Renting a motorcycle from a private party

[london]

I don't currently own a motorcycle and due to the storage issues I can't buy right now. But I miss riding and want to occasionally rent a motorcycle. The problem is that nobody rents motorcycles around Boston, the closest is about an hour drive from where I live which is not worth it for me. Does anybody know if it's legal to rent from a private owner? Where can I find somebody willing to rent their bike for a day? I want to pay $50-70 per day and I live in Arlington, MA (pretty close to Boston).

[Garandman]

Boston Harely Davidson in Everett rents bikes.

Insurance is problematic for a private owner.

[london]

Unfortunately, Boston Harley Davidson stopped renting. They have another location in NH but it's really far.

[SteveM]

Mom's south in foxboro?

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Good luck at $50-$70

You will be looking in the $200 per day range MINIMUM to rent a bike, with a large deposit and your own insurance.

[boosten lebaron]

My brother rents harley's from someplace close to boston. He just did one last week. As a matter of fact he does it every few weeks so i know its gotta be close to the city. It aint cheap though. Think he says its about $150 everytime. Then you gotta rent gear if you dont have any.
I can ask him if next time i talk to him but its certainly not in your price range. There is a kid out in springfield that rents out his ninja on craigslist. Ive had a few friends use him when they need a bike so he is legit. I dont know if he is still doing it though.

[FriskyDingo]

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/factory-store/rentals

also about an hour away from you, but your pretty limited in choices so it's at least another option, between $110 - $180 per day less if you do 3-4 days at a time.

[breakdirt916]

sounds like a long shot, so to answer your original question, I'd say "no"

but anything is possible on craigslist

no friends?

[rice_rocket]

Wirelessly posted

I probably would rent mine... but I definitely would have to figure out insurance coverage and liability... then again the bike I own now is old and not worth as much, I probably wouldn't on some of my previous rides that were more pristine.

[rice_rocket]

Wirelessly posted

I probably would rent mine... but I definitely would have to figure out insurance coverage and liability... then again the bike I own now is old and not worth as much, I probably wouldn't on some of my previous rides that were more pristine.

[SteveM]

http://www.momsouth.com/eaglerider.htm

Here's the link to rentals at Mom's South.

[london]

Wirelessly posted

Good luck at $50-$70

You will be looking in the $200 per day range MINIMUM to rent a bike, with a large deposit and your own insurance.

I rented a 2013 Harley from a dealership in Dartmouth, it was $100 / day.

[london]

..
no friends?

Rather no friends with bikes. Weird, right?

[london]

Wirelessly posted

I probably would rent mine... but I definitely would have to figure out insurance coverage and liability... then again the bike I own now is old and not worth as much, I probably wouldn't on some of my previous rides that were more pristine.

I'll PM you, maybe we can make it happen! I don't care if the bike is old, just want to ride sometimes.

[breakdirt916]

Rather no friends with bikes. Weird, right?

that is, by far, the cheapest and easiest way to do it. takes care of insurance and ownership (and rental cost) issues

[london]

that is, by far, the cheapest and easiest way to do it. takes care of insurance and ownership (and rental cost) issues

Doesn't insurance on a bike only cover the owner and not friends? Do you know if it's legal to let your friends ride your motorcycle just like it's legal to let friends drive your car?

[breakdirt916]

actually, that's the one thing I was unclear on...technically the insurance of the driver covers the cost of an at-fault accident

however, you do have insurance as a driver for a car, right?

you might want to call them to ensure you have coverage if rode someone else's bike

[boosten lebaron]

might want to make sure they have an actual motorcycle license endorsement too.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Wirelessly posted

Good luck at $50-$70

You will be looking in the $200 per day range MINIMUM to rent a bike, with a large deposit and your own insurance.

I rented a 2013 Harley from a dealership in Dartmouth, it was $100 / day.

You did good. When i worked at minuteman, their rates were higher than that.

[CBR929RE]

problem with renting from a person is the person doesn't know you. so good luck finding someone to just hand you their bike for $75.

[Jaynnus]

Wirelessly posted



You did good. When i worked at minuteman, their rates were higher than that.

Monday to Thursday are cheaper than Friday - Sunday.

I know people that have rented there and had a bad experience. Hell, everyone I have ever spoken to that worked or shopped there had a bad experience.

[gregp]

I have a coworker who wrecked his friends VFR. It was a slow speed, parking lot wreck, but the coworker got hurt - requiring medical attention. According to him, the whole thing was a colossal mess - insurance wise - and in the end, it cost him a small fortune. The medical bills exceeded $100k, and *nobody's* insurance would cover the bills - not the bike owners insurance co., not his own health insurance co., nobody. It took years of wrangling for him to finally get it settled, but to this day, he will not touch another person's vehicle - car, bike, etc.. Over the years, the stress of the threat of financial ruin took its toll on his family. This accident occurred over 10 years ago, but it is scary story to hear.
He is now very well versed in insurance coverage and rules. Apparently, there is an insurance rider that must be purchased (in MA) to cover loaning your bike out to friends... Without speaking to your insurance agent, it is a risky proposition. That is all I can offer here.

Loaning your bike out is definitely one of those cases when, what you don't know, *can* hurt you.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted

Wirelessly posted



You did good. When i worked at minuteman, their rates were higher than that.

Monday to Thursday are cheaper than Friday - Sunday.

I know people that have rented there and had a bad experience. Hell, everyone I have ever spoken to that worked or shopped there had a bad experience.

True dat.

[breakdirt916]

I have a coworker who wrecked his friends VFR. It was a slow speed, parking lot wreck, but the coworker got hurt - requiring medical attention. According to him, the whole thing was a colossal mess - insurance wise - and in the end, it cost him a small fortune. The medical bills exceeded $100k, and *nobody's* insurance would cover the bills - not the bike owners insurance co., not his own health insurance co., nobody. It took years of wrangling for him to finally get it settled, but to this day, he will not touch another person's vehicle - car, bike, etc.. Over the years, the stress of the threat of financial ruin took its toll on his family. This accident occurred over 10 years ago, but it is scary story to hear.
He is now very well versed in insurance coverage and rules. Apparently, there is an insurance rider that must be purchased (in MA) to cover loaning your bike out to friends... Without speaking to your insurance agent, it is a risky proposition. That is all I can offer here.

Loaning your bike out is definitely one of those cases when, what you don't know, *can* hurt you.

whoa crap! my Dad never let any of our friends try the dirtbikes we bought and rode at our house for this reason...I figured the rider's medical insurance should cover something like this, but buyer beware...

[gamorg02]

i called my insurance (progressive) a while back to ask the same question. Not if it was rented but if a friend was riding it. They said as long as said person rides it less than 12 times per year, they are covered the same as if I was riding it.

YMMV with a 'rental' though.