Hey kawans,

Here's the situation, I've been driving back and forth between my workplace and it's been taking a toll on me. Driving a manual kinda exacerbates the stress. I spend roughly 3.5 to 4 hours on average driving back and forth from work which is 60km in total back and forth.

I'm currently in the midst of getting a B full license with the idea of getting an MT07 to ease my commute. Hopefully I'll be able to cut down on the travel and perhaps find a little thrill and joy in the journey. Don't worry, I've already set aside the budget for a full face helmet, riding jacket and gloves. That said, if anyone has shop recommendations, I'm all ears. Would prefer a shop that can advise on helmet sizings with test fitting.

Would the sifus here be able to advise on the MT07? How is it in terms of maintenance cost and are there any issues I should be looking out for?

Much appreciated

Have you ridden bikes before? What is your skill level?

Bicycles yes.... motorbikes, besides taking a friend's bike for a spin more than 20 years ago. no

Maybe you should start on a single like a ktm or dominar

Nearby cannot rent a place?

Would like to spend on one decent bike instead of buying and upgrading few months down. Besides, don't really like the looks of the Dominar or KTM dukes..

That's why I wanted to check on maintenance cost and if the MT07 has any issues I should be aware of

I'm sure there are. But I do have 2 young kids who I would love to spend time with. Hence, living away from my family isn't really an option.

mt07 is a reliable platform, being a japanese bike and all.
maintenance shouldnt be that expensive (2 cylinders bike) even if you go full syntethic oil + oil filter change + labor at most would be RM300 every 5000km.

its not a beginner friendly bike but since you have experience driving manual car I think you'd have no problem picking it up.
make sure to buy the one with ABS and test ride it to see if you are comfortable with it.

you can also look at cheaper alternative like kawasaki z650, used with abs can be found under RM 20k unlike mt07 which is almost RM 30k

Mind sharing why the MT07 is not a beginner friendly bike? Cause I was initially eye-ing the Z800 but asked to start on the MT07 as a beginner bike.

Ah, will look into the Z650 but from what I can see, it weighs almost as much as the MT07 yet offers less power. The z650 does have ABS though.

it has a strong torque pretty early so if you flick your throttle wrong you could end up power wheelie or worse lose traction and crash.

That's called "Whiskey Throttle" or "panic revving".. XD

Do consider maxi-scooters, there are more storage spaces and no gear to change and can concentrate on the journey / lane splitting.

Mt07 celebrates its 10th anniversary this year...
Used price in msia is still very high, the v2 is more expensive than z900 mt09 triump street triple, dukati monster, bmw f800r, etc
Bcos dealers noe many pipu looking for it n hongleong not planning to sell anymore..

U can find many post like this in the fb group

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Baswm2zXsv...mibextid=oFDknk

Any bike would've drastically improve your commute situation so don't need straight jump to buy MT07. Get the B full and spend some time test rides all types of bikes that tickles your fancy only then decide

The MT-07 is a great bike, the only concern is because you haven't been riding, you may not know how it feels like to handle a big bike in traffic vs mopeds, and what you truly need. Commuting with a big bike comes with some serious inconveniences, your bike isn't gonna be as nimble as the mopeds in traffic, you may not want to install a box on your bike due to aesthetic reasons, are you okay with it getting scratched and maybe even tipped over in a tight parking lot? Are you gonna do long distances travel and can you do it without a windshield? Do you want to clean and lube the chain more frequently during rainy seasons or you'd rather be riding a hassle-free scooter?

I'd suggest you start with something cheaper just to experience commuting with a bike, then work your way up after figuring out what's lacking with your bike that you wish it could do better, before thinking you can settle on your 'end game' bike to be honest. The most practical setup would always be a scooter/moped in the city + an ADV for long distance touring.

Edit: Also, don't forget that because it's your first time riding seriously, you will drop that bike (even seasoned riders do). And the coversets of big bikes cost thousands of ringgit.

This post has been edited by JustForFun: Oct 13 2024, 03:12 PM

A 700cc bike is not beginner friendly if your previous 2 wheeler is still human powered.

Start with something smaller.....and disposable.

There is nothing wrong with the MT07 platform. It's light, punchy powerband makes for a very fun bike to ride. For the exact reasons it makes it fun, it would make a greenhorn nervous. And nervous isn't what you want to be when you are learning to ride.

If you are commuting in all weather, do yourself a favour and get a bike with ABS, and TC if it comes with such an option.

If you are new at this, a less intimidating bike will help you learn skills faster that will be needed when you get on a more powerful machine.

This post has been edited by jaycee1: Oct 13 2024, 05:46 PM

Thanks for all the advice and pointers. I really appreciate it! Nothing beats hearing it from a group of experienced veterans here.

Didn't really consider maxi-scooters because I don't want to develop the habit of riding without the gear changing as I feel being able to ride with gears is an important part of the learning process when I step up to a bigger bike.

After much consideration.. I'll check in with a smaller and simpler bike just to get a feel of things before jumping into getting the MT-07. Heard some good things about the ER-6N as a 'throwaway starter bike'. Any thoughts on that? But I don't think that comes with ABS or TC though..

yes its the predecessor of z650, still used in most driving schools today as the bike for B full.
just like z650, the power is linear and beginner friendly.
they aren't wrong when they say its a good throwaway bike, you can get it dirt cheap and almost every workshop can work on it.

Here is the major service and fork service cost

major service every 20k KM, can save money by doing oil change yourself

currently using

- Mapetrol Premium ester 10W50 x 3 (RM 100 during Shopee 9.9)
- Oil Filter RM30+

fork service recommended every 2 year/20k km or when fork leaking

stock air filter after 30k KM mileage or on depend condition (RM200) or K&N/ D.N.A air filter (+-RM400) + (RM 80~150) air filter cleaning kit

New bike chain around RM 450++

chain cleaning kit + oil = RM60+



This post has been edited by Kaellis: Oct 13 2024, 08:18 PM

May be pre-owned Yamaha MT-25 or MT-15 would give a feel of the MT-07?

the bike is ok, commuter, do it all, reliable, unless you get a lemon or (very) ill maintained bike - suitable for daily, but depending on the road maybe you'll need wind protection and storage

two types, ABS and non-ABS
ABS is known to be intrusive, so if you're a manual car person, you might find this annoying

very basic, nothing spectacular - conventional forks, steel frame, axial brake calipers, halogen lamps

have a feel for the bike, test drive a few units to decide
not a beginner friendly bike, torquey and without rider assistance

180 rear tyre, so slightly more expensive to maintain in this regard, its competitors usually runs with 160 - SV650, Z650 etc

IMO: upgrades needed - suspension components, brake MC

hi bro,

coming from similar situation as you, straight bfull with little or no experience in riding bike. (except once in awhile kapchai during study). I would suggest buy cheap dominar v1.

Get use with a bike weight, weaving between traffic, split lane, taking corner, throttle play, braking front vs rear( big bike tend to use front 90% of time). It wont take long but its better to experience all those as a 'bike virgin'. Its no where similar as riding basikal except for balancing.

Regarding the er6n , its cheap too with v2 starting from 8k+++, however, may need to dump another 1k-2k+ from fix here and there. I bought er6n after use dom for 4 month. Lucky to get a 75% rebuild er6n v2 with new paint, good condition fork etc but had issue with electrical stuff but nothing major. Its a good bike, and learn more on throttle control and braking without abs. Mind you that riding er6n in circuit and on the road is different experience.

you can do this while in L and reward yourself with mt07 later once passed the test

This post has been edited by marsha1l: Oct 14 2024, 11:41 AM

lol, no it wont. It simply doesnt have the power and power delivery of the bigger bikes.

But as a commuter bike, the MT25 would be a good starting platform. But for the used prices, you can do better.


Most people don't factor in a running costs of a big bike if doing some serious commuting miles, primarily tyres.


Tyres : That big 180 section rear tyre will need replacement every 12000km to 15000km depending on how you ride. More expensive sport touring rubber like the dual compound tyres will last longer but you are still looking at about 20k km ish. And at 600-700 a pop, it aint cheap to be changing rear tyres every year or less. I personally go through about 2 rear tyres a year given my mileage.


I would still recommend someone start off on a used 250 to 400cc bike if he/she is a complete greenhorn. Get a year or 2 of seat time and miles before moving to the 600-700cc bikes. The smaller bikes would handle commuting just fine and cost less to run.

Personally I am in favour of a cheap used Dominar, as I spent 3 years and 70k km on one learning the ropes. Jumping to something significantly more powerful like my 800NK takes experience. Its shit scary when it wheelspins at 160km/h.

Wow! Thanks for all the pointers and tips shared. It's so much to process as I shift my mind away from the MT07 towards a beginner bike like the Z650 or ER6n.

Would be leaning towards the ER6N as I heard good things about it and to be honest, being an older bike, I wouldn't feel too bad about small mistakes and learning along the way. And it being significantly cheaper is a plus point.

@Kaellis thanks for sharing your experience on the service cost. Definitely within my ballpark expectations for a bigger bike.

That said, I've been hearing quite a bit about the Dominar as well. But I'm not too sure about the spare parts compared to the ER6N though. How would the maintenance and running cost for the Dominar 400 and ER6N differ? Which would be easier to find workshop and spareparts for?

Any thoughts, sifu sifu sekalian?

Much was asked and many questions were answered about the dominar previously. Head over to the dominar thread and read the archives. Everything you need to know about the bike is there.

For our market here. The Dominar has become the quintessential b full starter bike since its launch in 2018.

The good. Cheap. Robust. Parts availability, has ABS. Decent entry level touring bike. Stable highway speeds

The bad. Heavy for its class, vibrations at higher highway speeds exceeding 130-140 (it's a big single).

JPlaSMaY666 30km each way, highway or backroads?

If you're gonna be weaving through a lot of traffic, get something light and nimble instead of the ER6N/Dominar 400. You can get used to it yes, but the ER6N will not let you cut through lanes like the Duke 390, the same way the 390 will not be as easy as a supermoped. Lighter weight trumps speed anytime of the day in the traffic, as you won't be able to move fast anyway while splitting lane.

why don't you try renting a bike from BINO

try a week to see how it feels before buying a bike

cheaper than upgrade a few months later

For an experienced rider maybe.

But for a.greenhorn that might end up dropping the bike....probably not a good idea.

Ah, thanks! I'll look into it and do my own reading. That's one of the things that worries me as I know the Dominar 400 is roughly 210kgs and yet only has a 400cc engine. But will look around to test it if I can.

When you mention vibrations at highway speed, wouldn't vibrations cause what's known as the 'death wobble' which could be dangerous for a Newbie like me? Hahah, granted I'm not sure how 120km/h feels like on a bike but I'll imagine for someone new, it'll be freaking scary. Hopefully it behaves if I stay below 120km/h..

numbing vibrations on handlebar, footpegs, seat

It's 30KM each way, 90% of the journey is through the Federal highway.

Understand. I don't think I will cilok like those bikes la. At most, lane-splitting only but of course, there is always the danger of idiots cutting lanes like their grandfather's road in which ABS is supposed to alleviate that issue. But earlier someone mentioned ABS might be detrimental for someone who drives a manual vehicle like me.. So I'm still kinda up on the fence, to ABS or not to ABS..

Will definitely keep that in mind.. after I've built up a level of confidence riding first.

But thanks for sharing! It's interesting to see I can rent bikes to test em out first.

Ah, numbing vibrations I can handle. I drive an old manual pickup truck so I'm pretty used to vibrations and loud engine roars. I think the bike vibration might even be an 'upgrade' to the vibration I experienced driving that truck on a daily basis

I start my journey with lc135 then MT-07 V2.... Just be careful with the throttle... Learn more about how to take corner at motojitsu

Why would ABS be detrimental? It's a safety feature. Especially for an inexperienced rider.

Btw, a Dominar isn't 210kg. Not sure where U got that from. The official kerb weight with fuel is 182kg.

Ah, I was mistaken on the weight then. Apologies. 182, sounds about right.. I think I mixed it up with the ER6n which was around 200KG.

With regards to the ABS being detrimental, I was referring to Alexei's note mentioning ABS is known to be intrusive. Not sure what's the context for intrusive, but I wouldn't want any unexpected 'intrusion' if I'm riding on a bike going 100km/h

I think you might want to read up what ABS does.

I think Alexei's choice of the words is misinterpreted. Alexei is no greenhorn when it comes to bikes. His complaint of ABS being intrusive only applies to riders that actually know how to use the brakes properly.

But yes, seasoned bikers prefer not to have ABS as they have the skill levels to properly handle the bike without any rider aids. I doubt it applies here. When you are not paying attention like he would be on the track, say when commuting and in the wet, then ABS is crucial.

Right, something to add to the list of features I should be looking out for then. Which means the beginner bike that ticks all boxes is the Dominar.. Hahah, guess I know what to look out for now.

By the way, can anyone share their experiences starting out on their path to a B Full license? How was it in the beginning? And how long did it take for you to have the confidence to take it on the road for real?

No short cut.

Ride and ride more.

First week do nothing but low speed drills in the parking lot. Learn the clutch friction zone. Slow turns, low speed balance, tight U turns and tight figure 8. Learn counter balancing for tight turns. Learn to use the rear brake for low speed. If you do it correctly expect to drop the bike a few times. If you don't, you are not trying hard enough. Do emergency braking and rolling stops, learn to balance the bike to fall to your left side when coming to a stop. Then learn to fall off the bike. Learn to pick up the bike

Then only go out on the road.

Then learn counter steering, proper braking and turning technique.


The b full test only teaches you how to pass the test. It does not teach you how to ride a bike.

I have been riding for a year on L before taking the b full test. Did everything including off roading. Dropped the bike many many times.

Which is why people say, get a cheap disposable bike you don't mind dropping. You can't sayang your first bike as you will stunt your own skills.

You don't fall, you don't learn. To be honest, the test was a breeze. But then again, by the time I took my b full in a year, I already done 20k km on the dominar.

This post has been edited by jaycee1: Oct 14 2024, 10:34 PM

is good to know the bike has ABS, but ride it like it doesn't have it

for the record, I don't ride on track, just an average rider with many years of riding experience and crashes haha

when MT07 with ABS first came out, I heard about its ABS intrusiveness a few times, and I think the rear ABS triggers easily, I'd say, probably 99% won't feel it

the front, would be another story... see this video from one local rider
I think FortNine made a video about slamming the front brake and causing something like this to happen


riding in the rain is another thing, for me, is to ride it like it doesn't have ABS and practice good safety sense - smooth input to the bike, avoid painted lines

Well ABS is ABS. I don't particularly like it, but I appreciate it is there. Most of the time it's just annoying when it's not needed, but invaluable when it is needed.

The thing about ABS is the cheaper ABS modules all cut in too soon and stay on too long leaving you with no brakes. But it does what it is supposed to do which is preventing lockups and preventing you tucking the front wheel.

I would say daily riding, ABS isnt intrusive but if you are riding at 95+% it can get in the way. Or if you are doing stupid shit like jumping speed humps. Once the front wheel or both wheels gets off the ground, you have no brakes for the split second or so after you land. Very interesting if going down genting with all the speed humps and sharp corner that comes right after.

Then again, it's no fault of the ABS if you are intent to do stupid shit.

Yea, I figured the driving school ain't going to be teaching me the 'real world' experience needed to survive out on Malaysian roads. Which was one of the main factors in me actually looking out for 'external' riding schools like Hafiq Azmi Riding School to get a bit of 'actual 101'.

I'm stoked yet terrified at the same time as being on a bike is the polar opposite of driving a truck where you feel 'somewhat invincible', not that I drive like a maniac for that matter but you know how some drivers can be on the road (speeding, not using turn signals, etc etc).

But after getting stuck for 3 hours on Federal heading back to Klang yesterday and 1.5 hours coming up to work this morning, I've decided enough is enough.. I need to learn to ride to preserve my sanity.

during raining season learning to ride a big bike is also dangerous

-fogging full-face helmet

-federal highway motorcycle lane flooded at Batu Tiga, prepare to merge into the main road

-no light in motorcycle lane area during night

- no place to store your luggage

Oh, I don't intend on doing any serious bike riding especially the Genting run. Just normal commute back and forth from work till I get used to riding a bike. But even then, daily riding back and forth from work won't give me the drive to want to do long rides on weekends.. at least for now, I think?

And yea, I like the earlier point mentioned by @alexei to ride it like it doesn't have it. Guess that would be a good training of sorts to remember ultimately, the best 'safety gear' I can rely on is my brain.

Yea, that's one of my fears as well seeing loads of motorcyclist stuck under the bridge when it's raining.

Not too worried about fogging as I want to also look towards a pinlock system helmet to help with that. Hopefully it works as good as people say it does. But I will definitely be getting a full faced just for the added protection.

Been observant of the motorcycle lanes on highways that I travel on and yea, I do see it's quite dark and has some weird curves which would explain why most motorcyclist ends up on the highway anyways.

I just plan to keep my laptop at work and by extension, leave work at work. Hahah, should not have to worry about carrying too much luggage, I hope..

IMO rain isnt that big of a deal if you are prepared for it.
Waterproof bag, raincoat (get one with bright color), gloves, proper tyre and you are good to go.
Unless it is a really heavy rain where you cant even see what is in front of you then thats when you need to find a place to stop.

This post has been edited by Patent: Oct 15 2024, 10:54 AM

Can consider rent a bike n commute to work for a week.. to get d feel...
Remember 'everyone' out there is trying to 'kill' u...

https://www.facebook.com/share/eYtvZ6QGX6SvMnLF/

This post has been edited by basilisk: Oct 15 2024, 01:14 PM

To be honest, I've no idea how it feels like to ride in the rain but I did try on a full face helmet just for fun and ended up with a fogged visor. I can only imagine it'll be a whole lot worst riding in the rain.

I'm not too worried about getting myself wet, but when it comes to riding in the rain, I'll still err on the side of caution for now, considering I'm still new to all this.

Oh yea, on the first page, someone did mention BINO to have a feel for different bikes. Might just give it a shot, once I've gotten my actually license and have a few hours under my belt.

Just to add on to what the rest mentioned, do not fetch any pillion as it will affect the weight, handling and braking.

Usually it will fog up when you are stationary but pinlock does help. Just a note of caution if you are wearing prescription lenses then pinlock might give you some glare when it is dark and might be irritating to some riders.

Be like some of the riders i know here where they just ride through the rain and only use the raincoat if it is raining in the morning to head for work. Will be showering anyways when you get home so not much difference.

i too have never rode a bike in my life and signed up for B full license right before c19. i was eyeing to purchase a 650 immediately but after reading and asking for opinions, i bought a light weight 250 instead as a leaner's bike . i've just gotten myself a 650 after 3 yrs of riding a 250

thinking back, I am glad i started off with a 250 instead of jumping straight to 650 else i would have dropped quite a number of times or maybe have an accident here and there.



i can still remember my adrenalin pumping when i see the road ahead jam pack of cars and i started out queueing behind cars alot.

you mentioned that you'll be using federal highway often meaning you'll be using the motorcycle lane. In my experience as a newbie, the m lane is narrow as heck and alot of kapchais will be flying past you during peak hours, hence being able to maintain a straight line allowing the other bikes to pass is crucial. no room for error man

This post has been edited by Voopoo: Oct 16 2024, 04:02 PM

Yes indeed. Start off on a smaller cheap bike.

It's easier to build confidence and skill up faster than if you jumped right into a big bike that is too powerful, too heavy and too tall for your skill level.

Once you have managed to build the skills and confidence, then upgrade.

yes, thank you to all you sifus for your advise
after riding a 145 kg 250cc bike for 3 years and switched to a 200kg 650, the weight difference is huge....can immediately feel it during slow speed maneuver.
when i just got my L license, the weight of a bike didnt even cross my mind when i wanted to get a 650cc bike right from the start.

Suggest to get Honda CB500x or the NX 500 as first big bike.

Don't let the 500 fool you.

It's a big bike. And at 200kg, and 830cm seat height, unless you have the legs for it, it's not something a greenhorn can manage well.

what is the 250cc you bhave rode back then?

I understand why people want to just jump on the bigger bike.

Not to say you can't. But unless you are one of those brilliant riders that takes to bikes like a duck to water, most new riders will benefit from starting on a smaller lighter bike.

This is true from personal experience and what I see on a lot of newer riders that went on a new big bike. I am able to skill up waaay faster than those that went the big bike route immediately. Even now, after a few years of riding, they can't properly do a tight U turn or corner at higher speed with confidence.

This post has been edited by jaycee1: Oct 17 2024, 11:34 AM

CB250R, still riding it as my daily ride to work. Wasn't my plan to ride to work but due to the jam nowadays, i prefer riding than driving

Yea, not to worry. I don't think I'll be fetching anyone until I at least gain some confidence.

No prescription lens but I do use glasses occasionally. So will keep an eye out when using pinlock systems. And with regards to rain, I think I'll hold off riding in the rain at least until I get my 'feet wet' getting some actual riding experience... hahah

How big of a jump was it when you moved up from the 250 to 650? I mean obviously the weight and power, but did it take you long to adjust? And for bikes to queue behind cars, how did you overcome that fear to start filtering between traffic?

Curious though, why ride then 250 when you have the 650? Hahah, wouldn't the whole reason for upgrading is so you can move up?

i love this bike. Mind to share how much you have bought? Is it hard to find the spare part as I read many people’s complaining the honda parts availability is a mess now.

No harm asking the shop to fix the pinlock then test it out and if there is a distraction can always ask them to remove it again before you leave. Always happens in darker environment with bright lights but if seldom ride at night then should be safe.

That is a good idea but sooner or later will be riding in rain especially when you are caught off guard in the middle of commute

It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

That aside. Smaller lighter bike is just much easier to filter and cilok around KL traffic. Plus for the commute, you are not planning to hit big speeds anyway so a more efficient bike is welcome.

As for filtering. It's just like jumping into a cold swimming pool. You just have to decide to go through with it. KL drivers are used to bikes filtering so usually they will give you a wide berth. Smaller towns and city not so much...especially for big bikes. Simple matter of fact is, if you don't feel comfortable or safe filtering, just don't. Once you get more riding skill and confidence, it will come naturally...just as long you remember a big bike is a lot wider than a kapchai, especially if you have panniers sticking out beyond your handlebars.

As for rain riding. I usually just ride through it with or without rain gear. Just bring speeds down, stay off painted lines, allow for more braking distance... Standard stuff. But get a helmet with a pinlock.

This post has been edited by jaycee1: Oct 18 2024, 09:12 AM

And also the countless potholes and road bumps within the city. It just occured to me that it must be amazing to ride a scrambler within a city, you fly through potholes and tall bumps like they don't exist, and you ride through curbs and dividers of reasonable heights to make illegal U-turns, damn, must be fun af.

This post has been edited by JustForFun: Oct 18 2024, 10:16 AM

I'm still in the process of breaking in the 650 and its an inline 4, not much low end torque but it is noticeably slightly more powerful than the single cylinder 250 during acceleration from a complete stop. can't give any comparison with a MT07 which has shitloads of low end torque. after a couple of rides, i am getting used to it, but there are things i won't do what i normally do on the 250 while riding in heavy/standstill traffic due to its weight. the 250 is far more forgiving compared to a 200 kg bike. I am able to hold the bike upright for mistakes i made due to it being lightweight and its a definite fall if its done on the 650 and its mistakes that i feel can only learn from experience( esp slow speed manuever/parking/u turn on slopes) , its not taught in institutes .

for getting rid of the fear of filtering between traffic. i only ride during weekends when there's not that many cars around and crazy kapchais speeding. and also practice slow speed manuevers especially a straight line at slow speed till i know i am ready to give it a go and it will progress naturally and the fear will eventually go away. just lots of practice.

just to share with you how i finally decided to start off with a 250 instead of a 650 is during my first lesson on the ER6N, everything was going well and i thought a 650 should be manageable for someone like me with 0 experience in riding a bike until i had a fall, front wheel was slightly turned and i grabbed the front brake to stop at very slow speed and down the bike went with no chance of holding the bike up due to its weight. that incident made me change my mind.

my commute is not on a highway where the lanes are alot wider than normal roads, my route is jalan gasing and old klang road and its always bumper to bumper/standstill traffic during peak hours and the distance between cars are small compared to filtering on a highway. the 250 is alot more easier to filter and cutting across from one side to another in a stand still traffic( doing a sharp 90 degree turn) . on the 650 i would imagine if i made a mistake i would have ended up landing on the car's front bonnet or the rear. its still doable but its just too much work for that plus with impatient kapchais queueing up behind you will only make things worse. will be using the 650 for weekend / long distance rides only

I bought it brand new ard 24K, can't remember the exact figure. yes they were having issues with bringing in bikes and spare parts for 2 years for reasons that we do not know. but since the beginning of this year everything has resumed as normal. for spare parts you can also contact a seller(he's in the whatsapp group as well) that assist in bringing in original parts from thailand should you not want to purchase it from bigwing.

if you're interested in 2nd unit, the market price right now is around 10-12K and you still can nego with them. you can also join the whatsapp group for this bike to know more. So far i have yet to see anyone complaining about the bike and there's one rider who has rode it for > 100,000km with no issues

Gotta respect you for riding through Old Klang road, with a sportbike that has less turning radius no less. Tried it a couple of times and decided it's too dangerous for me, the stupid road design forces cars to merge left and right and during peak hours, and that's too dangerous for riders. By the way, does the police saman riders using the bus lane there during morning rush hours?

Btw, I think people have this false impression that filtering traffic is just going one straight line, but a lot of times you will come to these choke points where some cars are close to each other but not exactly parallel, so you'll have to flick your bike left and right fast to avoid knocking people's side mirror off. 200KG of metal will do you no good in such situation, and you better pray that the long queue of kapchais behind you are patient enough to not go crazy on their horns if you're stuck.

I’m considering 2nd MT25, CB250 or new gixxer. 3 of them more or less the same price. Occasionally looking 2nd Z650 as well. And yeah, last i also looking 2nd hand d400 as many sifu recommended here cheap to disposable.

Let me guess, your 650 is CB650R?

His bike is CB250, not CBR 250. Is a naked bike.

filtering between traffic was one of my concern riding a bike, since I dont have the experience. zero.

So i start when I'm still L, with knee guard and jacket. haha. This is how I build my confidence:

-ride during low peak hours. que behind car first and wait until its clear to try lane filtering to the front. Its ok to waddle in between car if not confident can fit through.
-gain confidence to ride in high traffic. (use federal to travel from bukit raja to damansara, use bike lane. get the feel of traffic rush)
-force myself to ride in peak hour. (nkve bukit raja to damansara/kota damansara, school area)
-DASH has good curve road and not much traffic, can practice how to handle big bike during high speed corner.

People tend to be forgiving with L sticker. I stalled numerous time at traffic light. Just dont panic and remain calm.

Alright, I'm going for my Undang lecture and all this Sat. Hopefully it all goes well.

Once that is done, I'm going to start my lessons as soon as possible and also take on a 3rd party riding lesson just to get myself a bit more acquainted riding a bike. And of course, to get myself a starter bike (Dominar) to practice on.

In the initial month, I'm thinking of just riding around my housing area getting used to controls and trying slow speed maneuvers. Need to build that confidence before going on the road coz traffic on Federal highway is no joke and hearing horror stories about the bike lane there isn't confidence inspiring either. I'll make sure to stick the "L" Sticker loud and proud and keep fingers crossed people will be more understanding on the road.

I've also been hearing people saying I should get a half-face helmet instead of a full-face as a newbie just to give me a bit more vision riding the bike. Thoughts on this, kawans?

This post has been edited by JPlaSMaY666: Oct 22 2024, 08:22 AM

Accidents don't discriminate newbies or experienced riders. A full face is always your best protection. I have a jet helmet for riding around in the city as it affords a better view out but it is surely more risky riding around with this.

This post has been edited by lowpro: Oct 22 2024, 08:27 AM

I ride my first bike Honda Wave dash 110 with full face Givi helmet lol

practice safely, and don't try to tahan bike from falling with your body parts

federal highway is not that scary, just when joining that bike lane

you need to control the clutch and throttle, if not going to stalled

U r dem lucky motogp carnival is just less than 2weeks away. Must visit for u since u hvn°t bought anything yet.
Many diff brand helmet for u to compare n choose, etc.
U dont need tickets to enter the carnival area.
3 days fri to sun!

Yea, I don't think me being 75+ kg will be able to hold back a falling 180++kg bike from falling..

See quite a lot of motorcyclist filtering at breakneck speeds though which kinda makes me anxious about riding but I suppose that's something that I will overcome with time and experience.

Oh yea, I'm no stranger to clutches as I daily drive a Manual Vehicle. Would take some getting used to on the clutch bike but I'll manage. I still remember my first time driving on the road after getting my license and I was stopped at a traffic light on a slope. FUH, the fear and anxiety was real especially when you have drivers who press the horn the moment light turns green. Lols, reaction time faster than 'F1 drivers'...

Nice! Might just go take a look and get some essentials...mainly the helmet and jacket. Hope they got people there who can help with helmet fittings as I would like to try stuff out.

most of the time rider went for what they think they like and end up hating the bike, to me get something that is beginner friendly bike for a starter that you have no financial issue getting rid of it later.

majority of the issue owning at first is learning how big bike physics works like cornering, torque/throttle management, either you go big and learn it on the track or get the experience on the b-road. Reminder that it only takes 60km/h impact to 90% kill you (varies depending on angle, height, which body parts, etc)

as for riding gears, those who own big bikes eventually would own multiple version of it, example like helmet. For starter get a value for money gears like KYT or a decent daily mesh jacket, jeans with knee padding and a glove

for bike choice is up to you, but i do prefer for daily rider to go for a 2 cylinder naked bike, budget wise dominar d400 will do

The best thing about MT07 is the weight, just like riding at 250cc bike. I just bought MT07 this year.

I left riding bike for about 10 years, they i bought kapcai RS150 for 2 years, MT15 for a year to learn the big bike-style then now MT07.. Yes the torque is very pulling but it not scary at all.. the linear range at bottom quite large when riding around town to cilok.. i found mt07 is more easy to cilok than MT15..

I have my MT15 for sale if you want haha

more notes : i did survey 400ish bike like new triumph speed 400/400x both are nice but i dont dare to take due to brand and parts.. dominar/z650 bike heavy for daily and i dont like kawa weight distribution at the front, but this one better stability at high speed..

This post has been edited by mytaffeta: Oct 23 2024, 01:08 PM

You start off with a shitty bike like a Dominar then you'd appreciate your new bike more. When I say shitty, it's relative. It's heavy, handles quite top heavy on slow speed, not the quietest nor smoothest bike out there. But what makes it shitty, is good training ground.

To be honest the dominar is a very average bike. But it's cheap and serves as a perfect learners bike. Cheap and easily sourced replacement parts means it's a decent commuter bike if you plan to pile up the mileage.

Yea, I'll just leave the MT07 dream to simmer while I pile on the miles and experience while on the 'starter bike'. I'll just be going with the Dominar 400 for the budget, weight and also maintenance for now. Looking to mod that ugly ass headlights to something more 'garang' as I see quite a few nice 3rd party headlights online.

Hopefully, when it's time for me to move up, the MT07 will be cheaper and comes with ABS too. Hahah

Yea, no euro bikes for me though the ducati monster is sexy as hell (for me at least). Bike price isn't really my concern, it's the maintenance and the 'desmo service' that scares me from what I've been hearing from more experienced riders. Initially thought of the shiver 750 as well but the low prices all around seems to be quite sus. Accessories for it seems to be harder to find as well.

Yea, thanks for sharing that insight and recommending the Dominar. Haven't had the chance to test ride it but I've been eye-ing a few online. Will check them out once I've got my L and gotten a few lessons from the riding school.

Average works for me as I won't be keeping the bike too long (I hope). A year or so but I do intend to ride to work as much as I can to gain that experience. Now I just need to start building that confidence to ride out of my Taman. Hahah

Your bike preference might change the more you ride as you will know what type of riding is more suitable and enjoyable for you

getting a big bike is a big jump for less experience. so my suggestion is try to get 250cc bike first. go get the used one. ride it for a year...then upgrade to bigger cc.
another thing is...u r travelling 60km to work. MT-07 will be tiring for you riding for 40mins. i would like to recommend a sport tourer bike. before i travel s. alam to semenyih everyday by z650. kinda tiring journey. now using vstrom and happy ride. give it a thought

Agreed. I'm sure I'll be able to find my preference once I start riding more. As of now, what I do know is I won't be getting a sports bike for sure.

I used to own a 1996 ZX9R and I learn-to-ride/ rode around without a license more than 15 years back. Around my housing area only, mind you. Thought I could just wing it and learn on the way but dropping the 200+kg bike early on thought me a valuable lesson not to 'mess around and find out' as I could get myself or the people around me killed. Loads of 'fun moments' ensued but I sold off the bike before anything un-towards happened. Fun Fact: As heavy as it is, the bloody bike can give you a nasty shock if you accidentally let go of the clutch.

So this time round, I'm trying a ground up approach and taking steps to learn the right way, hopefully I'll learn to be a rider the right way.

Whoa Shah Alam to Semenyih? That's a lot of awesome open roads to open up that throttle man.. hahah

I'm sure they're more comfy as they are made for touring. The thing with touring bikes are, it'll be quite a waste if I don't plan to take it on road trips and such. Granted I might have to move between traffic during my commute and of course needing to go into the city every once in awhile. And I don't know how easy it is to 'cilok' given that it has fairings vs a naked bike that has none. They look intimidatingly tall too.. hahah

I had a feeling you're not a newbie

It all comes down to how well you know your bike. The more you ride the more confident you are to 'cilok' with panniers. I always ride with panniers cause lazy to keep removing and re-installing. First few times might be a bit cautious but once you get the hang of it it becomes second nature. Once you are used to riding with panniers and when the panniers comes off, you will feel like as though the bike is small or maybe it is just me

The only difference between the faring and naked bike is that when you turn the handle bar the front end doesn't move like a naked. That too will need time to get use to as well.

I'm still a newbie.. TRUST ME. I only owned that bike for 6 months before selling it off as most times, I had to compose myself before taking it off the paddock stand and heading out. The power and sheer weight scared the crap out of me as I didn't have anyone guiding me and mind you, I had no license nor experience riding bikes what more big bikes.

I remember one particular incident where I took the bike out for a test ride around my taman. I fell as I was turning because the handlebars just locked up at an angle, I went down like a bag of bricks. Couldn't even get the bike up, and a few helpful souls at the opposite mamak had to come over and help lift the bike. Lucky I had a fullface on, but 'malu gila' time tu... sold the bike real soon after.

I'm determined to start off on the right foot this time. Proper training, mental preparation, on a bike I can build my confidence on. Hence all these questions. So yea, I'm very much a newbie hoping to learn all I can from all the sifus here

One step at a time la. No panniers for me coz I don't want to be wrecking people's side mirrors for now. Hahaha. But once I've built that confidence, I won't say no to joining long rides but we'll see.. baby steps baby steps.

I'm going to get my L this Sat and starting my lessons too. So as with all great journeys starts with a single step, I'm taking my first step forward.

the ZX9R is a beginner's bike as much as the MT07, with similar torque number at 5~6k RPM
just different numbers after that RPM range, one goes up, the other goes down