Bajaj has a task at hand to balance off road capability with on road comfort for the Darkstar.
To create a true adventure bike, you have to strike a fine line between off road capability and on road comfort. This is the most challenging for a company like Bajaj, which has little experience in the ADV segment. Adventure enthusiasts will demand the Darkstar offer sufficient off road capability, but will also need to provide a comfortable and efficient ride for daily commuting and highway touring. Other factors such as suspension tuning, tire choice, ergonomics, and weight distribution will also be crucial for get this balance right. Also, how much off road ability do Indian riders really need or actually use, and do Bajaj need to concentrate on on road performance given the road conditions and how Indian riders actually use their motorcycles?
They should concentrate on making it a fantastic road bike with light off road ability. That’s what most Indian riders actually need.
I hope they don't compromise too much on the off road bits. We don't need tall commuters, we need more proper ADVs in India.
Here Bajaj's experience with the Dominar could come in handy. They just need to tweak it for some off road use, but that bike strikes a decent balance for touring.
Adjustable suspension will be the key. Riders can tune it for their needs, whether that’s commuting or weekend trails.
They should have two variants: one with more off road kit, and one road focused. Best of both worlds.
I’m guessing they’ll go the on road comfort route. A first attempt at an ADV is safer, and it's what most buyers will actually be using it for.
That will go a long way if they get the ergonomics right for standing up riding. If it's comfortable for light trails then full off road capability is not needed.
Tire choice will be crucial. They have to choose something which is effective on tarmac but also copes with some muck and gravel.
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