Short answer
If you have never ridden, rent an automatic scooter — twist the throttle and go, no gears, no clutch. Almost everyone in Bali rides one, and it is the fastest thing through Canggu traffic. Take a manual only if you already ride at home: Bali's roads are a poor classroom for learning a clutch. Of our 112 models, 27 are automatic and 85 are manual.
- Updated: 22 August 2026.
- Iron Rent (PT SOUL BIKES INDONESIA) has rented motorbikes in Bali since 2019, rated 4.9 from 417 Google reviews. The counts below are our live fleet, not estimates.
- We hand bikes to first-time riders every day and show the basics free at handover.
The honest one-line answer
If you are asking the question at all, rent an automatic. People who ride manual bikes at home already know they want one and do not need to weigh it up.
That is not a snub — it is about where you will be riding. Bali means left-hand traffic, dense slow flow in the south, unfamiliar road habits and scooters coming from angles you do not expect. Learning to balance clutch and throttle on top of all that is a lot to take on in week one of a holiday.
What an automatic is actually like
An automatic scooter has no gears and no clutch lever. Right hand is throttle and front brake, left hand is rear brake. That is the whole thing.
Both our cheapest and most popular models are automatic: a Yamaha Fazzio 125, Honda PCX 160, Yamaha Aerox 155 or Honda ADV 150 all start at 2,000,000 IDR a month. They have underseat storage that takes a helmet and a bag of shopping, a flat floor for a surfboard rack, and they park anywhere.
The catch is hills. A 125 with two adults aboard on the climb to Tegallalang or up to Campuhan will be working hard. That is why we suggest 150–160cc as the floor if you are riding two-up or based in Ubud.
Automatic or manual, side by side
Across our 112 models: 27 automatic, 85 manual.
| Automatic · Manual | |
|---|---|
| Controls | No gears, no clutch · Clutch, gear lever, engine braking |
| Learning curve | Ride within minutes · Needs prior experience |
| South Bali traffic | Best tool for the job · Tiring in stop-start |
| Hills and mountains | Struggles two-up under 150cc · Much better control |
| Long distances | Fine on a maxi scooter · Far less tiring |
| Storage | Underseat box, flat floor · Little to none without luggage |
| Price from, per month | 2,000,000 IDR · 3,000,000 IDR |
| Models we rent | 27 · 85 |
What a manual is like here
Manual means clutch, gear lever and engine braking — a real motorcycle. Our manual range starts with the Yamaha XSR 155 and Honda CB150X at 3,000,000 IDR a month and runs up to litre-class machines.
Where manual wins in Bali:
- Hills and mountain roads. Engine braking on the descents from Kintamani or Munduk is genuinely safer than riding the brakes on a scooter.
- Long distances. An adventure or naked 250 is far less tiring over 150 km than a small automatic.
- Rough surfaces. More suspension travel, bigger wheels, better ground clearance.
- Because you enjoy it. A perfectly good reason if you already ride.
Where each one wins
Two things people get wrong in both directions.
Renting a manual to learn on. It usually ends with a stalled bike at a busy junction, which is exactly where you do not want to be. Learn at home, ride here.
Renting a 125 automatic for a two-week island tour. It will do it, but you will feel every hill and every headwind. Match the bike to the actual riding, not to the cheapest line in the price list.
What the licence says
This is where the two diverge on paper. An International Driving Permit is issued by category: category A covers motorcycles. Some countries also issue a restricted category limited by engine size, which is worth checking before you fly.
What matters in practice in Bali: at a police check and after an accident, an insurer looks at whether your permit covers the machine you were riding. A big manual bike on a scooter-only entitlement is the kind of gap that turns into your bill.
To take out the rental itself, a passport is enough. If you need a permit, we arrange one in about three days — see our guide to the IDP.
Which to choose, by trip
- A week in Canggu or Seminyak, city riding. Automatic, 125–160cc. Nothing else is quicker or easier to park.
- Based in Ubud, hills every day. Automatic 150–160cc, or a manual 150 if you ride.
- Uluwatu, long fast roads. Maxi scooter (XMAX 250, ADV 160) or a naked 250.
- Touring the north and east. Manual adventure 250 — Versys-X 250, V-Strom 250 SX.
- Track day at Mandalika. Manual sport bike, no question.
- Two-up most days. Automatic 155–250cc with a comfortable pillion seat.
Can you swap if you chose wrong
Yes, and this is the part worth knowing before you commit. On a long-term rental you can change the bike at any point for 100,000 IDR plus the difference in rate if you move up a class. Start on an automatic, get comfortable, and move to a manual two weeks later without opening a new rental.
The details are in our guide to long-term rental and bike swaps.
FAQ
Should I rent an automatic or a manual motorbike in Bali?
Rent an automatic unless you already ride a manual at home. Bali has left-hand traffic and dense, unpredictable flow — learning clutch control on top of that in your first week is a poor idea. Automatics start at 2,000,000 IDR a month, manuals at 3,000,000 IDR.
Are scooters in Bali automatic?
Yes. Every scooter in our fleet is automatic — twist and go, no gears or clutch. That is 27 of our 112 models, and they are what most people in Bali ride.
Can I rent a manual motorbike in Bali without experience?
We would advise against it, and for larger machines we ask about your experience. A stalled bike at a busy Bali junction is exactly the situation to avoid. Start on an automatic and swap later if you want to.
Is a 125cc automatic enough in Bali?
For one rider in the south, yes. Two-up, or anywhere with hills like Ubud and Kintamani, take 150–160cc. Engine size matters far more on the climbs than it does in town.
Do I need a different licence for a manual motorbike?
An International Driving Permit is issued by category — category A covers motorcycles, and some countries add an engine-size restriction. Check what yours covers before renting a big manual bike: an insurer will look at exactly that after an accident.
Can I switch from automatic to manual during my rental?
Yes, on a long-term rental. A swap costs 100,000 IDR plus the difference in rate if the new bike is in a more expensive class. Plenty of riders start automatic and move up once they are comfortable.
Need help choosing?
Send your dates, Bali area and riding style. We will suggest the right scooter, sport bike or big bike.