Bike hire - Chicago to LA
 

Hi, I'm thinking about a trip across America, retracing what's left of old Route 66. I've got 3 weeks to do it - well 18 days of riding, to be precise.

I'm looking to rent a bike (a Harley maybe?), the best quote I have right now is just over $3200 from Eagle Rider Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Rentals & Motorcycle Tours This includes a charge of $550 for the one way rental!!

Can anyone recommend any other rental companies that might be a bit more competitive? This is a lot of money for 3 weeks! I'm not in the market to buy a bike out there and then sell at the end, but might consider taking my bike if I could get it shipped there and back for a significant saving (I'm in the UK).

Any thoughts welcome!!

Thanks.

Hello, mate!

I'm sorry for not having more names to suggest, but I can tell you that I turned to Eagle Rider (in Scottsdale, Arizona) way back in 2007 to rent the Electra Glide for my trip across the Southwest and parts of the Historical Route 66, and I guarantee that I received a very professional treatment.

I know it's much money, you are right, but the service from Eagle Rider was really perfect.
This is only my esperience, anyway...

I reckon you could get your own bike shipped to and fro from the USA cheaper than that try these people for a quote Welcome to the H-C Travel Home Page - The World's Best Motorcycle Holidays ,

Thanks both for your replies.

Knight, I have used Eagle Rider once before, but just for a rental for a couple of days when I was in Las Vegas a few years ago. The service I got was spot on, as you suggest. I was just looking at getting the price down a bit:thumbup1:

Bushman, the cost of shipping the bike has gone up considerably recently: when I was first looking at doing this trip a few years ago, shipping and 3 weeks rental were around the same price. Now it looks like you need to be going for 4 or more weeks before shipping your bike is cheaper than renting (not to mentiomn the hassle of crating the bike up, not having it for some time before and after the trip, etc.). It's a shame, as I'd really like to have my bike out there.

give it a try look on there shipping page Seafreight

We sail in April on a RO-RO ship so no crating involved .

Having given this a deal of thought over the past few months I have decided to rent from EagleRider. So I pick the bike up in Chicago on 19th April (just 6 weeks time!) and return it in San Francisco on 7th May.

Whilst hagling about price, I discovered that they will give 10% discount for AAA members. Being British, that's not much help to me, but they were happy to give the same for AA membership (Automobile Association, not Alcoholics Anonymous). Might be useful info for anyone else thinking of renting.

Too late for you but.....
 

Hi FatBot

Just spotted your thread - I haven't been on here for yonks, sorry, but for any future readers.....

My wife and I are flying into West Virginia in July and picking up an ST1300, riding up to Chicago, joining Mates there, tracing Route 66, then picking out our own route back to West Virginia, and the cost of the bike is ZILCH.

How so?

Well, I responded to a posting from an American ST1300 Owner who wanted to tour NZ and was looking for a bike swap! Joe, an affable retired Engineer toured NZ on my ST for 6 weeks and I will use his Pan Euro in July. Win/win.

It was so easy its ridiculous - and I totally acknowledge its not for everyone and may not work for shorter trips but just wanted to "put it out there" for people to think about.....

Incidentally "Joe" has done the same in Europe and I will be having a chat to his Euro Buddy also!

All the best with your trip FatBot - see you on the road!

Regards


Shafty, NZ :thumbup1: