Renting your bike out

SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
16,742
42
91
I saw an ad on my local craigslist about someone looking to rent a motorcycle for a week. They would have a rental contract and insurance, would you ever consider doing something like this?
 

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
0
Hell, damn, and crap NO. Car, bike, whatever.

But then again, most of us on here regard a motor vehicle as more than just an A-to-B appliance ;)
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,534
911
126
Not bloody likely.

Although, there is a place that rents Ducati's near downtown San Diego.
 

arrfep

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2006
2,314
16
81
I see them on craigslist around here all the time. I would definitely do it. It's not like these people are renting out their 1200GS or Monster or R6 or anything. It's usually dudes with 25 year old 250cc bikes, and they rent them for people to pass their M Endorsment test. The idea, I would imagine, is that these people already know how to ride. Problem is, you need to have a bike to take the driving test to get your license, but you need a license to drive a bike.


My bike cost $900. If I could make $50 back by renting it to some dude for an hour so he can get his license, I would take that deal. Have him drive to the DMV, meet him there on the bike, let him ride around the cones, and make my money.

Edit: My bad, reread the OP. I wouldn't do a week-long rental. I've never seen that on CL; the "rent my bike to get your license" I see all the time.
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
I work for a major rental company. Would I rent my own vehicles out on the side? No bloody way!! It's not like renting videos. There's tons of insurance and legal things that have to be dealt with. People also tend to abuse stuff that isn't theirs.

My biggest concern would be lack of a paper trail. All rental companies take a hold on a major credit card. That card also has to be in the same name as your driver's license. This is partly to make sure you can pay. However, it's more to do with having a means to make sure the customer is legitimate. If they wreck the car, steal it, or use it for crime, we can go after them. An "on-the-side" business wouldn't have that security tool.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,534
911
126
The only reason someone would want to rent a motorcycle would be to show off on it.

Bullshit. Plenty of people come to SoCal to ride but getting your bike here is kind of a pain in the ass if you don't live here so rentals make sense as we have some of the best roads in the country for riding. I've thought of renting the Ducati 848 for a day just to see what that bike is like to ride.

They rent Harleys here too but I have zero interest in those bikes.
 

angry hampster

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2007
4,232
0
0
www.lexaphoto.com
Bullshit. Plenty of people come to SoCal to ride but getting your bike here is kind of a pain in the ass if you don't live here so rentals make sense as we have some of the best roads in the country for riding. I've thought of renting the Ducati 848 for a day just to see what that bike is like to ride.

They rent Harleys here too but I have zero interest in those bikes.

Fair enough. Keep in mind I'm from Iowa, and our roads are not desirable. LOL
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,512
21
81
No. The potential for the renter so sue me for something that could go wrong is far too high. And there is, of course, the potential for the renter to screw up my bike.

ZV
 

the DRIZZLE

Platinum Member
Sep 6, 2007
2,956
1
81
I'd do it if the price was right and they left a cash deposit for the full value of the bike and signed a waiver.
 

hanoverphist

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2006
9,867
23
76
I see them on craigslist around here all the time. I would definitely do it. It's not like these people are renting out their 1200GS or Monster or R6 or anything. It's usually dudes with 25 year old 250cc bikes, and they rent them for people to pass their M Endorsment test. The idea, I would imagine, is that these people already know how to ride. Problem is, you need to have a bike to take the driving test to get your license, but you need a license to drive a bike.

not herein az. once you get the permit you can ride.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,534
911
126
I see them on craigslist around here all the time. I would definitely do it. It's not like these people are renting out their 1200GS or Monster or R6 or anything. It's usually dudes with 25 year old 250cc bikes, and they rent them for people to pass their M Endorsment test. The idea, I would imagine, is that these people already know how to ride. Problem is, you need to have a bike to take the driving test to get your license, but you need a license to drive a bike.


My bike cost $900. If I could make $50 back by renting it to some dude for an hour so he can get his license, I would take that deal. Have him drive to the DMV, meet him there on the bike, let him ride around the cones, and make my money.

Edit: My bad, reread the OP. I wouldn't do a week-long rental. I've never seen that on CL; the "rent my bike to get your license" I see all the time.

Take the MSF course. It waives the DMV riding portion of the test. That's what I did when I got my M endorsement.
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,303
103
106
Quick question: What is the cost of the MSF course?


edit:
nvm found it: National average $100
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,534
911
126
Quick question: What is the cost of the MSF course?

I think it was around $200 IIRC (that is in California of course). It varies from state to state and you can get discounts if you are under a certain age or in the military (I think it may even be free for military in some locations).
 

djnsmith7

Platinum Member
Apr 13, 2004
2,612
1
0
No way in hell would I rent either of my vehicles out. However, I would consider renting a track bike from one of our shops here.