This blog post will share my own MRT experience, taking the train from KL to Putrajaya.
Imagine my surprise when I learned KL trains are so Bike- friendly!
Meanwhile, get the latest RapidKL bike and Ride policy on their website.
The picture above explains that Roadbikes can only use MRT during weekends. You can only use the first or last cabin.
Foldable bicycles can use the MRT any day, but both foldies and roadbikes can only use the trains during specific hours.
Step1 – Roll your road bike to an MRT station
You should already know your destination by now. I had to cycle 3km to the nearest MRT station at Chan Sow Lin.
RapidKL MRT map
Step2 -Pay for your ticket
I selected Putrajaya and paid RM4 for one-way ticket.
I have a minor complaint. The lifts are situated at the extreme corner.
This means wheelchair users and strollers have to roll extra mileage too.
(Take note bicycles must always give way to other lift and MRT users)
The train station is very new and toilet is super clean.
KL RapidKL has female-only cabin, this is COOL!
Step3 – Reach destination, enjoy your ride
Weekend definitely has lesser crowd, or maybe I was early.
Take note of train schedules, starting from 6 or 6.30am.
Bringing my roadbike on KL MRT
My train ride took me 40min.
If I drive, it would be 30km, cycling would take me 40km.
Both driving and cycling would drag me through notorious KL traffic. (I still got phobia from my 2023 cycling SG-KL experience)
I rode in Putrajaya PNR 1.0 for 50km before I packup.
Can someone tell me what does PNR means?
Strava cycling KL Putrajaya
I am amazed. The MRT convenience and ease of transit.
KL folks might take this for granted.
I am so JEALOUS!
How I wish Singapore MRT also allow roadbikes in our cabins 🙂
(Maybe SG too small, or our country too compact and population too dense)
Let me share a few more tips.
1)I mentioned earlier that “Chan Sow Lin to Putrajaya” ticket cost only RM4!
My Switzerland Luzern +bike ticket would easily cost me 30Chf!
(Do pop by my Swiss Mountain pass experience here)
2)Navigating KL traffic is a different level, compared to Singapore.
Ironically, the 3km solo cycling from hotel to MRT, is more nerve wrecking than taking the MRT. No thanks to the various Y-Junctions and round-abouts.
(Imagine multi-tasking. Navigating, looking out for traffic and potholes, and trying to identify the next turns)
The best tip for first time cyclists in KL.
Join a group to cycle together, it will really reduce a lot of anxiety.
Locals are experts in navigating KL’s alley and shortcuts, and they know the BEST cafes!
3)Maybe you can also try taking the MRT to PWTC or Putra station, before submitting Bukit Tunku (aka Mayor’s hill).
(Do confirm whether the MRT line can allow roadbikes beforehand)
Cycle up Bukit Tunku to spot KL skyline
3a)Do make a short detour (and steep climb) to capture KLCC Twin Towers at “Jalan Tunku Putra Lookout Point“. This slope is very popular with cyclists for 打卡.
Thank you RapidKL for showing me how I can bring my bike around KL.
If you have more tips on bicycles and trains, do share with me.
ps. The other country with friendly bicycle and train culture would be Taiwan!
Do pop by my round island experience back in 2025 April (part 2 video here).
5D4N Cycle to KL bikepacking, six of us completed the 460km journey last October. Before this, the furthest multi-day trip I did was 3D2N to Malacca.
(This blog post is 3 months late)
Cycle to KL trip was a milestone for most of us. Self supported tour, own navigation and exploration. Happy to meet our objectives 🙂
In fact, cycle to KL trip was a good base training (and validation) for my Korea (Seoul to Busan) ride. You can watch my Korea cycling videos here.
Custom Google Map below captures our 5D4N Cycle to KL trail. Please view with Desktop for better experience. We have added POI for F&B and landmarks.
GPX Strava map Singapore to KL
*Many of the research and tips are from friends from Facebook group “Cycling SG to Malaysia“. Thank you Sam, Linda 🙂
5D4N, 460km Cycle to KL
Day 1 Singapore to Pontian to Batu Pahat – 160km (Strava Day 1)
Day 2 Batu Pahat to Malacca – 100km (Strava Day 2)
Day 3 Malacca to Port Dickson – 84km (Strava Day 3)
Day 4 Port Dickson to KL – 116km (Strava Day 4) (We detoured 20km)
Day 4a KL to Bukit Tunku night climb – 16km (Strava KL night)
*If you are counting from CIQ, Melaka is only 230km. Once you reach Melaka, KL is only 200km away.
From Strava, you will notice our 5D4N total elevation is around 1500m only. The route from Johor to KL is relatively flat.
You can check out my Johor cycling playlist here (8 videos)
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I did Malacca 3D2N in 2022, so I had some experience with multi-days cycling.
-How to pack your panniers?
-How to balance the load?
-I wore same jersey 5 days :p (I shower in my jersey everyday, and use towels to dry)
However, every ride is a new experience. Different cities, climate, weather and even cycling buddies. We need to build up the dynamics.
The usual cliche. Go alone if you want Fast, go together if you want to go Far (and Safe too). Everyone need to look out for one another.
Day 0
Test loading with the panniers. Your cycling balance will be affected. Braking and starting will take longer too.
Get accustomed to the dynamics.
Day 1 Singapore to Batu Pahat
Strava map to Batu Pahat
Early in the morning, six of us cross the busiest causeway in the world.
3 small wheels and 3 road bikes, photo below is after Malaysia customs.
Lunch and power-up at Restoran Rengit, we need energy for the slopes ahead (before Batu Pahat).
I always remember that after Pontian, there is a good 20,30km with minimum shade! Hot!
Restoran Rengit only has two or three items on their menu. All are good!
Love this wall mural at Rengit. So Iconic. So Instagramable.
Coffee wall mural Rengit Johor
Before reaching Batu Pahat city, there are a series of 5,6 (or is it 7) rolling coaster hills waiting for you. Use the momentum.
Slopes before Batu Pahat
Anwyn brought us to a low profile fruit store (GPS 1.80825, 102.95647, at the end of the slope). The sweet watermelon and coconut are anything but low profile 🙂
We are only a few kilometres away from checkin.
1600 – Checkin to Pinetree hotel.
Roll your bikes into the room.
Take note that Jonker Street night market is only opened evenings Friday to Sunday. If you wish to visit Jonker (2.5km away), please choose a nearer accomodation.
Yummy Peranakan dinner at Kam Cheng 感情. Recommend their Babi pongteh.
Day 3 Malacca to Port Dickson
Strava map to Port Dickson
My best segment was at Port Dickson (PD). Inbound and outbound, PD is packed with rolling winding hills, slopes are gradual and FUN!
Our corner is too quiet, we needed to grab out to find some dinner and massage. Take note most massage outlets here only accept cash (no credit cards).
As we get nearer to KL, we were constantly monitoring the haze psi.
So far so good, Haze in KL has dropped to moderate level.
Day 4 Port Dickson to KL
Strava map to KL
After breakfast at resort, more winding roads welcome us out of Port Dickson. You will use Route 5 to exit PD. No worries, the climbs are gradual.
We detour a bit to wefie at Sepang F1 (GPS 2.76081, 101.72562). If you are keen, KLIA airport is just next door.
Always remember to hydrate and eat well. Cycling in Malaysia, the heat and humidity can get to you.
Detour 1)
Before KL outskirt, cyclists should remember this road called “Jalan Roller Coaster“! It is 2km of mental slopes, many fellow cyclists will need to push their bikes up.
End up, we detour 20km Left of Putrajaya (Pink route below).
If opportunity presents, I would like to cycle around Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.
Image below is part of Jalan roller Coaster. For cycling gurus, the real “Dragon back” rolling is around “Bukit Cherakah“.
Jalan roller Coaster (image credit Google Map)
Detour 2)
For those who complete Roller Coaster, you will cycle towards an university.
Sam and team (another KL cyclist) hit the university compound but found the gate locked(weekend? holiday?). They could either climb the low wall, or detour 🙂
(On hindsight, I might have chosen the climbing-pain at Jalan Roller Coaster. Our own 20km detour took extra 1 hour, and eat into our time)
Since we did not attempt Jalan roller Coaster, we enjoyed chicken lunch at ‘Dapur Cik Puan’ (Route 36).
At this point, we are about 70km from Petronas Towers.
Below custom Google Map would include many F&B and landmarks in KL. (thanks to Angie).
But we underestimated the efforts needed to navigate through KL.
Dark clouds gathering as we weave through “greater” KL traffic.
Haze reports comparison. No more red zones, we are safe.
We have been fortunate to avoid rain so far. But thunderstorm caught up with us when we were so near to KL endpoint.
1600 quick detour to avoid the rain. Good desserts at Time Off Puchong cafe.
Kiera was my buddy when we cycled to Malacca 2022 🙂
The best sweeper and he will always ensure everyone is safe.
As mentioned before, it is straightforward to cycle from Johor to Port Dickson. The challenge would be in KL itself.
Besides bad traffic jams, the roads are full of pot-holes. You cannot avoid slopes in KL (too many!)
We got lost at Mid valley. From the map, the “River of Life” is just behind us, but we needed to cycle a “loop”. River of Life is a bike path along the river, much like Singapore’s PCN.
Perhaps I got intimidated by the heavy traffic .
Perhaps we are tired.
But we cannot afford to lose our focus.
As the leader for the group, I can feel the extra stress if I lead folks down the wrong route 🙂
1910 KLCC YEs!!
So proud of ourselves!
The joy and jubilation. Sense of relief, we can be proud of ourselves.
Two wheels and leg power brought us 400km to Petronas Twin Towers!
Three of us went up Bukit Tunku to catch the splendid city skyline (4 KL skyscrapers). This would be the finale of our 5D4N cycle to KL ride.
We quickly unload our heavy panniers, and make our way to Bukit Tunku. (aka Mayor’s Hill or Changkat Tunku) to see KL’s iconic towers and skyline.
Bukit Tunku was only 6km from our apartment, but navigation was not straightforward. Imagine, two phones can show two different Google Map directions!
I would say it is about x1.5 steeper than Mount Faber (expect 7 to 9% gradient). Mayor Hill is a popular spot for both cyclists and joggers.
Do not miss this climb if you are in KL.
Cycle up Bukit Tunku
The four skyscrapers are Petronas Twin, KL tower, Tun Razak Exchange & Merdeka 118.
Bukit Tunku KL Skyline view
Late dinner for the three of us. Super hungry yet feeling a deep sense of accomplishment.
Day 5 KL R&R
Chill day for us, but the haze has reappeared over the horizon.
Some of us decided to pamper ourselves with a massage. Soothe those calves and knots. Pity we did not have enough time to explore KL’s famous street food.
Delicious bowl of Ramen. KL has plenty of gourmet options to whet your appetite.
Ramen Bankara Avenue K
We hired private vans to bring us back to Singapore.
Pickup at 1300, and we target to reach Singapore in time for dinner.
We opt for comfort van, as coach\bus policy for road bikes are not streamlined. Have heard stories of road bikes rejected for storage (for whatever reasons). Sometimes a small tip for bus driver helps, sometimes bus policy requires proper bike covers.
Hyundai Starex price per pax (maximum 3 bikes) is SGD126.
If we opt for coach, it will be SGD $40 to $50.
Most importantly, do wrap your precious bikes securely, in case some luggage fall on your precious groupset.
And that concludes our epic 5D4N Cycle to KL journey.
Happy to reach another milestone in our Malaysia Cycling exploration.
Just remember, KL is only 200km more from Malacca 🙂
When shall we ride up to Penang?
For folks who wish to explore more of KL, take note there is a Car-Free KL event every Sunday! (https://klcarfreemorning.my). Alternatively, I know “OCBC Cycle” also has a KL edition.
