Buy Or Hold: Bajaj Dominar 250 vs Royal Enfield Meteor 350

Should you buy the Bajaj Dominar 250 now or wait for the Royal Enfield Meteor 350? We analyse

Bajaj brought down the entry point to its flagship Dominar range by introducing the Dominar 250 in the country. Royal Enfield is also gearing up to give a befitting answer with the upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor 350. So now, only one question remains: Should you go ahead and buy the Dominar 250 or should you wait for Royal Enfield’s all-new motorcycle? Here’s our analysis:

What Makes the Dominar 250 Worth Buying Right Now

The Bajaj Dominar 250 is priced at Rs 1.60 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), making it one of the most value-for-money sporty tourers in the country. Over the years, Dominar 400’s pricing increased exponentially, making it lose its competitive edge a little. Hence, the Dominar 250 is priced in such a way that it is relatively more affordable for enthusiasts on a budget. 

As far as the features are concerned, the bike is loaded with premium bits like an all-LED lighting system, full-digital instrument cluster, and power cruiser-like styling with comfortable touring-friendly riding position. The instrument cluster isn’t as detailed as its bigger sibling with real-time mileage indicators and such, but it is informative enough to fulfil its basic purpose.

The 248.7cc single-cylinder engine produces a respectable 27PS and 23.5Nm. This powerplant is properly refined and is butter smooth even when cruising at 100kmph. The ratios of the 6-speed transmission are well spaced for better low-mid-range performance. Keep the tachometer needle hovering between 2000 and 3000rpm, and the bike can move along without any issues.

Since it’s 7kg lighter than the Dominar 400 and sports slimmer tyres, the bike feels a lot more agile than its bigger brother. The inverted front fork and rear gas-charged monoshock are tuned to absorb most of the bumps Indian roads can throw at you, without losing its composure. We also found the brakes to be one of the best in class with good feedback from the levers. Overall, the Bajaj Dominar 250 is a worthy budget-friendly buy for those who like to start their journey of touring on two wheels.

What Makes the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Worth the Wait

The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 will replace the now-discontinued Thunderbird 350 and Thunderbird 350X. It is an all-new motorcycle based on the new J-platform. The bike sports a brand new powertrain, new chassis, and slightly familiar styling with a ton of design tweaks. 

The all-new engine is likely to be a lot more refined than the existing 346cc single-cylinder mill. It is also expected to be more powerful and torquey compared to the 346cc engine’s 19.3PS and 28Nm. Interestingly, the new engine’s gearbox casing is similar to the one in the Interceptor 650 or Continental GT 650. So we wouldn’t be surprised if it had a 6-speed transmission. This motorcycle is expected to be a lot more highway-friendly than both the 350cc and the now-discontinued 500cc range. 

The bike’s suspension is similar to the older-gen Thunderbird but the rear runs on a conventional twin shock absorber setup instead of the gas-charged units. The brakes are new and are likely to pack a dual-channel ABS for optimum safety. The bike also rolls on alloy wheels wrapped with tubeless tyres. This should help in handling punctures a lot better than the spoke wheels with tubed tyres in the Thunderbird 350.

Also Read: Touring Tips: Best Touring Motorcycles Upto Rs 1.5 Lakh

The riding ergonomics is properly laid-back and the bike is expected to feature the same voluminous 20-litre fuel tank as the last-gen model. The seats are low and are expected to be manageable for shorter riders too. All in all, the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is the next most promising motorcycle for the brand heralding a new direction for pure motorcycling. If the already competitive 650 twins are out of your reach, it is worth waiting for the Meteor 350 which is likely to be launched late this month or by early-September. It is likely to be priced around Rs 1.60 lakh (ex-showroom), going by our earlier report.