In Bali the choice comes down to three numbers far more than to horsepower: ground clearance, under-seat volume, and how many used listings are in circulation. The Honda Scoopy (109.5 cc, 94 kg, 15.4 L of storage, 12-inch wheels) is still the easiest to thread through traffic and the easiest to sell on: Rp 24,990,000 new at the Honda dealer in Denpasar in September 2026, and 318 used listings across Denpasar and Badung on 8 September 2026, from Rp 11 to 21.9 million. The Vario Evo 160, renewed in June 2026, adds 47 cc, 14-inch wheels and 18 L of storage for 22 kg more, from Rp 29,590,000. The PCX 160 (Rp 36,060,000) has the biggest boot of the five, 30 L, but one of the lowest ground clearances, 135 mm. The Yamaha NMAX Turbo (Rp 39,700,000) leads on its YECVT transmission and 25 L of storage. The ADV 160 (Rp 38,970,000) is the only one at 165 mm of ground clearance, with piggyback rear shocks: the only one of the five that does not scrape on speed bumps and villa gate thresholds. Simple rule: if you carry a passenger often, stand taller than 1.80 m, or ride up into the hills regularly, take a 160. Otherwise the Scoopy does the job for five to fourteen million rupiah less, depending on which 160 you line it up against.
The five scooters, numbers on the table
Every figure below comes from manufacturer spec sheets or cross-checked technical data, recorded on 8 September 2026. Displacements are the real ones, not the marketing names: a "160" is 156.9 cc, an NMAX is 155.09 cc.
| Scoopy | Vario Evo 160 | PCX 160 | NMAX (Neo / Turbo) | ADV 160 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual displacement | 109.5 cc | 156.9 cc | 156.9 cc | 155.09 cc | 156.9 cc |
| Power | 9.0 PS at 7,500 rpm | 15.4 PS at 8,500 rpm | 15.8 hp at 8,500 rpm | 15.1 PS at 8,000 rpm | 15.8 hp |
| Torque | 9.2 Nm | 14.0 Nm at 6,500 rpm | 14.7 Nm at 6,500 rpm | 14.2 Nm at 6,500 rpm | 14.7 Nm at 6,500 rpm |
| Kerb weight | 93-94 kg | 116 kg (CBS) / 118 kg (ABS) | 132-133 kg | 133 to 135 kg | 133 kg |
| Seat height | 746 mm | 778 mm | 764 mm | 770 mm | 780 mm |
| Ground clearance | 145 mm | 138 mm | 135 mm | 125 to 135 mm | 165 mm |
| Under-seat storage | 15.4 L | 18 L | 30 L | 25 L | ~27 L (US spec sheet) |
| Fuel tank | 4.2 L | 5.5 L | 8.1 L | 7.1 L | 8.1 L |
| Wheels | 12-inch | 14-inch | 14 front / 13 rear | 13-inch | 14 front / 13 rear |
| Claimed fuel economy | 59 km/L | 46.7 km/L (WMTC) | 45 km/L (ECE R40) | not published | 45 km/L |
Two notes on that table. The NMAX's ground clearance depends on where you look: Yamaha Indonesia's official page lists 125 mm and 135 kg, while oto.com's spec sheet gives 135 mm and 133 kg — most likely a variant gap between Neo, Turbo and Tech Max. And the claimed consumption figures do not compare number for number: they are not measured on the same protocol from one manufacturer to the next.
Why ground clearance decides more than power
On the island, the difference between 15.1 and 15.8 horsepower is almost never something you feel. What you feel every single day is the underside of the fairing scraping: hand-poured concrete speed bumps in the villages, villa gate thresholds, the narrow gangs of Canggu chewed up by materials trucks.
The gaps are concrete. The PCX 160 and the NMAX start with 135 mm under the crankcase, 30 mm less than the ADV 160 — the margin between a clean pass and a scrape on every speed bump two-up. The Scoopy gets there another way: 145 mm for only 94 kg, so the suspension barely squats.
Second thing to watch, wheel size. The Scoopy runs 12-inch wheels (100/90 front, 110/90 rear): light, very easy to place at low speed in the lanes, but Indonesian guides advise steering clear of potholes and gravel stretches, which chew up the tyre sidewall and the small rim. The Vario Evo 160 moves up to 14 inches front and rear, the most common format for daily use in Indonesia, steadier on uneven surfaces and at speed. The PCX and the ADV pair a 14-inch front with a 13-inch rear; the NMAX runs 13 inches at both ends.
Third criterion, and it catches plenty of expats out: how easily you can sell the thing on. That has nothing to do with how good the machine is and everything to do with how many buyers exist. One figure settles it: according to manufacturers' association (AISI) data relayed by CNN Indonesia on 13 July 2026, Honda accounted for 77.42% of motorcycle sales in Indonesia in the first half of 2026, 2.4 million units out of 3,129,587. The four other brands, Yamaha included, share the remaining 22.58% between them.
Honda Scoopy: the default answer, and that is not a criticism
The Scoopy was fully renewed and unveiled on 13 November 2025. Cleaner styling, LED projector headlight, USB Type-C socket, and a keyless Smart Key reserved for the Stylish and Prestige trims. The engine is still an air-cooled 109.5 cc: 9.0 PS, 9.2 Nm, a claimed 59 km/L, and a fuel tank of only 4.2 L.
Its real arguments: 94 kg, a seat at 746 mm — the lowest here, and a genuine one if you are under 1.65 m — and unbeatable agility in the lanes of Canggu or Ubud. Its limits: 15.4 L of storage, barely a rain jacket and a small bag, and an obvious lack of pull two-up on a climb. The 4.2 L tank means frequent stops at the pump, despite the best fuel economy of the group.
Honda Vario Evo 160: the middle ground, changed in June 2026
Watch out for one thing many online comparisons have not caught up with: the Vario 160 has been replaced by the Vario Evo 160, unveiled on 24 June 2026 by PT Astra Honda Motor and on sale since. If you are reading a "Vario 160" spec sheet today, you are reading the outgoing model — useful for the used market, out of date for a new purchase.
The changes, measured by CNN Indonesia on launch day, are modest but real: torque goes from 13.8 to 14.0 Nm and arrives at 6,500 rpm instead of 7,000, which matters when you pull away on a hill; claimed fuel economy rises to 46.7 km/L with Idling Stop; the bike gains 1 kg and loses 2 mm of ground clearance, down to 138 mm. The rest stands still: 156.9 cc, 5.5 L tank, 18 L of storage. New in daily use: USB Type-C, a fold-out centre hook for a shopping bag, Smart Key with alarm.
It is the best size-to-performance ratio of the five: enough torque to ride two-up, compact enough to filter, 14-inch wheels, and 18 L of storage that swallows an open-face helmet but not a full-face, according to Indonesian road tests. Its 778 mm seat, on the other hand, is one of the tallest here.
Honda PCX 160: thirty litres under the seat
The PCX is the scooter for people who carry things. Thirty litres of storage, enough for some full-face helmets, a small laptop or a spare pair of shoes on top of the day's kit. It is the biggest volume in this comparison, with a wider seat opening than the NMAX's into the bargain. Add an 8.1 L tank: on the basis of the 41.6 km/L measured in testing, that works out at more than 330 km of theoretical range.
In exchange, 132 kg to push around a sloping car park and only 135 mm of ground clearance. The PCX is built for good surfaces: on a broken-up gang, it reminds you what it was made for soon enough.
Yamaha NMAX: the outsider against 77% Honda
The NMAX comes in two families: the Neo, with a conventional CVT, and the TURBO, fitted with the electronically controlled YECVT transmission and the Y-Shift function. Worth clearing up straight away: the "Turbo" name does not stand for a turbocharger, as the international specialist press pointed out at launch. The engine remains the 155.09 cc Blue Core with VVA, 15.1 PS and 14.2 Nm.
Strong points: two-channel ABS and traction control across the range, a wide seat and high bars that Indonesian testers rate the most relaxed riding position of the group, 25 L of storage — one litre more than the previous generation. Weak points: the pillion seat is judged a little narrow, and the boot only takes a small open-face helmet comfortably.
On fuel, the one serious head-to-head available dates from 27 January 2025: Kompas measured, tank-to-tank, on RON 92, solo and riding normally in Jakarta traffic, 41.6 km/L for the PCX 160 against 40.3 km/L for the NMAX Turbo. The gap is thin, and the test was not run in Bali.
The NMAX's real caveat in Bali lies elsewhere: it is a Yamaha in a market that is 77% Honda. Parts exist, Yamaha dealers are well established in Denpasar, but the pool of buyers when you come to sell is mechanically narrower.
Honda ADV 160: the only one that shrugs off bad roads
The ADV 160 shares its mechanicals with the PCX — 156.9 cc, 15.8 hp, 14.7 Nm, 8.1 L tank — but changes chassis entirely: 165 mm of ground clearance, a 31 mm Showa fork with more than five inches of travel, twin rear shocks with separate reservoirs.
The American road test by UltimateMotorcycling, published on 1 July 2025, is useful because it over-promises nothing: excellent on broken city surfaces, 27 L of storage on the US spec sheet, about 75 US mpg measured at a brisk pace (roughly 32 km/L). But the tester warns that the 14- and 13-inch running gear is aimed at urban agility rather than high-speed stability, and that the suspension is quickly overwhelmed by bumps once you pick up the pace off tarmac. This is not a trail bike; it is a scooter that absorbs bad asphalt.
Indonesian comparisons converge: on poor surfaces and two-up, the ADV is the most comfortable of the three big ones, the NMAX prefers smooth asphalt, the PCX puts comfort on good roads first. The trade-off: the seat sits at 780 mm, the tallest here, and it is the most expensive of the five to buy.
What does one cost new in Denpasar?
A warning first: three price levels coexist for the same model. The official "OTR Jakarta" price quoted in the media, the one online comparison sites show for Denpasar, and the one Bali dealers actually charge. The gap runs from 1 to 5 million rupiah, always in the same direction: the comparison sites show the lowest. The table below gives dealer prices, recorded on 8 September 2026.
| Model and variant | OTR Denpasar, Astra Motor network | Bali dealer |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Scoopy (Fashion to Prestige, with accessories) | Rp 25,400,000 to 26,280,000 | Rp 24,990,000 |
| Honda Vario Evo 160 CBS | Rp 29,590,000 | Rp 30,010,000 (Vario 160) |
| Honda Vario Evo 160 CBS Nitro | Rp 29,840,000 | — |
| Honda Vario Evo 160 ABS | Rp 32,640,000 | — |
| Honda PCX 160 CBS | Rp 36,060,000 | Rp 35,520,000 |
| Honda PCX 160 ABS | Rp 39,760,000 | — |
| Honda PCX 160 RoadSync | Rp 43,220,000 | — |
| Honda ADV 160 CBS | Rp 38,970,000 | Rp 38,570,000 |
| Honda ADV 160 ABS | Rp 42,110,000 | — |
| Honda ADV 160 ABS RoadSync | Rp 43,860,000 | — |
| Yamaha NMAX Neo | — | Rp 34,800,000 |
| Yamaha NMAX Turbo | — | Rp 39,700,000 |
Sources: the Astra Motor dealer network for Denpasar, Astra Motor Center Honda Bali and the Yamaha Bali dealer, recorded on 8 September 2026. Those sites say themselves that prices change without notice. Two remarks: the Bali dealer shows a single price per model; and on the Scoopy, the Astra Motor network lists only "with accessories" lines for Denpasar.
If you are still weighing buying against renting by the month, the arithmetic is in our article on renting or buying a scooter in Bali.
And on the used market?
This is where the Bali market becomes readable. Recorded on 8 September 2026 on a listings aggregator covering Denpasar and the Badung regency, which pulls together OLX listings and the stock of local showrooms:
| Model | Live listings | Range observed | Benchmarks by model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Scoopy | 318 | Rp 11,000,000 → 21,900,000 | 2016-2017: 11-13 M · 2025 Prestige: 20-21.9 M |
| Honda Vario 160 | 42 | Rp 18,700,000 → 24,600,000 | 2022: 18.7-19.5 M · 2023: 20-21.2 M · 2024: 22.2 M · 2025: 24.6 M |
| Honda PCX | 197 | Rp 19,000,000 → 32,600,000 | 2018: 19-21.2 M · 2020: 20-22.2 M · 2022: 24.6-25.2 M · 2025: 31.6-32.6 M |
| Yamaha NMAX | 206 | Rp 27,700,000 → 39,500,000 | 2023 ABS, 25,000 km: 28 M · 2024 Turbo, 10,000 km: 34.5 M |
| Honda ADV | 98 | Rp 23,000,000 → 38,900,000 | 2019: from 23 M · 2024-2025: 30-36.8 M · 2026: from 36.6 M |
These are asking prices, not transaction prices, and the snapshot of a single day: a map of the market, not a price list.
Two lessons come out of it. First, listing volume is the best liquidity indicator available. 318 Scoopys against 42 Vario 160s on sale at the same moment is not a quirk of stock, it is a structural gap in the fleet. Second, depreciation. A 2022 PCX 160 is asked at around 25 M against 36 M new, roughly 30% lost in four years. Nationally, Kompas reported in late October 2025 a step of about 1 million rupiah per model year on the used PCX 160, from 25 M for a 2021 CBS to 29 M for a 2024 ABS.
On the NMAX, tread carefully: the readings diverge sharply. A commercial Yamaha resale site shows 29.5 M for a 2021 non-ABS, but for a unit with under 5,000 km, whereas press figures reproduced online — which we could not reopen at the source — put the 2021-2022 model years closer to 20 to 25 million. Eight to ten million of spread on the same model year, with mileage and condition explaining most of it: get several quotes before you commit.
Before any used purchase, two things to read: the traps to avoid when buying a used scooter in Bali and what the STNK and BPKB have to contain. A scooter with no BPKB in the seller's name is not worth its asking price, whatever the model.
Fuel, servicing and parts: the cost that comes afterwards
The fuel gap between these five is too small to settle a purchase: between the 41.6 and 40.3 km/L measured in the PCX-NMAX head-to-head, the yearly difference runs to tens of thousands of rupiah. The Scoopy stands apart, with a claimed 59 km/L, but its 4.2 L tank cancels part of the benefit in range.
Servicing weighs more. The orders of magnitude reported in the Indonesian specialist press, for a visit to an official workshop:
| Item | Honda (AHASS network) | Yamaha (official workshop) |
|---|---|---|
| Labour, routine service | Rp 120,000 excluding CVT | Rp 60,000 to 120,000, oil included in the job |
| CVT service | Rp 55,000 to 75,000 | included depending on the package |
| Engine oil | Rp 58,000 | Rp 50,000 to 100,000 |
| Air filter | — | Rp 30,000 to 50,000 |
| Indicative total per visit | about Rp 233,000 | about Rp 150,000 to 250,000 |
These amounts are orders of magnitude taken from press articles published between 2022 and 2026 — which we could not reopen line by line at the source in September 2026 — not an official price list: prices vary by main dealer and by workshop category. The intervals, on the other hand, are stable: oil change every 4,000 km, CVT transmission check every 8,000 km.
On parts availability, the network settles the question: with 77.42% of national sales, Honda mechanically has the widest network of authorised workshops (AHASS) in the country — no verifiable count for Bali alone is published — and the island's main dealer sits at Jalan Cokroaminoto no. 80 in Denpasar. A Scoopy or a Vario can be fixed in any village garage on the island; so can an ADV or an NMAX, but with a less likely stock of model-specific parts at the local mechanic.
Does the licence change with engine size?
No, and this is where plenty of people get it wrong. Police Regulation No. 5 of 2021, articles 3 and 8, splits the Indonesian motorcycle licence into three categories: SIM C up to 250 cc, SIM CI from 250 to 500 cc, SIM CII above 500 cc. Moving up a step requires having held the previous one for 12 months.
The five models in this comparison run from 109.5 to 156.9 cc. They all fall under the same SIM C. Choosing an ADV 160 over a Scoopy creates no extra licence obligation whatsoever. What does remain true is the requirement to hold a valid document — an international permit in order, or an Indonesian licence — and the fact that roadside checks regularly target foreigners. The full route is in our article on driving licences in Bali.
On annual tax, the province of Bali applies a rate of 1.5% for a first vehicle, with reductions announced for 2026. All five scooters sit under 200 cc, so they fall in the same bracket: that parameter does not separate them.
Which model for which use?
| Your situation | The choice that holds up | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1.65 m, Canggu lanes, short trips | Scoopy | 746 mm seat, 94 kg, the handiest and the easiest to sell on |
| Tight budget, first scooter, a few months on the island | Used Scoopy | 318 live listings in Denpasar-Badung, from 11 to 21.9 M |
| Daily use solo or two-up, a mix of lanes and roads | Vario Evo 160 | 156.9 cc, 14-inch wheels, 18 L of storage, 116 kg |
| Shopping, a laptop, a full-face helmet to carry | PCX 160 | 30 L under the seat and an 8.1 L tank |
| Long distances, Denpasar-Ubud regularly, pillion comfort | NMAX Neo or Turbo | Wide seat, high bars, two-channel ABS as standard |
| Broken roads, speed bumps one after another, frequent passenger | ADV 160 | 165 mm of ground clearance, piggyback rear shocks |
| Taller than 1.85 m | ADV 160 or Vario Evo 160 | Seats at 780 and 778 mm, the tallest in the comparison |
| Surfboard on a side rack | Scoopy or Vario | A rack adds roughly 30 cm of width: go for the narrowest, lightest machine |
Frequently asked questions
Which scooter is the easiest to sell on in Bali?
The Scoopy, judging by listing volume. On 8 September 2026, 318 used Honda Scoopys were for sale across Denpasar and Badung, against 206 NMAXs, 197 PCXs, 98 ADVs and 42 Vario 160s. A large fleet means plenty of potential buyers, and a brand holding 77.42% of national sales in the first half of 2026 means a mechanic anywhere on the island will know how to service it. These are liquidity indicators, not a measure of how long a sale takes: no public statistic tracks resale time by model in Bali.
Can you still buy a Vario 160 new?
It has been replaced. PT Astra Honda Motor unveiled the Vario Evo 160 on 24 June 2026, and distribution began the same month. The "Vario 160" spec sheets you will still find online describe the outgoing model: useful for sizing up a used bike, not for buying new. The differences are modest — torque up to 14.0 Nm and reached lower in the rev range, claimed economy of 46.7 km/L, ground clearance down 2 mm to 138 mm, USB Type-C and a centre hook — and the starting price in Denpasar is Rp 29,590,000 in CBS trim.
Do you need a different licence for a 160 cc rather than a 110 cc?
No. Police Regulation No. 5 of 2021 sets the SIM C limit at 250 cc. The Scoopy (109.5 cc), the Vario Evo 160, the PCX 160, the ADV 160 (156.9 cc each) and the NMAX (155.09 cc) are all well under it: same licence category for all five. A SIM CI only becomes necessary above 250 cc, and a SIM CII above 500 cc, with 12 months of seniority required at each step.
Why are online prices lower than the dealer's?
Because three price grids coexist. The official "OTR Jakarta" price relayed by the press, the price comparison sites show for Denpasar, and the Bali dealer's price. One example recorded on 8 September 2026: a comparison site shows the PCX 160 CBS at Rp 30.94 million for Denpasar, while the Astra Motor network charges Rp 36.06 million in the same city. Five million of difference. Always take the dealer's price as your budget reference, and ask for a breakdown of what the "on the road" price covers.
Which scooter should you pick if you carry a passenger every day?
The ADV 160 if your route includes speed bumps and poor surfaces: 165 mm of ground clearance, piggyback rear shocks, and Indonesian testers describe it as the steadiest of the three big ones two-up. The NMAX if you mostly ride good tarmac: wide seat, high bars, relaxed position — with one reservation, its pillion seat is judged a little narrow. The Vario Evo 160 is the sensible middle: 14.0 Nm is enough for two, for only 116 kg and 9 million less than the ADV.
How much does it cost to service a scooter in Bali each year?
The orders of magnitude reported in the Indonesian specialist press give, for a visit to an official Honda workshop, around Rp 233,000 all in: Rp 120,000 of labour, Rp 55,000 of CVT service and Rp 58,000 of oil. At Yamaha, labour on a light service runs between Rp 60,000 and 120,000, with oil included in the job. With an oil change every 4,000 km, daily use in Bali typically means three to four visits a year. These amounts come from articles published between 2022 and 2026, not from an official 2026 price list, and they vary by workshop.
Is the NMAX "Turbo" actually turbocharged?
No. The commercial name refers to Yamaha's YECVT transmission, an electronically controlled continuously variable drive, paired with the Y-Shift function that simulates three levels of pick-up. The engine remains the 155.09 cc Blue Core with VVA, 15.1 PS at 8,000 rpm and 14.2 Nm at 6,500 rpm — the same figures as on the NMAX Neo, which keeps a conventional CVT. The international specialist press made the point as soon as the model launched.
Sources
Official
- Korlantas Polri — Requirements for holding a SIM C, CI or CII (Perpol 5/2021, art. 3 and 8) — Indonesian national police, published 31/05/2021, updated 02/10/2024.
- Korlantas Polri — The three SIM C categories — Indonesian national police, 01/06/2021.
- Yamaha Indonesia — NMAX "TURBO" / Neo, 2026 prices and specifications — manufacturer's website.
National press and media
- CNN Indonesia — Honda holds 77% of motorcycle sales in H1 2026 — 13/07/2026, AISI data.
- CNN Indonesia — What changes between the Vario Evo 160 and the old Vario 160 — 24/06/2026.
- Kompas Otomotif — Fuel economy test, PCX 160 against NMAX Turbo — 27/01/2025.
- Kompas Otomotif — Used PCX 160 prices by model year — 29/10/2025.
- Otorider — Official Vario Evo 160 prices, August 2026 — 09/08/2026.
- Otomotifnet — All New Honda Scoopy 2026 prices — 28/04/2026.
- Detik Oto — Real storage capacity of the NMAX Turbo — 05/08/2024.
- Beritamotor — All New Honda Scoopy, launch and launch pricing — 13/11/2025, launch date and technical data.
- Gridoto — Cost of a scheduled Vario 160 service at AHASS and Gridoto — Labour on a light NMAX service at an official workshop — neither page returned its body text during our check on 08/09/2026: the servicing figures are given as orders of magnitude, not as a verified price list.
Specialist press and road tests
- UltimateMotorcycling — 2026 Honda ADV160 review — 01/07/2025, suspension, storage and measured fuel economy.
- Otorider — NMAX Turbo storage compared with the PCX 160's — 12/07/2025.
Dealers and price comparison sites (commercial prices, recorded on 08/09/2026)
- Astra Motor — OTR Denpasar prices by variant — Honda dealer network.
- Astra Motor Center Honda Bali — Bali price list — dealer.
- Yamaha Bali (Waja Motor) — Bali OTR price list — Yamaha dealer, source of the new NMAX Neo and Turbo prices.
- Oto.com — technical data for the PCX 160, Vario 160, ADV 160, Scoopy and NMAX Turbo — comparison site.
- Zigwheels Indonesia — Denpasar prices for the ADV 160 and NMAX Turbo — comparison site.
- Used listings aggregator, Denpasar and Badung area — asking prices, not transaction prices.
- Yamaha dealer network — used NMAX price list — updated September 2026.
