Renting a Bike when Traveling

Have you ever traveled somewhere and thought, “Wow! I wish I had my motorcycle.”?

Yeah, me too. When you travel and think you might have time to enjoy the scenery, it may help if you prepare to rent a bike in advance.

I recently traveled for business from Florida to Las Vegas. Before leaving, I reviewed the schedule for the conference I was to attend and realized I would have several hours free the first morning. I began checking around Vegas for the best places to ride and the logistics of getting a bike while I was there. My search found that the Hoover Dam and Red Rocks National Park were each about 40 minutes from the Strip. I also found https://www.riders-share.com and https://www.eaglerider.com both seemed great options for bike rentals.

Riders Share is cheaper, as you rent personal bikes from local riders. However, I rented a 2023 Street Glide from Eagle Rider because of the proximity to my hotel and the time to rent and return the bike after only a few hours. Eagle Rider was flexible, but ensure you have secure parking if you plan to keep the bike overnight. A $5000 credit card deposit was required to take the bike. I could use my insurance, and the total cost was $180.

Knowing you might ride on your trip; you’ll need to decide what gear you want to travel with and what you will rent or do without. Other things to consider are weather and ride conditions, such as traffic, elevation, etc. All of these played a part in my ride. The highway was busy and under construction, making traffic terrible until I got out of town. The temperature change riding from Vegas into the foothills and mountains was 27 degrees, from 82 down to 55. Luckily, I had brought an insulated jacket that was adequate for the change.

If you plan to visit a point of interest, research the hours and entry specifics so there are no surprises. I failed there. I rode out to Red Rocks from Vegas, only to find you needed a reservation to enter the park. It was still great. I ended up riding around the mountains for a few hours, which was one of the highlights of the entire trip.

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have tips or thoughts related to this story.

*Video shoot footage shot with Insta360 X3, GoPro Hero, Canon 90D