Updated Bajaj Dominar 400 India launch likely to happen in November

22/10/2018 - 18:00 Bajaj Dominar 400, Bajaj Suvil Susvirkar

While we are yet to hear an official launch date, IAB sources suggest that the updated Bajaj Dominar 400 should arrive in the showrooms in November 2018. It is to be noted that Royal Enfield will be launching its new 650 Twin in the Indian market in the same month, while Mahindra's Classic Legends will unveil the reborn Jawa motorcycle in mid-November.

Bajaj Dominar 400 Iab Render Right Front Three Quarter — Based on the information from the spy images, the rendered 2019 Bajaj Dominar 400 uses upside down telescopic front forks and a new exhaust design.

Also read: 2019 Bajaj Dominar 400 spied road testing with camouflage

In September 2018, Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto confirmed that the company is "now going to market new Dominars." The updated Dominar has been spotted on more than one occasion now. Test mules of the motorcycle were seen with upside down telescopic front suspension, a new exhaust design and a larger radiator.

There will be slight changes to the dual-tone paint scheme and, as seen in the spy media, the updated Dominar 400 will get more blacked out real estate on the fuel tank.

Will we see any updates to the engine? The new BS-VI norms are scheduled to come into effect from April 2020. Thus, there is a possibility that updated Dominar 400 will pack all the upgrades to be BS-VI ready well in advance. For reference, the current model uses a 373 cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that is tuned to deliver 35 PS of maximum power and 35 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission and features a slipper clutch.

Currently, the Dominar 400 comes in two variants – standard and ABS. With the new safety norms scheduled to commence from April 2019, the motorcycle will only be available in ABS variant. The motorcycle is sold at INR 148,043 (standard) and INR 162,074 (ABS) – ex-showroom, Delhi, respectively. No doubt that the new hardware will push up the cost of the motorcycle.

At the launch in December 2016, Bajaj had set a target of 10,000 unit sales every month by September 2017 for its flagship product. However, the motorcycle fell short of expectations, clocking more than 2,000 unit sales just once in the first half of this year. The new model, with updated hardware, could be the shot in the arm the motorcycle has been looking for.

2018 Bajaj Dominar 400 unveiled blue front suspension — Currently, the Dominar 400 is available in three colour options. Till now, we have seen the updated Dominar 400 testing in the red colour but the motorcycle may get other colour options as it has in Russia.

Also read: Bajaj Dominar Scrambler 400 to be launched in India in 2019 – Report

In other updates, Bajaj is reportedly planning to give its flagship motorcycle a more diverse character by introducing its first variant, a Scrambler version. The Dominar Scrambler 400 will reportedly arrive in India in Q4 FY2018-19.