Riding a Scooter in Bali: Practical Tips, Safety and Local Insights

WHERE CAN I BORROW IT?

You can find scooter rentals literally on every corner. You'll need a passport to rent one - usually the rental company will take a photo of you with your passport as a guarantee. The price depends on the type of scooter. It's definitely worth the bargain, you can say you'll go and look somewhere else. Monthly rentals are usually around 1-1.5 million rupees (about 2000 CZK), depending on the model. You'd better drive the scooter first so you know it fits. The owner's contact details are usually listed directly on the scooter. You can often get a better price outside the centre - for example, we rented an Nmax for a day in the Ubud area for a great price and the owner was great too. It was here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ET5QT7t7ZGHqUhxx5? g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

EXCITEMENT

Helmet - I always wear that! Not only for the police, but mainly for safety. Riding a scooter in the heavy traffic in Bali is a fun experience that never gets old. People here interact with each other a lot during the ride with looks and a lot of caution, which is great. But a helmet is a given for me. If you drive without one, you may get stopped by the police at certain intersections and get a ticket (usually around 400 CZK, but it depends on the officer). I recommend a helmet with a clear glass - in the evening you can see much better through it. Then during the day it's more practical to filter out the sunlight with ordinary sunglasses.

MŘP (INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENCE)

I wouldn't ride a scooter in Bali without an international license. In 2021, the fine for failing to produce one was around 3000 CZK - and I really wouldn't risk it. I always carry my ICE with me in a bag, but ideally it's practical to stick it under the scooter seat in the storage compartment so it's always handy. Arranging it before a trip is easy. In the Czech Republic, just go to the office (driver's licence department) with a photo ready - they don't take photos on the spot - and they'll issue you an international driving licence on the spot. It only costs around 50-100 CZK.

PLATFORM

I recommend getting a raincoat right at the start of your trip - there are plenty of them on the streets. Rain can hit you at any time and even though it's still warm in Bali, a raincoat is really useful for longer drives, not only against rain but also against wind. I personally prefer the sleeved option, but many people prefer the classic poncho.

TANKING

I recommend filling up mainly at the big Pertamina stations - the prices are the lowest and the quality of petrol is the best. Always check how much you actually fill up and how much you pay. Smaller street "petrol stations" often offer petrol in plastic bottles. Some say it can be diluted. Sometimes you will also come across barrels with a crank that pumps gasoline. There, it's a good idea to watch the line to see where the level was before they start filling up. The price tends to be higher at these places than at Pertamina. The local Balinese fill up at the big stations - so why don't we. 🙂

WHAT KIND OF SCOOTER SHOULD I RENT?

I personally ride a Honda Scoopy - it's the smallest type of scooter. It's perfect for one person, two girls can fit on it comfortably. We ride it as a couple, and it's a bit more cramped 🙂 . For a couple, I think the Yamaha Nmax is better. We've tried it and it's definitely more comfortable, has more room, but it's also bigger so less maneuverable in narrow streets. Plus you sit higher on it. A great feature is the key with a beeper. In parking lots where dozens of scooters are parked side by side, it makes it easy to find yours - the scooter beeps and flashes. If you don't have one, it's worth taking a photo of your licence plate.

PROBLEM WITH THE SCOOTER

If you feel like you have a flat tire, just look for a repair shop along the way and stop at one - they really are on every corner. The most common, and the most in plain sight, tend to be Honda garages. All you have to do is drive up there and ask for help. They'll usually come straight out and only charge a few crowns for the service. Last time they told us it was up to us how much we wanted to pay for a wheel inflation, so we left about 75 CZK. 🙂 Of course, you can always go to the owner from whom you rented the scooter. But if you're on a trip somewhere, feel free to stop by the nearest service or repair shop.

PARKING

Always keep your helmet in the storage compartment under your seat so it doesn't get stolen - even in Bali it gets stolen sometimes. If you have two helmets, here's a tip: for the second helmet, put the strap under the seat and snap it on. That way the helmet will stay hanging by the strap. Just turn it upside down so it doesn't get rained on in the rain. You can also use the back of the key to lock the keyhole. But the owner of the scooter will usually show you how to do that.

RIDE

In Bali, you'll notice that many local scooter riders don't have rear-view mirrors at all - they simply don't look behind them. 🙂 That's why it's most important to keep an eye on what's happening in front of you. Sure, I'll occasionally glance in the mirror, but there's not much room for that in the heavy traffic anyway. When you're passing someone, it's ideal to honk your horn briefly - something like "I'm coming!". Likewise, if someone honks behind you and then passes you, it doesn't mean they're cursing you. It's just letting you know that they mean to pass you, because they don't assume you're watching what's going on behind you. Just concentrate on what's going on in front of you - and there's plenty of that on Balinese roads. 🙂

HEADPHONES AND NAVIGATION

In Bali, you'll come across a lot of "shortcuts" - small streets that are definitely worth using on a scooter. But at first it's almost impossible to navigate them without a sat nav. So be sure to wear headphones. Personally, I prefer the classic ones with a cord - my wireless headphones (AirPods) fell out of my ear a few times when I took off my helmet. And you really don't want that. 🙂