Jawa Forty-Two Vs Bajaj Dominar 250

The Indian two-wheeler industry is a very competitive industry. Nowadays manufacturers have been bringing quite unique segments. However, this has made confusion for the buyers as different segment bikes clash with each other due to similar pricing. The similar confusion has been seen with the Jawa forty-two and Bajaj Dominar 250. So, what’s the better choice for you among the two? Well, let’s find it out.

Power

Let’s first have a look at what these bikes do offer in terms of performance. And we have to say that both the bikes will not disappoint you for sure. The Jawa forty-two comes with a 293 cc single-cylinder, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled engine. It produces about 27 bhp max power and 28 Nm of peak torque. The engine comes paired with a six-speed gearbox.

Coming towards the Bajaj Dominar 250, it comes with a 248.77 cc single-cylinder, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled engine. It produces about 26.6 bhp max power and 23.5 Nm of peak torque. The engine comes paired with a six-speed gearbox. So Jawa Forty-two has a clear win in terms of power, however, Bajaj Dominar 250 is also not a weak player either. You can expect a similar level of performance from both the bikes on the road.

Rideability

Jawa Forty-Two is a retro cruiser bike, so it does have a somewhat cruiser bike dynamics. The seat height of the Jawa Forty Two is about 765 mm which is significantly low than a normal bike. For shorter riders, it’s a very comfortable motorcycle for long rides or even for a city commute. However, due to the long dual exhaust pipes, these pipes might get touched on uneven surfaces, so it’s not that good on the rough surfaces.

On the other hand, Bajaj Dominar is a sports tourer motorcycles. It also has a comfortable riding position but slightly sportier when compared to the Jawa Forty -Two. The seat height of the Dominar 250 is at 800 mm which is a little bit uncomfortable for shorter riders but still manageable. However, Bajaj Dominar is good at managing rough surfaces and uneven terrains due to its upswept suspension.

Mileage

The Jawa forty-two has a claimed mileage of 37.5 km/l, so we can expect the real-world mileage somewhere in 30-35 km/l. The tank capacity of the bike is at 14 litres so you do get a good amount of range. We have not got any user reports regarding the mileage of the Bajaj Dominar 250 but we can expect it to return same as the Jawa Forty Two around 30-35 km/l. It has slightly smaller fuel tank at 13-litres but still good enough.

Also read: Why has Bajaj Increased Prices?

Features

Jawa Forty Two is a retro bike so it comes with analogue speedometer and digital odometer. The wheels on the bike are spoke wheels with tube tyres. It features dual-channel ABS (optional), USD forks at the front and twin spring-loaded shock at the rear.

On the other hand, the Bajaj Dominar 250 features a negative display fully digital unit with an additional small display on a tank of various indicators. The front suspensions on the bike are USD forks while the rear is mono-shock suspension. The wheels are alloy wheels with tubeless tyres. The bike comes with dual-channel ABS as a standard. The Dominar 250 also features all-LED units on headlamp, taillamp, and indicator as well.

Also read: Jawa 300 – Is it good for long trips?

Price

As said earlier, there’s not much of a difference in the pricing. The Jawa Forty-Two starts at Rs 1.58 lakhs (ex-showroom). On the other hand, Bajaj Dominar 250 costs Rs 1.6 lakhs (ex-showroom). Both bikes offer good value for money.

Verdict

So for a person who loves retro bikes and doesn’t want to compromise on the practicality either must go with Jawa Forty-Two. The bike can easily handle the highway duties as well, so long tour on the highways is possible.

On the other hand, Bajaj Dominar 250 is for a person who loves the sporty nature of the motorcycle but also wants a comfortable riding posture. It can easily handle city duties as well as touring duties better than Jawa forty-two. If you are a person who wants an all-rounder machine then Dominar 250 is a must go.

Other bikes in the same pricing include Suzuki Gixxer 250, and Royal Enfield Classic 350.