Motorcycle news, Motorcycle reviews from Malaysia, Asia and the world

Bikesrepublic

Latest News

2025 YAMAHA XMAX 250 Test & Review – Still Quick!

The 2025 Yamaha XMAX 250 appeared with several minor updates but it still confirms one thing: It is still quick!

The XMAX 250 has held the title of the King of 250cc scooters since its debut in 2018. While it is true that it had no worthy competition at the time, it persisted as the best-seller in the class despite being challenged by others in the class later on, namely the Honda Forza 250.

But how times have changed.

The onslaught of Chinese scooters seems to have tilted the balance, somewhat. The Chinese makers’ collective strategy is: Stuff the bikes with tech, features, and sell them cheap. And sure enough there were biters. Honda has also updated their Forza 250 to become the excellent NSS250.

Still, the Yamaha XMAX 250 continued to sell and we needed to find out why.

What is the 2025 YAMAHA XMAX 250

There is only one version of the XMAX sold in Malaysia, the 250cc variant (hence the name). You can find the 125cc variant in Europe and other countries too.

It is a grand touring scooter, meant to run long distances at speed while coddling the rider with the necessary comforts. Being such a scooter also means large storage spaces, large fuel tank, big windscreen, and protective bodywork.

Highlights

249.8cc, single cylinder, liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 4-valve engine.
It produces 22.5 hp (16.8 kW) @ 7,000 RPM and 24.3 Nm @ 5,500 RPM.

The engine’s power goes to the back wheel via a V-belt.
The front suspension uses telescopic forks, while the rear is supported by twin shocks mounted to a unit swing arm.

A unit swing arm means the engine and “swing arm” are incorporated as one.
The brakes are a single disc in front and another at the back, supported by ABS.

Seat height is 805 mm.
Wet weight is listed as 183 kg.

As with Yamaha’s tradition in equipping their bikes with multiple screens, the XMAX 250 similarly has a 4.2″ TFT main screen and a 3.2″ LCD secondary screen.
The Yamaha XMAX 250 was the first scooter to be equipped with traction control (TCS) in Malaysia upon its debut, hence the system is present here, but “remapped” according to Yamaha.

The bike now has an electrically adjustable windscreen.
There are also a whole host of new buttons on the left handlebar.

The brake lights has the Emergency Stop Light function which blinks both rear signal lights as hazard during emergency braking.

Pre-ride

First order of business is to set up the Yamaha Y-Connect function with the phone. To do so, we first download the phone app, and pair it to the TFT screen. From here, we can change songs, make or receive phone calls, call up the weather forecast, see the countdown to the next maintenance and v-belt change, and set the windscreen’s height.

Wait, you have to change the screen’s height through the TFT? Yes. We shall talk about this later.

So, with that out of the way, it is time to go. The engine fires up quickly to that single piston staccato, but muted and barely perceptible. The exhaust is a lot quieter this time.

Seat height may be listed at 805 mm, but it is not easy for my short legs find the ground. The seat’s sides spread out to accommodate the wide side panels underneath which in turn cover the cavernous underseat storage space. Contributing to that is the wide footboards too. So I had to move one cheek off the seat to flat foot on one side, while the other foot hangs in the air like on a dirt-bike.

We are not complaining but it is just an observation and hopefully it serves as a guide on how to ride motorcycles with tall seat heights. It was not difficult, anyway, as 183 kg is just like a modern superbike.

Riding the 2025 Yamaha XMAX 250

Twist the throttle and that is when the fun begins.

The bike charges of the line almost without hesitation and keeps pulling hard until it hits its top speed. There is no step along the way, nor does it launch slow before charging hard. That is a sign of lighter roller weights. Shutting the throttle a little abruptly, the engine’s back torque grabs quickly, which further confirms our take about the weights. It is similar to if your manual transmission motorcycle has a lighter flywheel. There is less inertia to overcome thus the engine revs up quickly, and decelerate quickly.

Conversely, a scooter with heavier roller weights accelerates slower (more inertia to overcome), but decelerates slower – as in it keeps rolling when the throttle is shut (more inertia is retained).

This character reminds us of why we loved the XMAX 250 in the first place. It is very sporty and aggressive trait which has won the hearts and minds of many of the younger motorcyclists other there.

Thankfully, Yamaha equips the bike with superb brakes, especially that rear whose disc is almost a large as that of the front. Grab that and the bike slows so hard to almost slide our backside off the seat. And also thankfully, the seat’s cover is grippy!

Talking about the seat, it has good cushioning for both the rider and passenger which helps to absorb some bump energy.

We looked forward to experiencing the bike’s handling which the made a great impression with the debut version. But it was a little different this time.

The 2025 bike feels much more eager to turn into slower and tighter corners, manoeuvre through tight spaces. A little flick at the shoulders or hip is enough to make it go left or right. That is fine and dandy until…

Here comes that fast left after the Sungai Buloh toll plaza. We let the XMAX hang on the right side of the corner for just a split second more before turning it into the apex. The handlebar starts to flick from side to side, while the rear suspension starts to pump up and down in a chopping motion.

We do not recall the Version 1 to do this. The XMAX 250, when first introduced, was the most rock steady scooter around any corner. It did not waggle its front like most scooters, nor did it exhibit an unstable rear behaviour in fast corners.

Checking the tyre pressures reveals them to be at the specified reading.

Did Yamaha change something or somewhere? We do not know. Still, in the interest of safety, the new bike likes a smoother and slower corner entry, which is a good thing since it is a scooter and not a motorcycle, after all.

The daily commute

The daily grind of waking up, meeting traffic before clocking in to work is a lot more fun with this bike around. It is because traffic cannot check it as it is still able to squeeze through traffic with ease, plus that strong acceleration which lets you overtake other vehicles at the twist of the wrist. Even some 250cc scooters are no match for the XMAX 250’s acceleration and light handling.

That underseat space swallows a jet type helmet and backpack with a 15″ laptop easily and still leaves plenty of room. There is no need for a top case unless you really cannot live without one.

The only thing that bothered us was the windscreen’s command being buried in the TFT’s display menu. Bringing the screen up higher reduces air turbulence hence noise at highway speeds, while lowering it allows for better airflow and visibility at lower speeds. However, you need to scroll through the menu which includes music streaming, telephony, and other commands to arrive at the windscreen command.

Doing so requires you to look down at the screen. Leaving it in the windscreen submenu means you cannot change songs or command it to do other tasks. Staying in the music playback submenu means you cannot control the screen and need to exit it to look for the screen command. Doing this when idle at traffic lights is alright, but we know most riders will do it while the scooter is moving. We hope Yamaha will separate the screen command from the list of menus.

In the end, we just left it in the windscreen command submenu, while changing songs and accepting calls by pressing the buttons on our Bluetooth communicator.

Closing

The 2025 Yamaha XMAX 250 proves that it is still a nice motorcycle to ride given its sporty behaviour, wrapped up in a package with lots of comfort and convenience.

The sticking point is of course, its price of RM24,888 (net selling price, not on-the-road), a fact that we do not want to hide from. But let us look at it from the perspective of owning a more premium piece of machinery. And the 2025 XMAX 250 does look that part especially in this Icon Red livery.

Go for it.

Photo gallery

MODA MOCA Test & Review – Mobile Cuteness

Puppies? Cute. Kittens? Cute. Moda Moca? Cute too. But being merely cute does not guarantee a bike that is good to ride. Or does it?

Moda is a homegrown brand, and their products has found quite a following since launching its first scooter, the Sporter S. You can never label Malaysians as being unpatriotic, no siree, just look at PETRONAS.

What is it?

The Moca certainly piqued our interest when it was launched, looking well… like a Vespa. Before attacking us, do remember that the step-through scooter style was pioneered by Vespa.

But the Moca is somehow cuter with its modern retro look complete with bulging side panels and sharp tail, small wheels, plus this ‘baby blue’ and white colour combination (officially called Ocean Blue), among other things. The ‘snail’ top case certainly plays a factor, too. Personally, we will display the Moca in this particular colour combination if we had a baby supply shop.

Back to its purpose as a vehicle, the Moda Moca is an urban scooter or maybe even a suburban scooter, aimed at the everyday Joe and Jane with its affordable price and simplicity.

We are talking about the whole shebang here: Low seat and overall height, long and wide footboard, plenty of storage up front including a hook for we when take away a Bingxue drink, underseat storage for our children’s schoolbag, and charge our power-hungry phone. The top case accommodates a rainsuit plus some groceries.

Highlights and features

108cc, single-cylinder, SOHC, air-cooled, and fuel-injected engine which produces 8 hp at 7,500 RPM and 8.5 Nm at 6,500 RPM.
The engine’s power is transmitted through a CVT and ending with a v-belt final drive.
On the chassis front, a pair of conventional telescopic forks are up front, combined with a single-sided swingarm at the back.

Braking is handled by a solo disc in front, and a drum brake out rear.
Rims are 10-inches at both ends.
LED lighting all-around.

An LED screen provides necessary riding data such as speed, RPM, fuel level, trip, odometer, and clock.
8-litre fuel tank.
Claimed weight of just 89 kg (not a typo!).
Do note that the top case on our test bike is an accessory. Other accessories include a windscreen.

Riding the Moda Moca

The scoot is not pretentious – Moca did not dress it up to look sophisticated, and instead kept it K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stup*d). There is no navigation and Bluetooth connectivity to waste many minutes over, no ride modes to set wrongly for the wrong occasion (i.e. Sport Mode in the Rain). So we get on, start up, twist and go.

That combination of low 89kg weight and 10-inch wheels surprise us, what more when we just got off a 200-plus kg maxi scooter. Any steering input or shift of bodyweight on the Moca turns the bike without hesitation. To be honest, it was initially unnerving, causing us to grab the handlebar with a death grip as the bike weaves left and right. It also hops over the little bumps on the road, as there is less weight from the top for the bumps to push up against.

It needs to be said that riding a motorcycle, as in a different motorcycle every week, instills the skill to adapt quickly. And once we adapt, the Moca as fun in its own way, turning like a bicycle instead of a motorized vehicle. Countersteering makes the bike turn too abruptly so we shift our weight through our hips.

Given its lightness, riding past or being passed by trucks require some finesse to avoid being buffeted like a leaf or worse, being pulled in by the airflow.

We are not complaining, as there are many other advantages due to that lightness. One, the Missus will find it easy to push the bike around whether seated on it or off. In fact, we older men do not have to risk throwing our backs our when moving it about, say, reversing it out of the driveway or parking lot. Two, the brakes are not exceptionally strong by nature, but the lack of weight lets it work well, as there is less inertia to overcome to bring the bike’s speed down. Three, the bike can accelerate faster than we would normally see on 110cc bikes. And four, in no uncertain terms, allows the bike to save fuel.

It may be fitted with a 110cc engine, but it accelerates relatively quickly while still retaining some oomph while cruising on the highway.

The true habitat of the Moda Moca, as intended by its maker, is the urban environment. Think the Bukit Bintang, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, KLCC, areas and you get the picture. Gridlocked traffic? What traffic? Just maneuver around it.

The narrow handlebar allows us clear cars’ side mirrors easily, letting us split lanes without (much) fear. In fact, the bike’s rearview mirrors have extra-long stems and they too, clear side mirrors handily.

While the bike’s rear section looks wide, it does not stick out beyond the front leg shield’s width. So, if the leg shield clears the obstruction, so does the rear.

And again, coming up to heavy traffic, a small shift of bodyweight at the hip is enough to maneuver the bike through gaps that would leave bigger scooters stuck.

Thus, it confirms that the Moda Moca is 100 percent suitable for the urban landscape. Here is a bike that is easy to use, has a low seat height, while providing the necessary comforts and utility features for the daily commute. Sending the children to school a few later when traffic builds up exponentially by the minute is not a bother because traffic does not matter anymore. Just weave through all that muck while watching the other parents seethe in the lock jam.

Similarly, shopping for groceries is easy because leg shields and tall central structure which holds the steering column form a deep footwell to carry those goods.

We also envision the bike being used in Tamans and villages where the owner zips around happily or when heading to the masjid for prayers or ‘ceramah.’

Before closing, there is one trait to note. Unlike other automatic scooters, the Moca’s engine can be started while resting on its side-stand, but of course, while you apply rear brake. Other scooters, on the other hand, can only be started with the side-stand up, meaning either when it is parked on its full-stand or when the rider sits on it with the side-stand retracted. It is just a note to future owners to not open or blip the throttle when starting the engine or risk having it leaping away and entering the house or shop. Or into traffic.

Conclusion

The Moda Moca provides good value to those who want a daily commuter that is easy to ride and live with – just get on and ride. And, we did not even need to top up the fuel tank despite riding the bike hard when we hit the highways. 4.8 litres of fuel was more than enough over four days. At just RM3,988 (net selling price, not on-the-road), we are hard-pressed to think of another scooter that provides such value. This is a bike this author will leave with the Missus for her to send and pick up the three children at school and letting us save up on school bus fees.

In closing, it was a satisfying test and review. Yes, it is cute in more ways than one.

The Moda Moca is available in four trendy colours, namely Ocean Blue, Neon Orange, Citrus Green, and Piano Black. But we want ours in Baby Blue… er… Ocean Blue.

MODA MOCA SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	Single-cylinder, SOHC, air-cooled, 4-stroke
Displacement	108cc
Fuel system	EFI
Certification	Euro 4
Maximum power	8.0 hp @ 7,500 RPM
Maximum torque	8.5 Nm @ 6,500 RPM
Transmission	CVT, V-belt final drive
Fuel capacity	4.8 litres
Front brake	Disc brake with single piston caliper
Rear brake	Drum brake
Front suspension	Hydraulic telescopic forks
Rear suspension	Uni-swing type
Wheel size (front)	3” x 10”
Wheel size (rear)	3.5” x 10”
Wheelbase	1275 mm
Seat height	738 mm
Weight	89 kg

Photo gallery

Moto Morini Corsaro Sport to Debut in Europe in Mid-2026

Three years after making its appearance at EICMA the Moto Morini Corsaro Sport is set to debut in mid-2026, beginning with the European continent.

Moto Morini was one of the Italian quintessential motorcycle makers, but just as most (if not all) of the country’s motorcycle manufacturers, it has gone through several ups and downs until the brand was purchased by the Chinese industrial powerhouse, Zhongshen Group Holdings Ltd. Moto Morini’s design, research and development departments still reside in Italy, but manufacturing is centred in China.

We tested several Moto Morini models and attended the launch while we were in Taizhou, last month, namely the AllTrhike 450, X-Cape 700, and X-Cape 1200, and coming away more than impressed.

Back to the Moto Motorini Corsaro Sport, it is part of Corsaro and Corsaro GT platform.

Highlights:

749cc, 90° V-Twin, pumping out 96 hp at 9,500 RPM and 77Nm at 7,000 RPM.
That is a good 2,500 RPM spread between maximum torque and horsepower.
The crankshaft is counter-rotating, much like the Ducati Panigale V4’s to reduce inertia.
A steel subframe is mounted to the trick-looking aluminium frame, while the swingarm is also aluminium.
Suspension consist of fully-adjustable forks and monoshock with a progressive linkage.
According to the specifications published in the company’s website, the front brakes are only specified as Brembo 320mm double discs with monobloc calipers.
Seat height is published at 840 mm while “weight in running order” is “<200 kg” (less than 200 kg).

It will be interesting to see and test the bike, of course, as it was not available during our visit. Apart from that, it will also be interesting to see how much it would be priced in Malaysia given that the X-Cape 700 retails RM33,888 and the X-Cape 1200 is priced at RM49,888.

Honda Assist – Flood Campaign, Honda Stands with Malaysians

It is the Northwest Monsoon season again for Malaysia, but several abnormal storm systems have also wreaked havoc in other that are usually unaffected. As such, Boon Siew Honda has rolled out the Honda Assist: Flood Campaign as their commitment in standing with Malaysians who were affected.

Motorcycles, apart from off-roaders, that have stalled or ridden in deep water should be checked over by qualified technicians before being operated again. Several parts of the bike could be affected including, but not limited to the engine oil, spark plug, brakes, etc. Therefore, the Honda Assist: Flood Campaign was specifically design to address this issue.

From Boon Siew Honda’s Media Release

As floods once again affect communities across Malaysia, Boon Siew Honda (BSH) stands in solidarity with those enduring these challenging times. The Company recognises the hardship faced by many and remain committed to supporting those in need.

In line with BSH’s commitment to care, the Company is introducing the Honda Assist: Flood Campaign, an initiative designed to help Honda customers restore and optimise their motorcycles after the recent flood. The campaign will run from 8th December to 31st December 2025, ensuring timely assistance for affected riders.

What the Program Offers:

Comprehensive Motorcycle Inspection for all flood-affected Honda motorcycles.
Free Basic Flood Recovery Package for small displacement motorcycles (< 250cc), which includes:
- 1 bottle of Pro Honda engine oil;
- 1 unit of spark plug;
- 1 pair of brake pad or brake shoe with seal set;
- 1 bottle of Pro Honda engine cleaner.
20% Discount on all flood-affected spare parts for both small and big motorcycles. Owners of motorcycles below 250cc may visit participating Honda Impian X dealers, while motorcycles 250cc and above can be serviced at any Honda BigWing outlet nationwide.

To access these benefits, customers are required to present a police report or a validation letter from the District Officer confirming that their area has been affected by floods. Customers are also advised to make an appointment prior to visiting the dealer to ensure
a smooth experience.

This year’s initiative is supported by key partners including PETRONAS, ThreeBond, Niterra Malaysia, and Denso.

For more details and information on the Campaign, customers are encouraged to visit the Company’s official website: Home – Honda Motorcycle: Impian X or Home – Honda Big Bikes.

YOHE, A New Helmet Brand in Town

There is a new helmet brand in town, named YOHE (pronounced Yo-Hey). More specifically, the model launched is called the YOHE 868. The YOHE 868 is the first to be launched, and to be followed by several other types and models, all boasting the latest standards in design, material, and safety.

Unveiled by local distributor, Hodaka Motoworld, the company is confident that the brand will offer the best possible protection to many more motorcycle riders in Malaysia, given its quality, safety standard, and good looks, while being affordable.

Highlights

ECE R22.06 approved as J-type (jet type a.k.a. open-faced) helmet.
Approved by the Road Transport Department (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan/JP) for distribution and sale in Malaysia.

ABS shell.
Double-visor.

D-ring buckle.
Removable and washable comfort liner.

Sizes range are XS / S / M / L / XL / XXL / XXXL.
Nominal weight is approximately 1400g.

Retail price: RM319 for solid colours, RM339 with graphics.

Who is YOHE

YOHE started in 1993 in Jiangmen City, China. Since then, they have invested more than USD 1 million to upgrade their facilities. Their 3 factories span some 1 million sq. ft., and employ machinery from Italy and Canada.

As such, they have some 120 moulds to serve as an OEM helmet-maker for some of the top helmet brands, With a distribution and sales network covering 55 countries, they are one of the world’s largest helmet producers.

YOHE helmets have achieved several important certifications such as ECE, DOT, NBR, JIS, CCC. They also have a model which achieved the FIM FRHPhe-01 standard for use in FIM-sanctioned motorcycle races such as MotoGP, WorldSBK, etc.

Photo gallery

2 Youths on ‘Basikal Lajak’ Arrested, Nearly Hit an SUV

Two teenage boys were arrested by police after dangerously riding ‘basikal lajak‘ (modified bicycles without brakes and lights), and nearly crashing into an SUV at a traffic light intersection in Putra Heights last Thursday.

Subang Jaya District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Wan Azlan Wan Mamat, said a police report was filed at 5:13 pm yesterday regarding a viral video on social media involving two teenagers riding modified bicycles dangerously.

According to him, preliminary investigations found that the incident occurred at 5:55 pm on December 4, where the teenagers, traveling from Persiaran Putra Perdana towards Kampung Tengah, were seen riding dangerously.

He stated that they did not stop at the traffic light intersection and nearly collided with a car moving straight through while the traffic light was green.

“The actions of these two teenagers could endanger themselves and other road users.

“Acting on traffic information, the Subang Jaya District Police Headquarters (IPD) successfully traced and detained the two underage teenagers in Bukit Lancong and brought them to the Subang Jaya IPD for further investigation,” he said in a statement today.

He added that the case is being investigated under Section 54(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

“The police urge members of the public with information to come forward and assist in the investigation by contacting the Investigating Officer, Inspector Mohd Azizul Hakim Roslan, at 011-28914495.

“The identity of the informant will be kept confidential,” he said. – Harian Metro