The Bajaj Dominar 250 vs Rivals | From Duke 250 to Gixxer 250

Bajaj recently launched the much anticipated Dominar 250. Fans of the brand had been asking for it ever since the Dominar 400 came into existence. So Bajaj was apparently taking keen notes and was hence able to find the balance between an entry-level sports tourer and a street sports bike in the most efficient manner.

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The 250cc motorcycle market is on a positive trajectory. Such motorcycles make for a perfect introduction to the world of riding for novice riders as these bikes pack just the right amount of punch for them to get accustomed to the fundamentals of riding. Also, this experience comes at a rather affordable price range when it comes to 250cc motorcycles.

There are some highly capable motorcycles in this segment and the entry of the Dominar moniker has clearly made it more interesting. So taking the fight to “new kid in school”, let’s see how the Dominar 250 is going to stack up against its rivals.

Bajaj Dominar 250 vs Rivals | Is it Powerful enough?

Just like the D400, this also derives its motor from a KTM namely the Duke 250, with slight in house changes. This 248.7cc motor gets a twin spark setup rather than the triple spark seen on the Dominar 400. This single-cylinder liquid-cooled motor produces 27PS of power and 23.5Nm of torque. Let’s see how these figures stack up against its rivals.

The Dominar 250’s motor has been detuned a bit from what we have for the KTM to suit the overall characteristics of the bike. Still, the power figures are right up there with the competition.

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However, despite shedding a good 7Kgs from the 400 to 250 transition, the Dominar is the heaviest motorcycle out of the lot. This means that the D250 is not the quickest motorcycle in the segment. But it seems that the purpose of the Dominar 250 wasn’t to be the fastest of all and was rather focused on achieving the fine balance of speed and comfort expected from a sports tourer. And this is something the Dominar seems to achieve decently. With that being said, do not consider the Dominar 250 as a slow motorcycle, the bike if not faster, is at par with its rivals when it comes to delivering a healthy amount of power.

Dominar 250 vs Rivals | What about Refinement?

The detuned KTM sourced motor on the Dominar 250 does make the overall ride quality seamless. It does not have the overenthusiastic attributes of the KTM motor and has a comparatively smoother approach to building up the revs. The motor on the D250 also runs on a lower compression ratio, which further enhances refinement.

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As per the rest of the competitions, the Dominar 250 can be tough to beat as far as refinement is concerned.

Dominar 250 vs Rivals | The Comfort Factor

The combination of a nimbler motor with the same underpinnings as the Dominar 400 works phenomenally for the Dominar 250 as far as the ride comfort is concerned. The riding posture is not as aggressive as the Duke 250 but is also not as conventional as the Gixxer 250 or the FZ25. The combination of the smoother 250 cc motor with these riding ergonomics works are impressive and there is no evident vibration as well.

All in all the D250 can be considered as the preferable option for highway runs and longer journeys as compared to its close rivals.

Dominar 250 vs Rivals | Fuel Efficiency

Here’s how the Dominar 250’s fuel efficiency ratings stack up against its rivals.

The Dominar 250’s fuel efficiency rating is the least when compared to its rivals. However, the difference is not as substantial and also fuel efficiency is a rather subjective matter, all depending on the riding conditions.

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Dominar 250 vs Rivals | Pricing

With a price of Rs.1.60 Lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi), it’s a great relief for people looking to experience the Dominar brand at a much reasonable price range.