Beginner's Guide to Learning to Ride a Scooter in Bali: What to Know Before You Try
In Bali (and many other parts of Indonesia), scooters aren’t just a convenient way to get around, they’re often the only practical option.
In some places, there’s no public transport system to speak of, and ride-hailing services like Grab are limited or unreliable. For solo travelers especially, relying on taxis and private drivers can quickly become expensive and limiting.
At the same time, riding a scooter in Indonesia comes with real risks. Traffic is chaotic and road rules are only loosely followed, if at all.
That’s why accidents involving foreign tourists are common, and serious injuries aren’t rare. This isn’t something to take lightly or jump into unprepared.
Despite the risks, many travelers still choose to learn while in Bali, either out of necessity, or simply to be more independent. If you do decide to learn, there are a few common approaches people take.
Some practice on their own in quiet areas or outside of peak hours when there’s less traffic on the road. Others learn from friends who already ride scooters and are familiar with local traffic conditions.
A more structured option is taking a beginner scooter lesson with a local instructor, which is the route I chose.
These lessons are generally informal and don’t replace proper certification from a licensed driving school, but they’re practical, low pressure, and specifically designed for foreigners who have never ridden a scooter before.
How to book a scooter lesson
One common option is booking through activity platforms such as GetYourGuide, Viator, or Airbnb Experiences. Booking through a platform can be helpful because listings usually include reviews, clear pricing, and basic cancellation policies.
What to expect during a scooter lesson in Bali
Safety gear
During my lesson, I was given a helmet along with elbow and knee pads.
It felt a little ridiculous at first, being decked out in all that gear, especially when local kids as young as 10 ride without so much as a shirt on. But hey, better safe than sorry.
The lesson
In my case, the lesson started in an empty parking area. Before dealing with traffic, I had to get comfortable with basic control, such as starting, stopping, steering, and balancing.
I began on an electric bike, which is basically just like a normal bike, but electric-powered.
So, instead of pedalling, you control the accelerator with your hand. It’s a great way to transition from a normal bicycle to a motorized vehicle.
To get warmed up, I had to do a few turns on the electric bike and weave through makeshift obstacles made from stones. This also allowed the instructor to assess my balance, steering, and speed control (or lack thereof).
Once that felt manageable, I moved on to a scooter. The weight difference was immediately noticeable, and maneuvering it required more skill and strength.
Since I was a totally clueless beginner, the instructor let me ride pillion first and watch him demonstrate.
Then, I practiced the same obstacle course again, first alone, then with him riding behind me.
Riding on the road
Only after the basics were covered did we move onto an actual road, where I could apply the skills I had learned, along with some basic traffic rules.
The route went through quieter countryside areas and rice fields, with minimal traffic and only a handful of intersections. If I wasn’t so nervous, I think I would have really enjoyed the scenery, but even in this relatively calm setting, I found it stressful.
Turning at junctions was harder than I expected, and staying calm while my instructor was watching my every move was close to impossible.
But I’m proud to report that by the end of the lesson, I was comfortable enough to ride the scooter on a straight road for about 20 minutes, while carrying a passenger behind me.
Safety & insurance
Most scooter lessons listed on official online platforms tend to follow a basic safety standard. This usually means providing essential protective gear, such as a helmet and sometimes knee or elbow pads.
If you’re practicing independently or with a friend, a helmet is still non-negotiable, even if it’s tempting not to wear one, when the laws don’t seem to be strictly enforced.
The lack of enforcement doesn’t reduce the risk; it just means the responsibility falls entirely on you.
Insurance is part of that same responsibility. If you plan to ride at all, it’s essential to get travel insurance and read the fine print to make sure scooter or motorcycle-related incidents are clearly covered.
Some travel insurance policies either exclude scooter accidents altogether or only cover them under specific conditions, such as holding a valid license or riding as a passenger rather than a driver.
While safety gear and insurance won’t make riding risk-free, they do change the consequences when something goes wrong.
Additional notes
- This is a scooter lesson, not a motorbike lesson. For the uninitiated, the two are different. Motorbikes are faster and heavier, and they require operating a clutch and multiple gears. With a scooter, you only need to learn how to start, accelerate, brake, and steer. You should not expect to be able to ride a motorcycle after completing this lesson.
- This type of scooter lesson is suitable for complete beginners, though it helps significantly if you already know how to ride a bicycle. Experience cycling on busy roads is an added advantage. Surprisingly, there are people joining these lessons who have never ridden a bicycle before!
- Bali can be extremely hot. Bring sunscreen or a UV-protective jacket to cover yourself from the sun.
- If learning to ride a scooter in Bali feels like too much, guided scooter tours can be a more comfortable alternative. You ride as a passenger while a local driver handles the traffic and navigation. That way, you still get the experience of traveling by scooter and reaching places cars can’t easily access.
Final thoughts
Let me be frank — I’m not the easiest person to teach, but my instructor was very patient.
What I appreciated most about a beginner-friendly lesson is how well-prepared they tend to be for slow learners, with step-by-step guidance, safety gear, and gradual progression from practice areas to quiet roads.
But I will definitely need more practice before I feel confident enough to actually rent a scooter in Bali.
For now, the fact that I got through the 2-hour lesson without getting anyone killed was enough of an achievement.
Do you know how to ride a scooter? If yes, where did you learn it and what was the experience like? Comment below.
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naik scooter senang je dari motorsikal. Belajar dulu dengan parents lepastu dah pandai bawa sendiri tapi sekarang dah tak guna dah hehe
Untung la Farhana, dapat belajar dgn parents. Kalau melancong ke mana2, senang, boleh sewa skuter.
i know how to ride scooter, cause i have one sebelum beli kereta. and yes scooter ni takleh bawak laju haha. never think of taking a lesson in other country. best gak kan if include in itinerary
Untuk yg tak pernah bawa scooter sesuai la ambil kelas ni, Bae. Ataupun yang dah lama tak bwk n nak refresh skill balik. Biasa kalau nak belajar, kena ambil kelas formal kat sekolah memandu kan. Jarang jumpa kelas yg informal mcm ni.
I know how to ride a bike and motorbike – but I don’t have a motorbike license. Haha
But now, I only dare to ride bike in the housing area
Then maybe you can try renting a motorbike or scooter when you go to Bali, Rawlins. Beware though, the traffic rules may not be the same as what we’re used to.
Wah sempat you belajar scooter kat sana.. bestnya. sebenarnya i br tahu kita boleh belajar. Tapi secara peribadi i takut bawa kenderaan klu berada bukan di negara sendiri..cam phobia
Memang betul, Ayu. Sebab kita tak biasa dengan undang2 jalan raya dan cara pemanduan orang kat sana, kan. Kalau di negara2 yang patuh undang2 jalan raya ok juga, kalau di Indonesia ni, hmm, seram sikit. Tapi seronok tengok pelancong2 mat saleh. Diorang redah je.
Pernah belajar bawa motor tapi jatuh bukit dan motor kawan tu rosak teruk. Terus fobia nak bawa motor dah huhu
Oh.. saya pun pernah jatuh motor jugak, orang lain bawak. Memang fobia tu masih ada. Hopefully, satu hari nanti kita sama-sama la dapat atasi fobia tu, ya.
Hahaha Sis kan, motor biasa tak tau bawak, tapi jenis scooter, picit terus jalan gini Sis boleh bawa. Bagus betul siap ada belajar bawak ekk.. tapi kena hati-hati, negara sana memang orangnya bawa motor ke kereta ke tak tengok orang adeiii bikin copot jantung…
OK la tu, sis, at least tau la jugak bawa scooter. Jangan macam saya ni, bawa basikal pun goyang2 lagi. Haha. Nak drive di Indonesia memang kena hati-hati dan banyak practice.
Very convenient if we can bawa scooter or motorbike or even ride bicycle kan if travel here in SEA… Need to learn this skill la..
Yes, we definitely should, Kitkat. I still need a lot of practice myself. Renting a scooter is a really convenient way to get around in SEA, a much cheaper option than hiring a car or a driver.
Wahhhhh bawa scooter lak kat Bali hehehe bestnya kita nak juga lah cuba bawa kat sana sebab lepas PKP ni I nak travel meraka rindu sangat jalan-jalan ni…
Cuba, Maha, jangan tak cuba. Tapi kena hati-hati ya kalau tak biasa drive di Indonesia. Jangan lupa travel insurance 😉
it’s a must to get around bali in a scooter and this lesson is super useful! great for first time visitors to the island
Totally agree, Grace. What I like best about this particular lesson apart from its affordable fee is the flexible schedule. Also, the instructor arranges the transportation to and from your accommodation.
that sounds adventurous at Bali. I only took private ride last time when travel to Bali. should try this out if I happen to visit Bali again
Do save this info for future reference, Rane. I think lessons like this are hard to come by. 🙂
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Very recommend Canggu Scooter Lessons
Cool, thank you for the recommendation! 🙂
Hi Ummi, really enjoyed your informative post. I’m planning a trip to Canggu, Bali and thinking of taking scooter lessons; do you mind sharing Dio’s contact for booking?
Many thanks in advance!
Rita
Hi, Rita. Here you go: +6289630330489
https://www.instagram.com/balimotorbikelessons
Hi Ummi, thank you for your post! Unfortunately the link above is broken. Could you please tell me how to contact Ronaldio (Dio) please? I have a scooter licence but have not driven for many years so just want to get a refresher lesson please.
Hi, Jen! Thank you for alerting me about the broken link. I’ve updated Dio’s contact details in the article. 🙂
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