You want to tour and don't care for the fierce sound? Cut the crap and go for the KTNS R3. Comes complete with hard luggage, ready to tour right out of the showroom unlike any of the models you mentioned.

http://www.ktn.com.my/product4.html

That's like saying the BMW GS800 is hodoh.

As far as adventure looks are concerned, the KTNS R3 isn't bad at all actually. The TS did say all he cares about is the touring ability, and I say the R3 has it in spades. It rolls off the showroom floor ready to head up Chiangmai.

I'm not a big fan of fully faired race-replica wannabe parallel twins. Their hollow 250cc parallel twin sound will always mark them as wannabes. Back in the day, those who wanted the real race-rep look and feel would get the proper 4 cylinder ZXR250.

Diff ppl, diff tastes.

Actually back in the mid 90s, MSC in PJ did import quite a number of 400cc bikes including the CB400 SuperFour.

I too owned a Malaysia registered GSXR400-RR imported by MSC. Back then these bikes would set you back around RM25k-RM30k, just under the usual 600cc models at around RM40k. 750cc race reps (remember those?) went for around RM45k... and in the mid 90s, 400cc bikes were often just mini versions of the 750cc race reps. Between my GSXR400-RR and the GSXR750 W-series everything was the same, down to the Mikuni slide carbs, just smaller. It was exquisite.

The advantage of 400cc bikes is cheaper roadtax and cheap parts in Singapore. Towards 2000, tons of 400cc bikes were being scrapped in SG and you could get all kinds of used parts for very little money. I had a complete set of spare body panels and rims.

Anyway... a lot of 400cc bikes were illegally running on SG & Thai plates, so our legit 400s were very special and very rare.

Nowadays... the era of the screaming miniature 4-cylinder race replicas had long passed. Nobody even talks about them anymore.

AAAAAAANYWAY...

Some good news showed up yesterday for those who want a 250cc commuter/tourer bike but are too ashamed to ride anything related to China.

Paul Tan reported that the 250cc Kwakka X-Versys is being launched. Looks very decent, especially with a 17-litre fuel tank which should see very good range in between refuelling. Because it wears the Kawasaki badge, it will cost more than the KTNS R3... but still, a great commuter/tourer option.

But I think Kawasaki should be thankful that the local Keeway Benelli ppl are plain bloody lazy, otherwise the new Benelli TRK502 would surely tapau everything. Absolutely gorgeous adventure tourer looks and a fukking humungous cross-country 20-litre tank.

http://www.cycleworld.com/2017-kawasaki-ve...vel-bike-season

That's insane for such an old bike.

If people think they can just plonk down RM17k and rev the tits off that ancient RGV250, they're mistaken. It's a 2-stroker, chances are by now the engine would need to taken down and rebuilt.