Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: jlmoulto on January 18, 2006, 09:16:12 AM
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So we are looking to plan a vacation in Florida this summer (Worst case, the following Spring based on some work issues)
While there, we are interested in renting a motorcyle for about 10 days. Anyone have a good contact for something like that?
I have done some internet searching and generally find Harley Davidson's for like $1000.00 or so per week. I'd give some consideration to that, but then realized that I could probably buy a bike and resell it before I left. As I am from Canada, I am wondering about licensing and insuring. I am assuming that my insurance company from here would cover me during the two weeks, which I can check out. Does anyone know if I can ride for two weeks without registering the bike? Has anyone else done this before? Am I crazy and should Ijust spend the money to rent a new bike?
Thanks
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Well the laws might have changed since I was last there but what I did is buy a piece of shit in the autotrader got a 20 day temporary tag and drove around for 2 weeks then sold it back to the original owner for 100 bucks. Back then you didn't need insurance to drive in FLorida, got stopped for a speeding ticket and all the cops wanted was proof of ownership. Total cost for driving around for 2 weeks....$150 bucks. Sure beat renting for 1000 a week. Just don't hit a Porsche!!
Put it this way even if you buy a bike for 1500 bucks go to a used bike shop and they give you 300 bucks for it you still have saved 800 bucks. Go to a bike wrecker and buy a grimmer that way they give you the 20 day tag free.
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I would consider renting just to save the headaches of buying, changing titles, what if the bike has mechanical troubles, etc. You don't want to waste precious vacation time in line at the DMV and possibly chasing parts. If you're going in the off season (FLA is a big spring break place) you may find discounts. Do you really want a Harley? I've seen some rental outfits that rent Honda VTXs for some good prices. Just some input, have fun!
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Are you familiar with traffic in certain areas of Florida (Like withing 30 miles of any coastline)? Personally I wouldn't ride a motorcycle anywhere near those crazies and old people. Just my two cents.
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Took my bike to New Smyrna Beach in 2001. Holy Crap. You ain't kidding about old people down there. Not to mention I stay right on the beach and the sand on the roads is terrible.
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I'd prefer to not rent a Harley, if there were other options...that is one of the main reasons I'd rather buy a piece of junk than pay up to 1000 for a week of riding on a Harley. (Nothing wrong with them, just not my preference)
Any links to guys renting the vtx? I'd really like to rent a Vstrom, or dare I say a Bandit!!!
As for crazy drivers, are we kidding ourselves that our own neck of the woods is any safer?
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When I was in FLA what cracked me up was the "minimum" speed limit signs along with the normal limit signs. There are a lot of gray heads behind the wheel in FLA, be careful! I don't have any links handy, check the back of magazines like Cycle World, they actually have a bike rental/adventure tours section in the ads. Other than that, try a google search "rental bikes florida" or something of that nature.