Selepas 10 tahun menyepi dalam arena skuter, Bajaj kembali menghidupkan Bajaj Chetak namun skuter popular di India itu kini membuat penampilan dalam versi elektrik.
Sekali imbas, rekaan keseluruhan Chetak tampak sama seperti sebuah Piaggio Vespa ini kerana sebelum ini, Bajaj menerima perlesenan daripada Vespa pada 1970.
Bagaimanapun, bermula 1980 hingga 2000, Bajaj dan Piaggio menamatkan hubungan dua hala tersebut.
Selepas menamatkan pengeluaran Chetak pada 2005, Bajaj Auto kini menghidupkan semula versi elektrik skuter terbabit.
Bajaj Chetak kini menghasilkan 5.36hp (4kW) menerusi motor elektrik Bosch.
Model ini turut didatangkan dengan fork depan single sided dan swingarm single sided, paparan digital dan lampu LED.
Ketika ini Bajaj tidak mengeluarkan maklumat mengenai kelajuan maksima yang mampu dicatat Chetak namun berdasarkan kuasa yang dijana, dijangka mampu mencapai kelajuan di antara 60 hingga 75km/j.
Sama ada Bajaj akan membawa masuk Chetak ke dalam pasaran Malaysia menerusi Modenas, belum dapat dipastikan lagi.
Bajaj Auto Limited is going all out to capture the entry-level and 110- to 125cc segments.
They are doing so by selling their bikes at aggressive pricing.
The lower pricing brought about lower profit margins but Bajaj hopes to make up through sheer volume sold.
Although Bajaj Auto Ltd’s push for higher market share has consumed their profit margins, the world’s sixth largest and India’s second largest manufacturer remain unfazed.
Bajaj is pushing for a larger share of the Indian motorcycle market through aggressive product pricing, according to Mint. “Aggressive product pricing” could be construed as the cheapest two-wheelers in India.
Competition for motorcycle sales is expected to peak in the next few months with the coming festive season. Most of the exponential growth is expected from rural areas where consumer spending sentiment is on the rise.
Bajaj seeks to increase the 110- to 125cc category in addition to their sub-100cc entry-level segment, said Kevin D’sa, Bajaj’s President of Finance said. The company intends to achieve 20% domestic market share this fiscal year and sees 25% as the long-term goal.
“We want to expand the bottom of the pyramid and take the entry-level segment share to 45% to 50% from 33% at present,” he said, adding that the new 110- to 125cc motorcycles are expected to debut in the last quarter of this fiscal.
According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Bajaj Auto Ltd’s market share in the three months to June had expanded to 16.27% from 13.96%, compared to a year ago.
Bajaj’s plans to conquer both segments are likely a sore thumb in the eyes of their rivals Hero MotoCorp Ltd., Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. and TVS Motor Co. Ltd. who had lost marginal market share to Bajaj last quarter.
Investors were disappointed with Bajaj Auto’s announcement of lower than expected June quarter earnings (due to lower profit margins). They expect to witness a downtrend in profit margins for the next six to eight quarters if there are no further price cuts.
Bajaj Auto Ltd is also the technical partner to KTM Motorrad AG in building the lower capacity KTM Duke models. The Indian manufacturer has also exported the Pulsar 150, Pulsar 200 and Dominar 400 models to Malaysia.
Hailed as a sport-tourer, it is comfortable and easy to ride.
Priced RM13,788 (basic selling price with 6% GST) for a limited time it is set to dominate that market segment.
As we’ve reported earlier (click here for the article), hot on the heels of the runaway success of the Pulsar RS200 and Pulsar NS200, Modenas felt that it was the right time to bring the Dominar D400 to our shores.
To recap, first and foremost, the bikes are built by the Indian giant, Bajaj Auto, and rebadged as Modenas. It isn’t such a bad thing, really, since Bajaj also builds the smaller KTM 200/250/390 Duke/RC range that has also taken the Malaysia and the world markets by storm. We’ve also ridden the Modenas Dominar D400 during our visit to the Bajaj Auto factory (click here for the article).
The Modenas Dominar D400 is a step up to the bigger capacity market. The electronically fuel injected, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, 373cc, single-cylinder engine has some shared architecture with the KTM 390 Duke but with a few differences such as the Digital Triple Spark (DTS-i) configuration to promote more complete combustion throughout the rev range.
As far as styling goes, it has that big headlamp, fat fuel tank look of Indian-built bikes. The seats are thick and wide, fitting for what Modenas/Bajaj calls a sport-tourer. Build quality is, well, let’s just say you can’t expect the quality of a much more expensive motorcycle at this price.
However, the headlamp is fully-LED which includes Daytime Running Light. There’s a comprehensive LCD instrument cluster, while the fuel tank has a smaller LCD screen placed into it. The main LCD was clear even in direct sunlight. The graph tachometer and speedometer were easy to fathom at a quick glance. Additionally, the switchgear symbols on both sides of the handlebar are backlit for ease of night operation.
The seat height is at the correct height for most riders; I was able to place both feel on the ground comfortably at my 167cm height. The handlebar is placed high up and comes back to meet the rider for an upright seating position. As for the footpegs, they were set further toward the front and lower for comfort.
The Dominar D400 started up quickly at the tap of the button, everytime, to that familiar clatter of a single-cylinder engine. Clutch lever pull was light. A few blips of the throttle saw the revs built up smoothly but a little slower – heavier flywheel, perhaps?
Out on the road, the bike got going easily and speed increased progressively. It slowed down smoothly when you went of the throttle too. Besides that, engine vibration was acceptable for a single-cylinder. So, it seemed to confirm our conjecture of a heavier flywheel in the engine. Anyway, the bike could hold a cruising speed from 110 to 130 km/h comfortable; it’s the rider who has to hold on above that speed due to lack of wind protection.
As for the suspension, front and rear ends were supple up to when the bike hit a large bump or deep pothole. The initial stroke was soft then hard further into the stroke.
However, the Dominar D400 handled pretty well, despite the softer suspension and feedback-less MRF tyres. The wide handlebar plus the bike’s light weight allowed us to steer the bike quickly and swerve around traffic. The ByBre front brake was grabby when riding at slow speeds but somehow needed a heavier pull when things got going.
As for electronics, ABS is standard for both ends although there is no rider mode and traction control.
All in all, the Modenas Dominar D400 is a commendable motorcycle and offers a good alternative to motorcyclists who want to move up the capacity scale without having to spend tons of money on one. If we had to choose a phrase to describe it, we would say, “Very good value for your money.”
18th April 2018, Pullman Bangsar – The much-anticipated Modenas Dominar D400 has been launched tonight. The 373cc naked bike is termed as a “sport-tourer” by Modenas and Bajaj Auto. It is priced at a competitive introductory price of RM13,788 (basic selling price inclusive of 6% GST) for a limited time only.
The Modenas Dominar D400 features:
A 373cc, liquid-cooled, SOHC, four-valves, engine.
Engine is electronically fuel-injected with Digital Triple Spark ignition.
6-speed transmission with slipper clutch.
Dual-LCD displays; one main LCD and a smaller LCD on the fuel tank.
Backlit switchgear on both sides of the handlebar.
Dual-channel ABS for front and rear disc brakes.
Conventional telescopic forks.
Monoshock rear suspension.
As the Dominar D400 is termed as a sport-tourer, the bike’s ergonomics are geared toward comfort: Upright seating position, footpegs placed forward and lower, comfortable seats, supple suspension.
In the aspects of safety, the bike features a dual-channel ABS system for both the front and rear wheels. a dual-channel ABS means that while the system is activated for one locked wheel, some brake pressure is also applied to the other wheel for chassis stability. A single-channel ABS, on the other hand, only performs its duty on that single locked wheel while still allowing the non-locked wheel to continue spinning freely – the large speed difference may cause the non-locked wheel to get “out of control.”
Modenas felt that it was the right time to introduce the model, based on their success with the Pulsar RS200, Pulsar NS200 and V15. Those bikes have sold well beyond Modenas and Bajaj Auto’s projection – 4,500 units have thus been sold since their introduction in May 2017.
The Modenas Dominar D400 had undergone some long distance journeys, according to Dinesh Kulkarni, Vice President, Bajaj Auto Limited. “The Dominar D400 successfully completed one of the world’s longest motorable journeys, the Trans-Siberian Odyssey covering 15,000 km in 53 days. The journey from Uzbekistan to Russia through six countries was successful without a single breakdown.”
Bajaj Auto telah menyingkap tirai di sebalik motosikal Bajaj Dominar 400 2018 di India, yang mana ia didatangkan dengan dua warna baru; Canyon Red dan Glacier Blue.
Motosikal Dominar 400 ini dijana oleh enjin 373cc satu silinder dan dijangka bakal tiba di Malaysia dalam suku pertama tahun 2018.
Bajaj juga turut memperkenalkan pengemaskinian motosikal Bajaj V15 2018 dengan pelana belakang dan penyandar belakang yang serba baru.
Bajaj Auto has revealed the 2018 Bajaj Dominar 400 in India which comes in two new colours; Canyon Red and Glacier Blue.
The Dominar 400 which is powered by 373cc single-cylinder engine is expected to arrive in Malaysia sometime in the first quarter of 2018.
Bajaj also introduced an updated 2018 Bajaj V15 with a brand new rear seat and back rest.
Bajaj Auto has just launched their latest 2018 Bajaj Dominar 400 yesterday in India. Their top of the range flagship model now comes in two new colour schemes which are Canyon Red and Glacier Blue. Bajaj Dominar 400 fans can still get the bike in Matte Black option although the other colourways have been dropped out. (more…)
Motosikal KTM yang telah dikilangkan di India oleh Bajaj Auto akan mula menghasilkan motosikal Husqvarna menjelang tahun 2020.
Kilang yang terletak di Chakan ini telah mengilangkan lebih daripada 100,000 unit motosikal KTM terutamanya motosikal 125 Duke, 390 Duke RC125 dan RC 390.
Bajaj merancang untuk menggandakan jumlah itu apabila mereka mula menghasilkan rangkaian motosikal Husqvarna 401 2017 yang telah dinanti-nantikan menjelang akhir tahun 2019.
KTM motorcycles which are manufactured in India by Bajaj Auto will start producing Husqvarna bikes by the year 2020.
The plant which is located in Chakan is currently manufacturing over 100,000 units of KTM bikes particularly the 125 Duke, 390 Duke, RC125 and RC390.
Bajaj plans to double those numbers when they start producing the highly-awaited 2017 Husqvarna 401 series by the end of 2019.
Austria’s leading motorcycle manufacturer KTM has big plans for 2020 which involves total global domination with the assistance from India’s Bajaj Auto. Part of their plan is to start rolling out Husqvarna bikes at the Chakan manufacturing plant by the end of 2019. (more…)
Modenas telah menampilkan dua lagi gambar’ teaser’ di laman Facebook rasmi mereka mengenai motosikal lumba terbaru mereka yang telah dirancang untuk pelancaran pada 19 Mei 2017.
Kedua-dua ‘teaser’ ini tampak seperti motosikal Bajaj Pulsar RS200 dan varian ‘naked’ NS200 dengan motto “Power to Race” dan “Power to Play”
Modenas has released two more photo teasers on their official Facebook page of their upcoming sports bikes which are planned to launch on 19 May 2017.
The two teasers looked like the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 and the naked variant NS200 with taglines “Power to Race” and “Power to Play”.
Modenas has released yet another set of teasers on their [button color=”” size=”” type=”3d” target=”blank” link=”https://www.facebook.com/modenas.malaysia/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf”]Facebook page[/button] of their new upcoming sports bikes which are planned to be launched on 19 May 2017. The enticing photos of what look to be like the Bajaj Pulsar RS200 and Bajaj NS200 are getting closer and closer to reality. (more…)
