Bajaj Dominar 250: A new standard on touring and real world mileage.
They officially unveiled their long-awaited 2025 Dominar 250, with Bajaj Auto making the quarter-litre machine a formidable contender in the touring segment. Retailing at 1.91 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and in the region of 2.18-2.20 lakh on-road, the Dominar 250 has been aggressively priced and now equipped with modern touring features and practical usability.
Design Build A Mini-Dominar with a Big Personality.
The new Dominar 250 closely resembles its elder brother Dominar 400 by keeping the tank like muscular looks and the sharp LED headlamps. Some of these are subtle details, such as narrow USD front forks, thinner tyres and the unique red dual-tone paint, which make it different to the 400. Nevertheless, it comes with a complete set of touring options, such as a huge rear cargo luggage rack, knuckle protection and a GPS cradle .
Constructed on the same perimeter-frame platform as its 400cc sibling, the Dominar 250 weighs in at approximately 180 kg with seat height of 800 mm - a design guaranteeing highway stability, yet which can feel top-heavy at lower speeds.
Performance on Street and Engine.
The car has a 248.8 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder making about 26.6-27 PS at 8,500 rpm and 23.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm coupled to a six-speed gearbox and slipper clutch. The engine provides plenty of mid range performance and will be capable of touring 80-110 km/h with a comfortable top speed in the 132 km/h range.
Real-life economy is 28-35 km/l, which is quite close to the claimed economy of 35 km/l by the manufacturer. Client feedback on mileage is always steady even when on hard rides.
New Touring Technology: Traction Control, LCD Display, Riding Modes.
Among the highlights of the 2025 updates, there will be four ride modes Rain, Road, Sport, and Off-Road. These modes change throttle response and ABS sensitivity through new mechanical ABS mapping; significantly, Dominar 250 also has a mechanical throttle, rather than ride-by-wire.
The bike also now features a colour LCD instrument cluster, used on the Pulsar NS400Z, with Bluetooth-connectivity, turn by turn direction indicators, call/SMS notifications, ride data and hazard alerts, as well as real time clock and two trips. Long-ride comfort is enhanced by new switchgear and an ergonomic redesign of the handlebar and the GPS mount gives it even greater touring capability.
Comfort & Ergonomics: Built to cover Long Distances.
The suspension set up is with 37 mm upside-down front forks and an adjustable, preload mono-shock, which helps in swallowing up bad roads without any problems. The split seat is richly padded and provides both rider and pillion with long-ride comfort. Large handlebars and positionable footpegs create a balance between performance and comfort, particularly welcome after 8 hours on the highway.
But the curb weight of the bike is a debating point. Although some applaud its high-speed stability (particularly above 70 km/h), others deplore a restricted turning circle and increased centre of gravity affecting manoeuvrability in congested traffic or parking.
Braking & Safety Features
Dominar 250 has 2-channel ABS and front and rear disc brakes whose bite is confident, and gives progressive feedback. The new ABS modes also adapt intervention levels within ride modes to different road conditions. A regular slipper clutch helps in aggressive down-shifts, and helps eliminate rear hops and enhances control.
Pricing & Availability
Ex showroom Delhi: 1.91 lakh - 1.92 lakh.
Delhi On roads: 2.18 lakh with RTO and insurance.
On-road Bangalore: Circa 2.41 lakh
EMI and insurance plans start at approximately [?]6,300 monthly over 36 months at regular interest rates.
What Owners Are Saying
The Dominar 250 is highly praised by many current owners as the best touring bargain below [?]2.3 lakh. The actual mileage remains unchanged and even heavy rainfalls or floods appear to have negligible effect on reliability . Nevertheless, increased weight and insufficiency of a gear indicator are generally cited disadvantages, particularly in city driving.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Long-distance touring.
Goid mid-range performance.
On-the-road mileage 28-35 km/l.
All-round safety including dual-channel ABS and ride modes.
Colour LCD touchscreen with Bluetooth and GPS indicators.
Knuckle guards, luggage rack improve touring.
Cons
Slower than competitors in 250cc class.
No gear indicator
The quality of finish and basic tyres might have been improved.
Throttle is mechanical and does not ride by wire.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
What is the engine capacity and performance of Dominar 250?
It has an engine capacity of 248.8 ccs (liquid-cooled, DOHC single-cylinder), with approximately 26.6-27 PS and 23.5 Nm at 6,500 rpm with a six-speed manual gearbox and slipper clutch.
What is the actual mileage that a rider can expect?
The majority of the users indicate consistent mileage of 28-35 km per litre; this is very close to the 35 km/l mileage that the ARAI claims.
What are technologies added to the 2025 model?
New ergonomics, knuckle guards, GPS mount and switchgear upgrades, four ride/ABS modes, traction control, Bluetooth-connected colour LCD dash, dominate the 2025 Dominar 250.
Is it comfortable when touring and carrying pillions?
Having upright sitting position, split padded seat, long travel suspension and ergonomic handlebar enables it to be comfortable even after 8-hour riding. The generous saddle and luggage arrangement is also admirable and contributes to Pillion comfort.
How much does it cost?
The ex-showroom, Delhi price is set at [?]1.91 lakh whereas on-road prices in Delhi are [?]2.18 lakh to a maximum of [?]2.41 lakh depending on taxes and registration fees in Bangalore.
Verdict - Does the Dominar 250 make a Smart Buy?
The Bajaj Dominar 250 2025 reinvents what a tourer on value could be. Its touring-friendly features such as ride modes, a smooth mid-range engine, good load-bearing abilities, and comfort-related credentials combine to offer an attractive package- especially at 2.3 lakh on-road.
Its highway stability and ease of maintenance, combined with a wide range of services and a contemporary touring package, have made it a serious competitor in the 250cc category, despite being behind in certain aspects of refinement, especially weight and display finish.
Riders intending to go on long rides, ride in mixed city and highway traffic, Dominar 250 offers a package that is well put together with regard to performance and comfort, mileage and affordability.
