Hiring a bike abroad

[Marclev]

Has anybody ever done this? Work are sending me to the states for a while, and rather than a rental car I'm wondering if there's such a thing as a "rental bike", but how does that work with things like protective clothing, etc... (no room in suitcase for my gear and helmet)?

[MarJay]

I think it'll be unlikely that your work will pay for it. Hiring a bike is usually ten times as expensive as hiring a cheap car. I don't know about your work, but my company covers the collision damage insurance, so you don't need to buy it when hiring. They most certainly would not do that for a bike, and I suspect their duty of care to their employees includes preventing them from splatting themselves on the pavement on some evil kitten killing motorcycle.

If you manage it I'll be extremely surprised.
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[c_dug]

I've rented a bike abroad (France) when I was17, it was a doddle.

No idea on the Yanks, or your employers for that matter.
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[Rogerborg]

I looked into it last time I was over, but the market is mostly set up for renting Harley Electra Iron Bagster Glide Freedom Murcas to living-the-dream tourists, rather than providing cheap utility bikes. Far, far more expensive than a car. Sad times.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[MCN]

We even drove to a Hardly dealer in Hooston Texas when we were working there. Mancoso are the folks.
We all earn a not too bad coin in the oil patch but they dealer was asking fucking stupid money just to hire four Hoggs for the weekend.

Our plan was to do the romantic and ride from where we were in Hooston to San Antonio (Alamo, The Pondarossa or The High Chaparral or where ever).
Not exactly sure as it registered as redickulus but I remember it would have cost us about US$600 for the pleasure exluding deposits on the machines and hire of the PPE.

They were probably new-ish bikes or Sales Demo units and although we Brits still don't fully accept that America actually belongs to the Septics we were regarded are foreigners/Gringos too.

Join one of the US bike forums and ask there. Or ask a travel agent here.

Not sure if they would help but we hire cars from ALAMO rental in the states they are very nice folk so could possibly advise since they are in a not dissimilar business.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Val]

I was thinking to do the same my sis lives in Florida.

Anyhow there zillions of companies that can rent you a bike. Mostly Harleys and adventure bikes. There are few specialised in BMW and KTM.

From this guys I fancy most Triumph Bonneville:

https://www.thelostadventure.com/eagle-rider-bike-hire

Note bike hire is expensive if you are long term there you will be better off to buy bike there and sell it later. Not sure how insurance will work this way though.

Unless you have UK insurance will cover riding other bikes abroad?
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[-Matt-]

[MCN]

[Marclev]

Hi "y'all",

So, an update. I'm here in rainy Seattle and yes, as everybody's said, the only things available to rent (from a very limited selection of places, and not cheap) are Harleys.

Didn't do it in the end, but wow I'm missing my Divvie, it's been close to two weeks without riding.

Think I'll have to do a long road trip when I get back to make it up to her!

[Rogerborg]

So that's what it takes to make you miss a Divvy.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[hellkat]

I have a mate (a kiwi guy) who lives in Sacramento who is not so Harley-obsessed.

He does a bit of touring around on his bikes as well, so as you are at least both on the same coast, he might not be averse to meeting up and having a nag.
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[angryjonny]

[blueglue]

Rented scooters with just passports in the late 90's.

Also rented a couple of bikes in New Zealand. Handed my full UK car driving licence (at the time) and asked what i could rent with it. The guy went "i don't know what im looking at, just don't crash it".

I just did the half nod half shake my head when answering questions.


Being the US though you will probably do a 10 stretch if you get anything wrong

https://www.eaglerider.com/faqs/motorcycle-rentals

[metalangel]

This place in Vegas rented bikes, they don't specify what you need so try dropping them a line to ask.

https://www.dreamcarrentals.com/travel-guide/motorcycle-rentals-overview/

At the time I was there they had Gixxers and a few other things as well as the Harleys.
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Previous: 2002 Honda CB500 (sold), 2007 Suzuki SV650SK6 (crashed), 2005 Yamaha FZ6 Fazer (sold). Currently bikeless
"A faired bike will get you 10x more clunge than a unfaired one." -Marlboro Matt

[ZRX61]

You can get a Mustang for about $700/month..... or a Harley for $700 a WEEK...
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[Parson]

I was recently in Lanzarote and was looking at it. Thought it would be a good day getting away from the missus for a day exploring the bits of the island I've never been to.

In the end I hired a quad and went off road, maybe I'll get a bike next year.
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Then gsx650F - Now VFR800F

[monkeybiker]

Probably cheaper to buy a bike and then sell super cheap back to the seller at the end of holiday.

[yen_powell]

I've had scooters in Turkey then a DR350 for a week. Cheap.

I've had scooters in Corfu, then another DR350 for a week. Cheap.

I've had scooters (cheap) and a BMW for a week in Lanzarote (not so cheap).

This year I went to Portugal and hiring a big bike was too steep for me. Had a poxy scooter for the whole two weeks.

Corfu DR350
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/Corfu/Corfu2013257.jpg
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/Corfu/Corfu2013126.jpg
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/Corfu/5Corfu2013190.jpg
BMW in Lanzarote.
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/Lanzarote2014-Sep099cr.jpg
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/Lanzarote2014-Sep148.jpg
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[Rogerborg]

[orac]

I was speaking to someone a while back, there opinion was it seemed to depend on size. they hired a mini chopper thing that was just 110cc. they didn't even get ask if they had a valid licence.

now this will most likely vary depending of location and company.
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[tracks]

I often find myself having to go to Detroit so last time I was there I hired a bike for a few day from these guys https://www.motorcityharley.com/.

Wish I'd never bothered as the roads are poorly maintained and full of potholes plus filtering, sorry lane splitting is a no no in the state of Michigan.[/i]

[spnorm]

Eaglerider offer non-Harley's too, although generally a limited selection. I rented an R1200RT from them in LA for 16 days in 2012, although it was a slightly tatty example.

It's very expensive though once you add in the insurance etc. and cost over £2k It's much cheaper to hire a nice car e.g. I rented a Mustang convertible for £600 last year and I've already booked one for £500 for 15 days next July. A V8 Camaro SS convertible or Corvette Z06 would have been £1050, so still half the price of a bike.

I did regret not riding a bike over the Beartooth Highway into Yellowstone though