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.

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

-  Lastly, don't fall from titi. As long you don't fall from titi, you will have 70% chance to pass the test. You are lucky if the JPJ officer forgot, lazy, tired & etc counting time.  

Thanks for sharing. All across the board, I've been hearing the MT-07 maintenance is pretty OK considering it's a bigger CC bike. And riding it in my school has given me a feel of what this bike can do. I'm starting to get why they call it the 'Master of Torque'. Hahah

By the way, I think everyone has their own definition of 'ride fast' la. For me, even 110km/h is considered fast but that's coming from a 'greenhorn' rider 

The chap who sold me my current bike did tell me, he's giving me 6 months at most and I'll start to realize the difference between a 250cc and the bigger CCs. With my current bike, I'm going up and down my gears but at the driving school, sad to say I've only needed to stay on 1st gear most times on the MT07. He further added, one year at most, I'll be looking to upgrade. Hahah, which is kinda true..

Already looking at bikes to move up to and the few in my shortlist. 2nd Hand of course...
- MT07 V1
- Z900
- TNT 600

The MT07 still cost quite a fair bit on the second hand market even though it's quite an old bike with no ABS which is quite surprising. Don't understand why I should spend a chunk more money on the MT-07 when the Z900 could be had for a few thousand more and it comes with ABS as standard. The MT07 is light though, I'll give it that...

Oh well, guess I still have a few months more to go before deciding. Hopefully by mid year, the 2nd hand market will be a bit more reasonable..

(By the way, I've managed to cross the 'Titi' consistently thanks to all your tips, kawans  . How I just gotta nail it when I finally go for my JPJ exam. Hahah)

I don't speed that much but I always try to leave a 'safe gap' when I'm on the road

By the way, what's the official take on the Federal Highway with a big CC bike? Motorcycle lane or no? How do you otais on bigger bikes find our motorcycle lanes?

I keep an average speed of around 80 with burst of 100 on the straights in the motorcycle lane, all good and dandy. The problem comes when I commute on the actual highways, that's when you can really feel the 250cc being stressed pushing 115 (Dare not go faster also coz the bike seems light and shaky).. and this is where I really feel the limitations of the bike. All things considered, it's a nice bike to ride, just not when you hit the highways.

You know what they say la... no replacement for displacement 

For now, I'm just going to focus on riding techniques and also building on my roadcraft. But of course, keeping an eye out for bike deals and also reading up about bike issues and maintenance so I'll be better prepared once I take the jump to a bigger CC bike.

Ok, I see where the confusion stems from. I understand front brakes are where most of the stopping power of the bike comes from.

Hahah and thanks for pointing it out. Let me clarify, I'm trying to say I've been exclusively using the front brakes only which is not the best way to stop the bike. Did not touch the rear brakes AT ALL.

What I meant was, I'm working/practicing towards learning how to use both front and rear brakes together which is a challenge to do right and something I'm learning as I'm told that's a skill that can help better control the bike and stop faster.

Even now, I'm only starting to keep the bike in gear with throttle while I'm taking turns. I used to have this bad habit of pulling the clutch during turns to smoothen out the engine braking which is dangerous as I'm told.

Loads to learn but I'm practicing as much as I can.

Yalar. But i'm more referring to people that daily their bikes to work wearing minimal protective gear. Regardless of higher speed highway use or not.

Most crashes are lower speed close to home (say 50-80kmh). Accidents like getting cut off, running into things. Protection is more for impact than slide. Crashes that would cause you to faceplant something.

People just loose concentration close to home and go on autopilot, both cars and bikers alike. I had more close calls 5km from home than in all my long rides and high speed runs. People are just tired from a day's work or just haven't fully woken up and distracted in the morning. In fact, my only accident to date (minor one) was someone rear ending me just 1km from home at the lights turning into my taman,at the row of shops where I usually do my small groceries runs by a fellow taman resident staying 2 streets over.

Fortunately I was on the was on the way back from work so I was in full gear. Even then, I got a few bruises and a sprained ankle from the bike falling on me. If I hadn't had my boots on, I might have ended up with a broken leg or foot or a broken wrist if not for my gloves. No lost skin. So, just saying.

After nearly a year of riding, today marks a memorable day for me as I've moved up to the next comfortable level for me at 600cc. The power difference is quite drastic, keeping in mind my experience with larger CC bikes were confined to the driving school and friends who let me to take their bikes out for a quick spin around the block.

What is your route?
Sportbike, Superbike really not fun for daily commute.....

CBR user here.

I see.. I've been keeping to the left lane trying to get used to the wind. Haven't dared push the throttle yet but at 120km/h. I think the tension mostly comes from my lack of confidence as a new rider. I guess I have to go on more rides to acclimatize myself.

Ah, I don't dare overtake heavy vehicles unless I have a good healthy margin. Even driving my pickup truck also I can feel the 'turbulence' from these heavy vehicles sometimes. No joke.

Not exactly a new experience. Just that I've ridden my Leoncino at 110 - 120km/h before but never really got used to the feeling of going fast. Besides, on a 250cc, those speeds are already at the 'upper limit' of what the machine can do and the light weight + vibration does contribute to the insecurity i feel going at those speeds.