Will the cannibalization of the Bajaj Dominar 400 sales happen by Bajaj Pulsar RS400?

It shouldn’t be too big of a deal. The Dominar and RS400 are targeted at two different kinds of riders. The Dominar is a sports tourer more while the RS400 will be a pure sports bike. Bajaj has room for both in its lineup.

It's definitely a concern. Both are 400cc bikes made by the same manufacturer. Unless Bajaj really differentiates them in terms of riding position and features, they could be competing for the same customer.

I believe it would be beneficial for Dominar sales. Bajaj’s RS400 could help the brand get more attention for its 400cc range in general and some who come in to see the RS400 could opt for the more comfortable Dominar.

That’s what I’m more worried about, because I think this will adversely impact Bajaj’s relationship with KTM. Thus, the RC 390 could end up competing against the RS400. I think that’ll be interesting, to see how they deal with that potential conflict.

Could it be that Bajaj is planning to phase out the Dominar and replacing it with the RS400? It could be a way to give a fresh approach to their 400cc lineup without having to admit the Dominar didn't perform as well as they had expected.

I believe that price is the bottom line. If they price the RS400 much higher than the Dominar, it could provide enough distance to avoid direct competition. However, if they are close enough in price, it may cause a problem.

No way. In terms of build quality and refinement, the RC 390 is on a different league. KTM's level is not yet where Bajaj is improving.

It doesn’t need to be better than the RC 390 to succeed. The RS400 could be a winner for a lot of riders who want a sporty bike but cannot justify the KTM’s price tag, if the RS400 can provide 80% of the performance at 70% of the price.

The actual question is, would Bajaj be allowed to cut into KTM’s market share. This partnership may restrict how close the RS400 can come to the RC 390’s performance.

I think the RS400 could in fact be a better every day riding bike. Bajaj might strike a better balance between performance and comfort than KTMs are known to be.

There will be a big hurdle to overcome when it comes to brand perception. If the RS400 is as good as the RC 390, then there will always be people who will treat it as just a Pulsar and not a premium bike.

It's not just about performance. The RC 390 has a good racing pedigree and there is aftermarket support. If Bajaj really wants to compete, they will need to build an ecosystem around the RS400.