American rental

[Resurrection]

Has anyone rented a bike in the USA? I’m going to Colorado in November for a couple of weeks and wouldn’t mind getting out on a bike for a few days. Is it particularly difficult? Anybody got any recommendations?
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ZX9r

[mentalboy]

Harley do a rental scheme, compared to car hire it's fucking extortionate.

You do know that it snows in Co in the winter months??? It had only just stopped a few weeks earlier before we went in early June this summer.
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Make mine a Corona.

[ThatDippyTwat]

[MCN]

[mentalboy]

[1198]

I hired a couple of Harley’s in Florida a couple of years back. It was painless enough and about £100 or so per day as I recall.

[GTR1400]

I used these guys to rent a gsxr in the Great Smoky Mountains two years ago: https://sportbikes4hire.com/

Had a great experience. No hassle, lovely people running the place.
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Current ride: Honda VFR 800 (Pre-VTEC) Previous: Honda CBF600, Kawasaki ER5, Derbi Senda 125

[UncleFester]

It was snowing in Yosemite / Crater lake a couple of weeks back. Still 32 degrees in Modesto the next day though

Can't see the fascination with Yank tours on a bike, it's either straight / meltingly hot or freezing. Sane goes for Ragtops unless you're posing in the town centres.
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2017 Z1000SX

[mentalboy]

[UncleFester]

[barrkel]

I rented an MP3 from Eagle Rider in San Francisco for a week, about 10 years ago.

https://www.eaglerider.com/sanfrancisco/motorcycle-rental

Relatively pain free. I'd advise bringing your own helmet if you want a full-face that fits though, they only had half-helmets.

For Colorado, Denver may be an option:

https://www.eaglerider.com/denver-bmw-triumph/rental

Grand Junction has a couple of BMWs if you're on the other side:

https://www.eaglerider.com/grandjunction/rental

You didn't need an IDP if you had an EU license when I rented. I don't know how that will change post-Brexit (if it happens on October 31st).

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/identity/international-driving-permit
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[spnorm]

[mentalboy]

[Arfa__]

I've rented from Eagle Rider in San Francisco a couple of times. And have a rental booked for later this month (was planning on doing Yosemite on a Super Tenere, weather/snow/temp depending...). Have also rented from Dubbelju in San Fran and RentThisBike in Brisbane, Aus in the past too.

EagleRider as a whole I've found very good, professional and well setup. They don't just do Harley's, and the range of bikes offered at their San Fran garage has certainly been extended lately (with Triumph's, Yamaha's, Enfields). They have a BMW/Honda/Ducati garage in South San Fran - not used that one, their opening times were always awkward for times I could pickup/drop off around my work trips over there. Dubbelju in San Fran, again very good, smaller family owned business with nice selection of bikes. Prices fairly on par with Eagle Rider, but they can be more flexible on times.

They're certainly not the cheapest, do factor in $35/per day for your excess waiver, $10/day for breakdown, 3rd party cover and all the various other taxes that are never shown on face value of stuff in the US. It soon mounts up. They do provide a half piss-pot style lid for free - only of use if you want to look like a hard ass hells angel and put no value on your jaw bone. You can rent a full face lid from them, but last time I tried they had very few size wise and the visor was super scratched (so they discounted the rental). So, I would definitely recommend taking your own lid and gear.

License wise, they all been happy to just check out my UK driving license and confirm my passport. And of course swipe credit card for security. Some places like you to be aged over 21 or 25, and have held your bike license for at least 1 or 2 years.

GPS can be an issue, only the monster Harley's come with built in satnav. I have coped pretty well with a phone and headphones in past. But using my own lid with a cheap Chinese bluetooth headset is definitely better to hear directions from phone. Do download google maps offline beforehand, mobile coverage on back roads can be thin.

The two Harley's I hired from EagleRider came with luggage - soft panniers on the Dyna 103, hard on the RoadKing. They also provided a mini disc lock too. The Bonneville I rented from Dubbelju had only a bear rack on the back. But best double check options on the bike you choose. Taking a small backpack is probably wise, just in case, and when walking about off bike. Also, do pack plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

Check the deal for tolls on roads/bridges you will be taking. Some are electronic only (e.g. Golden Gate bridge), other can be done cash at booth (e.g. Oakland bridge). The former, are best pre-paying with rental company.

Either way, just do it, it's a great way to explore when out abroad, a good chance to try a bike you wouldn't normally consider, and it'll definitely be a memorable experience
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[UncleFester]

[mentalboy]

[Phoenix]

Colorado can be bloody cold in November, we had an arctic blast last week that sent temperatures near Denver down to -17 and -30 just north of there and it snows a lot and is unpredictable around Denver/Boulder due to the mountains, it's a really bad time to rent a motorcycle if there was even any company willing to rent one in November.

[F6HULK]

I've lived in a western suburb of Denver for 40 years. Riding in November is really hit or miss. Even riding south to New Mexico can be tricky with weather. I do day rides, but nothing much in the mountains from November to April. You'd be better off going to Arizona, California or Nevada. If you're out here already, good luck.
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John Svec