The whole motorcycle verges on the budget, but providing you don’t ask too much of the shock or forks you’ll be OK. The Honda Dominator's shock is weak and off-road miles will knacker it in triple time. Ditto the rear sub-frame, which seems to be made of silver-painted cheese. The Honda Dominator's teeny nose fairing does its job up to around 80mph – after that you’ll be pressed into the familiar flying cruciform so beloved of naked motorcycles.
Most Honda Dominators will have had tough lives. Fact. Fortunately the SOHC, air-cooled single-cylinder motor is super-reliable and good for almost 100,000 miles, The only problem is overheating, which can cause the valves seats to drop, and oil consumption, which can border on the greedy. It’s got decent tug and away from motorways the Honda Dominator is a competent enough performer.
The serious things to watch out for when looking at a Honda Dominator are clunking motors, seized brake calipers, corroded tailpipes and damage sustained from off-road forays. Other than that it’s furred forks (protect them with clear nail varnish), chipped and worn cases, the odd busted spoke (run a pencil around them and listen for the dull ‘dung’ of a knackered one). Otherwise Honda Dominators will run and run.
Buy a Honda Dominator as a winter hack or commuter you won’t go wrong – it’s the same engine that’s now found in Honda’s FMX650. But the Honda Dominator is way cheaper. Find a Honda Dominator for sale.
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You get a sump and hand guards, a tacho, a single trip-meter and that’s your lot with a Honda Dominator. The pillion seat, pegs and grab handle are excellent on this motorcycle, though.