A lot of new riders today are quickly upgrading from kapcai to sports bike or naked bike.

Ranging anywhere between 200cc to 500cc, these entry-level motorcycles are getting a lot of demand and manufacturers are taking notice.

Sports bikes and naked bikes like the KTM RC390 and 390 Duke have become the ultimate riding choices even for veteran riders.

In this day and age, technology and advancements in the world of motorcycling have made more and more high performance motorcycles readily available for just about everyone and anyone. From small capacity Japanese cubs to European superbikes, one can and definitely will find the perfect bike for any occasion.

With the demand for more advanced lower capacity motorcycles from markets all over the world, more manufacturers are stepping up by innovating down towards smaller capacity machines that work just as well (if not better) as their bigger and more powerful options.

In the recent years, we are actively seeing a shift in the buying trend where those who just obtained their motorcycle license move from basic motorcycles below 150cc to entry-level sport bikes or naked bikes ranging from 200cc to 500cc. There are many prime examples from around the world consisting of Modenas, BMW Motorrad, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Benelli, KTM and many more.

In other words, the younger generation is not only looking for a reliable machine that can take them from point A to B but more on how the exciting the journey can be between the two places. Almost all motorcycle manufacturers see this rapidly-growing demand and they’re well on their way to filling it up with some of the best entry-level bikes.

When it comes to any form of transportation, the two most important elements that are taken into consideration have to be the overall purpose, use and budget. Budget nowadays is not really an issue considering financial services such as AEON Credit are able to provide suitable payment schemes for all sorts of financial plans.

So that leaves down to just the bike’s main purpose and use. The majority of riders are looking for something that can inject a huge dose of excitement in their riding experience so that their everyday journey wouldn’t be so mundane. Everyday riding in between the office, school, college or university and home is the usual scenario and this market is in hot demand in every corner of the globe.

There is a huge selection of bikes that first-time bike owners can look for but the main variants fall down between either the sports bike or naked bike. To explain further, we’ll be using the 2017 KTM 390 Duke and KTM RC390 as examples as they’re currently two of the most popular models in the entry-level naked bike and sports bike categories.

Bikes like the 2017 KTM 390 Duke is proof of how far manufacturers have invested in creating the perfect entry-level machine with top of the range specifications. From its revolutionary 373cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine that’s both powerful and reliable to its futuristic and modern design, it’s without a doubt one of the best entry-level naked bikes currently available. It’s not every day you get to see a bike below 500cc that has a TFT screen, too.

Naked bikes are generally perceived as machines that can travel and manoeuvre flawlessly in between traffic and congested cities. Places like Kuala Lumpur and Damansara which are almost always congested with traffic are perfect habitats for naked bikes like the 390 Duke to blast through without raising your blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Relatively short distance travels that do not involve a lot of highway touring are perfect for naked bikes but if you’re planning to cover longer distances like from Nilai to Kuala Lumpur (and back again), then you can opt for something that has better aerodynamic performance. We are of course referring to the sports bike.

Apart from being able to cut through the wind more efficiently without consuming too much fuel or putting unnecessary stress on the engine, fully fairing sports bikes like the 2017 KTM RC390 is a good option for a first bike.

Thanks to its light and nimble handling, it’s also perfect for some weekend fun on winding mountain roads or better yet, the weekend track days at venues such as the Sepang International Circuit.

While sport bikes are technically designed to be more suited for the track and races like the KTM RC Cup, this does not mean that they are more fun compared to their naked siblings. In fact, we had so much fun when KTM Malaysia gave us the opportunity to try out both of their latest 2017 KTM 250 Duke and 390 Duke late last year.

All in all, more and more younger people (and the young at heart) are expanding their choices to these entry-level machines. Even those who used to riding bigger capacity motorcycles are now starting to downgrade to these entry to mid range motorcycles simply because the options available today offer so much excitement whilst keeping the cost of maintenance relatively down low.

So when it comes down to the ultimate choice, just think of the budget as well as overall use and we’re sure that any of you will find the perfect bike no matter if it’s a crotch rocket on the track or corner-eating deliciousness on winding roads to your favourite breakfast or lunch spots during your Sunday rides.