Hai there,
I’m currently looking around to purchase a sport bike for daily commute. Budget is not big around RM20-25k only for a used bike. I do have a B full licence and have been riding my 250 for about 10years. Always loved the 636 but budget is not in my favour and i dont feel i sbk would be comfortable for daily commute.

People would say I do ride fast and aggressive but for me i think its normal to cruise on highway at 120-140kmh on a 250.so u be the judge. I’m a small guy about 162cm height, max 60kg so touring bike seems like a no go. Kinda interested with mt07, xj6 which is in my budget. Not particularly interested in naked though some review did mentioned that you will crave more later top end speed which u cant get with a naked.

Appreciate if you can give me some suggestions. Especially on maintenance wise and maybe difference between 4cyc n 2cyc.

u wan sport bike y wana consider mt07??
die die hv to be fully faired.

xj6 look for the later full, not half fairing

it's going to be long winded, but I'll try to ask more questions first

which 250 are you on right now, and what are the reasons to change?
more speed? like top speed? say from the current ~170 you want 200? 220? 240? or outright 299?
more power? like better acceleration between 90 to 140?
more electronics? ABS, TC, ride modes, TFT etc?

how far is your commute? have you been riding correctly with the 250 meaning using core muscle to support instead of pressing mostly on the handlebar?

when you said sport bike, you say SBK (superbike) would not be comfortable for commute, then added MT07/XJ6 and you said not interested in naked... those two bikes are naked

20~25k budget for a used bike may need you to prepare some extra for repairs and services to sort things out

the CBR is getting more and more affordable and making those XJ6 looks sad

This post has been edited by alexei: Feb 16 2024, 10:58 PM

the fz6r look, is not bad...

I’m not sure what is the exact term to be honest. But my intention is to upgrade cC. I do feel sbk bike will be too much for me to handle for daily commute both physically and financially. I mentioned mt07/xj6 as those are the bikes im check around currently. But im open for suggestions and it doesnt have to be naked or full fairing.

I know my budget is low and it will come with a disadvantage. Cbr was it my list but I cant seems to find those within my budget. Maybe not looking hard enough yet.

Currently riding a cbr250r and I feel that im really stressing the bike a lot by full throttling daily. It would be nicer to cruise around at low rpm.

This post has been edited by monkey13: Feb 16 2024, 11:22 PM

I’m open to suggestions. Just currently been checking out on mt07 alot

the older the bike, the more risk of high maintenance..
summore high milage, n shop will main tipu.

at tht budget can get many,
triumph, ducati oso can get.. ada brani?

stick with jap big four, oni kawa z650 will be youngest comes with abs;

mt07 is still over priced for almost 10yo bike...
dealers die die wont sell cheaper.

Tak brani bro. From review I’ve read, their maintenance is higher.

I do notice that abt mt07. Z650 pun dalam radar. Dont have anything in particular for now. Still doing my research that is why im asking here to share some light

naked you can buy with under RM 25k:
-z650 abs
-z800
-cb650f
-xj6
-mt07
-mt09 v1
-street triple 675 abs


sportbike you can buy under RM 25k:
-ninja 650 abs
-cbr650f
-cbr500
-xj6f
-daytona 675
-naza blade 650

list above based on listing from mudah

kawa 650 (ninja and z) is the safest choice IMO since it has abs and japanese bike

but if you want 4 cylinders then go for cb650f or xj6, though 600cc 4 cylinders might feel a bit boring since you need to rev hard to get their torque

can also try triumph 675, if live in kl they have dealers in batu cave and pj to send your bike

This post has been edited by Patent: Feb 17 2024, 12:26 AM

the CB250R, that would be the single cylinder, so iinm 130 is about the fastest it can go

now that we know you are not chasing a dream bike, but rather a solid workhorse commuter
your budget is your budget, is how you manage your life, I won't call it disadvantage
I'd say differently if you have a dream bike instead but compromise for something else due to budget

those 1st gen CBR is easy to find, in fact I also saw one earlier today with ~26k mileage

https://www.mudah.my/malaysia/motorcycles-f...0-25000&q=cb650
https://www.mudah.my/malaysia/motorcycles-f...-25000&q=cbr650

I (personally) would consider this: https://www.mudah.my/cbr+959-104541701.htm

Thanks!

Anyway, any opinion when comparing controllability and comfort?

Honestly the most I got to squeeze out of it was 170 and that was really pushing it 😅 . As mentioned, daily is arnd 120-140 only. Surely not aiming for my dream bike. Maybe in the future after my dream home is completed.

The 959 is 2004 right? Still reliable?

tbh you gotta try them to see if it suits you.

I can only comment on the kawa 650s and st 675.
both is pretty comfortable during my short ride experience, low seat height, lightweight less than 190 kg, no issue lane filtering in city and enough power to ride in right lane on highway

Will surely do. No rush for now as I just had my knee ligament reconstruction last week 😅

I will need to give kawi 650 another chance. Didnt quite enjoy the er6 ride during my b full class which was b4 i bought my 250.

170 out of the CB250R is not bad... I just googled it, seems legit and I was wrong to think 130 is about it

the 959 should actually be a CBR954RR, and I would take a look before deciding anything. I will normally browse mudah for 20k+ sportsbikes esp those that got fuel injection; Fireblades (929, 954), CBR600F4i, ZZR's, ZXR's etc

Another one: https://www.mudah.my/Honda+CBR+929RR+FIREBL...+-104610424.htm

the 929/954 have low seat height, ~815mm so you will feel right at home
at 190kg wet weight... they should be easy to handle

bear in mind, these machines are old but still pack a punch at 150++ hp @ 11k RPM

reliable? it's mostly luck when we talk about used bikes

25k can get u a decent z800....2013-2015 model..if lucky mebbe 2016 model.

If ur willing to up the budget to 30k, a used 2017 z900 can be urs..in fact there was one selling below 30k coz he bpught a new bike and it was ready for.collection.

For mt07 vs xj6 maintenance...

Tires will be more expensive on the mt07 coz it uses a 180 rear while xj6.is 160.

Engine oil will need 4 bottles on the xj6 but 3.on the mt07.

Spark plugs will be 4 for xj6 n 2 on mt07

Fuel tank bigger on the xj6

Xj6 is older than mt07.

Personally, id go for z800..or.if able, top up for the z900.

But between xj6 n mt07..id go.mt07...newer and that cp2 braap is

RR is a interesting choice but ill be pushing my luck on it. But no harm in checking it

Havent tried the z800 as I usually feel that the bike is rather big. For the specs, mt07 is really basic making the z8 much more worthy.

good luck anyhow

older RR breakdown less than newer 1000's unless you go for more later models

that's how I see bike evolution or generations
the last of it's kind is better than first of it's kind
example the 954 is last of the 900, then the new 1000 is a first, more issues on this one

for 20k
1 - CB/CBR
2 - MT09 v1
3 - Z750

dream bikes would be along the lines of injection equipped retro superbikes

if it is possible, try and get something with an ABS.
it might save your life.

i'd topup for an ABS.
i'd downgrade cc for an ABS.
and i've been riding for 25 years now.

Im actually saving 1000cc for my dream bike. As for now focus for a commuting bike.


Understood. Thats im still doing my research. Mt07 intrigues me but its rather pricey for a basic tech bike. The v2 is with abs but used is quite expensive compared to other brands.

Then just take ur 25k n put it in the bank n save it...maybe look into buying ur dream bike with loan n just make sure u can afford the monthly installments other than the maintenance.

Dont bother buying an intermediate bike as commuter coz the bikes ur looking at will almost roughly have the same running cost as the 1L bike if u use it as a commuter. Keep ur 250 as a commuter first as im sure its more than capable. Coz if u spend 25k to upgrade ur commuter, thats 25k less for u to get ur dream bike.

If still itchy for upgrade coz of long distance or something, i probably wouldnt spend more than 10k for something like an er6n/f. Cheap to run, reliable n darn good bike

I’ve thought of that but Im not sure when or if my wife ever allows it. Atleast if I upgrade my commuting bike, I could enjoy the ride more everyday to work.

Wait.... that's not a sportsbike.

In your mind you already made up to go for MT-07

just get a taller windscreen setel

currently enjoying my decision getting Mt 07 in January this year

If the bike is for all weather commuting, best get something with ABS. No ABS is fine when we are doing 10/10 riding.

When commuting, we often go into autopilot mode. Sudden traffic condition changes may catch us off guard.

Perhaps look into a z650 or ninja 650 (if you want a fully faired "sport bike"). The later models have ABS and the ninja has a fairly comfortable riding position for commuting. Both can be had for about 20-24k used for a fairly recent bike. Yes, it's not as hardcore nor exciting as the pure supersport 636 but, for the budget, comfort, reliability and power, tough to do better.

The torque from the 650 will be a noticable upgrade to your 250. It's a naked dressed up as a sports bike.the engine is tuned for mid range power so it works well for commuting.

On top of that the z/ninja has a fairly low seat height, and low centre of gravity, which would work well for your stature. Plus, it has plenty of accesories in the market if you choose to make a sports touring bike out of it.

The ninja was one of my considered bike, before I decided to get a new NK800. .....those that know my toubles with the NK, would probably agree I would have been served better by the ninja

This post has been edited by jaycee1: Feb 18 2024, 07:47 AM

Yeah I know and as mentioned before, I don’t actually know the exact term.


Thanks for the input. The 650 is also in my list. Will definitely consider it.

Out of curiosity, does the 650 have any known common issues?

It's the same 650 engine from ER6, so yea it's gonna be very reliable, but it's not that refined of an engine as the design is pretty dated.

ancient engine thats bulletproof. tried and tested over many years. its akin to toyota and its vios. simply designed to work, work and keep working.
u basically deal with your usual wear and tear...

Thank you. Will do more research on them.

The MT07 is a 'naked'. Sportbikes normally have a full fairing. Many manufacturers sometimes have 2 variations of the same bike with some ergo and sometimes performance difference. e.g. like:

Sportbike = R7
Naked = MT07

Sportbike = GSX 8R
Naked = GSX 8S

Sportbike = Ninja 650
Naked = Z650

Sportbike = Daytona 660
Naked = Trident

Sportbike = CRB650R
Naked = CB650R

And so on and so forth...

Of course in the sportbike category there are lots more classifications like superbikes, sport tourers etc...

This post has been edited by lowpro: Feb 21 2024, 07:55 AM

I think TS meant 'anything bigger than his existing 250cc' instead of an outright 'sport' bike that we are more familiar with

wait til he come back with more

meanwhile, I'm enjoying my maxi scooter hahaha

Hai all..

Slight update. I finally pull the plug and gotten myself a MT07 V2 after my 250 keeps asking for more “stuff”. Got the bike on father’s day and feeling was surreal..hahaha…

Been enjoying the bike but still adjusting myself to the more naked riding position and wind drag. The extra power is surely felt as I could now comfortably cruise without the feeling of damaging the engine. Did minor servicing by myself just for my peace of mind. Only wish I got extra cash to upgrade the absorber and also the exhaust system.

Btw, the manifold piping is surely an aftermarket, but how do I identify if my akra muffler is fake or authentic?

Well if you are buying it online, buying it from the official distributor is the way to go.
If you are getting it used, unless they have the original receipt and it is sold really cheap best to just assume its fake.
I don't know how to put it to words but if you are holding original and fake exhaust side by side, you can easily know which one is fake.
Ori exhausts have 'more substance' feeling. Bigger, heavier, not cheap, cleaner welds.

Of course there are some AAA copy exhausts that are really close to the ori ones but those are pricey also.

If you just want a better sounding exhausts then it doesn't really matter if its fake or ori, IMO
To my untrained ears they all sound the same

good bike, hope you like it
careful with the wheelie prone character, and spongy brake feel, and intrusive ABS
otherwise, hooliganism ftw

if you want to upgrade:
1 - brake lines
2 - service front forks (reduce changes of headshakes)
3 - rear shocks upgrade

the akra muffler, look at the overall quality - finishing, joint welds, rivets
if it has carbon body or caps, look for fake carbon vs real carbon
quite likely titanium, notice any discoloration due to heat?

good choice! mt07 is definitely the best daily bike with power comes handy.. i was from mt07 v1, here what i did to make the bike feel almost perfect (at least to me)

1) monoshock change to yss topline
2) front fork service, use 15w oil
3) handle balancer change to rxz one
4) puig windscreen
5) service all 3 caliper and change to brembo brake oil
6) tire mich road 6

since you mention cruising 130-140, with puig screen it help a lot.. above 140 different blowing haha

This post has been edited by mytaffeta: Aug 12 2025, 10:34 AM

It came with the bike when i bought it. It sounds ok only planning to redo the exhaust due to looks 😅. Been trying to upload the picture here to share but the limit for pictures here is crazy.

I guess the years of experience in riding helps to control the naughty torque.

I’ve swap all brake pads with daytona gold. Yss fork upgrade kit ordered. Mono will be next. Really like the underbody look for the mt07.


Yes, the extra power does come in handy and fun..hahaha…

1) was contemplating between fork or mono upgrade. Ended up with the fork kit 1st bcz of shopee deal 😅
2) installed a dynopro 750g balancer and a lowered sport handlebar (preference)
3) still maintaining using the aftermarket bubble windshield that it came with. Maybe later after install steering damper.
4) already swap the pads. Its decent now. Will consider hose and the suggested brake oil.
5) it came with pilot road 6 (70-80% left)

130-140 cruising is still fine for me. Above 180 is another story.

as for exhaust, i use yoshimura copy r77 370mm.. get a u turn monifold.. not too loud during cold start and mesra neighborhood.. haha

Btw did you keep your 250 or let go?

Hahaha..really wish i could the akra carbon underbody full system. But what are the actual difference between uturn pipe and a straight pipe besides the sound.


Still got it. It doesnt worth selling.

the thing that dampens exhaust noise is the mid pipe, not the muffler
if you get the stock mid pipe, cut off the end, and add an original Akra muffler, it won't be loud also

Thanks for the share. Been actually browsing the net fr the answer. Some was saying about increasing back pressure

For MT07, the stock cat is not good for airflow

sos: https://www.fz07.org/thread/10460/drilling-...-stock-exhaust/


got ppl operate it and do S-flow bypass

on a 4 stroke engine, back pressure is never a good thing
it's actually very necessary on a 2 stroke engine

the U-turn manifold adds length to the secondary header
from Akra website, the U-turn system gives more power than the standard underbelly system

No engine benefits from back pressure. Even 2 strokes. But I get where you are coming from. The expansion chamber is a tuned pipe to channel exhaust pulses to the combustion charge from flowing out too easily, the opposite of scavenging for a 4 stroke.

But its easy to make the mistake putting on a too free flowing exhaust and sacrificing exhaust velocity. Which is why the S/U midpipes are there for, the longer running length exhaust promotes or maintains exhaust velocity.

Symptoms of a reduction in exhaust velocity is poorer scavenging leading to less efficient burn and a possible noticeable drop in engine response and torque.

Just know that exhaust systems diameter, design and lenghts are "tuned" by the manufacturer to give a particular powerband. Changing such will also change the powerband and may run afoul of the stock tuning.

--

This post has been edited by alexei: Aug 15 2025, 02:55 PM

Yes. That.


Euro 5 and 6 to blame. Which is also why the NK's stock exhaust sound is so good. They probably DGAF on EU noise regulations.