2019 Bajaj Dominar 400 vs KTM 390 Duke: Comparison Review

The Dominar’s long-ish rake angle makes the front end feel a little disconnected while cornering. But once you put in a bit more effort on the handlebars, it sticks to its line properly. Even the MRF RevZ tyres inspire a fair bit of confidence and do a pretty good job in keeping the rubber side down while carving corners. However, the Dominar does feel slightly top heavy. So while it does tip into corners fairly effortlessly, transitioning from one corner to the next takes more effort.

On the other hand, the 390 Duke’s dynamics is a whole different ballgame. Its sharper rake angle and sportier stance help the rider lean effortlessly, making short work of the twisties. The light kerb weight and sticky Metzeler tyres further eggs the rider to achieve higher lean angles. And corner-to-corner transitions on the Duke are nothing short of explosive - so much so that it’s enough to scare novice riders.

As far as braking is concerned, the Dominar has plenty of bite on offer, but the lever feel and progression feels quite numb. The Duke, on the other hand, offers brilliant feedback, progression and bite. It is good enough to warrant the need for just one finger to bring it to a halt. Plus, the adjustable levers accommodate a variety of palm sizes.

Over bad roads, the KTM 390 Duke held its own surprisingly well. In fact, the ride quality is a lot plushier than the Dominar 400, with the front inverted forks and rear monoshock working effortlessly to keep the rider’s bum comfy. The damping is just about right so that it doesn’t make the bike feel wallowy on uneven corners. In the Dominar, the front end is supple and the rear suspension has been reworked so that it rides significantly better compared to the previous bike. But its quick rebound ends up transferring the jolts to the rider over sharp bumps.

The Little Things That Matter:

The Dominar’s wide tank extensions coupled with the wide handlebars result in a commanding riding position. It’s more comfortable than the Duke too, as the footpegs-handlebar position combo is a lot more relaxed. Though the seat is roomier, it doesn’t let you move about in corners as quickly as the KTM’s seat does. On the KTM, you sit in a very compact position, with your legs tucked in behind a bit because of the rear-set footpegs. While it helps you flick the bike better in corners, your knees end up feeling a little cramped over long journeys on the highway.

Thumb the starter button in the Dominar and you’ll be invited by a throaty, bass-filled growl. The Dominar’s aural note is a lot louder than the Duke’s and it makes you feel like you’re on a bigger bike. However, the gruff note can get a bit tedious over time, especially if you’re experiencing it in traffic.

While the 2019 Dominar’s instrument cluster is a major improvement over its predecessor, it simply fails to match up to the pizzaz of the 390 Duke’s TFT screen. Also, while that secondary pod on the tank sounds nice in theory, it’s just bad design in terms of practicality. While you’re on the move, glancing at it is downright dangerous as it is located well below your line of sight. And this is where Bajaj has chosen to put the gear position indicator - a feature you use quite often. What were they thinking?

Verdict:

With all the improvements that the 2019 Dominar has brought, it’s finally become the bike that it should’ve been in the first place. But the fact that these updates come for just about Rs 10,000 over the older-gen model, makes it even more value-for-money than it was before. It checks a lot of boxes and does a lot of things right. What plays an even bigger role in sealing the deal is its stonking price of just Rs 1.73 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)! It all makes perfect sense in the head, doesn’t it?

But there is a problem. The Dominar is not a bad bike by any means, no sir! But when faced with the likes of the KTM 390 Duke, the Dominar just makes you feel like you’ve settled on a machine that could’ve been a whole lot better. There are none of those exhilarating, scary and glee-inducing feelings that you experience on a 390 Duke. And because of that, at least for enthusiasts, the premium of Rs 75,000 for the KTM might just seem worth it.

Update - Bajaj has hiked the price of the 2019 Dominar 400 by Rs 6,000! While this may seem like a lot, especially after comparing the price difference with the older model, we still maintain our verdict of the 2019 Dominar being a value-for-money proposition as before.