To test the performance of the new Dominar 200 (valued at R$18,990) – a model from the Indian giant Bajaj, a brand that arrived in Brazil at the end of last year – the Duas Rodas team set up a mobility circuit at the Motorpark - Haras Tuiuti -, which pushed the bike to its limits. Speaking of which, the evaluation included the participation of two extreme riders: Leandro Mello, editor of the magazine; and Durval Careca, three-time São Paulo motorcycle racing champion. In addition to the tight circuit, the duo tested braking, acceleration, recovery and, to finish in style, a fast lap. And the Dominar 200, already assembled in Manaus (AM), did well in this evaluation. Check out the numbers. To make the most of the bike, the first performance test was focused on mobility, with a lot of maneuverability, since the circuit – 400 meters long and with dozens of cones – simulated all the maneuvers performed on the streets in a very realistic way. Riding in first and second gear, the Dominar 200 was subjected to low-speed maneuvers, quick changes of direction, vigorous braking, and checking the lean angle and even the grip of the tires. Pushed to the extreme, the Indian motorcycle had its components put to great use, with a focus on suspension and brakes. Panic simulations were even performed, unfortunately common in the aggressive traffic of large cities. Here, the small street bike proved to be very stable. On this tight circuit, with sharp turns to the left and right and quick changes of direction and braking, the bike even “stalled”, reaching the limit of the steering and lean angle, scraping the footpegs on the ground. To control the Bajaj model on a tight circuit and at low speeds, the riders used practically 98% of the rear brake. In the braking tests – on a straight line, the front brake was used to its fullest, with the rear brake being used modularly so as not to “drag” the wheel. In addition to the perception of professional riders, Duas Rodas also uses equipment for technical evaluations, the V-Box Performance, which was used to measure time, partial distance (low/medium), acceleration, recovery and maximum speed reached on the Motorpark track, located in Tuiuti, near Bragança Paulista, in the interior of São Paulo. The Dominar 200 reached a top speed of 114 km/k (real). For Leandro Mello, editor of Duas Rodas, the test simulates real life. “Here, exercises were done that reflect all the difficulties faced by motorcyclists in their daily lives. And the bike was pushed to its limit. For a 200cc, the Dominar surprised us with the balance of its set. Highlight for its chassis”, he said... On the first laps on the circuit, rider Duval Careca, who is part of the magazine's Network team, was not very comfortable. He always wanted to sway on the curves, but at low speeds this motorcycle racing technique does not work. “I decided to follow Leandro’s advice and adopt the inverted pendulum, which is widely used in off-roading. And then I found myself on the motorcycle. In addition to the rear brake, at low speeds, the motorcyclist uses the clutch a lot to optimize torque and thus have more control,” concludes Careca, saying that the motorcycle fulfills its purpose. A good option for everyday use. Bajaj Dominar 200 technical specifications Engine: single-cylinder, 199.5 cc Power: 24 hp at 9,750 rpm Torque: 1.89 kgf.ma at 8,000 rpm Gearbox: 6-speed Tank: 12 liters Front tire: 100/80 - 17 (tubeless) Rear tire: 130/70 - 17 (tubeless) Front brake: 300 mm disc (ABS) Rear brake: 230 mm disc Curb weight: 157 kg Suggested price: R$ 18,990