The Bajaj Dominar 400 was launched with much fanfare two years back. Bajaj had high expectations from its flagship product and Rajiv Bajaj had even set a target of 10,000 units per month. Sadly, for the Chakan based two-wheeler giant, sales of the power cruiser have been way off target. In a bid to rekindle the Dominar brand in the Indian two-wheeler space, Bajaj will be launching the new 2019 Dominar 400 in our two-wheeler space soon. With its launch expected to be around the corner, we list down five interesting details about the upcoming motorcycle.
Better suspension
One of the main drawbacks of the current Dominar 400 is its stiff suspension. The monoshock, especially, has very less travel and this results in a bumpy ride at higher speeds. While we hope that Bajaj engineers improve the ride quality at the rear, what we know for sure is that the 2019 Dominar will be equipped with USD fork as showcased on the Pulsar CS 400 concept at the 2014 Auto Expo. The USD unit has been sourced from Endurance and the new Dominar will be the first production Bajaj bike to feature such a setup.
BSVI engine
The test mule that we spotted had a redesigned muffler with twin exhaust ports. Also, the catalytic convertor looked different, suggesting that the new motor could be BSVI compliant. The new BSVI emission norms come into effect from 1 April 2020 and most manufacturers in India are focussing on updating their products to meet the stringent norms. In its current state of tune, the 373.3cc, liquid-cooled motor churns out 35PS and 35Nm of peak torque. While power output of the new bike is expected to remain identical, we expect the new engine to be a bit more refined.
More features
Another major change on the 2019 Dominar 400 is the inclusion of dual digital instrument consoles, which is again inspired from the Bajaj CS 400 concept. The handlebar-mounted digital display is similar to the existing model, however, it will get an additional side stand indicator. The fuel tank-mounted console, on the other hand, will have gear position indicator, fuel gauge, trip meter and odometer now. The tell-tale lights, meanwhile, are likely to be placed next to the main instrument console. It’s also likely that the new Dominar 400 will be introduced with new colour options as well.
Parts sharing with outgoing model
While there are many new updates on the 2019 Dominar, the power cruiser carries forward many components from the existing bike. The perimeter frame will identical on the new motorcycle and so will be the LED headlights. With ABS becoming mandatory from 1 April 2019, the new Dominar 400 will come with dual-channel ABS only. Braking hardware consists of the same 320mm disc at the front and a 220mm disc at the rear. The 17-inch alloy wheels on both ends and the MRF-sourced 110/70-R17 tyre at the front and a 150/70-R17 tyre at the rear will also be identical to the current Dominar.
Launch & pricing
Bajaj officials have confirmed that the new Dominar 400 will be the first new product launch from Bajaj in 2019. While the company hasn’t shared any launch details, according to our sources, the new bike will be launched in January itself. As far as pricing is concerned, the current Dominar 400 ABS retails for Rs 1.63 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and we expect the 2019 Dominar 400 to carry a premium of around Rs 15,000 to 20,000 over it.
Source: zigwheels.com
