Alpha Male

The latest motorcycle from Bajaj Auto is also their largest-capacity model to date. We rode the new Bajaj Dominar 400 and came back happy. Here’s what it’s like.

- Sarmad Kadiri

THIS IS THE MOST PREMIUM AND largest-capacity two-wheeler Bajaj Auto have ever manufactured. After being shown as a concept at the Auto Expo 2014, it continued to play hide and seek with the media and enthusiasts, changing its identity from Pulsar CS 400 to Kratos 400 and, finally, making its appearance as the Bajaj Dominar 400: the first offering from Bajaj’s all new family of motorcycles.

Projected as a power cruiser, the Dominar’s relaxed riding position, central mass and neck-less headlight seem to be inspired by the Ducati Diavel. There are traces of the Pulsar 200 NS, too, specially in the beefy tank and chunkier beam type perimeter frame.

We rode the Bajaj Dominar 400 for nearly 200 kilometres both in the city and on the highway. Here is what we found out.

You can feel the 182-kg weight of this motorcycle the moment you take the bike off its side-stand and pull it out of the parking lot. The handlebar is wide, the seat is comfortable and the rider’s geometry, although slightly sporty, is pretty relaxed. There are a set of instrument clusters. The first, a digital console, is conventionally positioned above the handlebar and gives out information such as vehicle and engine speed, gear shift indicator and fuel-gauge. The second one is housed on the fuel-tank with tell-tale lights for the side-stand, headlight high-beam, engine temperature, and the like.

Among the new features the highlight remains the really bright, full-LED headlamps with 10 LED units in a 3+3+4 configuration. The soon-to-be-mandated All-time Headlight On (AHO) feature is present as well. The illuminated switchgear is now a familiar sight and the handlebars get very nice soft rubber grips. Push the self starter button and the motor comes to life with a deep but subdued snarl thanks to the new side exhaust. The clutch feel is relatively light and progressive, and it shifts into first gear with a clunk.