Eagle Rider Questions

[blaze591]

Hiya, planning a trip to California in May, and renting a R1250GS. Difficult to tell what luggage it comes with - two panniers it seems but no top box.

Has anyone here rented a GS recently from them, and if so, can you tell me

a. if it came with a Top Box
b. what panniers it came with
c. was there sat nav preparation fitted to the bike.

Thanks!

 

[grantmac]

Rented from Eagle a few years back. Also riding south California and I deplore them. Bike was fine. I asked them about sat nav and they said none of thier bikes have sat nav’s but they could rent me one for 25 bucks per day. No option. When we arrived ALL thier GS/A had the mount. They rented us a crappy very old Nav2(??) which wasn’t working. Took them 3 hours to fit a new holder for said old unit which was time we didn’t have.
Simple scam to get you to rent thier old shite when they could have just said all bikes were fitted with the latest Nav 5/6 holders ex factory
Bike were fine. Luggage was side panniers only. Top box was extra so we travelled with roll bags. Panniers were the vario panniers standard on the 1200/1250 GS

 

[squibb34]

A GS in the US? Why not rent some proper Americana - HD or Indian.

Either a bagger or full dresser, should come with integrated Nav.

 

[blaze591]

A GS in the US? Why not rent some proper Americana - HD or Indian.

Either a bagger or full dresser, should come with integrated Nav.

I don't think Eagle Rider rent Indians in San Francisco. And honestly I wouldn't be seen dead on a Harley Davidson. I reckon my trip will be nicer on a bike I know and am familiar with, rather than something enormous.

 

[blaze591]

Rented from Eagle a few years back. Also riding south California and I deplore them. Bike was fine. I asked them about sat nav and they said none of thier bikes have sat nav’s but they could rent me one for 25 bucks per day. No option. When we arrived ALL thier GS/A had the mount. They rented us a crappy very old Nav2(??) which wasn’t working. Took them 3 hours to fit a new holder for said old unit which was time we didn’t have.
Simple scam to get you to rent thier old shite when they could have just said all bikes were fitted with the latest Nav 5/6 holders ex factory
Bike were fine. Luggage was side panniers only. Top box was extra so we travelled with roll bags. Panniers were the vario panniers standard on the 1200/1250 GS

This is exactly the information I needed! Thanks pal, absolutely brilliant. I'll take my connected ride phone mount with me then

Spot on!

 

[ymfb]

I hired an RT from them in September 22, it had panniers but no top box or Sat Nav.

I bought a used large BMW Softbag of here, pannier liners I had already and my Garmin XT with a ram mount, which I clamped onto the handlebars before I left the dealer. I bought and installed the US maps before I left.

We carried helmets as hand luggage.

IMO you need to take everything.

 

[grantmac]

To be on the safe side I’d buy a ram mount with the BMW din socket and Nav holder and take it with you just in case. If you are reliant on a nav and it goes tits up when you get there then you might have ruined the trip

 

[blaze591]

I hired an RT from them in September 22, it had panniers but no top box or Sat Nav.

I bought a used large BMW Softbag of here, pannier liners I had already and my Garmin XT with a ram mount, which I clamped onto the handlebars before I left the dealer. I bought and installed the US maps before I left.

We carried helmets as hand luggage.

IMO you need to take everything.

Planning - at the moment - on taking the Connected Ride Cradle from my bike, and installing it on the (Hopefully installed) sat nav prep. I may take a Quadlock handbar mount as a backup. Definitely the DIN USB charger. I'm going with two others, and they have gone the Harley route, so they will have Sat Navs. I don't really need to take one, but I bit of independence is nice.

Luggage wise, I have pannier liners, and also looking at either a Kriega US20 or 30. Figured that would double as hand luggage on the plane. I guess, like all soft luggage,. security is a concern, but I'll keep the valuables in the panniers so if it gets stolen, then I've minimised the loss. Was planning on taking my helmet, and the reading I have done seems to suggest there are very rarely issues with taking a motorcycle helmet onto a plane as a second piece of hand luggage. Did you find the same.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

A GS in the US? Why not rent some proper Americana - HD or Indian.

Either a bagger or full dresser, should come with integrated Nav.

The last thing you need in California is a barge like and HD or Indian. A GS is the perfect bike as there are some of the best pre riding roads in the US in the state especially north of SF. It's unbelievable in places........

I've found that Eaglerider don't always tell the whole truth but the bike should come with panniers if it's advertised as such.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

I don't think Eagle Rider rent Indians in San Francisco. And honestly I wouldn't be seen dead on a Harley Davidson. I reckon my trip will be nicer on a bike I know and am familiar with, rather than something enormous.

Exactly right and the GS is the perfect bike for California.

Let me know if you need any help with the best roads to ride as I've ridden most of them especially in NorCal.

 

[blaze591]

Exactly right and the GS is the perfect bike for California.

Let me know if you need any help with the best roads to ride as I've ridden most of them especially in NorCal.

Sounds like a great offer! I'll message you direct! Thanks!

 

[blaze591]

This is the trip we are looking at. Nine days. Hopefully Highway 1 will be open, and that Elon hasn't sacked all of the park rangers so we can get into Yosemite.!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Looks great and I've pm'd you.

 

[ymfb]

Planning - at the moment - on taking the Connected Ride Cradle from my bike, and installing it on the (Hopefully installed) sat nav prep. I may take a Quadlock handbar mount as a backup. Definitely the DIN USB charger. I'm going with two others, and they have gone the Harley route, so they will have Sat Navs. I don't really need to take one, but I bit of independence is nice.

Luggage wise, I have pannier liners, and also looking at either a Kriega US20 or 30. Figured that would double as hand luggage on the plane. I guess, like all soft luggage,. security is a concern, but I'll keep the valuables in the panniers so if it gets stolen, then I've minimised the loss. Was planning on taking my helmet, and the reading I have done seems to suggest there are very rarely issues with taking a motorcycle helmet onto a plane as a second piece of hand luggage. Did you find the same.

We flew BA and had no problems carrying our helmets.

 

[blaze591]

We flew BA and had no problems carrying our helmets.

That's good to know. We are flying Virgin but I think equally reputable.

 

[ymfb]

That's good to know. We are flying Virgin but I think equally reputable.

I flew with Virgin to Atlanta in January, they were excellent, I wasn’t carrying a helmet so I can’t be sure if it’s an issue, but I don’t imagine it will be.

 

[leadfarmer]

Was planning on taking my helmet

Definitely take your own helmets

We hired a bike in Las Vegas, they had skull cap lids and a couple of ropey piss pots, wifey was in agony with hers

 

[blaze591]

Definitely take your own helmets

We hired a bike in Las Vegas, they had skull cap lids and a couple of ropey piss pots, wifey was in agony with hers

We all ride with Sena comms. It's a lot safer and a lot more sociable. I am absolute stoked about this trip and being able to talk to my buddies as we ride will be brilliant. Wouldn't dream of not taking my lid. And - to be honest - I need a new one next year so if it goes missing it's not a huge deal.

 

[ymfb]

Two other tips from our US C2C were avoid the interstate highways as much as possible. The chain hotels were much better VFM with less problems than the boutique b&bs and small hotels.

 

[blaze591]

Two other tips from our US C2C were avoid the interstate highways as much as possible. The chain hotels were much better VFM with less problems than the boutique b&bs and small hotels.

Yes, good advice. The other guys have booked the hotels - my job was the route - but I think it's pretty much big chains apart from one AirBnB in San Luis Obispo!