Under the series of long-term user reviews, today we have come with the 2018 Bajaj Dominar D400 user review. The bike is owned by Sandeep and he has actually taken the most out of the "Cruiser" tag Dominar carries. With over 34,000 km clocked on the ODO in a span of 2 years, the bike has held the tag well and hasn't shown any major issues till now. Before we get ahead, the 2020 Bajaj Dominar is leaps and bounds better, with USD forks and DOHC engine layout. Also, the niggles owner has shared have been taken care of in the MY20 Dominar 400.
The owner has done multiple trips on long stretches of tarmac and the bike tours effortlessly. On the highways, the engine RPMs climb up to 5,000 mark and some vibrations do creep on the footpegs and handlebar. The fuel efficiency remains between 29-32 km/l under the mixed usage in the city and on the highways The gearbox - though slots perfectly - feels a bit clunky but the clutch is lite. In the city, the bike feels heavy and cumbersome thanks to the long turning radius. Moreover, the weight also hampers manoeuvring in small places.
Sandeep has not faced any big issues till date except for the known chain issue Dominar carried in the 2018 model. The chainset has been replaced twice - once at 13,000 km and again at 25,000 km which cost Rs 3,800 and Rs 4,147 respectively. However, despite having 34,000 km on the ODO, the clutch hasn't been changed and doing its job pretty well. One issue Sandeep faced was the engine packaging which led to the leakage of engine oil. The repair cost of the same issue was Rs 690 and the issue is now resolved.
Coming to the pros and cons told by Sandeep, the bike has brisk acceleration and effortless touring capability. The bike can go anywhere and turns out to be a reliable workhorse with no issues to complain till date. The riding posture is comfortable and Sandeep has also added handlebar raisers which further increases the touring comfort. The only major cons being the clunky gearbox, heavyweight and cumbersome riding in city traffic.
Also read: 2011 Hyundai Verna Fluidic Diesel Ownership Review
The MY20 Bajaj Dominar 400 comes with loads of improvements in terms of comfort, performance and refinement. The engine gets a DOHC layout which improves the top-end performance and the refinement has also been improved. If you are looking for a sporty touring motorcycle which can do most of your duties, the Dominar 400 is a reliable workhorse and can be taken anywhere without any second thoughts.
Thanks to Sandeep for sharing his in-depth user review of the Bajaj Dominar 400. Want to get your user review published? Hit us up and also be a part of spruced-up automotive discussions by joining the 91Wheels Whatapp group, click here to join.
