Moving to Bali - Bike Questions
 

Hello,

I move to Bali in a few months on a retirement visa. Looking for recommendations on the best bike to get over there which has parts and service to get in reasonable time. Been there 7 times previously and have seen a zillion scooters and a few Harleys, considered the Street 750 but heard handling and ergonomics are a problem. I know what the traffic is like on Bali, still, I think around 750 cc size is right for me. Possible Africa Twin or Tenere 'm looking at and as well as an 883 Roadster. Any help is much appreciated. I'll be in Medewi, Negara, West Bali where traffic is much lighter than Denpasar. Thank for your help.

PS, I've ridden many scooters in Bali and a scooter for me will not work.

Honestly a 750 seems like overkill for a place like Bali...seems to me a 250-400 bike might be better?

I usually ride a GS1200 but when I rode in Laos rented a 250 and really enjoyed it, and moreover was still the fastest thing on the road by a long way.

I've test-ridden the newish BMW 300 GS, like it, AFAIK there are several other good choices in that range.

When I rode RTW I spent 11-12 days in Bali and I rode a Tenere 660 back then. But on Bali a friend lent me her Honda Vario 125 scooter, which happend to be a much better bike for Bali than the Tenere.

If I could choose whatever bike I wanted for Bali and Indonesia it would be something like a 250 cc bike. Anything more would be totally overkill.

I agree with motoreiter and Snakeboy - you want something small and lightweight, certainly no bigger than 400 cc. Based on my experience in Indonesia, I suggest 250 cc.

Remember, traffic in Indonesia flows like schools of fish, not always on the roadway, you want something that is lightweight that you can easily maneuver around with no worries at all about tipping it over.

Also consider that parking is "anywhere and everywhere", and that other people may have to move your motorcycle a wee bit to get their scooter or moto in and out of a parking area. Indonesians are generally not built like Arnold Schwartznegger - could you imagine a small Indonesian person trying to move a litrebike? The bike would be left lying on its side.

Lastly, if you are retiring, that suggests that you are not young yourself. Be aware that motorcycles get heavier as you get older. When I bought my Honda ST 1100 new in 2001, I could easily manouver it around, it wasn't a heavy bike like a Gold Wing. 20 years later, now that I am retired, it is clear to me that my ST 1100 has gained several hundred pounds in weight, because now I have to be darn careful about not getting into situations that might cause the bike to tip over.

Michael

I lived on Java for a year, and spent a week in Bali while there. I also think a 750 is overkill - as a couple of posters have said, a 250 would be plenty enough bike for Bali roads and traffic.

Thanks for the info
 

Thanks for the replies. I ended up getting a new Yamaha XSR 155 set up for touring. The bike is easy to deal with an parts and shops are all over here.

BTW, with said bike I head out towards Sumatra from my home in Medewi, Bali with no time frame, schedule, or itinerary. Are there any suggestions for places to visit or avoid?

Further, Bali is now open with Visas On Arrival, and travel PCR tests between islands have been lifted as of TODAY. All vaccinations are required though including booster.

Further, further, hit me up if anyone is local or interested in checking Bali out...I've lived here a year now and love it.

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Thats looks like a great bike for touring around Indonesia. As you know speed is hardly ever above 60-70 km/h so no need for a big bike.

For Sumatra I suggest Lake Toba a crater lake at a certain altitude which has great climate and some tourist facilities at the village of Tuktuk.

Then there is Bukit Lawang, a small mountain settlement with a very modest tourist scene. Jungle trips with rafting and orangutang spotting was cool.

Banda Aceh - the northernmost province which was very hard hit by the 2004 tsunami. There is a huge tsunami museum and other spots to watch. And the road from Banda Aceh and south on the west coast is extremely nice!

Bukittingi and the road and ride to Padang was cool and also the ride from Padang to Lampung along the west coast. Never was the feeling of being lost and on an adventure higher than there during my RTW ride.

There are many other interesting places on Sumatra - I hope others can chime in with advice…

Leaving tomorrow if all goes as planned today. After research and speaking with locals, my planned route through Java and Sumatra has changed; too many reports of crime. I'm heading east instead towards Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. The Java truck traffic between Denpasar and Jakarta has been a real problem for me, had this truck attempt to overtake me a few weeks ago and failed (location is West Bali).

Lots of great places to see in Lombok, Sumbawa and Flores too so Im sure you will have a great trip that direction too.

Have a look at your fellow countryman Kotamarudus postings and maybe you can get in touch with him for more information and advices about travelling on those outer Indonesian islands. He is very well travelled around there. He also run a little guesthouse/homestay on Lombok.

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...aritime-101462

https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...hook-up-101431

Hi, when I went to Bali to visit friends, I used a Honda Vario 125 scooter. You would like this great bike because it has excellent handling and is very fast and light. I think this is what you need while in Bali because there are narrow roads there. And by the way, I ride this bike with my friends every year. Still, while I'm at home, I don't use it, and I keep it with the Sekamoving company(https://sekamoving.com/storage-space/). I think that soon, when I also move to another state or somewhere else, I will use the services of this moving and storage company.