probably stupid newbie question

MayQueen wrote:
> Hi - is there anywhere in the bay area that rents bikes? We are taking
> a class in a few weeks and have no idea if we are going to like riding
> or want to buy bikes for weekend rides. It would be great if there were
> a place we could rent bikes so that we can see if it is something we
> would like to start doing before we go ahead and possibly invest some $$
> into this sport.
>

There are several in SF and SJ, but you DO need to have your M1 license
first.

--
Heaven is where the police are British, the chefs Italian, the mechanics
German, the lovers French and it is all organized by the Swiss.

Hell is where the police are German, the chefs British, the mechanics
French, the lovers Swiss and it is all organized by Italians.

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/paul1cart/albums/
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

Patti Beadles wrote:
> If you're "taking a class in a few weeks", then that class
> almost certainly provides beginer-class bikes for you to use.
> Check with them.
>
> -Patti

Thanks for the responses! We are taking the class and they will provide
helmets and bikes for the class. We will be able to obtain our licenses
at the DMV afterwards.

I was thinking of the bike rental for after we take the class and have
our licenses.

--
Queenie

*** Be the change you wish to see in the world ***
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

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 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

If you're "taking a class in a few weeks", then that class
almost certainly provides beginer-class bikes for you to use.
Check with them.

-Patti
--
Patti Beadles, Oakland, CA |
pattib~pattib.org | All religions are equally
http://www.pattib.org/ | ludicrous, and should be ridiculed
www.urbanscapephoto.com | as often as possible. C. Bond
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

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 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

Patti Beadles wrote:
> In article ,
> MayQueen wrote:
>
>> I was thinking of the bike rental for after we take the class and have
>> our licenses.
>
> Most motorcycle rentals are for larger bikes, and generally
> aren't suitable for beginners. You don't want to get on a
> large BMW or a Harley or something right after getting your
> license-- you're much better off on a small, lightweight,
> cheap bike.
>
> The thing about used beginner bikes is that, unless you trash
> them, the resale value doesn't drop much. If you spend a grand
> or two on an old but reliable bike and then ride it responsibly
> for a while, you can probably sell it for what you paid for
> it or pretty close thereto.
>
> -Patti
I have heard this before about buying a used biked and being able to
sell it for about the same when I am ready for another.

We definitely wouldn't want to rent bikes that are too big and with our
inexperience have problems.

We'll have to see what we want to do after the class.

Lots of good things to think about! Thanks!

--
Queenie

*** Be the change you wish to see in the world ***
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

On Jun 19, 8:02?am, MayQueen wrote:
> Hi - is there anywhere in the bay area that rents bikes?

Affordable Rentals - 3260 Cameron Park Dr Cameron Park , CA 95682 -
(530) 677-6900

Bikeyard Inc - 851 Tennessee St San Francisco , CA 94107 - (415)
821-3941

Bob Dron Harley Davidson Motorcycles Inc - 200 Hegenberger Rd # 510
Oakland , CA 94621 - (510) 635-0100

Britalia Motors Of Santa Cruz - 200 Kennedy Dr Capitola , CA 95010 -
(831) 476-3663


Crt Motorcycle Rentals - 2500 Old Middlefield Way Mountain View , CA
94043 - (650) 625-8400

Cruise America Motorhome Rental & Sales - 2233 E 223rd St # D Carson ,
CA 90810 - (310) 522-3870

Cruise America Motorhome Rental & Sales - 796 66th Ave Oakland , CA
94621 - (510) 639-7125

Dubbelju Motorcycle Rentals Llc - 271 Clara St San Francisco , CA
94107 - (415) 495-2774 http://www.dubbelju.com/

Eagle Rider Of San Jose - 1666 Monterey Hwy San Jose , CA 95112 -
(408) 961-0057


Eaglerider Motorcycle Rental - 1060 Bryant St San Francisco , CA 94103
- (415) 503-1900

Eaglerider Motorcycle Rental - San Francisco South San Francisco , CA
94080 - (650) 877-0636

Fairfield Harley Davidson - 1370 Holiday Ln Fairfield , CA 94534 -

Affordable Rentals - 3260 Cameron Park Dr Cameron Park , CA 95682 -
(530) 677-6900


Bikeyard Inc - 851 Tennessee St San Francisco , CA 94107 - (415)
821-3941


Bob Dron Harley Davidson Motorcycles Inc - 200 Hegenberger Rd # 510
Oakland , CA 94621 - (510) 635-0100

Britalia Motors Of Santa Cruz - 200 Kennedy Dr Capitola , CA 95010 -
(831) 476-3663

Crt Motorcycle Rentals - 2500 Old Middlefield Way Mountain View , CA
94043 - (650) 625-8400

Cruise America Motorhome Rental & Sales - 2233 E 223rd St # D Carson ,
CA 90810 - (310) 522-3870

Cruise America Motorhome Rental & Sales - 796 66th Ave Oakland , CA
94621 - (510) 639-7125

Dubbelju Motorcycle Rentals Llc - 271 Clara St San Francisco , CA
94107 - (415) 495-2774

Eagle Rider Of San Jose - 1666 Monterey Hwy San Jose , CA 95112 -
(408) 961-0057


Eaglerider Motorcycle Rental - 1060 Bryant St San Francisco , CA 94103
- (415) 503-1900

Eaglerider Motorcycle Rental - San Francisco South San Francisco , CA
94080 - (650) 877-0636

Fairfield Harley Davidson - 1370 Holiday Ln Fairfield , CA 94534 -
(707) 426-3172
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

In article ,
MayQueen wrote:

>I was thinking of the bike rental for after we take the class and have
>our licenses.

Most motorcycle rentals are for larger bikes, and generally
aren't suitable for beginners. You don't want to get on a
large BMW or a Harley or something right after getting your
license-- you're much better off on a small, lightweight,
cheap bike.

The thing about used beginner bikes is that, unless you trash
them, the resale value doesn't drop much. If you spend a grand
or two on an old but reliable bike and then ride it responsibly
for a while, you can probably sell it for what you paid for
it or pretty close thereto.

-Patti
--
Patti Beadles, Oakland, CA |
pattib~pattib.org | All religions are equally
http://www.pattib.org/ | ludicrous, and should be ridiculed
www.urbanscapephoto.com | as often as possible. C. Bond
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:23:04 +0000 (UTC), pattib.RemoveThis@green.rahul.net
(Patti Beadles) wrote:

>Most motorcycle rentals are for larger bikes, and generally
>aren't suitable for beginners. You don't want to get on a
>large BMW or a Harley or something right after getting your
>license-- you're much better off on a small, lightweight,
>cheap bike.

I would agree with this, basically. Except . . .

I have read that more than half of all new Harley Davidson buyers are
either new to motorcycling or returning after a decade or more (i.e.
the kids have grown up and moved out). This always puzzled me since
Harleys are very big and heavy. But a friend and I rented a Harley
last year and I found it surprisingly manageable and easy to handle
for its size, because the center of gravity is so low. I'd expect
most 'cruisers' are the same. The guy at Eagle Rider said many of
their customers don't own M/Cs, though they have to have the
endorsement on their license.

>The thing about used beginner bikes is that, unless you trash
>them, the resale value doesn't drop much. If you spend a grand
>or two on an old but reliable bike and then ride it responsibly
>for a while, you can probably sell it for what you paid for
>it or pretty close thereto.

Yes I agree with that too. You're going to be hard on your 1st bike.
You're going to abuse the clutch, and you might drop it once or twice.
You shouldn't rush right into that $10,000 new bike.
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! That's a huge list and more than a
few are close by. We will check it out!

--
Queenie

*** Be the change you wish to see in the world ***
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

In article ,
"Two Wheels Good, Four Wheels Bad" wrote:

> Dubbelju Motorcycle Rentals Llc - 271 Clara St San Francisco , CA
> 94107 - (415) 495-2774 http://www.dubbelju.com/

They've moved. They're at Fifth and Bryant now and easier to find.

--
Timberwoof <me at timberwoof dot com>
faq: http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq.shtml
It's easy to say a war is so important your neighbor should go fight it for you.
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

On Jun 20, 7:28?am, MayQueen wrote:
> You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! That's a huge list and more than a
> few are close by. We will check it out!

Dubbleju rents BMW F650 singles, which might be suitable for
a beginner if they have the ones with a low seat height. The taller
ones are more like a dual sport.
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question 

Two Wheels Good, Four Wheels Bad wrote:
> On Jun 20, 7:28?am, MayQueen wrote:
>> You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! That's a huge list and more than a
>> few are close by. We will check it out!
>
> Dubbleju rents BMW F650 singles, which might be suitable for
> a beginner if they have the ones with a low seat height. The taller
> ones are more like a dual sport.
>
>
There might be a problem renting after all. We will just have gotten
our licenses. I looked at Dubbleju and they want you to have a few
years' experience. I can totally understand that. If I were renting
bikes out, I would want experienced riders as well.

I will also have to make sure I can fit on a bike and don't know if a
rental place would have a bike for me. I'm 5'.
--
Queenie

*** Be the change you wish to see in the world ***
 >> Stay informed about: probably stupid newbie question