160cc, without a single doubt in my mind. That Apache kept all my youthful exuberance within the error limit, giving just enough power to enjoy still, and good enough margin to live through all the mistakes. To each his own though. All the best!

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

My Dominar last week had an unfortunate slow-motion fall from a stand-still position. While bending down on the bike to check where a certain sound was coming from, I lost my balance, and to my surprise, I had missed the profile of the edge of the road, which was a step down from where the bike was standing. There was no way I could hold on to the bike, but let her fall slowly.

In the process, the left side mirror got scratched as that along with the leg guard bore the brunt of the weight of the bike. Rest of the bike was spic and span. I cleaned up the mirror and tried to start the bike, and it wouldn't start. Then I remembered the ECU cuts off fuel on detecting a fall and the ignition needs to be turned off and on again to reset it. Did that, and the bike started on the first crank. No other issues during the rest of the ride.

Then a day or two later, I noticed the leg-guard was a little 'loose'. When I went to tighten the bolt, I realised the bolt had broken off inside the chassis!


The leg guard had held on to its position because it had got itself locked in somehow. I didn't think the fall was as severe really to cause the bolt to brake off like that. Anyway, I had couple of hours at hand, and decided to extract that broken piece off the chassis myself.

Carefully drilled a hole in the middle of the remains of the bolt, and hammered in a screw extractor.


Almost skipped a beat when I realised that the holder that would latch on to the extractor was too long to fit into the open area around that broken bolt. But then after trying out other 'safer' ways, decided to use the drill itself, at as slow a speed as possible to turn it. And after a few mins of anxiety, the broken part came off safe and sound, without any damage to the threads.


This is how the bolt had broken off.



If it did broke off due to such a slo-mo fall, I think either the threaded part of the bolt is too thin for the weight of the bike, or the material used to make that bolt is not good quality metal. But since the fall was very gentle, I also have another theory that I may have ignored a loose leg guard during my PDI itself, or I just missed it. I don't remember for sure though.

Went to Bajaj's spare parts dept, and got a new bolt for about Rs.35/-. While fitting the leg guard I realised it had lost its alignment with the hole, and no matter what amount of power I apply, the leg guard wouldn't budge. So the guard itself is quite well built. The weak link is where it connects to the chassis. Duh, Bajaj!

Anyway, used rope to make a pulley of sorts to pull down the upper part (where the bolt had broken) down enough so that I could insert and tighten the leg guard screw into the newly fitted bolt (while holding the rope with one hand). Took me some time to get it all right, but finally the leg guard is in its place, and no more concern back of the mind of taking the bike out again.

[kiran2508]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Then a day or two later, I noticed the leg-guard was a little 'loose'. When I went to tighten the bolt, I realised the bolt had broken off inside the chassis!

Looks like Dominar continues this leagacy of broken crash guard bolts afterthe Duke 200/390 and NS200.
This has a been a common problem in most KTM's and NS bikes from a long long time, the only solution is to replace all the soft aluminum bolts with hardened bolts

Watch this below video from time mark 8:35min-9:25min, you'll see this problem explained.

[#bpk]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Looks like Dominar continues this leagacy of broken crash guard bolts afterthe Duke 200/390 and NS200.
This has a been a common problem in most KTM's and NS bikes from a long long time, the only solution is to replace all the soft aluminum bolts with hardened bolts

Watch this below video from time mark 8:35min-9:25min, you'll see this problem explained.

https://youtu.be/SGL3vk2-qXw

[ashwanth.r]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Looks like Dominar continues this leagacy of broken crash guard bolts afterthe Duke 200/390 and NS200.
This has a been a common problem in most KTM's and NS bikes.

This happens on my Suzuki too.

It is usually due to corrosion - either iron forming rust or worse, aluminum forming a white powdery substance. This will hold the bolt's thread to the threaded base too tightly. The excess torque required to loosen the bolt will shear it into two.

Three things can be done to prevent this:

1. Tapping the bolt moderately several times and then spraying WD40. Tapping will loosen the corrosion salts and will help WD40 to penetrate better. Then loosen the bolt. WD40 should not be sprayed on the Allen face of the bolt.

2. Replace cheap bolts regularly especially ones that are known to be problematic.

3. Apply a little bit of WD40 or clean engine oil to the leg guard Allen bolt and tighten moderately (overtightening should be avoided if oil applied as there is less friction to overcome and most of the torque will be used in loading the bolt).

Unfortunately, due to this bolt's location near engine, heat will accelerate the corrosion process. Next time one of you break this bolt, see if the bolt is clean or had powdery deposits.

P.S. Some manufacturers like Piaggio gave Vespa in our country copper plated exhaust bolts to prevent seizure.

[rookster]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

I had the exact issue.. mine too was a slow mo slip and down slid the bike to the ground laying on it's left.. after cranking it I could hear a metal rattling noise, when inspected it was the leg guard on the exact same side as yours, at the exact same place. Showed it to svc and was advised to visit a lathe shop coz the bolt had broken while in it's thread. Haven't been there yet but this really raises concern. I was thinking of getting a much stronger leg guard like the Sahyadri ones but this source that holds it in place has raised concerns about it's strength. I don't know what to do.

Thanks guys for the tips. I will rather clean it up than drag with brakes at their 50%.



Even with the avenger, I had never been to the bajaj SVC, and always stayed with neighbourhood mechanics for anything that I couldn't do myself. Have never had this problem of brakes slipping after a wash. Will have to keep this in mind, next time I am there. Thanks.



Well I don't know about the RC being held. Could be as true as the 5000 RPM lock on new Dominar till 2000kms
I even wondered whoever suggested to call this 'high security' - was actually joking; then someone took him seriously, and it stuck.
In a jugaadu country like ours, it doesn't even need a jugaad to take that number-plate off. The plate is riveted to the holder, which is BOLTED to the headlamp assembly! All you need is a spanner, and a new number-plate holder. Take the riveted one off, put the new one in, and voila! You have a new number plate. In a rare case that such a holder is not available off the shelf, I don't think it would cost more than 50-100 bucks to custom fabricate one.


It's heavy and it's powerful. If you think you can handle both, why not? It also depends upon how you are built, and what's your age as well.
Personally, I come from a 160cc Apache RTR for city ride and fun, then a 220cc Avenger for touring, and now Dominar for that thrill of power (though linear still). If I were to start all over again, I would definitely start again with a 160cc, without a single doubt in my mind. That Apache kept all my youthful exuberance within the error limit, giving just enough power to enjoy still, and good enough margin to live through all the mistakes. To each his own though. All the best!

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

My Dominar last week had an unfortunate slow-motion fall from a stand-still position. While bending down on the bike to check where a certain sound was coming from, I lost my balance, and to my surprise, I had missed the profile of the edge of the road, which was a step down from where the bike was standing. There was no way I could hold on to the bike, but let her fall slowly.

In the process, the left side mirror got scratched as that along with the leg guard bore the brunt of the weight of the bike. Rest of the bike was spic and span. I cleaned up the mirror and tried to start the bike, and it wouldn't start. Then I remembered the ECU cuts off fuel on detecting a fall and the ignition needs to be turned off and on again to reset it. Did that, and the bike started on the first crank. No other issues during the rest of the ride.

Then a day or two later, I noticed the leg-guard was a little 'loose'. When I went to tighten the bolt, I realised the bolt had broken off inside the chassis!
[ATTACH]250075[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]250076[/ATTACH]

The leg guard had held on to its position because it had got itself locked in somehow. I didn't think the fall was as severe really to cause the bolt to brake off like that. Anyway, I had couple of hours at hand, and decided to extract that broken piece off the chassis myself.

Carefully drilled a hole in the middle of the remains of the bolt, and hammered in a screw extractor.
[ATTACH]250077[/ATTACH]

Almost skipped a beat when I realised that the holder that would latch on to the extractor was too long to fit into the open area around that broken bolt. But then after trying out other 'safer' ways, decided to use the drill itself, at as slow a speed as possible to turn it. And after a few mins of anxiety, the broken part came off safe and sound, without any damage to the threads.
[ATTACH]250078[/ATTACH]

This is how the bolt had broken off.

[ATTACH]250079[/ATTACH]

If it did broke off due to such a slo-mo fall, I think either the threaded part of the bolt is too thin for the weight of the bike, or the material used to make that bolt is not good quality metal. But since the fall was very gentle, I also have another theory that I may have ignored a loose leg guard during my PDI itself, or I just missed it. I don't remember for sure though.

Went to Bajaj's spare parts dept, and got a new bolt for about Rs.35/-. While fitting the leg guard I realised it had lost its alignment with the hole, and no matter what amount of power I apply, the leg guard wouldn't budge. So the guard itself is quite well built. The weak link is where it connects to the chassis. Duh, Bajaj!

Anyway, used rope to make a pulley of sorts to pull down the upper part (where the bolt had broken) down enough so that I could insert and tighten the leg guard screw into the newly fitted bolt (while holding the rope with one hand). Took me some time to get it all right, but finally the leg guard is in its place, and no more concern back of the mind of taking the bike out again.

[ashwanth.r]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

The weak link is where it connects to the chassis. Duh, Bajaj!

Might be part of delibrate design where the bolt breaks to prevent any other damage. Where did you get a screw extractor? Can you suggest me a good brand?

[kiran2508]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Might be part of delibrate design where the bolt breaks to prevent any other damage.

Break by design? It's a joke! It's just the cheap quality bolt used by Bajaj/KTM

Look at the below picture, broken bolt from handle bar of my RC390, it happened the moment I hit a sharp speed bump at 40kmph, I was also able extract the broken piece using the extractor tool, just shows how cheap quality their bolts are, no matter what handle bar bolts are not supposed to break by design unless it was an external hard impact, this was just a speed bump shock.

[ashwanth.r]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

It's not supposed to break by design unless it was an external hard impact.

Yes. That's what I meant.

Breaking while riding over a bump at 40 is not acceptable.

[kiran2508]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Yes. That's what I meant.
Breaking while riding over a bump at 40 is not acceptable.

Yes but crash guard bolts should stay in place chassis and not break away,

I've had seen in my other bikes where the actual crash guard has bent out of shape and twisted after falls but frame bolts were still as strong as it came from showroom.

[ashwanth.r]

Re: Bajaj Dominar 400 Ownership Experience Thread

Yes but crash guard bolts should stay in place chassis and not break away,

I've had seen in my other bikes where the actual crash guard has bent out of shape and twisted after falls but frame bolts were still as strong as it came from showroom.

In other bikes, the mounting is different (U-bolt + engine mounting). Among Bajaj itself, IIRC, Dominar uses a smaller M6 versus 2 big M8 in 220F. I think these guards are useful to protect the vehicle rather than the rider's legs - heard in some cases, it will cause injury to the rider's legs. There were talks about banning leg guards in TN (due to poorly designed RE aftermarkets) then it faded off.