Short answer
Pick the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R SE or ZX-25RR if you are an experienced rider who wants the sound and character of a four-cylinder 250: it comes alive only above about 10,000 rpm and is hot, hard work in traffic. Pick the Honda CBR250RR if you want a lighter 250 sport bike that is easier at low revs and more usable every day. The ZX-25RR is the better-equipped version of the ZX-25R, with the same 50 HP engine on paper.
- Updated: 10 October 2026.
- Written by Iron Rent, renting motorcycles in Bali since 2019 from our office in Kerobokan.
- Weights, seat heights and tank sizes are approximate manufacturer figures; prices in the table are per day on a monthly rental and follow our current rates.
- Price: scooters from 200,000 IDR per day; the longer the rental, the lower the daily rate, and a month never costs more than the monthly rate.
- Included: two helmets, a phone holder, servicing in our own workshop.
- Delivery: free within 20 km of the Kerobokan office on rentals of 3+ days; the airport costs 200,000 IDR.
- Deposit: refundable, returned in the currency it was paid in.
- Documents: a passport is enough to rent; to ride legally you need your national licence with the motorcycle category plus an IDP.
- Protection: optional damage protection for the rented bike (levels MAX and MIN).
At a glance
| Model | Engine | Power | ABS | Type | Monthly rental |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R SE | 249cc | 50 HP | Yes | Sport bike, inline-4, manual | from 300K IDR/day |
| Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25RR | 249cc | 50 HP | Yes | Sport bike, inline-4, manual (better-equipped version) | from 433K IDR/day |
| Honda CBR250RR | 249cc | 38 HP | Yes | Sport bike, parallel-twin, manual | from 167K IDR/day |
Same displacement, very different engines. The Kawasaki packs four cylinders into 249cc and revs past 15,000 rpm; it weighs about 182–184 kg, has a seat at about 785 mm and a tank of about 15 litres. The Honda is a parallel-twin, about 168 kg, with a seat at about 790 mm and a tank of about 14.5 litres. We also rent the CBR250RR SP QS, with about 41 HP and a quickshifter, which narrows the gap a little.
Riding in Bali traffic
Neither is a town bike, but the difference shows most in the queues of Canggu, Seminyak and Kuta. The ZX-25R has almost no pull at low revs, so in stop-and-go traffic you slip the clutch, ride in first and second, and sit above a hot four-cylinder engine. After half an hour on Jalan Raya Canggu at midday it is tiring and uncomfortable.
The CBR250RR is lighter by about 15 kg and its twin is more willing at low and middle revs, so it is noticeably easier to filter and to pull away from a light. It still has a sport position that loads your wrists, but you can live with it in town for a few days. All three bikes have ABS, which helps on wet painted lines and sand near the beaches.
Two-up and luggage
On all three the pillion seat is small and raised. A passenger is fine for a short ride to dinner or a viewpoint, but over an hour or more they will be uncomfortable. There is no useful storage, so plan on a backpack. Every rental includes two helmets and a phone holder.
With a passenger the ZX-25R suffers more than the CBR: the extra weight makes it even harder to keep the engine in the rev range where it works. If you plan to ride two-up often, the Honda CB500X, the Kawasaki Versys 650 or a maxi-scooter such as the Yamaha XMAX 250 will suit you both far better.
Hills, Kintamani and long rides
This is the setting where the ZX-25R makes sense. On the climbs to Bedugul, Munduk or the Kintamani rim, keep it above about 10,000 rpm and it pulls hard, with a sound like a superbike in miniature. The catch is that Bali has few long straights, so you rarely use the top of the rev range for more than a few seconds, and you change gear constantly to stay there.
The CBR250RR is also a rev-happy engine that comes alive near the top, but it asks less of you on a winding road; its limit is overtaking a truck on a climb, where power is marginal. On long rides both sport positions tire you, so plan a break about every hour. Going down, use engine braking and both brakes; watch for wet leaves, gravel and sand on mountain bends.
Who should rent which
- Rent the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R SE if you are an experienced sport rider and want the four-cylinder sound and character for weekend rides in the hills, not for practicality.
- Rent the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25RR if you want the same engine in the better-equipped version.
- Rent the Honda CBR250RR if you want a sport 250 that you can also use around town, or if this is one of your first sport bikes; the SP QS version adds a quickshifter.
These are manual motorcycles with a clutch and gears, and the ZX-25R is not a first bike. Rent one only if you already ride a manual sport bike confidently. To rent you only need a passport. To ride legally in Indonesia you need a national licence that includes the motorcycle category and an International Driving Permit; we can help arrange the IDP through our partner International Drivers Association. 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; moving to a pricier bike means paying the difference.
Fuel and running
Fuel is different for the two engines. The four-cylinder ZX-25R SE and ZX-25RR need Pertamax Turbo 98. The twin-cylinder CBR250RR needs at least Pertamax 92. Pertalite is not allowed on any of our bikes. Pertamax Turbo is not sold at every station, so fill up in the south before heading into the mountains, and never from roadside bottles.
Servicing during the rental is done in our own workshop in Kerobokan. If a warning light comes on, or the engine feels wrong, message us on WhatsApp rather than riding on.
FAQ
What is the difference between the ZX-25R and the CBR250RR?
The Kawasaki ZX-25R has a 249cc four-cylinder engine with 50 HP that works above about 10,000 rpm. The Honda CBR250RR has a 249cc twin with 38 HP that is easier at low revs and about 15 kg lighter.
What is the difference between the ZX-25R SE and the ZX-25RR?
Both have the same 249cc inline-4 with 50 HP. The ZX-25RR is the better-equipped version.
Is the ZX-25R good for Bali traffic?
Not really. It has very little pull at low revs and gets hot in stop-and-go traffic. It is a bike for rides in the hills, for experienced riders.
What fuel does the ZX-25R need?
Pertamax Turbo 98. The Honda CBR250RR needs at least Pertamax 92. Pertalite is not allowed on any of our bikes.
Is there a CBR250RR with a quickshifter?
Yes, we also rent the CBR250RR SP QS, with about 41 HP and a quickshifter.
Need help choosing?
Send your dates, Bali area and riding style. We will suggest the right scooter, sport bike or big bike.