US riding insurance

[Major_Grooves]

I'm looking at hiring a bike through Eagle Rider in San Francisco.

I can't remember what insurance options I took last time but I'm unsure what I should pay for this time. You kind of get the impression that unless you pay for it all you will be screwed to the hilt if you have a mishap. Anyone got any experience of what insurance to get?
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[Phoenix]

Hard to know without getting the specifics off the company, problem is with American rental guys is they will not give you a straight answer their job is just to sell you everything and they'll make it as incomprehensible as possible to persuade you to take the lot just incase and because you don't actually understand what you need.

I can only speak from experience of cars, looking at that website there seems to be some strange extra waivers and insurances. If they offer it I would take the damage/theft waiver, it basically means you don't pay any excess in the event of an accident or theft. That website suggests you will pay differing amounts depending on which insurance you take though (VIP or Enhanced VIP), and apparently will still then pay for a theft excess too. You need to check if theft insurance is for the vehicle or your belongings though, they often don't tell you but it's actually just your belongings you're insuring and not the car...ie totally pointless as the car is insured for theft with the basic rental package your travel insurance would cover your belongings regardless.

Get the paperwork off them and have a good read and then when you think you know the score go and have a chat and see if they're going to talk honestly. Really you just want a damage and vehicle theft deductible waiver and possibly a breakdown insurance depending on if the basic rental covers punctures (could be a shitter in the middle of death valley on a motorbike). Increased liability is upto you, do you really think you're likely to do more than $500,000 or $1million dollars damage using the basic cover? Maybe get it if you're planning on visiting a Ferrari rally on the bike.

[Grazoid]

Bugger ... I was going to say ask the guy who recently posted about riding in California... but it was you!