Bajaj Dominar 250: Pros, Cons, Should You Buy One?

Does the Dominar 250 actually deliver, and is it worth its price tag?

We recently spent some time on the Dominar 250 and came back mighty impressed. It delivers on most fronts but still has room for improvement. Here’s what works in favour of the bike and what doesn’t:

Pros

A Tractable Motor

The Dominar packs a 248.77cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that offers Japanese motorcycle levels of refinement. The sheer tractability of the motor makes it a lot easier to live with. While the meat of the power lies in the mid-range, it has enough bottom-end performance to pull cleanly from speeds as low as 45kmph in 6th gear. The Dominar 250 is quite comfortable touring as well and could sit at triple-digit speeds all day long.

Well-balanced Suspension Setup

The revised spring rate on the Dominar 250 has significantly improved its suspension setup. It manages to gobble up sharp edges and ridges without any trouble and settles down and works even better when you have a pillion on board. 

Also Read: Bajaj Dominar 250: Road Test Review

Excellent Brakes

The Dominar 250 carried over its braking setup from the 250 Duke, however, we believe it’s been tweaked to work with the extra weight of the Dominar. And we're glad to report that it works well. The brakes offer good feedback and progression through the levers and deliver enough bite to bring the bike to a dead stop from 80kmph in just 31.53 metres.

Silky Smooth Gearbox

The 250 comes with a 6-speed transmission and a slipper clutch. It works flawlessly and delivers quick, positive shifts with every tap on the gear lever.

Cons

Not As Lively In Lower Revs

The 250 Duke’s engine makes perfect sense on the Dominar, but feels a bit sluggish below 5,500rpm. Push the bike beyond that though and it pulls hard until about 8000rpm.

Bias-ply Tyres Work Well But...

The slimmer 37mm fork paired with skinnier tyres makes the Dominar 250 feel more nimble and agile than the 400. It’s quick to turn into corners and weave through city traffic. The stock MRF tyres work well and offer a good amount of grip in both wet and dry conditions but aren’t as confidence-inspiring as the radial tyres on the Dominar 400. 

Heaviest Bike In Its Class

At 180kg kerb, the Dominar 250 is the heaviest bike in its class. The weight is quite evident when you try moving around the bike in the parking lot.

Should You Buy One?

Without a doubt! The Dominar 250 feels more flexible, comfortable and competent -- something the Dominar was always meant to be. It’s finally found its purpose with this new setup and makes a lot more sense than the Dominar 400. Besides, at Rs 1.6 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the 250 is also a lot easier on the pocket.