Is It Safe to Ride a Scooter in Labuan Bajo? Honest Tips from Locals

We hand over scooters every day, and we see a lot of riders come back happy, sunburnt and full of stories. We also see the odd scraped knee. The difference is almost always preparation, not luck. Here's what we tell our own guests.

What the roads are actually like

Traffic

Compared with Bali, traffic in Labuan Bajo is calm. The busiest stretch is the main street along the harbour (Jalan Soekarno-Hatta) in the late afternoon, when everyone heads out for sunset and dinner. Outside town, roads are quiet.

Hills

This is the thing that surprises people. Labuan Bajo is built on a hillside. Several streets climb steeply from the waterfront, and the roads up to the viewpoints have short, sharp gradients. Going up, give it smooth, steady throttle. Coming down, brake early and gently with both brakes — don't grab the front brake mid-corner.

Surface

The main roads are paved and mostly in good condition. Watch for:

• Gravel and sand on bends, especially near construction sites
• Potholes on smaller village roads
• Speed bumps in residential streets, sometimes unpainted
• Slippery surfaces in the first rain after a dry spell

Animals and people

Dogs nap on the road. Goats wander. Kids walk home from school along the edge of the road. Chickens do whatever chickens do. Expect the unexpected around every village and slow down.

Ten habits that keep you safe

1. Wear the helmet and fasten the strap. Every ride, even "just to the shop".
2. Ride on the left. Indonesia drives on the left. Say it in your head at junctions.
3. Use the horn politely. A short beep before blind corners is normal here, not rude.
4. Keep your speed down in town. 30–40 km/h is plenty.
5. Don't ride after dark outside town unless you're experienced. Street lights are rare and potholes are invisible.
6. Never ride after drinking. Not even one Bintang at sunset.
7. Cover up. Long trousers and closed shoes reduce scrapes — and sunburn.
8. Don't overload the scooter. Two people and a daypack, not two people and two big backpacks.
9. Check the bike before you set off. Brakes, lights, horn, tyres. We do this at handover, but get used to it.
10. Keep your phone charged and our WhatsApp number saved.

First time on a scooter?

Be honest with yourself. Labuan Bajo isn't the ideal place to learn from zero, because of the hills. If you've ridden a little before, pick a light automatic like the Honda BeAT or Scoopy, and spend your first half hour on the flatter road towards the airport before tackling the climbs.

If you've never ridden, consider a car with driver for the day, or ask your hotel about a short lesson somewhere quiet. There's no shame in it — plenty of experienced travellers make that call.

Riding with a passenger

Two people changes how a scooter brakes and climbs. Choose something with more power — the Yamaha NMAX or Honda PCX — and remind your passenger to lean with you, keep feet on the pegs and hold on at the hips, not your arms.

The sun and the heat

It's easy to forget about the sun when there's a breeze on the bike. Put sunscreen on your hands, neck and face, drink plenty of water and plan rides for the morning or late afternoon.

What to do if something goes wrong

• Flat tyre: look for a tambal ban sign — small roadside tyre repair stalls are everywhere and fix punctures quickly and cheaply.
• Breakdown: message us on WhatsApp with your location. Around Labuan Bajo we'll come to you.
• Accident: check everyone is okay, move off the road if it's safe, take photos and call us. In an emergency, the national ambulance number is 118 or 119.

Read our article on Labuan Bajo road rules for tourists for the legal side.

Safety questions