Kawasaki KLX 230 vs Honda CRF150L in Bali: which enduro bike to rent

At a glance

Both are tall, light single-cylinder bikes with a manual gearbox, long-travel suspension and no ABS. The KLX 230 weighs about 133 kg, has a seat at about 885 mm and a tank of about 7.5 litres. The CRF150L weighs about 122 kg, has a seat at about 869 mm and a tank of about 7 litres. Besides the KLX 230 SE in the table, we have the standard KLX 230 and the KLX 230 SM, a supermoto version for riders who stay mostly on tarmac.

Riding in Bali traffic

Enduro bikes do well in Bali traffic. They are narrow and light, the upright position lets you see over the cars, and the long-travel suspension soaks up the potholes and speed bumps behind Canggu that rattle a scooter. The catch is the seat height: at about 870–885 mm, many riders touch the ground only with their toes at a stop. If you are under about 170 cm, ask us to show you the bike before booking.

The KLX 230 is the livelier of the two when the lights change, but on tarmac its single buzzes and the narrow seat tires you over distance. The CRF150L is softer and calmer and unhurried on the bypass. Both mean working a clutch in the queues of Seminyak and Kuta, and neither has ABS, so brake early on wet painted lines and on sand blown onto the road.

Two-up and luggage

Both come with two helmets and a phone holder and both can carry a passenger, but neither is built for it. The seats are narrow and high, and a second person makes the bike harder to hold up at a stop on a slope. A short ride to dinner two-up is fine on the KLX 230; on the CRF150L, with less power, a passenger on hills is hard work.

There is no luggage space on either, so a small backpack is the limit. For couples or anyone carrying bags, a Honda ADV 160 or a Honda CB500X makes more sense.

Hills, gravel roads and off-road: what is allowed

This is where enduro bikes earn their place: steep village roads around Munduk, Sidemen or Kintamani, broken tarmac after the rains, gravel access roads to villas, viewpoints and waterfall car parks. The KLX 230 has noticeably more pull on long, steep climbs and keeps a steady pace on the main roads up to Bedugul. The CRF150L gets there too, one gear lower and at a calmer pace, and its soft suspension is comfortable on rough surfaces. On long descents use both brakes gently and let the engine help.

Off-road is allowed on these bikes. The KLX 230 (standard, SE and SM), the KLX 150 and the CRF150L are the enduro and dual-sport bikes in our fleet, and they are the only bikes on which our rental contract allows riding off tarmac: dirt tracks, lanes through the rice fields, gravel, volcano trails and the steep beach access roads that end in sand. Every other bike we rent — scooters, sport and naked bikes, cruisers and the adventure bikes CB500X and Versys 650 — has to stay on tarmac.

A few honest caveats. Ride within your skill: a dirt track is not the place to learn a manual gearbox or to find out how a tall bike behaves when the front wheel slides. Trails turn slippery and rutted in the rain, so slow down or turn back when the surface changes. Neither bike has ABS. If you drop the bike or something breaks, tell us on WhatsApp from the scene, with photos: the damage protection terms you chose at pickup apply as usual, including the rule that damage must be reported from the scene.

Who should rent which

• Rent the Kawasaki KLX 230 if you have manual experience, are fairly tall and want an enduro with enough pull for steep mountain roads and dirt tracks. If most of your riding is on tarmac, ask about the KLX 230 SM.
• Rent the Honda CRF150L if you want a lighter, softer and more forgiving bike for broken roads and you prefer a calm, unhurried pace.
• Rent neither if you plan to ride mostly two-up or on long fast runs.

To rent you only need a passport. Both are manual motorcycles, and to ride them legally in Indonesia you need a national licence that includes the motorcycle category plus an International Driving Permit; we can help arrange the IDP through our partner International Drivers Association. Some manual experience is needed on both; a steep village road is not the place for your first clutch start. Delivery and pickup are free within 20 km of our Kerobokan office on rentals of 3 days or more. If you change your mind mid-rental, a swap costs 100,000 IDR for washing and preparing the bike.

Fuel and running

The KLX 230 has a 233cc engine, so it needs at least Pertamax 92. The CRF150L is 149cc; use Pertamax for it too. Pertalite is not allowed on either, or on any of our bikes.

Both tanks are small, about 7–7.5 litres, so in the mountains fill up whenever you pass a Pertamina station rather than counting on the next one, and avoid roadside bottles. Servicing during the rental is done in our own workshop in Kerobokan; message us on WhatsApp if a warning light comes on or something feels wrong.

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