Bajaj Dominar 400

Bajaj launched the Dominar 400 back in 2016. It was a game-changer. Why? Because it gave us a big 400cc bike at a very affordable price. It looked great, came with cool features, and felt powerful. However, the sales didn’t really take off as Bajaj had expected.

In 2019, Bajaj brought in big changes to the Dominar 400. And since then, they’ve been improving it slowly. The latest version has some great updates. It’s now more touring-friendly, more powerful, and better to ride overall.

If you're considering purchasing the Bajaj Dominar 400, this review is for you. We have spent some good time riding this bike in the city and on highways, and we are going to tell you everything good, bad, and everything in between. Let’s talk about what the bike is like in real life.

The Dominar 400 looks like a power cruiser. It has a big fuel tank, wide handlebars, and a low-slung stance. During our test ride, this motorcycle reminded us of the Ducati Diavel, especially with that chunky look.

Bajaj added some touring accessories as well, including handguards, a tall visor, engine guards, a pillion backrest, a luggage rack, and even a USB charging port. These make it more travel-friendly. The new Auroral Green colour stands out a lot.

The twin-barrel exhaust sounds great and adds to the sporty vibe. The LED headlamp looks sharp, and the ‘D’ logo on the seat is a nice little touch.

The latest Bajaj Dominar 400 now packs in some cool modern features that make it even more exciting to ride. It comes with traction control that you can switch on or off depending on the conditions, and there’s also a ride-by-wire throttle for smoother power delivery.

You get four ride modes: Road, Sport, Rain, and Off-Road, so you can easily adapt the bike’s performance to different situations. On top of that, the updated display now supports Bluetooth, giving you access to turn-by-turn navigation right on the screen. These updates really bring the Dominar up to speed with today’s tech-savvy riders.

The engine is a 373.3cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor. It gives around 39.42 bhp and 35 Nm of torque. It’s mated to a 6-speed gearbox and comes with a slipper clutch.

Now, this engine is based on the older KTM Duke 390 engine. But Bajaj has tuned it differently for a smoother and more relaxed ride. It’s not too aggressive but has enough punch for overtakes and cruising.

During our test rides, the throttle felt super responsive, and we easily did 120-130 kmph on highways. The sports touring motorcycle felt stable and stress-free at those speeds. There are very few vibrations until you cross 8000 rpm. After that, we feel some on the pegs and seat, but it’s not too bad. Overall, the bike pulls nicely even from lower revs, so city riding is not a problem either.

The seat on the Dominar 400 is wide and soft, so you won’t feel back or butt pain even on long rides. The upright riding position also means your wrists and shoulders stay relaxed. The motorcycle comes with USD forks at the front and a monoshock at the rear. The suspension is a bit firm, but that’s actually great for highway rides. During the test rides, the bike remains stable and handles bumps pretty well.

Even on rough roads, I felt quite comfortable, which is a big plus for daily Indian conditions. Also, the new side stand feels stronger and more reliable, especially when the bike is carrying extra luggage.

In terms of mileage, you can expect around 27–30 kmpl in normal use. If you ride steadily on highways, you might get a bit more. That’s actually decent for a 400cc touring bike. You can cover a good distance without stopping for fuel too often.

The Dominar 400 weighs about 193 kg. So yes, it feels a bit heavy in slow-moving traffic. If you're riding in city jams, it’s not the easiest bike to handle.

But once you hit the highway, it’s a whole different story. It feels super stable at high speeds and takes corners nicely. The wide tyres give you good grip and boost your confidence.

Braking is decent. You get 320mm disc at the front and 270mm at the rear, with dual-channel ABS. The rear brake works well, but the front could use a little more bite and feel. Still, it gets the job done safely.

The Dominar 400 is made for long-distance riding. If you want a powerful, comfortable bike with a big-bike feel but don’t want to spend a fortune, this is a great option.

If you’re a beginner looking for your first big bike or if you just love exploring on two wheels, the Dominar 400 is worth considering.