Bajaj has officially launched the 2019 model of the Dominar 400 in India. The motorcycle has received several updates which has resulted in a price hike of Rs 10,795 over the previous version. The sports tourer now retails at Rs 1.73 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). Considering its pricing and displacement, the Dominar 400 competes against Royal Enfield’s adventure tourer, the Himalayan. Meanwhile, the Dominar 400 also shares its powerplant and cycle parts with the KTM 390 Duke. Having said that, let’s check out how these three motorcycles stack up against each other in this on-paper comparison.
Design and Features:
In terms of design, all three motorcycles have their own character. The Dominar 400 is a touring motorcycle that offers a sporty yet relaxed stance. It comes with styling elements such as the headlamp, chiselled fuel tank, upswept tail section and dual-barrel exhaust which make it look aggressive. Now, the KTM 390 Duke is a notch up when it comes to an aggressive design language and takes inspiration from the 1290 SuperDuke R. It sports a split-type headlamp setup, edgy tank extensions, exposed trellis frame and a petite tail section. Meanwhile, the design of the Royal Enfield Himalayan seeks to justify its adventure touring tag with a tall stance, long-travel suspension, dual-purpose tyres, tall windscreen and minimalistic body panels.
On the feature front, the KTM 390 Duke leads the pack with its TFT LCD instrument cluster which displays a host of information and gets Bluetooth-connectivity. It also features an all-LED headlamp, ride-by-wire throttle, slipper clutch and three modes for ABS. As for the Dominar 400, it does get a fully-digital instrument cluster, LED headlamp, slipper clutch and dual-channel ABS. However, the ABS is not switchable and it misses out on the ride-by-wire throttle. The Royal Enfield Himalayan keeps it simple in this department and only offers ABS in terms of electronics.
Engine:
Starting with the most powerful motorcycle, the KTM 390 Duke is propelled by a 373.2cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine which churns out 42.9bhp and 37Nm. This motor comes mated to a slick six-speed gearbox. The Dominar 400 shares its engine with the 390 Duke but is tuned differently to suit the Dominar’s touring character. For 2019 model, the motorcycle has received a bump in its power, thanks to the inclusion of DOHC. Now, it produces 39.4bhp and 35Nm which is a hike of around 5bhp. Talking about the Royal Enfield Himalayan, the adventure tourer is powered by a 411cc, air-cooled, fuel-injected motor that generates 24.5bhp and 32Nm, which is the least of the lot.
Cycle Parts:
The Royal Enfield Himalayan is underpinned by a split cradle frame and, being an adventure tourer, it rides on large 21-inch at the front and 17-inch rear spoke wheels. The bike is suspended on telescopic front forks (200mm) and dual shock absorbers at the rear (180mm). Braking is taken care of by a 300mm front disc and a 240mm rear disc.
Now, the 2019 Dominar 400 is underpinned by a perimeter frame while the 390 Duke is built around a steel trellis frame. Apart from this, the motorcycles share similar mechanicals. Both bikes ride on 17-inch wheels and get upside-down front forks and monoshock at the rear. For braking, both bikes come equipped with a 320mm disc at the front and 230mm disc at the rear. However, the 390 Duke is based on a steel trellis frame as opposed to the Dominar’s perimeter frame.
Pricing:
The most expensive among the three is the KTM 390 Duke. Priced at Rs 2.43 lakhs, this street bike is focussed on outright performance and offers segment-leading features. As for the Royal Enfield Himalayan, at Rs 1.80 lakhs, you get India’s most affordable adventure tourer which is comfortable to ride and is capable of handling different terrains. As for the 2019 Bajaj Dominar 400, the motorcycle now retails at Rs 1.73 lakhs. Despite the price hike, the bike is a value-for-money proposition, thanks to its comfortable ergonomics, modern features and punchy performance.
(All prices are ex-showroom)
