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Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

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  • #1

    Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

    Planning to upgrade my 9 year old P220. Previously owned first gen Apache 150. All through the ownership of theses bikes, they were plagued by harsh engine and vibration. Hence cosidering a bike with smoother engine.

    I am considering Dominar and D390. 90% city riding. I love the looks of both the bikes but worried about the heaviness and vibration in the Dominar. Is D390 a refined engine than Domniar?
    I test drove both the bikes but both were poorly maintained demo bikes and the ride was too jerky and lacked refinement.

    Also suggest any other bikes in 200+ cc category.
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  • #2
    Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

    Thread approved.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

      Originally posted by rvibin View Post
      Planning to upgrade my 9 year old P220. Previously owned first gen Apache 150. All through the ownership of theses bikes, they were plagued by harsh engine and vibration. Hence cosidering a bike with smoother engine.

      I am considering Dominar and D390. 90% city riding. I love the looks of both the bikes but worried about the heaviness and vibration in the Dominar. Is D390 a refined engine than Domniar?
      I test drove both the bikes but both were poorly maintained demo bikes and the ride was too jerky and lacked refinement.

      Also suggest any other bikes in 200+ cc category.
      If you want a smooth and refined bike, then for the gixxer 250, has enough power and super smooth engine and gearbox .

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

        For smooth engines always consider the japs. For refinement, reliability and peace of mind , no one comes closer to the japs. You can consider the cbr 250 ,cb300 ,gixxer 250 etc. Duke 390 is only for performance and its hooligan nature and Dominar is heavier and more tamed than the duke. If you can live with the fairing rattles and the vibrations then both the dominar and duke are great bikes to own. Me being a pulsar 220 owner I just crave for the refinement and vibe free nature of the japs which is absent in my bike.
        Originally posted by rvibin View Post
        Planning to upgrade my 9 year old P220. Previously owned first gen Apache 150. All through the ownership of theses bikes, they were plagued by harsh engine and vibration. Hence cosidering a bike with smoother engine.

        I am considering Dominar and D390. 90% city riding. I love the looks of both the bikes but worried about the heaviness and vibration in the Dominar. Is D390 a refined engine than Domniar?
        I test drove both the bikes but both were poorly maintained demo bikes and the ride was too jerky and lacked refinement.

        Also suggest any other bikes in 200+ cc category.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

          Originally posted by rvibin View Post
          Planning to upgrade my 9 year old P220. Previously owned first gen Apache 150. All through the ownership of theses bikes, they were plagued by harsh engine and vibration. Hence cosidering a bike with smoother engine.

          I am considering Dominar and D390. 90% city riding. I love the looks of both the bikes but worried about the heaviness and vibration in the Dominar. Is D390 a refined engine than Domniar?
          I test drove both the bikes but both were poorly maintained demo bikes and the ride was too jerky and lacked refinement.

          Also suggest any other bikes in 200+ cc category.
          Both being good motorcycles, they are still big singles and will have vibrations. You have owned very old motorcycles and the NVH levels of currently any motorcycle is sure to surprise you.

          Don't go by the overstatement of Japanese smoothness. Just get a motorcycle you would find yourself riding more. Goodluck.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

            Originally posted by rvibin View Post
            Planning to upgrade my 9 year old P220. Previously owned first gen Apache 150. All through the ownership of theses bikes, they were plagued by harsh engine and vibration. Hence cosidering a bike with smoother engine.

            I am considering Dominar and D390. 90% city riding. I love the looks of both the bikes but worried about the heaviness and vibration in the Dominar. Is D390 a refined engine than Domniar?
            I test drove both the bikes but both were poorly maintained demo bikes and the ride was too jerky and lacked refinement.

            Also suggest any other bikes in 200+ cc category.
            The new Duke390 has lesser vibrations than the older version. I guess that partly due to the new chasis.
            Its still not refined.
            Dominar is more refined but not as quick as the Duke.

            If its refinement you want with power then you need to consider either FZ250 or R15/MT15. These are smooth yet powerful engines.

            As others said, any single will vibrate but most do not vibrate enough to cause a problem or numbness in your wrists.

            I have a Duke125 and that does not vibrate at all at any RPM - which is strange as its a single.
            My R3 on the other hand has minute vibrations at 3.5 to 4k RPM and 6-6.5k rpm.

            I have not driven any of the suzuki bikes so I cannot comment on them.

            If your heart is set on dommie and Duke I would suggest Duke - its the most feature rich and fun bike to ride. Super quick to overtake in traffic and the seat is not hard like the older version Duke 390. Also give 20+ mileage.
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            • #7
              Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

              Between the 2 bikes that you have shortlisted, D390 would be my pick.
              However do not expect much refinement and finesse from either of them as large single mills will have vibes.
              Also no one has better refinement and finesse than the Japs.
              You can check out the N300 and R3. They will have way less vibes as they are parallel twins.
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              • #8
                Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

                I don't think the Duke390 will be happy in heavy traffic. Moderate traffic is fine. Radiator fan will be on 70-80% of the time. But it's do-able.
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                • #9
                  Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

                  Originally posted by rvibin View Post
                  Planning to upgrade my 9 year old P220. Previously owned first gen Apache 150. All through the ownership of theses bikes, they were plagued by harsh engine and vibration. Hence cosidering a bike with smoother engine.

                  I am considering Dominar and D390. 90% city riding. I love the looks of both the bikes but worried about the heaviness and vibration in the Dominar. Is D390 a refined engine than Domniar?
                  I test drove both the bikes but both were poorly maintained demo bikes and the ride was too jerky and lacked refinement.

                  Also suggest any other bikes in 200+ cc category.
                  If your riding is 90% city, then strongly urge you to stick to a 200-250cc motorcycle. I own a D400 but I prefer to ride my SZR for daily use. Both D400 and 390 struggle to move in bumper to bumper traffic and 390 starts to boil and give out a lot of heat.

                  Please look at Gixxer 250, FZ25 or even Honda CB300 (although this is an expensive option but if I look at it for long term ownership then it is easier to maintain and this is a much refined engine as against the Duke or Dominar).

                  Remember: All single cylinder mills always generate some vibration and this varies at certain RPM range which is called mating frequency of the metal used. Any day a twin cylinder is better but the cost of twin doesn't justify at all.
                  Last edited by prajnyan; 10-09-2019, 04:44 PM.
                  There are no short-cuts to any place worth going. So ride safe when you are treading uncharted roads.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

                    Originally posted by prajnyan View Post
                    Remember: All single cylinder mills always generate some vibration and this varies at certain RPM range which is called mating frequency of the metal used. Any day a twin cylinder is better but the cost of twin doesn't justify at all.
                    Not sure what you meant by "the cost of twin doesn't justify at all".
                    In this world, cost of nothing is justified. Its about what you want and how badly you want it that makes you justify the price of the item.
                    Yamaha Ray ZR Street Rally -> 2020
                    Kawasaki Ninja 1000 2019 -> 2019
                    YZF-R3 -> 2017 -> SOLD 2019
                    CBR 250R -> 2017 -> SOLD 2017
                    Ninja 650 -> 2016 -> SOLD 2018
                    Blue Activa 125 -> 2016
                    Black YZF-R15 v2 -> 2011 -> SOLD 2016
                    Black Discover 125 DTS-i -> 2005

                    Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUc...fiHTCWO8E6WdeA
                    Please check out our ride videos.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Upgrading from P220 | Domniar 400 Vs D390

                      Originally posted by prajnyan View Post
                      Please look at Gixxer 250, FZ25 or even Honda CB300 (although this is an expensive option but if I look at it for long term ownership then it is easier to maintain and this is a much refined engine as against the Duke or Dominar).
                      Yea... CB 300R is a great suggestion. The engine is not too big. 286 cc and compression ratio is less. D 390 and Dom 400 are both above 12. Super light weight. And best torque to weight ratio in it's class I suppose.
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