International GS bike swapping

[Lamble]

International GS bike swapping could be a way to get folks riding around the world for a fraction of hire costs.

Anyone fancy looking at this.

Nr Seattle WA.

 

[Decster]

1150s of course

 

[Lamble]

It's a bad time for me to post actually, as the winter is soon to arrive here and shuts the place down, from a riding perspective, until next May, when most of the passes may have re-opened (honest July riding in snow isn't unusual at the higher altitudes), plus I'm off on a 6 month ride to S.America in a couple of weeks.

However, I'm open to a couple of weeks next year and will hopefully have the bike back, working and not in bits up the Andes somewhere.

Have you got any schedule planned Decster?

 

[Waza]

Bike Swap

This suggestion has merit and it's something we were talking about just a few weeks ago. The biggest stumbling block for me is trusting another rider with my bike & sorting out the insurance. Mind you if the shoe was on the other foot I would be respectful of anothers bike so I suppose that answers that question. Northern hemisphere vs South? Hard to swap summer for winter but interested none the less.

 

[Kritou]

I tried "advertising" a bike swop on the http://www.bmwor.org.nz a couple of years ago - absolutely no interest shown

A geat idea in theory but owners seem very wary of Johnny Foreigner

 

[Hustler]

International GS bike swapping could be a way to get folks riding around the world for a fraction of hire costs.

Anyone fancy looking at this.........

Errrr, no.
Hire companies have a fleet of bikes, Joe Public doesn't.
Joe Public has a bike to use it, if it's being hired out he doesn't have it.
Then there's insurance, breakdown, theft, damage, wear and tear.
Plus a very large element of trust needed with someone you don't even know.
And if you're riding round the world you don't want to have to keep coming back to places to return bikes, you want to carry on.
Sorry Lamble, you need to add a bit more to your budget I'm afraid.

 

[Ogmios]

... and i nearly rode a Triumph Trophy from Baja to Canada for a guy a few years ago.

the logistics and ri$k (£$€!) killed the idea.




Lamble
p.s;

by all means use that poem in other thread re. your trip.
and if you want any more..... no problem
~~
Og,
possessor of profitless pometry skills

 

[Waza]

Bike Swap in NZ

I tried "advertising" a bike swop on the http://www.bmwor.org.nz a couple of years ago - absolutely no interest shown

A geat idea in theory but owners seem very wary of Johnny Foreigner

Like a few of the other inmates say trust is a big issue and getting to know the person who wants to ride your bike would take some time. Best thing to do is start the communication. I have a Honda Dominator I'm happy to let visitors use so contact me if you are ever in my neck of the woods.

Loaning out my GS1200A is, well a different issue becase it's not just a bike it's an extension me, part of my personality. In saying this I'm not ruling it out but I'd need to know your expereince, where you would want to ride, a bond in cash to cover the insurance excess and agreed servicing pre and post the ride. And if this was topped off by a counter offer things could probably be worked through.

 

[Lamble]

Errrr, no.
Hire companies have a fleet of bikes, Joe Public doesn't.
Joe Public has a bike to use it, if it's being hired out he doesn't have it.
Then there's insurance, breakdown, theft, damage, wear and tear.
Plus a very large element of trust needed with someone you don't even know.
And if you're riding round the world you don't want to have to keep coming back to places to return bikes, you want to carry on.
Sorry Lamble, you need to add a bit more to your budget I'm afraid.

Errrr thanks!

What a damp blanket. Why does someone have to be riding around the world?
What if, I'm not using the bike for a couple of weeks?
What if, the person I lend it to, picks up the insurance ticket?

Errr, what if, I have a budget for a six month jaunt around S.America...oh that's right, I do!

If anyone wants to borrow my bike for a couple of weeks next year and you are going to be in the Seattle area (Cascade Mountains and Olympic Peninsula), drop me a line, and despite Hustler's enthusiasm, we may be able to sort something out.

 

[Lamble]

Like a few of the other inmates say trust is a big issue and getting to know the person who wants to ride your bike would take some time. Best thing to do is start the communication. I have a Honda Dominator I'm happy to let visitors use so contact me if you are ever in my neck of the woods.

Loaning out my GS1200A is, well a different issue becase it's not just a bike it's an extension me, part of my personality. In saying this I'm not ruling it out but I'd need to know your expereince, where you would want to ride, a bond in cash to cover the insurance excess and agreed servicing pre and post the ride. And if this was topped off by a counter offer things could probably be worked through.

Never been to N.Zealand. Have you been to the Pacific North West?

Strange place, west of the Cascades it's all green, east side is a desert. The Cascades themselves are pretty spectacular. I was on a mountain pass two weeks ago, that was only built in 1972, because until that time the technology didn't exist. This route still closes from any day now until May time due to snow at the higher altitudes, 8-9k ft. Then there's the Olympic Peninsula with a rain forest and some more mountains.

Perhaps we can look at summer/winter swap for 2010?

I'm off down to Central and S.America in a few days for a six month ride around. Then next summer I'm riding the Ice Age Missoula flood paths from British Columbia, down the flood route across Idaho and Eastern Washington's scablands, picking up the Columbia Gorge to the Pacific, so 2010 would be the earliest.

Currently I'm on a GS1150 ADV, but by then who knows.

 

[Hustler]

Errrr thanks!

What a damp blanket.............

I wasn't being a damp blanket Lamble, simply being realistic.
I haven't exactly seen a queue forming with folk ready to loan their bike out.
But please enjoy your trip down to Central and S.America and take care.

 

[Waza]

2010

Never been to N.Zealand. Have you been to the Pacific North West?

Strange place, west of the Cascades it's all green, east side is a desert. The Cascades themselves are pretty spectacular. I was on a mountain pass two weeks ago, that was only built in 1972, because until that time the technology didn't exist. This route still closes from any day now until May time due to snow at the higher altitudes, 8-9k ft. Then there's the Olympic Peninsula with a rain forest and some more mountains.

Perhaps we can look at summer/winter swap for 2010?

I'm off down to Central and S.America in a few days for a six month ride around. Then next summer I'm riding the Ice Age Missoula flood paths from British Columbia, down the flood route across Idaho and Eastern Washington's scablands, picking up the Columbia Gorge to the Pacific, so 2010 would be the earliest.

Currently I'm on a GS1150 ADV, but by then who knows.

Sounds doable in 2010. My daughter is moving to New Mexico for year or two so I'd like to make my way over to that part of the Country. Send me a Pm and I'll save your contact details for later.

 

[somclan]

have the tee shirt

A couple of years ago I linked up with a guy in NYC who was interested in a bike swap ... I have been over twice and taken his gspd and he has come over and taken my 12gs... It has worked for us and need only to be as complicated as you want it to be... TRUST is the key word here and at some stage you are going to have to watch a relative stranger ride away on your bike ... On the other side I get the chance to ride in the States pretty much when ever I get the urge...

 

[Lamble]

http://www.bikeshareworld.com/

As nothing is ever a truly new idea!

The same question came up in the PNWGS (Pacific North West GSers) group and the link above was the answer.

I'm couch surfing and have done house swaps before, so bikes are just the same, requiring mutual respect and financial cover, in the event of damage.

It's not only doable, it's being done.

Hustler, okay perhaps not damp, would "moist" work?

 

[Lamble]

Sounds doable in 2010. My daughter is moving to New Mexico for year or two so I'd like to make my way over to that part of the Country. Send me a Pm and I'll save your contact details for later.

Having to pull out of the offer. My circumstances have changed and I'm on my way back to the UK.

I do have a few Pac NW contacts that you could follow up with though.

Let me know and I'll see what I can do.

 

[mystic]

http://www.bikeshareworld.com/

As nothing is ever a truly new idea!

The same question came up in the PNWGS (Pacific North West GSers) group and the link above was the answer.

It's not only doable, it's being done.

Exactly, no point in re-inventing the wheel

Been a member of BikeshareWorld for past eight years ...... excellent organisation ........ members in US, Canada, Austrailia, UK, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand. Not exclusively BMW, though a fair proportion of members do ride them.

Now done four longish trips (2 in the US, one in Canada, and one in southern Africa). In return, have loaned out my 1150GS to three other international members. Initially, the idea of a total stranger riding off on your "pride & joy" seems madness! But can honestly say that I've not had the slightest problem. My experiences have all been good. I'm still in touch with three of my Bikesharers several years on. End of the day, it comes down to establishing a level of trust between you ..... I've always treated other's bikes as if they were my own .... and experience confirms that others do the same.

Great way to meet new people ..... save money ..... and see something of the world at the same time!

Link to the website at top of Lamble's post.

If anyone wants further info, PM me.