The hype is building up to a fever pitch as the launch of the Bajaj Dominar 400 approaches nearer. Ahead of the 15 December 2016 launch of what will be Bajaj Auto’s fastest and most powerful motorcycle ever, the Indian two-wheeler manufacturer has released a short teaser video of the Dominar 400. This marks the second teaser of the motorcycle, after launch date was confirmed at the start of the month and a micro-site went live on the Bajaj Auto website. The earlier teaser image showed the motorcycle prowling over the city with an oversized moon shining in the background. The silhouette of the muscular bike was the highlight of the teaser image, along with its shining bright headlights.
The headlights also made headlines when it was first unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo as the Pulsar CS 400 cruising concept motorcycle. Back then, the multiple-layered LED headlights was a first for any motorcycle. Two years down the line, the Dominar 400 has gone through multiple name changes and remains one of the most awaited motorcycles in the Indian sub-400 cc segment. Apart from name changes, the bike has also gone through some changes from its debut as a concept. Thankfully, however, most of the concept has transitioned unchanged into the production version and one of them is the headlights.
The headlights, in fitting fashion, are the highlight of the teaser video that Bajaj Auto has released through the official Bajaj Dominar Facebook page. Taken with the front cowl of the motorcycle at the centre, the teaser video shows the LED headlights of the Dominar in its full glory. The black-and-white video shows the multiple LEDs blinking in sync much like the Pulsar CS 400 concept did at the Auto Expo two years ago. Running for a grand total of 8 seconds, it is a very short snippet of the upcoming bike, but it highlights a key aspect of the Dominar, which is that the final product is every bit as exciting and adrenaline-inducing as the original concept that blew everyone socks off.
The Dominar will mark the start of a completely new brand for the Bajaj Auto stable, separate from the Pulsar brand that it was initially slated to be a part of. More than just a brand, it will mark the entry for Bajaj into a completely new market segment. The Dominar is set to be Bajaj’s premium marquee, offering the most powerful bikes in the Indian automaker’s range. It is a fitting name, since the Spanish word roughly translates to ‘exceeding in power’. Launches can often get delayed in the Indian automotive world, but this one is set in stone. The Bajaj Dominar 400 has already started production at its Chakan facility. Bookings are unofficially open at certain locations, as is the norm.
The Bajaj Dominar 400 will feature the 373 cc engine from the KTM Duke 390, likely retuned for a more linear power delivery like the 199 cc engine of the smaller Pulsar 200 NS and AS 200. Expected power and torque figures are 40 bhp and 30 Nm, and the expected price range is from INR 1.6 to INR 1.8 lakh. ABS may come as standard, although two-channel ABS may be an option here. What is certain is that the motorcycle will get a dual instrument console with one on the fuel tank, like the concept. For those looking to make their bookings through the official channel, the wait will be on until 15 December.