The Bajaj Dominar 250 and the Suzuki Gixxer 250 BS6 compete in a similar price bracket. Here we compare various aspects about of motorcycles such as the design, performance, features, and value-for-money proposition.
Design
The Bajaj Dominar 250 draws styling cues from the company’s flagship model, the Dominar 400. The muscular design of the quarter-litre Dominar is further complemented by an aggressive-looking full-LED headlight and beefy upside-down front forks. From the rider’s view, the split-style instrument cluster ensures that the primary screen isn’t too cluttered. The plastic cladding on the tank adds a neat contrast to the overall looks while the backlit switchgear looks premium.
The Gixxer 250 draws styling cues from the Gixxer 155. The Japanese roadster features a relatively subtle design than the Dominar 250. While the Gixxer 250 looks stylish, the front fascia would’ve looked even more appealing with a GSX-S750 inspired headlight. Excluding that, the motorcycle looks very attractive, especially in the MotoGP-inspired livery. The overall build quality, too, is noticeably better on the Japanese quarter-litre as compared to its rival in this comparison.
In terms of dimensions, the Bajaj Dominar 250 is a longer, wider, and taller motorcycle than the Gixxer 250. Yet, both motorcycles come with a seat height of 800mm which makes them easily accessible for a wide range of riders. The Dominar 250, however, will need more efforts to move around in tight parking spaces due to its heavier weight.
Features
Both motorcycles feature an LED headlight, an LED taillight, and a fully-digital instrument cluster. The Bajaj Dominar 250, however, uses sleeker LED flashers while the Gixxer 250 uses conventional units. The digital cluster on both motorcycles is information-rich, displaying all the necessary data. While the display on both the motorcycles look clutter-free, the unit on the Gixxer 250 is easier to read and it benefits from a gear-position indicator which gives it extra points. The switchgear on the two quarter-litre products is similar, although the backlit buttons on the Bajaj Dominar 250 look more premium and appealing.
The hardware on the Bajaj Dominar 250 includes upside-down front forks, a preload-adjustable rear mono-shock, disc brakes on both wheels, and a dual-channel ABS. The Gixxer 250, too, uses near similar hardware, although the Japanese roadster gets conventional telescopic front forks instead of upside-down units on the Dominar 250.
Neither motorcycle gets Bluetooth connectivity, but Suzuki has introduced the feature to its scooter range, and it’s only a matter of time before the company adds the function to its motorcycles. Do note that Suzuki has not made any announcements about the Bluetooth-connectivity function for its motorcycles yet.
Engine
The Bajaj Dominar 250 uses a 248.8cc, liquid-cooled setup while the Gixxer 250 comes with a 249cc, oil/air-cooled layout. The power and torque output numbers are similar on both motorcycles. The motor on the Dominar 250 makes 26.63bhp at 8,500rpm and 23.5Nm of peak torque at 6,500rpm. The Gixxer 250, on the other hand, produces a marginally lower 26.13bhp at 9,300rpm and 22.2Nm of peak torque at 7,300rpm.
While the power and torque figures are nearly similar, the Bajaj Dominar 250 tips the weighing scale at 180kg, making it 24kg heavier than the Gixxer 250. Thus, despite the marginally lower power output number, the Gixxer 250 carries a better power-to-weight ratio than the Dominar 250.
Which One Should You Buy?
The feature list on both motorcycles is identical, although the Bajaj Dominar 250 gets beefier upside-down front forks and full-LED lighting which gives it an edge over the Gixxer 250. The Japanese roadster, on the other hand, packs a better build quality which makes it more appealing while the lighter weight makes it more agile and friendly for city use.
The heavier weight, longer wheelbase, and spacious seating arrangement on the Dominar 250 make it ideal for touring, and a budget-friendly alternative to the Dominar 400. So, the Bajaj Dominar 250 ticks all the right boxes for highway mile-munching while the Suzuki Gixxer 250 is ideal for people who intend to spend most of the time in city riding conditions.
