Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z vs Bajaj Dominar 400 vs TVS Apache RTR 310 vs 2024 KTM 390 Duke vs Triumph Speed 400: Specification Comparison

The KTM 390 Duke is the most powerful bike among all of them and is quite a rev-happy bike because of the high-strung liquid-cooled engine. The Apache RTR 310 is also very rev-happy as it produces its peak power and torque outputs at 9700rpm. But it also has the smallest-capacity engine and is also the least powerful compared to the rest of the bikes in this comparison. 

The Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z and the Bajaj Dominar 400 share the same 373.3cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine which produces the same power and torque output in both the bikes. The gearing in the NS400Z could be changed for better acceleration as the Dominar 400 is tuned to be more of a ‘sports tourer’ (in Bajaj’s own words), but we’ll only get to confirm that when we ride the bike for the first time. 

The Speed 400 makes the same power output as the Bajaj bikes but produces the second-highest torque output in this lineup. It has great bottom-end grunt as well, making it a hoot to ride in the city as well.  

The RTR 310 and the 390 Duke are the only two bikes in this comparison to get a quickshifter. It is available as standard in the 390 Duke while in the RTR 310, it is only available with a premium of about Rs 15,000 over the base variant. 

The 390 Duke gets the most sophisticated suspension from WP as it has rebound and compression adjustability at the front and rebound and preload adjustability at the rear. This means that riders of all sizes can adjust the bike according to their requirements.

The RTR 310 does get a fully adjustable front suspension and a preload/rebound adjustable rear suspension but it costs an extra Rs 18,000 as part of the Dynamic Kit. The suspension setup on the rest of the bikes are similar to each other with nothing much to differentiate between them on paper.

The KTM 390 Duke comes equipped with H-rated Metzeler M5 tyres, the Speed 400 gets W-rated Apollo H1s, the The TVS Apache RTR 310 comes equipped with Michelin Road 5 tyres, the NS400Z gets MRF Zapper-FX2 tyres, and the Bajaj Dominar 400 gets MRF REVZ D tyres. It’s important to note that all bikes in this comparison get radial tyres at both ends, except for the Pulsar NS400Z, which gets a bias-ply front and a radial rear. While all the tyre options are quite good for their intended purposes, the Michelin Road 5 tyres in the RTR 310 offer the best grip among all of them.  

Because of how a perimeter frame is constructed, it is usually heavier than a trellis frame and that is reflected in the kerb weights of the bikes in this comparison. The Dominar 400 is the heaviest among all of them by a good margin and combined with the longest wheelbase here, the bike will be quite stable while touring on the highways. However, manoeuvrability in tight spaces can be a bit bothersome compared to the others. The Pulsar NS400 Z and the Speed 400 are not much heavier than the 390 Duke and the RTR 310 and as such, navigating through tight city traffic scenarios should be an easy affair.

The 390 Duke and RTR 310 have the highest ground clearance, which is perfect for our Indian roads. Riders of the NS400 Z and the Dominar 400 should be careful while going bumps and potholes, though. Also, the KTM 390 Duke has the biggest fuel tank capacity, which should result in fewer fuel stops in general. 

The TVS Apache RTR 310 is the most feature-rich bike in this comparison as it gets 6-axis IMU for cornering ABS, cornering traction control, cornering cruise control, wheelie control, slope dependent braking control, rear-wheel lift off protection, and even a climate controlled rider’s seat with three levels of heating and cooling options. But these features are only available as accessories as part of the Dynamic Pro Kit which costs a premium of Rs 22,000 over the standard variant. 

On top of the TFT instrument console with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation, and the ride modes, the KTM 390 Duke also gets cruise control, launch control, wheelie control and cornering ABS as standard! This makes it the best package in terms of features in this comparison. The NS400 Z offers a decent package as well, for what it costs, with turn-by-turn navigation, ride modes, traction control and more available as standard. The Speed 400 also gets traction control but misses out on a full-fledged digital console with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. But that shouldn’t count as a knock on the Speed 400 because of its positioning as a neo-retro roadster. The Dominar 400, however, doesn’t get any of the fancy features mentioned above and is the least feature-rich bike in this lineup.