Bajaj Dominar 400 vs Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 | Comparison Review| ZigWheels.com 

From this comparison video it is clear that The Dominar has better : 1) Engine 2) Brakes 3) Clutch 4) Build quality 5) Riding comfort 6) Fueling system 7) 0 to 60 8) 0 to 100 9) Top speed 10) Headlamp The Thunderbird has better : 1) Fuel tank capacity

A proud owner of RE classic here. If you're an owner too, you need to admit its an overpriced piece of metal. There are subjective reasons I went with RE but I am in no delusion about it. Almost every other bike in the price range is better than an RE.

Once I want people to accept that there is no practical use of RE people buy it just because of the Thump

Moral of the story : Hathi mat paalo! Rather than RE being called as bike for men, it should be called as bike made for women.. because its a Vibrator!!

video quality is not that great but happy to see kartikeya is back.

No doubt about the fact that the Dominar 400 is a much better package than the RE Thunderbirds (3550 as well as 500)...

damnnnn opened the video as soon as I saw karthik on it😍😍😍😍seeing your review after so long time

Proud Owner Of Dominar 400...This bike is Amazing in city and in Highways too....Go For It... Don't be Dug Dug... Haathi Mat palo...

Thunderbird is bike you buy from Heart and not By mind..!! Still heart falls for it.

Greattttt video kartikeyaaa! Love the energy and accent u bring to the content. Keep up the good work Team ZigWheels.

A) no where in india you can ride above 80kmph because it’s india. B) after 5 years, you still will have your old bull but Dominar will be a dead model. I am sure bajaj will not keep the same model for next 5 years. So when you spend 2lakh on a bike and after 3years you feel old. It hurts. C) These are for boys. Men would go for classic and bikes are not about racing. This is fact. It gives you a personality. A sense of security and passion. A class. You will not get from Dominor. You will get from a classic 350 or a thunderbird. D) Be passionate, be simple and rule the road. The More you go for technology, the more you will get taken away from simple things, a bike for a rider is to ride and feel free. RE gives you that freedom.

Even me I have a Thunderbird 350(marin)proud owner and my friend recently brought Dominar (ABS) but I do admit Dominar is one of the best bike from bajaj after 220 pulsar.Even the slipper clutch and braking power works awesomely. ON the highway both bikes are comfortable and cruise around very good but Dominar on off-road it is worst...I just rode for 10 mins on off-road road I felt tired and my arms were paining and that jathka feeling is worst..can't control the throttle on the worst conditions road...the the road we have here can't imagine..

Dominor is best in segment features & value for money

chrome for dominar....!!! really brw

This is the first video that I have found sensible and unbiased in my bike hunt.

Finally a good video comparing these 2 bikes, making things much clearer.

honest review.. mine hav TB 350 .. he has its own pro & conc .. but pride to ride ..that reachness u explained & its true . Dominor is modern bike ..its better than TB any time ... but after 5 yrs its TB that u may not get bored of driving .

Am using Thunderbird bike for 3yrs.When i bought it,the first year i was so disappointed bcz of the noise it produced when shifting gears.But apart from all i still enjoy the comfort of the bike,espically in highways.Definitely no bikes gives u comfort like thunderbird.After a year i seen the smoothness in the engine.Not a bad bike.If u r a slow and long rider i recommend thunderbird.If u need more power and speed go for dominor. Both are different type of bikes like a sprinter and a marathon runner.Choose a bike according to ur need. Ride safe.God bless.

Since you where talking mostly from the touring perspective , i didn't see you mentioning about mileage!! Not only RE Thunderbird has bigger tank it gives more Kmpl, which means more range of kms in one fillup. I think that should be accounted for in this comparison.

Driving a cast Iron Royal Enfield electra 350 since 2006 when I didn’t even have a license. But now a days I highly doubt their build quality. Motorcycling for some people is an extension of their ego and thereby comes the natural denial of the RE crowd that dominar is not a better bike. But putting aside everything else if we judge then Dominar is a far more safer, advance and reliable bike than the RE’s. The ego projection is the sole reason that Royal Enfield has taken it’s Indian consumers as granted and at the same factory they are making Classic 350 , 500 with alloy wheels and Abs and are exporting them abroad rather than selling them in India. The people at RE has drawn the graph that RE fanatic crowd will still continue to buy RE irrespective of all the problems that comes along with the large price tag and no VFM. I love my Enfield but for long tours and highway rides I can say that Dominar is 100 times better and safer than any model of RE.

Thanks I m going to buy dominar ASAP

Who wants the ladies bike Dominar?

Hey this is Karthikeyan from Auto Car, one of the best automobile reviewer!

Ppl who lov to ride in a relaxed position and njoy the wind...go for RE....T-BIRD

I see karthik ....I hit the like button... that simple

Used to seeing you hitting the bulls eye in autocar india videos... You have raised the credibility quotient of zigwheels (atleast for me) by featuring in this one.. :)

Very well defined these motorcycles And so nicely explained . Perfect review 👌👌👌 Missed you KARTHIKEY sir. Welcome back.👌🙋

Bikes are different and so are bikers and therefore a thunderbird will appeal to an old school person and a dominar to the new gen folks. I’d personally prefer a Japanese bike to either of these bikes something like a FZ25 😁

I want to buy a cruiser bike. Short listed two bikes 1. RE Thunderbird 350X 2. Bajaj Dominar 400/ 200(if available within 2018) My purpose is long riding as well as daily city riding. Features wise Dominar seems best and RE has its legecy. Features wise review wise I should go for Dominar but my question is as a new comer do the Dominar is a reliable one means in a long ride if the bike requires any mechanical assistance are the road side mechanics(where authorized service center is not available) capable enough to fix the problem(this issue doesn't exist with RE)? Please do reply...

Nice to see you Karthik after long time...really a great fan of your reviews.

Hearing criticism in an Indian automotive channel made me feel good and trustworthy

Was looking for the comparision between this 2 since long long time as i have been in a dilemma on which one to buy. Thank you ZigWheels for the comparision. (y) :)

KARTHIKEYA is back with a bang......as usual nailed it with a detailed review.....and gave the true verdict....

people supporting re let me ask you something What do you need in bike? Safety - To stop a heavy motorcycle you need good brakes, re 350 or 500 doesn't even a back disk brakes, ABS - those who don't know about this life saving safety feature must google it and understand what the term is and re does not have it. Comfort - I have gone for ride from Bangalore to Mysore, i rode both bullet and avenger i found the sitting position and handlebars position more comfy on the avenger than bullet, Cruising at more than 80kmph the vibration kick in, it is very terrible. Avenger is far better. And the pillion rider was very exhausting due to the vibration on the bullet. Speed- okay you don't want speed, go for a splendor. Technology - nothing, no fuel gauge, no side stand warning, no trip meter. Even a splendor have a fuel gauge. And im not comparing slpendor with re, just saying. Just say why(please don't say pride. Its not so special, any one can buy it).

How bajaj should improve Dominar: 1) less cluttered body, more smooth lines , think of diavel 2) gear indicator 3) better exhaust note, more thump 4 ) headlamp is messy, just use 2 lamps and be done with it. 5) no outrageous graphics 6) target men at their 30's and figure out what they like. Dont just copy paste ns200 7) hide plastics with chrome or aluminium paint. We dont like japanese plasticy types.

Hi , I'm planning to buy a Bike and i have Finalise these 2 Options - 1. Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 and 2. Bajaj Avenger Cruise 220. I have came across quite a few Negative Reviews regarding the maintenance of Thunderbird and the Vibration issue.I know there is a price difference of 60K but if i keep that part out of the equation,Could you please advise the Pros and Cons for these two Bikes. I'm really confused as my Heart says for Thunderbird but Mind says for Avenger Cruise. Looking forward to hear from you. Regards Indrajit

Dominar 400.. Best in class with liquid cooling, sleeper clutch, dual channel abs, look, speed and modern.. Value for money product..

Good story teller, full marks for that. As a reviewer, you have to progress a lot. We are expecting more responsible reviews, as it's a decision making factor for many..

Chrome for dominar 😠 Think & speak dude

i am a die hard fan of touring and biking whether it is RE THUNDERBIRD or DOMINAAR ..they both are just a medium of riding soul to me ..inspite of the owner of thunderbird 350 i would also love to take a ride on dominaar to but it is true that until or unless i get to ride the dominar i kept my love to MY THUNDERBIRD ... i like each and ever bike on this world...biking is all about brotherhood not about competing eith each other ...we should have a proud that the both the bikes are made in indigenously ..so my love for thunderbird a bigh thumps up for dominaar i wish i could ride it

This is the best comparison of Dominar with Enfields, explained every aspect in true sense.

You didn't comment on the riding position. Is riding dominar for long hours as comfortable, especially for taller people?

i dont understand why people sre purchasing royal enfield motorcycles.they dont provide you any modern technology(not even ABS)their performance,weight,fuel economy...sab kuch ganda hai..it is the matter of style ONLY.literally waste of money

Happy to see Kartikeya back in action. Superb bikes for comparison for enthusiasts.

Dominar does not even look a cruiser, it's just an upgraded version of pulsar ns. It's just a kids stuff. it's made of plastic and as a result its body won't last more than 5 years, engine sound will become disappointed after some 4/5 years. Resale value will be around ₹70/80k after 5/6 years. Its baseless to compare with royal enfield cruisers. It is just like how We can't compare sports superbikes with harley Davidson cruisers. I don't know how to say but its just a joke to me. Men above 30 years will say the same.

Nice to see Kartik back after sudden disappearance from autocar. Love the way he rides nice, composed and connected with the machine.

I am not a fan of RE and bajaj, but both of them fall under different category of bikes, so it makes no sense in comparing them, anyways nice review and video

Yes and my heart says to go with RE.

Heyy it's happy to see karthikeya back, where were you? I have stopped watching auto cars bike reviews, you and shumi are motorcycle legends for many millennials :)

Just came back from spiti on my Thunderbird 350... super comfortable , super fun ....NO POWER LAG... THUNDERBIRD IS THE GRAND DADDY

that cool accent, great review.. welcome back Kartikeya..

I am unable to digest it, I am a Thunderbird 350 lover, I have rode Baja's bike, yes they are cool but I don't feel the manlyness in those bikes where I feel from Enfield. Enfield is heavier ,but the feelings which I get , is just like never before. No other bike can give me that feeling. And being a person of hilly terrain region of northeast india,I would love Enfield more then those sporty looks motorbikes . Those looks like a kids toys, but thunderbird 350 is for men.

hello. I'm Kushal. I'm planning to buy dominor or thunderbird 350. my height is 6.2ft and I'm bulky. which of these two bike's would you suggest? or is there any other bike that you would suggest? please reply

Bajaj should offer this engine in an Avenger and I am sold!

I have a NS200 2013 model , will go for 400cc , Dominar very soon

We love RE for its character & clearly its not held by the competitors who are trying to find it

Very honest review bro...But...RE wali feeling kaha se aayegi bro..Bajaj me....Bas yahi aa kar sabhi bando ka deemag chalna band ho jata h....Kya kare!!!!!!!???

Fair comparison. Covered all points. Did not bash one or the other.

Royal enfield has a class .. its a evergreen motorcycle .. everybody in india recognize it by its sound and looks... classic 350 is used by army officers and veterans ...its for people who want to ride with pride ...it dosent matter if its comfortable or not ..but to feel the road the air and the sound of the mighty 350 cc .. kids ride their toys ..but men ride their manchines ..The machine which has been loved by everyone kids , mens , girls , womens , rich or poor , big body or thin skinny guys .. you just have to wear the aviator sunglasses and ride your royal enfield and boom you own the road .... the might and power of its engine can even shake the mountains and every bone of your body ... its a machine that is made to make imprints on the genrations of genrations ... even after decades when you will get old and when you are looking on the memories and the photos of you on the royal enfield it will make you smile and still want you to take a ride on you loved royal enfield machine ... the grand children of yours who will be riding electric motorcycles in tue future will be amazed to see this beauty and will ask you about the feel of its power and look... when you will retire from your job and in 60 yrs old living on the far country side you want to ride your machine and take a spin in your neigbour ... its not about the tech or the features ... people dont buy enfield because they cant afford new bikes ..but they buy because of the connection that is made with the royal enfield when you ride it ... its connects and talks with you in the open road ... when you ride a R.E you dont want to get off it ... it becomes a part of your family a part of you ... Royal enfield will not become old or obsolute .... like the new generation motorbikes which become old in just a few months ... the exciments and the love becomes dull when the new version comes out ... but the royal enfield is not one of them ..its a legend and will be forever ..it will stay with us till the end of the world as long as there is fuel and open road the R.E will be proudly running in these roads... you will feel the presence of it . and you instantly realise that there is a best nearby ..when you hear the thump sound... and the roar of the engines.. actually it for those who are proud of their man hood ...the twisted mustache ... its the real beast and the beauty ... the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder ... Royal enfield for live ...forever... P.S i dont own a R.E .. i just rode it once .. i own the r15 😶 . but in my opinion the Royal enfield classic is the real KING of INDIAN Motorcycle ..no other motorcycle can replace it ...😢

Just wondering as an intersted Brit, did you get the kawa GPZ500? It was a highly capable middleweight twin that had a parallel twin that put out 60 b.h.p enough to power it around the 200k.m.h level it was also lightweight and fine handling. I owned several in the 90s and they were tough as nails, just a fantastic ride and quite economical 60 or so M.P.G was common. If they imported it to the sub continent logically it should make a killing. However i know almost nothing about biking in India and i defer to your knowledge. Very much enjoy the channel.

Dear friends, Go and take a test drive Every bike have prop and cons afterall it's a machine. If you like speed above 100 go for domination,duke,pulsar, Apache But if you like cruise around 80-90kmph speed go for RE. In my opinion it foolish to compare RE and dominar.both are great bikes but the follow to different segments. It's upto you take a test drive and decide which one suits for your requirement and comforts.

Dominar is definitely a better package. Although personally I don't like the name - Dominar like २ मीनार, two towers.What Bajaj is missing out is building a heritage which Royal Enfield has done well. I remember how they highlighted Pulsars' tanks which got lost over time. It would have been nice if they carried over few design elements like BMW does with their grill. I like the old logo of Bajaj better than the current one.What I would really love to see is a throwback on the original Pulsar. Neo Cafe Racer style which is all the rage in this time. Honda is doing it so is Kawasaki. Bajaj should do something of sorts.

Hi.. Sir Please suggest me Between two 125 cc scooters... Suzuki access 125 or honda activa 125..... Main concern is performance with good mileage .... Please reply asap

Why not dominor 400vs re gt 535 or gt 600 Why why? I know the reason

soon dominar will be the dead as other bajaj model and resell value 20-30℅ . Now here comes they RE bike shine every corner of the country and you feel the Royal feeling while sitting on it, and after 20 years bullet wont discontinue his model..choice is urs who is hathi ;)

now that road quality has improved in out country over the past decade, dominar makes more sense here.. RE needs to work on the engine otherwise they might see them as an irrelevant bike loved by past generation, which might be good for a brand but will definitely not good for their business.. an ABS unit on Thunderbird would be a good start.

Chrome? Really??? Would you demand chrome painted ktms Ducatis etc?!!

That looks like an honest review. TB and Dominar are completely different bike. U can't compare just because almost same engine power. Dominar has much more power and advanced tech where RE has the comfort and reliability. It would be stupidity to compare these two bikes.

Thanks for the great video Karthik.. I own a mojo and feel let down by the way it handles. Is it a right move to trade mojo for a dominant overall? Please revert.

I heard that Thunderbird 350 has too much issues regarding its maintenance...Also too high maintenance cost ... Every month it has some issues ....Also RE charges more for servicing including service tax and all (as compared others bikes has very low maintenance cost)...Will same issue continue with Thunderbird 350x..?

awesome comparison. great review.... very helpful. thankyou for the video sir.

Love the dominar400 as a full package👍👍

Guys i have seen many people saying that after riding a RE they do not feel other bikes. I have a answer in my opinion unko vibrations ki aadat pad jati hai isi liye vibration less bikes psnd nai aati😂😂

Thanks for not being a fanboy of RE !

i think Indian peoples don't know what the cruiser class is. why you want you compare wrong bike is bajaj dominar is better that KTM RC 390 RE is whole different class of instead of comparing the speed you should compare the toughness all royal enfield have thier own advantages.

Whats the milege you guys got between the two and tank range, this is an essential stat for touring.

I'm going to buy a bike between bajaj dominar and royal enfield himalayan... plz suggest me which one is better... I will use it for touring as well as for daily ofc commutatio...

Thunderbird is more practical for most bike users. it has ample power for daily commuter as well as a good mileage. it only lacks ABS. But Dominar gives mileage of 25kmpl, so people would preffer to drive a car instead of dominar for their daily commute. so, finally... if you are daily commuter, go for thunderbird. if you are occasional commuter, go for dominar. bajaj should have launched dominar with 200cc engine which would have translated in better mileage. 25kmpl ..... better drive a car and be more comfortable 😂😂 at same expense

TB😍...riding long is better than all bikes....it is no 1 cruise bike......im satisfied with all of ma boob tb350

RE to me is like a son who has inherited a good fortune from his ancestors and is enjoying their labour while Bajaj and tvs are the guys who are sweating it hard on paper, in the lab and in the market. they seem like people who are out there to create a ripple in the time and space, make a mark on the cutting edge in a price sensitive market like India. And that courage is the reason my money will always be on Dominar 400 (or Apache 310😉😉).

I can see lot of people still riding a 80’s or a early 90’s Enfield but eve the pulsars that was released in 2003 is scrapped out and you can hardly spot one on the road. RE is like your mom old but loves you back and stay with you forever, your dominar and other bikes are like Randi, won’t stay forever and you would get sick and tired of it after some time anyways🤫 so you choose what you want

how chrome can suit dominar type bikes... !!

Although dominar is the more practical choice, the RE has the thump n thats wat ppl buy them for!

Vibrations on dominar..ok!! And on thunderbird?

Sales figures tell a totally different story RE vs bajaj , I'd personally prefer dominar but I'm very happy with my cbr 250 honestly

Its grt to see Kartikeya sir back

So you left Autocar show... Thats why i was wondering y u were not seen in the autocar shows nowadays... All the best

I own a Yamaha R15s and frankly speaking both these bikes can't really match the build quality and the robustness of YAMAHA and HONDA but still at the end of the day I would decide between the Thunderbird 500(Because of FI compared to 350) and Himalyan and not the Dominar for my touring needs. Hera are the reasons. 1. Comfort (Both Himalyan and Thunderbird are better bcz of the way you sit and the overall stress free riding position). Also the seats of Himalyan and Thunderbird is well shaped and supportive compared to Dominar. 2. Both Himalyan and Thunderbird are better suited for riding with pillion plus some luggage. This can be done on Dominar also but still after doing all those mods RE would be more comfortable. 3. Simpler Engine. Trust me all these engines with Liquid Cooling(considering my own bike R15s) and all are great and they do manage heat well. But if any thing goes wrong there is hardly you can do anything yourself. After touring for some time my understanding is that oil cooled engines are best of both the worlds like the new FZ25, Apache 200v4 and Himalyan. They have a small cooling system which is simple yet effective and is easy to maintain. 4. All metal vs All Fiber. I would prefer a big 20L(Thunderbird) or 14L(Himalyan) metal fuel tank over Dominar any day. And if you are planning to keep your bike over a long period of time that all metal is going to show its advantages with time over the All Fiber. 5. Riding Experience: This is very subjective but I would like to just put my point here. If I would have to do 120 or 130, R15 can do that all day and with a better composure than any of the bikes here and really no bike here can match the dynamics of that bike. But when you want to just relax and cruise It is just not the right bike for that, one can surely do that but still you just cant ride it at 90 constantly bcz the charecter of the bike is to engage the rider always which pushes you to always keep pushing the bike. What I mean from the above statement is that bikes like Dominar and R15s and RS200 and many more will ask you to push them partly bcz they are more capable than those speeds. But if you are really into long distance touring you don't want even slight bit of aggressiveness and it is important to be relaxed and maintain a healthy pace that is where i think RE is better just sit and relax between 95 - 105 and enjoy the experience with that Thump passing by. At the end if you are into touring I would still prefer RE(Thunderbird500/Himalyan) / CBR250R(Amazing bike for touring very Reliable and comfortable) / Mojo(Another great tourer if you can live with the face of that bike :P ). If you are not into too much of touring and just want a bike for city and occasional highway visits and which is fun and easy to maintain one should blindly go for FZ25. I wish this bike was launched before I purchased my R15. As far as Dominar is considered it really doesn't make sense in the city as you will get poor Fuel Economy and when you think of stretching its legs on highway although the performance will put a smile on your face but if you really want to do 600+ kms day after day I would recommend the above mentioned bikes. Because once you spend 11+ hours in saddle you will wish that if the bike was more comfortable and calm those 11+ hours would have been better. PS. These are my opinions and i really respect the owners of both Dominar and RE. and both are amazing bike. Please find out what do you want from your bike and then go ahead with buying one and don't just look at the specifications. At the end always ride with full gear and ride safe...:)

Dominor is just a hybrid in between hi profile Commuter and Cruiser ...If bajaj have to rule the Cruiser market then Redisign Avenger with Same engine with low bore Strokes with 20 ltr fuel tank ..with Abs with option of turning the Abs on and off with timeless tyre it will shatter the Royal Engfield market and make you feel god

I have seen this video because of Karthik only... Welcome Karthick.

Agar sirf value for money wali baat hoti..tab to duniya me koi enfield nahi leta...many a times people buy things for aspiration and satisfaction whichever they buy ..its a personal choice

Hi, I am 5'2" & 58KG's. . (Dominar 400 / RE Thunderbird 350) Can I REDUCE the bike height as well as the seat thickness with a total of 780 -785mm from 800mm of the bike ? (or even lesser in height) and could the bike be kept un-harmed ?

See in our country peeps prefer tradition and saalo se RE hi aisi bike thhi jo 350-500 cc segment thhi jab baaki companies 100 cc-125cc ki bikes produce kar rahi thhi, there u go you have bigger engine better sound, compared to 100 cc segment... undisputed champion, dada ne chalaya baba ne chalaya aur ab main bhi chalaunga... thanks to companies like Bajaj, KTM, TVS now we have more options.. big CC doesn't always means better power or torque... pehli baar there is a competition and it is good for us.. I will prefer technology over tradition..

Royal Enfield is like 80 year old grandpa who just alive and Dominar is like a 20 years old grandson (the updated beast). So we cannot compare grandpa with his grandson, because we have only respect & emotion with our seniors nothing else when it comes to compare. I believe the time has come to retire the aged one. I bet slowly and steadily Dominar will shine in the market soon. Last thing i would say to RE lover is the bitter truth. That is "HAATHI MAT PALO". 😅😂🤣🤣

Chrome on a Dominar? Are you high bro?

Each and every motorcycle in the whole world starting from a normal old school hero honda to a ducati is wonderful... Every bike has an identity... Guys try to understand its soul if u r really passionate about motorcycles rather than quarrel around..

I still love Royal Enfield more .. some quality issues .. but I will buy a Royal Enfield over Bajaj without a blink .. I know RE will last longer than Bajaj to be honest

I don't think Thunderbird is special ..I still consider dominar looks better

Both the bikes are Totally different how can you actually compare if you compare, there will be Negatives and positives in both the bikes. And wait a sec and think. Dominor is just born let's see if it will survive like the legend Royal Enfield which has proved it's metal from more then 100 YEARS

I am riding an RE 500 for last 4 years. I was, alike thousands out there, a big fan of RE; which still i am. But the problem with RE is, they don't really respect the humongous positive emotions RE lovers associated with their brand. Else, how would you explain the late launch of dual disc brake equipped REs in India, and still no launch of ABS equipped RE, whereas, those are already in market in Europe. It hurts sometimes, when we don't really get the latest REs in India, early enough.