In Reply to: i would not advise posted by Tuberose on Friday, 4. February 2005 at 17:09 Bali Time:
BUT & this is a big thing - my husband does have a full Aussie motorbike license & is an fairly experience rider with over 20 years of riding & he also has an international licence.
Belive me it is not a matter of saying IF you are pulled over by the police but WHEN.You will be expected to pay a fine /donation to the annual police Party/retirement fund.Depending on well you can talk your way out of it ( that's if you don't have an intenational licence,rider & passenger don't wear a helmet,go even a millimetre over a white line when you stop )you WILL be given a fine ,expected to pay a bribe.It varies from around 50,000 rupiah each time up to $150 Aussie.One of our neighbours at the MBR young & 1st timer son had paid $150 Aussie the month before - because no International licence ,neither rider or passenger wearing helmets & he was seen to go over the white line. The 1st day of the 1st time we hired a bike this trip we got pulled over twice in the exact same spot byu the same cops <LOL> They laughed when they saw us again.Some poor bugger was pulled over at the same time & did not have the international licence,the cops showed him my husband's to tell him what he was supposed to have.My husband said as we rode away that the poor bloke would have had a lot lighter waller when he left !
I hate to rain on anyone parade or spoil your fun BUT this is how it works.You may be extremely lucky & get away with it but why risk it?The law says you must have an international licence & it is cheap & easy to get from your local auto association - well that's if you are licenced in Oz to ride a motor bike.I would never suggest anyone that is not an experinced rider hire a bike in Bali because it can be very harrowing at times.I still say a prayer every time we get on the bike !
BTW - Steve we have never paid any bribes or fines because we have the proper licence & I talk so much to the cop he is usually glad to get rid of me <LOL>( a few forumites may remember my story from a year ago) BUT we don't do anything wrong so why should we pay a bribe ?
I also agree with your thoughts on going on the back of a bike with a local.I have made good friends with a lovely Balinese lady called Lisa from Jensen's & we have a great time doing Girls shopping/girls day out together that my hubby would not be prepared to put up with!One last thing IF you are properly licenced & an experienced rider & do hire a bike make sure you have the proper insurance.
BTW - If anyone is intersted I know a place in Jalan Legian you can get a bike for 25 k a day & in Jalan Padma Utara that you can get it for 30k.