Which of these is the better pick - the KTM Duke 250 or the Bajaj Dominar 400

I’m confused between the 2019 Bajaj Dominar and the KTM Duke 250. Ride quality, tractability are important as most of my riding will be in the city. My height is 6ft 2in, and I have a slight back problem. The Dominar comes very close to the Duke 390 in terms of performance and is a tempting proposition.However, it has its negatives, like its hefty weight and low city mileage. I like the Duke’s hardware, like the trellis frame, aluminium swing arm, WP suspension, and, even though it’s Rs 20,000 costlier than the Dominar, it has better city mileage.

Anupam Jadhav, Kolhapur

AAA - The obvious thing here is that the Dominar is the faster bike, but it’s also heavier. As a city bike, you will find the Duke 250’s dimensions easier to manage, and yes, it will be more efficient as well. However, considering that you have a back problem, you will probably find the Dominar more comfortable with a slightly plusher suspension setup, especially at the front end. The Duke will be a more engaging handler than the Dominar, but the Bajaj is the better highway machine. As far as the chassis goes, aside from the swingarm, both are well equipped, with the Bajaj sporting USD forks and a beam frame, and the KTM using a nicer-looking exposed trellis frame. In terms of kit, the Dominar is better off, with a powerful LED headlamp and dual-channel ABS, while the KTM only gets ABS on the front wheel.

To pick from these two is to consider what you want from each bike. The KTM will be the more agile and sporty machine, while the Dominar is the faster and more comfortable one. In our opinion, the Dominar’s weight is not difficult to manage and it’s an easy bike to live with. If sportiness and excitement is not your main priority, you’ll probably like the Dominar more.