Honda Rebel 300 vs Bajaj Dominar 250: Spec Comparison
Published On Mar 20, 2020 08:07 AM By Praveen M.for Bajaj Dominar 250
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We compare Honda’s upcoming cruiser against Bajaj’s newly launched mile-muncher to see which one’s superior on paper
Honda India could launch the Rebel 300 before the Rebel 500 and if it does, it will be the brand’s first cruiser in the country. Cruisers are ideal for munching miles. Another recently-launched mile-muncher is the Bajaj Dominar 250. It is for enthusiasts who want a potent touring machine under a budget. Let’s see which one fares better spec-wise:
Engine:
The Honda Rebel 300’s bigger engine offers it a clear advantage over the Bajaj Dominar 250. The extra 3.9Nm coupled with the 15kg lighter weight should result in briskier acceleration. Whereas, the 3.4PS bump in power should result in the motor running relatively less relaxed at high speeds compared to the baby Dominar. The Rebel 300 comes with slip and assist clutch with the latter reducing the clutch lever effort. On the other hand, the Dominar manages with just a slipper clutch which prevents the rear wheel from locking up under aggressive downshifts.
Underpinnings:
The Dominar 250 comes with a more sophisticated inverted fork which offers better rigidity than the conventional telescopic front fork of the Rebel 300. Also, its gas-charged monoshock should offer more uniform damping than twin shocks, which tend to have slightly different damping characteristics from one another. The Dominar also comes with a more advanced radial caliper for better brake feel.
While the Honda Rebel 300 rides on smaller wheels than the Dominar, it gets properly fat tyres on both ends for that authentic bobber feel. The greater contact patch should theoretically ensure superior grip.
Dimensions:
Being a cruiser, the Rebel 300 comes with a longer wheelbase, which should add more stability on the highways. However, it may make the motorcycle lazier to turn compared to the Dominar 250. Another advantage of the Rebel 300 is its low seat height, which makes it more accessible to riders of all statures. Since the Dominar 250 shares its chassis with the Dominar 400, its seat height should be more or less similar to the bigger bike, which is 800mm.
Compared to the Rebel 300, the taller seat and the 15kg added heft will make the Dominar 250 a bit cumbersome to manoeuvre at low speeds.
Price & Verdict:
Honda is likely to price the Rebel 300 at around Rs 2.30 lakh to Rs 2.40 lakh (ex-showroom). If you’re wondering how we arrived at this figure, check this out. But even with its projected pricing, it is at least Rs 70,000 more than the Dominar 250. Overall, the Bajaj Dominar 250 is a good package for the price you pay. However, if you’re keen on buying a true-blue cruiser in the 300-odd-cc segment, the Honda Rebel 300 is a good choice to consider once it comes to our market.
