The second Modenas Dominar D400 “Explore the Unexplored” ride was held over the Malaysia Day weekend (17th September 2018) after the successful first edition on 19th August 2018.
While the first ride was from Modenas’ HQ at Glenmarie, Shah Alam, Selangor to Ipoh, Perak, this second ride covered the route from Juru Autocity, Penang to the Belum Rainforest Resort, Perak.
As with all the “Explore the Unexplored” rides, the activity caters exclusively to Modenas D400 owners, as the motorcycle is branded as a sport-tourer. The power and torque of the 373cc liquid-cooled engine and ergonomics allow the bike to be ridden far and wide.
These rides are also apart of Modenas/Bajaj Auto’s #motography project where pictures of interesting attractions are shared by Dominar D400 owners globally, thus forming a travelogue for owners to visit these very sites should they want to ride in other countries. Malaysian owners are to submit their photos under the #motographymalaysia hashtag.
The second ride began with rider registration and breakfast from 6.30am at the Restoran Nasi Kandar Pelita at Juru Autocity. It was a bigger group this time around, consisting of 25 participants. Modenas had informed us that these riders from the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia were really excited to take part.
A briefing was held by the Chief Marshal on the route, activities, potential hazards and group riding etiquette. Modenas provided technical personnel and two four-wheel wheeled vehicles as support.
The convoy began afterwards at 7.30am and headed to the historic city of Taiping. The convoy travelled in smart formation on the PLUS Highway, adhering to the speed limits and careful not to hamper traffic.
The group proceeded straight to the Taiping Lake Gardens for the first #motographymalaysia stop. The owners were allowed to explored sites around the Lake Gardens to shoot their best photos of their Dominar D400s.
Soon after, the participants rode to Kuala Kangsar, passing Grik and stopped at the Belum Rainforest Resort for lunch, the second #motographymalaysia stop in addition to some fun and games.
As first with the first stop at Taiping, the riders went out to shoot photographs after lunch. They returned to the game of the slowest rider and throwing and catching a water balloon.
The group dispersed from Grik as they had different plans.
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.”
| ENGINE | |
| Engine type | Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4 valves, single-cylinder |
| Compression ratio | N/A |
| Bore X Stroke | N/A |
| Displacement | 373.3 cc |
| Fuel system | Electronic fuel injection with Digital Triple Spark ignition (DTS-i) |
| Maximum power | 34.5 bhp (35 PS) @ 8000 RPM |
| Maximum torque | 35 Nm @ 6500 RPM |
| TRANSMISSION | |
| Clutch | Wet, multi-plate, slipper type |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| CHASSIS | |
| Front suspension | 43mm telescopic forks |
| Rear suspension | Monoshock with piggyback reservoir, ramp-type preload adjustment |
| Front brakes | Single 320 mm disc, single ByBre two-piston sliding calipers |
| Rear brake | Single 230 mm disc, single-piston ByBre sliding caliper |
| ABS | Dual-channel ABS |
| Front tyre | 110/70-R17 |
| Rear tyre | 150/60-R17 |
| FRAME & DIMENSIONS | |
| Frame | Beam type perimeter |
| Trail | N/A |
| Rake | N/A |
| Wheelbase | 1453 mm |
| Seat height | N/A |
| Kerb weight | 182 kg |
| Fuel capacity | 13 litres |
Modenas (Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd.) is set to launch another motorcycle which hails from their collaboration with Bajaj Auto Limited. Called the Dominar 400, it marks Modenas’ return to the big bike scene after the Jaguh in 1999.
Hailed as a sport-tourer by Modenas, the Dominar 400 is powered by a liquid-cooled, triple-spark, 373cc single-cylinder engine which produces 32bhp and 35Nm of torque. That gives the bike lots of pulling power and is able to hold high sustained cruising speeds. The 6-speed transmission has a slipper clutch for smoother corner entries.
Click here for our first impressions when we rode it in Pune, India.
The seating position is more upright for all-day comfort. The suspension is set on the plusher side to soak up bumps, also contributing to the overall comfort. ABS is standard on both ends.
Other contemporary touches include not one, but two LCD screens, the smaller one integrated into the fuel tank.
Check out the video below for our first impressions.
But what is more interesting is how much the Dominar 400 will be priced when it makes its entry into the Malaysian market. From our sources, it will cost under RM18,000.
That pricing will no doubt shake up the sub-400cc market. No 400cc motorcycle is priced as such, at the moment. Judging by how well the Pulsar RS200, Pulsar NS200 and V15 sold, we could expect the Dominar 400 to dominate that segment as well. Who knows, we may see more such larger bikes on Malaysian roads compared to mopeds in the future.
So, is the Modenas Dominar 400 a game-changer? You bet! The bike will be launched on 18th April 2018, so stay tuned.
The 373cc Bajaj Dominar recently bagged one of India’s most prestigious awards for two-wheelers, the NDTV Two Wheeler of the Year 2018 trophy.
In doing so, the Dominar trumped the Honda Cliq, and more importantly, beat the coveted Yamaha FZ 25. But, this is not the first time Bajaj has won the iconic award – in 2016 the company won the award with the Pulsar RS 200, in 2013 it won with the Pulsar NS 200 and in 2008, Bajaj won the award with the Pulsar 220 DTSFi.
The Dominar won the award by a huge margin, garnering 330 points out of 420 while the Cliq only managed 302 points.
The Dominar also won two other awards, winning its category to be crowned the Premium Motorcycle of the Year award (beating the Benelli 302R, Versys-X 300 and the KTM 390 Duke) and also winning the CNB Viewer’s Choice Two Wheeler of the Year award, winning 45% of the total vote.
We recently tested the Bajaj Dominar 400 at the Bajaj test track in Pune, India. The single-cylinder motorcycle is hailed by Bajaj as a sports touring bike that is more than capable of handling the demands of daily urban life, but also is perfectly suited for those who prefer some weekend fun or long distance touring.
On track, the Dominar was predictable and accurate. The engine offered decent power and the ABS system lets you brake late without worrying about the wheels locking up. On road, the Dominar offered a comfortable sitting position with a well cushioned seat, a comfortable reach out to the handle bars, good leg positioning even for taller riders and was good all round.
The Dominar comes with Bajaj’s triple spark technology which burns fuel cleanly and more efficiently. This gives the Dominar a good fuel range which makes the bike perfectly suited for everyday life, and more.
The Bajaj Dominar is expected to be offered in Malaysia within the first quarter of 2018, at which point it will be known as the Modenas Dominar 400. With a price range that is expected to be below RM20,000, the Dominar 400 is set to be among the most anticipated motorcycles of 2018, and judging on how good the bike is at what it does, we are expecting an immediate success story for Bajaj and Modenas.
Click here to read more about the Dominar 400. And don’t forget to watch our first impression video below:
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