Bajaj Dominar 250

The Bajaj Dominar 250 is the smaller sibling of the Dominar 400. It makes the Dominar lineup more accessible by providing a more affordable option for sporty touring. The Dominar 250 is similar to its bigger sibling in almost all aspects, but it differentiates itself primarily through differences in engine and performance. Let's see how this 250cc tourer performs in the real world.

The Bajaj Dominar 250 looks very similar to the Dominar 400, as it borrows the same design elements and features the same twin-barrel exhaust too. But it doesn’t come with the touring accessories which are available as standard on the new Dominar 400. Hence, it misses out on the tall windscreen, hand guards, saddle stays, and tail rack. 

The 250cc Dominar gets matte black alloy wheels, instead of the dual-tone ones found on the Dominar 400. Other noticeable differences include a thinner 37mm fork, slimmer rear tyre, box-section swingarm, and smaller 300mm front disc brake. It is available in three colour options: Racing Red, Sparkling Black, and Citrus Rush.

The Bajaj Dominar 250 gets a 248.77cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine that delivers 27PS and 23.5Nm, paired with a 6-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch. The Dominar 250 has a 13-litre fuel tank and provides a real-world tested mileage of 35kmpl in the city and 34kmpl on the highway.

While the 250cc engine was already quite refined (as seen on the previous-gen KTM 250 Duke), it now has an even smoother nature. It isn’t as aggressive as the Duke and feels relaxed on the Dominar 250. It effortlessly reaches 100kmph just above the 6000rpm in sixth gear and the bike remains incredibly smooth at this speed. While it takes a bit of time to reach 120kmph, cruising at that speed is comfortable too.

The Dominar 250 has better handling than the Dominar 400, thanks to its narrower and softer compound tyres. While the tyres on the 250 may not provide the same confidence around the corners as the 400's radial tyres, the 250 changes directions quickly and is more responsive while entering corners.

The Dominar 250 delivers an enjoyable riding experience. Not as aggressive as the 250 Duke, but it's not dull either; it just offers a pleasantly smooth ride. The Dominar 250 is agile, which makes city riding enjoyable. On highways, the Dominar 250 feels stable, but during high-speed overtakes, its heavy weight can make it feel a bit sluggish.

The Bajaj Dominar 250 comes with a relaxed riding position and has well-cushioned split seats, ensuring a comfortable riding experience for both the rider and passenger. The front and rear suspension is softer than the larger Dominar and it handles bumps and potholes easily. But you have to be a little cautious when braking before sharp bumps to avoid the front fork bottoming out. Despite this, the overall ride experience on the Dominar 250 is excellent.

The Bajaj Dominar 250 comes with the same all-LED lighting system as its bigger sibling, but the 250 gets the older digital instrument cluster setup from the Gen-1 Dominar 400. The main display showcases an odometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and clock. The secondary console, which is placed on the fuel tank includes basic warning lights but misses out on additional features like fuel consumption and a gear position indicator.

The primary display is easily readable, but the tank-mounted console because of its placement requires you to look down, removing your focus from the road. Moreover, it would have been better if Bajaj had given the new console as the current-generation Dominar 400.

The Bajaj Dominar 250 can be a great choice if you are looking for a versatile bike with decent performance that can handle city traffic easily and provide an enjoyable riding experience on long tours. Even though Bajaj calls it the entry-level Dominar, we think it is the best representation of what the Dominar should actually be.