A Dominar 400 owner buys the 2023 Duke 390: His unbiased comparision

The Duke 390 is primarily a city bike and it's most comfortable here, although it can easily do triple digit speeds all day, it is so much lighter that wind gusts and large trucks can shake it easily.

BHPian sleepy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Here's a quick point by point comparison with Dominar 400 2019 UG

• Ride & Suspension: Both are good, but clearly the KTM suspension is more mature and feels high quality. It's built to last. I've taken the Dominar on long rides (300-500KM) and it feels pretty good but it's not built to last. I used to tiptoe on the Domi when it was new, then as the seat sank in I got used to it. No such problem on the Duke, it is very comfortable and confidence inspiring.

• Handling: Ok so here both a very different. Dominar is significantly heavier, but over the years I learnt to slice through traffic on the Domi as good as any R15 out there, but you definitely cannot move this thing on a dime. When the bike was new I must have dropped it atleast 5 times trying to turn during u-turns  Especially U-Turns are a pain. Highways are a joy. When I changed the tires to Michelin Street Pilot on the Domi I felt the handling improved in the corners a little bit. The Duke 390, they call it the scalpel I guess? You can carve the roads like an expert sculptor carves a beautiful statue out of rock. It's like comparing apples and oranges. I'm still using stock tires and I feel they are OK for dry-fine weather but suffer in the wet. Mud is dangerous territory.

• Comfort: The Duke 390 is primarily a city bike and it's most comfortable here, although it can easily do triple digit speeds all day, it is so much lighter that wind gusts and large trucks can shake it easily. So I recommend Dominar on the highway for a comfortable journey and Duke in the city. The seats on the Dominar are also better if you're taking a pillion. The step seat on the Duke is not much liked by most pillion riders due to its step seat nature.

• Heat Management: No issues on both for me. I think people complain too much over this issue. Come on guys, high compression ratio big single cylinder engines WILL GIVE OUT HEAT. Take it or leave it. I live in Chennai with unbearable day temperatures and I've gone out wearing just shorts and slippers and the sun heat was worse for me than the engine heat. To each his own I guess.

• Value For Money: Dominar was sold as a value for money bike, and I guess the NS400 fills that role now. You get what you pay for, and I realized after 4.5 years of using it that clearly Bajaj built this to a cost. Almost everything was rusting (bolts, nuts, suspension spring etc.) and the suspension gave up after 3 years. Was it worth it? Not for me, I'd rather pay for higher quality that lasts but then again you might be different.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.