So you want to enjoy the autonomy of driving your own motorbike in Bali?
While it might seem like the epitome of a carefree vacation; Just like with any motorised vehicle, you need to remain vigilant for your own safety and the safety of others.
This articles tells you everything you need to know, from renting a bike, navigating Bali and finally what to do if you run into any issues.
Renting A Motorbike
Where to find a motorbike to rent
Renting a bike in Bali is pretty easy. Bikes are readily available in all hotspots and can most likely be delivered to your accommodation free of charge. Here are our top 3 suggestions to find a 2 wheels to rent:
- Ask your hotel or accommodation; chances are they have bikes available for rent or can ring up a local rental service to get one for you.
- Find a rental shop by yourself in the street. If you are walking around town, in the likes of Uluwatu, Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu or even Ubud, you will come across bike rentals on the side of the road.
- Pre-book your bike rental online. A number of services have online booking websites which allow you to reserve a bike in advance, this way you don't have to scramble to find one once on the island.
What kind of bike can I find and at what price
Everywhere in Bali you will find the same typical motorbikes to rent. These are mostly automatic bikes or also known as scooters locally; manual bikes are a lot less common. 95%+ of the bikes you will find to rent will be one of the following; They are typically categorised in 3 classes, small, medium and large.
The smaller ones start with an engine of 110cc and you will not find anything smaller (i.e. anything below 100cc)
Cost highly varies depending on the age of the bike and the duration of the rental, most offers will have different prices whether you rent daily, weekly or monthly. This article offers a idea of the typical prices you will encounter.
Small motorbikes in Bali
Small bikes are the most budget friendly option: smaller in size, but also in terms of engine and storage space. We would not recommend these for driving long distances as the seat can become increasingly uncomfortable; even more with a passenger in the back.
Prices:
- Daily: between 50.000 IDR and 70.000 IDR / day (~£2.50 to ~£3.50)
- Weekly: between 40.000 IDR and 60.000 IDR / day (~£2.00 to ~£3.00)
- Monthly: between 30.000 IDR and 50.000 IDR / day (~£1.50 to ~£2.50)
Typical models are:
- Honda Scoopy (110cc)
- Honda Beat (110cc)
- Honda vario 125 (125cc).
Medium motorbikes in Bali
Medium bikes come with more comfort and a slightly bigger engine without compromising the weight of the bike. Although these bikes might be a bit more complicated to find due to availability.
Prices:
- Daily: between 60.000 IDR and 90.000 IDR / day (~£3.00 to ~£4.50)
- Weekly: between 50.000 IDR and 75.000 IDR / day (~£2.50 to ~£3.70)
- Monthly: between 30.000 IDR and 50.000 IDR / day (~£1.50 to ~£2.50)
Typical models are:
- Honda Vario (150cc)
- Yamaha Freego (125cc)
- Yamaha Lexi (125cc)
Large motorbikes in Bali
Larger automatic scooter are a better choice if you plan on driving a lot; mostly thanks to their higher riding comfort compared to their smaller counterpart. Although, If you are not experienced with riding a bike, we recommend you stick to the small or medium size at first as the larger version is heavier and may be difficult to maneuver when stationary.
Prices:
- Daily: between 100.000 IDR and 150.000 IDR / day (~£5.00 to ~£7.40)
- Weekly: between 90.000 IDR and 130.000 IDR / day (~£4.50 to ~£6.40)
- Monthly: between 60.000 IDR and 90.000 IDR / day (~£3.00 to ~£4.50)
Typical models are:
- Yamaha NMAX (155cc)
- Honda PCX (160cc)
Bonus: extra large auto bikes and more exotic bikes
If you are a motorbike enthusiast and have a certain preference to the type for rental, not to worry, you can find other models such as manual bikes and larger automatic bikes in more specialised rental stores. But do note that choices can be limited due to demand on the island. You can easily rent bikes such as a Yamaha XMAX/TMAX or Yamaha XSR.
Safety Precautions
When renting the motorbike
While bikes for rent are easy to find; they are not equal in quality: some might be a lot older than others; have a lot more kilometer on the meter and may or may not have been well maintained. To avoid any unpleasant surprise we recommend you follow these basic rules to make sure you end up renting a bike in a condition that would give you the least hassle throughout your trip:
- Test drive the bike before renting it: take it for a spin down the road, that should be enough to verify those safety points: brake check, acceleration, speedometer, make sure the bike does not stall when stopping. Lastly, check that all the lights work: front, back, break and signals.
- Make sure the helmet fits your head properly, if not, ask your rental shop to provide options that will better fit your head.
- Once settled on your bike, take videos / photos of the bike. Unscrupulous vendor may try to claim damages to the bike after the rental agreement is over.
- Make sure you are provided with the bike registration documentation (STNK) as well as a rental agreement to avoid any potential problem if you are stopped by the traffic police.
When driving
First of all, while Bali may seem like a freedom paradise coming from west; We strongly recommend you avoid driving recklessly for your own safety and the safety of others.
Second, be careful of your surrounding; there are often construction, large trucks or even drivers looking at their phone on the road and not paying attention, leading to accidents.
And last point: avoid holding your phone out on the open while driving, even more so on empty roads or at night, as this may tempt potential criminals into snatching your belongings. Apply the same level of caution with your bags and jewelry.
When leaving your bike parked
When leaving your bike parked, exercise caution towards 2 things:
- Petty theft: if you leave any belongings on your bike, such as your mobile device, they can be easily snatched by either people or wildlife (particularly monkeys)..
- Complete bike loss: make sure to lock your bike, unless instructed by the parking attendant, to avoid potential bike theft. And Take a picture of where you parked your bike. There has been reports of crooked rental that will deliberately steal the bikes they rented to you in order to elicit payment for the lost, as they will have no insurance.
Accessories
Ask your rental about the accessories provided, those are most likely included with the price of the rental, but in some cases they might be extras. Typical accessories are:
- Helmet(s) - 1 will automatically be provided, but you might want 2 if you are driving someone with you.
- A phone holder - that will come very handy to secure your phone when you are navigating an unknown area.
- Rain coat - you will be happy to have those in case you get caught in the rain
Driving around Bali
So now, you have your bike, you are ready to start the adventure! Here are a few words on what to expect on the road during your trip.
Traffic and safety
Traffic in some area of Bali can be congested: if you are going around on your 2 wheeler, you might see locals driving on the pavement and doing some dangerous manuever to get to their destination quickly. While this is acceptable here, we recommend you to do so only if you feel confident with your riding abilities, as this type of driving might lead to mishaps if you are not experienced.
Road quality can be bad: from large potholes to vegetation or boulders on the road as well as wildlife, driving in Bali can be more of a challenge than you think. Keep an attentive eye on the road at all time to avoid accidents.
Google maps can be unreliable: back home, you might be accustomed to using Google Maps to navigate efficiently to your destinations. In Bali however, the service might not be as reliable: roads might be missing or some paths labeled as road may in fact be only dirt foot trails. You might have trouble reaching your destination if relying solely on Google Maps. If lost, the best bet is to either check with a local or try to get back to the closest main road that will eventually take you to where you want, instead of trying to take shortcuts suggested by the application.
Regulation
Paperwork necessary to rent a motorbike
Legally in order to rent a motorbike in Bali (and in Indonesia in general), you need to provide the following two documents:
- A valid International driving license allowing you to ride motorbikes
- A valid passport
This regulation is not strictly enforced and rental shops will gladly do business with you without asking for any papers.
A lot of travelers are not aware that; if you are victim of an accident while driving without proper paperwork; your insurance will not cover any cost related to your injuries and hospitalisation. This has lead several travelers to lose part of their life saving or having to borrow money to cover their hospital bills because of their recklessness.
Traffic regulation
In Bali, like many places, traffic regulations are often taken lightly, and it might initially seem as though there are no rules at all. However, in recent years, the police have started enforcing traffic laws more strictly, especially targeting dangerous behaviors such as:
- Not wearing a helmet
- Running a red light
To avoid hefty fines, it's important to follow these rules.
Insurance / vehicle damages
Most small bike rental shops do not have any insurance, unless specified. Therefore you should not assume that if anything happens, the damages to the bike will be covered, because they will not and you will be responsible for the cost. Check with your rental contact first to see if there is any option for you to subscribe to any insurance if you would like to get one.
If you happen to have any sort of accident; first thing you should do is call your rental contact. They can help you assess the situation and may be able to quickly resolve any issues with the bike.
Conclusion
While renting a bike in Bali may grant you a budget friendly option; you must be aware of the potential pitfall it entails. In this post, we highlighted all the common misconception and missing bits of information travelers might need; so drive safe and enjoy your vacation.
Looking For More Information and Tips?
If you found these insights helpful and want to explore more about planning your perfect Bali vacation, check out our comprehensive Bali Travel Guide. It’s packed with detailed information, helpful notes on currency equivalents, and stunning graphics and pictures, all designed to make your trip planning effortless.
Also, be sure to explore our other blog posts for additional tips and advice to enhance your Bali experience.
