pacific coast highway 2010

[barrygs]

hi guys,
i am just looking for some advice or suggestions about going to the states and and renting bikes. i will be traveling in may 2010. starting in seattle and driving to san diego and if time permits a quick blast to vegas. i'm trying to keep expenses down. so i need some suggestions about bike rental companies and about all the nessesary insurance that needs to be taken out. or just something i may have overlooked.
thanks
barry

 

[Cornwallis]

With a drop off in a location that's different to your pick up, you may have to go for a large franchise such as Eagle Rider. And if you're unlucky, you may be restricted to Harleys...............The Horror!

 

[Martyn B]

He's right y'now....

With a drop off in a location that's different to your pick up, you may have to go for a large franchise such as Eagle Rider. And if you're unlucky, you may be restricted to Harleys...............The Horror!

If you go for Eagle Rider that is. However, according to their website http://www.rental-motorcycle.com/namerica/usa/washington/washington_rental.html

Admo do the following rentals from Seattle - and have a place in San Diego. Not sure what their rates are like though:

Seattle
Harley
Honda
Kawasaki
Triumph
Yamaha

If you do have to have a Harley, I found a way of not worrying about the drop off - throw it down the road and see it taken away in several pieces by a pick-up.

Simples!

 

[Sgt Bilco]

As the other guys say, Eaglerider is a good option as you rent it with all insurance etc and can even rent the riding gear. A Harley is a great bike to ride the 101 as it`s not a fast road. Best thing to do is nip down to your local Harley dealer and see which one fits. Ignore the HD bashers, they are OK and as long as you aren`t rushed, they are a great way to travel in the US.

You can easily run down from Seattle to San Diego in a week so you will have time to go inland. IMHO, the 101 from Santa Barbara down is horrible as you run through a lot of built up LA. The best bit is north of San Francisco and is classic, coast hugging and winding.

There are some fantastic roads inland south of San Francisco which just beg to be ridden like R33 to Ojai and R2 the Angeles Skyway (did this last week and it`s unbelievable).

If you run across to Vegas, do not take the Interstate as the I15 has to be amongst the most dangerous roads on the planet. The drivers are feckin nuts and it`s an 80mph traffic jam. You can run across the mountains through Sequoia and across Death Valley which is superb.

I`ve ridden many roads around there so happy to help with route suggestions if needed.

 

[rob mac]

Eaglerider sometimes have bikes that need "returning" to where the last bloke took it from, much cheaper rental price but you obviously don't get a say in what you ride and as they've got a depot in Vegas, near the airport, it might be worth an ask. You've got to do the "strip" in Vegas with ZZ Top on full blast coming out the speakers on an Electra glide - just as nobbish as going through the Maccy D drive through with a Saxo bass box on full blast but what the feck - you're on holiday!

 

[boxer]

If you'd rather a Gold Wing then Eagle Rider Seattle will supply one if you ask.

You may hear otherwise, but take it from me, Eagle Rider [Seattle] address is: 22616 Pacific Highway South.