Top 3 motorcycles in Malaysia under RM 15,000

Motorcycles are a big part of our everyday life, and there’s no denying this fact. A mere look outside and you’ll see a motorbike parked or passing within seconds of your glance. Ever thought, why so many of them. Well for starters, they are comparatively cheaper than their four-wheeled companions (we are talking about the basic once), also attached to them is the ease of commute that doesn’t come that handy in traffic with cars. It’s almost safe to say that every household in the country at least once owned a motorcycle. And for a few exceptions, we are pretty sure members of their family at least once have driven a bike.

Now, if you are planning to buy a motorcycle with budget restricted to the 15K mark, continue reading. We have picked three, yes just three bikes each excelling in their particular own way and segment. So, no more trolling around the subject, read, understand, and choose your pick.

1. Modenas Dominar D400

It was only in April 2018 that Modenas launched the much anticipated Dominar D400 in Malaysia. In the 400cc category, this Modenas’ sports tourer is the cheapest of all, and it opened a brand new niche. Available for just RM 14615, it is a great pick, as this is a price we generally pay for a 250 cc bike. If you like big, bulky bikes then this is what you should go for. The bike displays a muscular stance with its macho fuel tank, sculpted fender, chunky headlight, and 17-inch wheels. The rear end is quite sizeable as well with a reassuring seat. Taking about the fit and finish, all is good in this department. It comes with a digital instrument cluster. Also, a separate screen positioned on the tank holds indicators for the headlight, ABS, and side turn light.

Powering this sports tourer is a 373 cc SOHC triple spark 4-valve injected and liquid-cooled DTS-i engine. The motor comes equipped with a 6-speed transmission and churns out 35PS and 35Nm. The Dominar D400 can touch the 100kmph mark in 9 seconds and delivers an average fuel economy of 30kmpl. On the safety front, this bike packs in a twin channel ABS setup. Though it is not a knee dragging superbike but is sure a great and affordable city bike with a hulky profile. And who can we forget about the Dominar D400 ‘Explore the Unexplored’ fun rides frequently organized by the band? It’s another perk that comes attached to this bike.

2. Yamaha YZF-R15

It was a close call between the Yamaha YZF-R15 and the Pulsar 200. But since we already have the super 400 cc contender from Modenas, we thought of giving the durable and powerful YZF-R15 a chance. The Yamaha kid promises to provide the closest experience to a sports bike, and in many ways is perfect for the young buds who love to show off and won’t be riding the bike on regular bases for long hours. The YZF-R15 rides on a 155cc single-cylinder SOHC engine that gets further enhanced by the segments first Variable Valve Actuation. The mill is capable of producing 20 PS at 10,000 rpm and 14.7 Nm at 8,500 rpm. The power is transferred to the rear wheel via a six-speed manual gearbox.

Ensuring butter smooth rideability, the Yamaha YZF-R15 gets assist and slipper clutch that calls for a more controlled performance and earlier roll-off from a standstill. Some of its noteworthy features are upside-down front forks, aluminium swingarm, updated deltabox chassis, 11-litre fuel tank, and new body panels. Also, the bike gets an all-around LED light setup, fully-digital speedometer, digital instrument panel with rev limiter, and more. This bike is no less than a stunner and was introduced this July in the Malaysian market. Therefore you can be assured about its modern design and tech. The Hong Leong Yamaha Motors have priced the 2018 YZF-R15 at RM 11,988.

3. Kawasaki Z125 Pro

Let’s take one from the Kawasaki's promising lineup in Malaysia, the king of the mini moto segment, Z125 Pro. This bike comes as an alternative to the likes of Benelli TnT 135, Honda MSX125 SF, and the GPX Demin 150 GR or shall we say the shrunken copy of 959 Panigale. In this particular segment of min motors, Kawasaki had a pretty early start and therefore enjoys some kind of benefit that its competitors lack. With the Z moniker attached to its name, it also enjoys the aggressive and wildly loved extreme Kawasaki styling. The said styling package includes an aggressive multi-reflector headlight, slim tail with a Z shaped LED taillight, stainless steel muffler, super-naked inspired compact engine shrouds, aggressive engine cowl, and sporty analogue-digital dash with a gear indicator.

However, that’s not all, the Kawasaki Z125 Pro has so much value attached to it in the form of its 101 kg curb weight that’s lightest in the segment and an optimised suspension setup. As for the performance business, the bike gets a 125 cc air-cooled fuel-injected single cylinder motor producing 9.7 PS and 9.6 Nm. It comes equipped with a manual clutch and a 4-speed transmission unit.

With this, we come to the end of our list. If you have some more suggestion, do mention in the comment section. Stay tuned with Zigwheels Malaysia for more such insightful stories.