renting a bike in Scotland...

[katrider]

As mentioned in another thread, I am planning a trip to Scotland in May of 2008. I plan on renting a motorcycle and doing some touring, including a tag along with a tour group for a week or so. The issue is becomming the renting of the bike. I have found bikes usually run up to 400 pounds a week to rent, and this isn't some wizbang high dollar bike, but a BMW 800 sport tourer. That's not in my budget at all. The only 'affordable' rent is located in London (185 pounds a week for an SV650), and initially I thought "yeah, I'll do that and see England to boot...", but reality is I don't really want to do that at all.

So, I'm wondering what about renting, at a decent rate, someone's 'second bike'? I mean, several of my friends have multiple bikes, usually a commuter along with a nice ST or touring bike. If it could be negotiated properly, what about me renting someone's commuter or second bike for three weeks? Is that even legal?

Just looking at some different ideas. I mean, if I had to, I'd fly over to Glasgow and hitch hike around to see the sites, you know? This won't stop me from visiting...but I'd much rather be able to ride around and see the sites.

[Cpl Punishment]

Sorry you've had no replies-I'm too far south to be useful to you.

I found this link though-might be worth emailing him.

http://website.lineone.net/~steveplant/

[katrider]

Thanks for the link! I emailed him, though I'm unsure if I can actually help him. I only have the one bike, and I'm hesitant to ask to use his without being able to reciprocate. Best I can do is ask around if someone I know with an extra bike is willing to contact him and work a deal.

I have had a couple of messages sent concerning this and one may pan out, but there turns out to be some concern about liability should I wad up the bike, cause colateral injuries or damage...mainly rumor stage right now but I need to check into the legal aspects of 'borrowing' a bike.

I'm not sure I'd loan out my bike to a stranger from a strange land, so I'm not really dissappointed or surprised in the lack of responses...

[Cpl Punishment]

I would-beware the power of STN!

However-the legal bits:

You must have a motorcycle license. Your US one will do.

You must be insured to ride-fully comprehensive means you're covered for damage to the bike, a third party etc if it is your fault. Third party is where you pay for damage to the bike if it's your fault but third party's damages are covered by the insurance-this is the minimum insurance you can have in the UK (there's also third party, fire and theft-one step up from third party).

If it is another's driver's fault, they pay from their insurance, --nobody at fault-half each,-- nobody else involved (you hit a tree for example) your insurance pays.

The bike must be legal. It must have a cxurrent MOT (Ministry of Transport annual safety check done by a garage), be roadworthy (tyres and brakes in good nick etc) and have current road traffic tax-this is displayed on a paper disc on the bike.

It is perfectly legal to ride someone else's bike with their permission. I'd advise taking all the bike's paperworj with you when you tour, if you do this. The paperwork you need is: MOT, insurance certificate and registration document (V5) which is the regitration of who "keeps" the bike. You can then show these to the police if stopped or in an accident.

All fairly sensible and normal stuff which most countries have in some shape or form.

You may also want personal injury insurance. As a foreign national, I think you would be entitled to free emergency treatment but not free ongoing rehab-although I know most medics avoid their patients getting charged if they can.

[Ant]

One thing to add to what the Corporal said, here in the UK the insurance works differently than in the US. It is the person who is insured, not the vehicle (as it is in the States to my understanding). So that means you will need to arrange insurance for yourself or ask whoever is lending you the bike to add your name to their policy. You won't be able to just ride the bike because it is insured (fully comp or otherwise) by the owner

[katrider]

Good info...answers all questions.

Here at home, I would say that both the rider and the bike are insured. What I mean is your driving record/age/etc is accounted for in the policy rates as is the kind of bike you are insuring. So, like I said, in a way both are insured.

I'll check with my provider to see what is available for foriegn travel. I know they cover me in Canada, but they drive on the same side of the road as 'we' do...might have an influence on the rates

[Cpl Punishment]

Driving on the other side of the road to what you are used to is no prob at all. Just remember this when turning at junctions.

Thanks Ant for the extra and essential insurance info.

[katrider]

Driving on the other side of the road to what you are used to is no prob at all. Just remember this when turning at junctions.

Thanks Ant for the extra and essential insurance info.

Yes...thanks to Ant. Good useable info.

The rub with driving on the left is you also have to get used to all the controls in the car being mirrored imaged. The beauty of riding on the left is all bikes (except older classics) are the same, so you needn't learn all new controls. Easier to remember what's happening on the road that way, I assume (never having done this I'm just speculating here...).

[Cpl Punishment]

Yes...thanks to Ant. Good useable info.

The rub with driving on the left is you also have to get used to all the controls in the car being mirrored imaged. The beauty of riding on the left is all bikes (except older classics) are the same, so you needn't learn all new controls. Easier to remember what's happening on the road that way, I assume (never having done this I'm just speculating here...).

Yep, it's just the same, left or right. Cars still try to kill you.  

[Orson]

Driving on the other side of the road to what you are used to is no prob at all. Just remember this when turning at junctions.

I've found that driving on the left is no problem while there is traffic around to remind you of which side to be on.

The trouble for me comes later in the day, when you're a bit fatigued. Sometimes I'll pull off to to take a picture. If there is no traffic around, I sometimes rejoin the road, driving on the right hand side from force of habit.

You're soon reminded of which side is the "right" side by the next oncoming vehicle  

[RBEmerson]

Oh, so true!  Even being a pedestrian in RHD country means thinking to look right, not left, when getting ready to cross the street.  And, in the bad old days when one could pull it off, coping with entering roundabouts late at night, with no cars about to remind one which way to go, and perhaps just the tiniest bit drink...  

[katrider]

Funny stuff!

I can see me stepping off a curb and looking in the wrong direction. "No one's coming, here I go...SPLAT"

This actually happened in front of me in beautiful downtown Bremerton. At a corner on a one way street, a gentleman in front of me started to step out after looking right, the direction the one-way traffic would normally have come. But...he also looked left and sure enough, here comes a carload of greyhaired ladies, going in the wrong direction and about to run this guy over if he steps out!!!

He looks back at me, as the old ladies pass us by, and smiles, says he always, ALWAYS, looks in both directions! Then we both start yelling "Wrong way wrong way wrong way..."

[BossBob]

I'm not sure I'd loan out my bike to a stranger from a strange land, so I'm not really dissappointed or surprised in the lack of responses...

I'm not so sure its that so much really, but probably a culmination of many things/issues.
For one, not many Jocks have 2 bikes, it's too expensive too justify, heaven knows most of the married guys have enough trouble getting to keep ONE bike  
Secondly, insurance. As mentioned, with our structure you insure the vehicle and then tell them who will ride it, yourself and then add others if you wish. If you have two bikes you can get a multiple bike policy, much much cheaper than having 2 seperate policies, but you are only allowed one rider - you.
The reason is obvious ...... so you and your mates can't all go out riding at the same time on one policy.

So, to summarise .......

If someone can put you on his policy, he only has one bike
If someone has two bikes, he can't add you to his policy

Catch 22

Having read the other thread too, I think the cheap London bike is the best option by far. you will probably save enough in the reduced flight cost of flying to london to cover a fair part of the rental. We Jocks pay more for (almost) everything, including flights too and from Scotland.

The actual journey up from London by bike is nothing, nothing at all, don't let it put you off, 6 hours gets you to the border by the motorway or we could map you a nice scenic run up through Yorkshire and the likes which is still 2 days max.

Chin up ....... it'll happen if you make it  

[katrider]

Here's what's happening to date, the options I have found:

Scratch renting a bike for the entire trip, rent a small car for the most and rent a bike for a couple of 'special' weekends.

Rent from Superbike Hire in London for around 200 pounds/week = 600 pounds for the three weeks I want a bike. This is a nakid SV650 with no luggage.

Rent a bike fromNew Horizons Motorbike Hire in Manchester for 400 pounds a week = 1200 pounds for the three weeks. This is a VFR with hard bags and top case.

Ship my bike (2003 Sprint ST) over for the entire four week trip. This is either $1500 round trip via ship (60 days at sea) or $2400 round trip via air.

So, at roughly two bucks per pound, the SV is around $1200; the VFR is $2400; shipping is $2400 air and $1500 ship. Questions are the additional fees required to bring my bike into the UK and then back home, and of course the insurance question on my bike, which I need to ask my carrier about...

[Ant]

Here's what's happening to date, the options I have found:

Scratch renting a bike for the entire trip, rent a small car for the most and rent a bike for a couple of 'special' weekends.

Rent from Superbike Hire in London for around 200 pounds/week = 600 pounds for the three weeks I want a bike. This is a nakid SV650 with no luggage.

Rent a bike fromNew Horizons Motorbike Hire in Manchester for 400 pounds a week = 1200 pounds for the three weeks. This is a VFR with hard bags and top case.

Ship my bike (2003 Sprint ST) over for the entire four week trip. This is either $1500 round trip via ship (60 days at sea) or $2400 round trip via air.

So, at roughly two bucks per pound, the SV is around $1200; the VFR is $2400; shipping is $2400 air and $1500 ship. Questions are the additional fees required to bring my bike into the UK and then back home, and of course the insurance question on my bike, which I need to ask my carrier about...

Wow, thats pretty cheap to ship the bike over! I thought it would be a lot more expensive than that.
If your insurance provider allows it then I'd ship your bike (by air... 60 days at sea? No thanks!! ) and ride it. Plus it'll be a great conversation starter when a bike with US plates pulls up  

The only problem with the SV rental and no luggage is that well... it has no luggage! If you're using it as your primary vehicle then that just doesn't add up
The VFR is the same price as shipping your bike over I guess and that does have the luggage and all the insurance headaches and so on are dealt with. Plus it means you don't have to ride into the centre of London as your introduction to riding on the left! Disadvantage with that is I guess there is a fairly hefty deposit required that you'll lose if you crash (which obviously won't happen but you never know!)

Next time I go up to my parents house I'll go and check out that New Horizons place and see what it looks like if you want? Are they still demanding to keep hold of your passport or will they accept a photocopy?

[tenbears]

Why not check out the 'swap a ride' section on Horizonsunlimited.com : http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/bike-swap/

I'm sure there're a few Scots about who wouldn't mind the opportunity of swopping a ride in West Puget Sound [wherever that is]... and it'd work out a whole lot cheaper.

[katrider]

...
Next time I go up to my parents house I'll go and check out that New Horizons place and see what it looks like if you want? Are they still demanding to keep hold of your passport or will they accept a photocopy?

Yes, do that! Thanks.

I haven't pushed the issue of holding my passport yet, will wait 'till the times a little closer, but I have decided my passport stays with me.

The bike swap on HUBB is a good idea, but then we run into the insurance issue again. I am not required to carry insurance here in Washington state, so I only carry the bare minimum that allows me to ride on a military installation (where I work). The insurance will change for my trip of course, but we'll have to see about loaning the bike out for a swap...it is something worth looking into.

So...still up in the air, but I am getting a feel for my route:

http://www.aboutscotland.com/tour/tourmap.html

Also, I think a routine of Pubs, B&Bs and Hostels for lodging will work nicely. Budget requirements dictate all that, but the hostels are looking very do-able as they now have individual "family" rooms with their own baths. I mean dorms are OK, but I'd hate to expose anyone to my fitful snoring for a night unless we are all in the army together

Would be nice to tour on my own familiar and trusty Sprint, though.

[Air_Bob1]

I'm so jealous that you are going to ride in my homeland.  

My family immigrated to Canada and then to East Puget Sound (Seattle, WA) when I was a kid. I was born in Glasgow and lived in East Kilbride. I've only been back a couple of times as an adult, but I really want to go back again. And this time I want to tour on a motorcycle. I've been wondering if Triumph has a fly/buy program that would include shipping the bike back to the US.

Oh, and we ride the same bike,  but mine is the faster silver version.

Have a great trip and take lots of pictures.

 

[katrider]

I'm so jealous that you are going to ride in my homeland.  

My family immigrated to Canada and then to East Puget Sound (Seattle, WA) when I was a kid. I was born in Glasgow and lived in East Kilbride. I've only been back a couple of times as an adult, but I really want to go back again. And this time I want to tour on a motorcycle. I've been wondering if Triumph has a fly/buy program that would include shipping the bike back to the US.

Oh, and we ride the same bike,  but mine is the faster silver version.

Have a great trip and take lots of pictures.

 

Thanks neighbor.

Spent all day today driving around the kitsap Peninsula looking at fall colors...man, what a beautiful area to live, eh?

I'm half Canadian myself, but with French Irish roots on that side, as my mom was born in Montreal. Scottish on my dad's side (Scott clan).

I've also been to Scotland as an adult, spent some Navy time in Greenock and made some side trips to Glasgow, but I was young and busy with things other than paying attention, so I missed alot. Now, I hope to make up a little for that.

The motorcycle portion of the trip is becoming a headache, but it won't stop the trip. If anything I may just worry about the bike when I get over there and just take my kit and stash it somewhere until I can rent a bike or car or whatever. I am considering flying into Manchester or even London and heading north after renting a bike, that might be fun...

My plans are to post a daily trip log including pics, and email a bunch home to my wife like every night. That way she can share a little of what I see and also would be fun to rub everyone's noses...I mean, keep everyone here up to date on the trip

It's still a few months away (May of '08), but really only 6 months if we're counting!

Again, thanks for the encouragement. And get out there and enjoy this nice spurt of sunny weather, for you know what's coming!!

[Air_Bob1]

Both times I returned to Scotland was in late August and September. I didn't really book an accommodations which worked out quite well. We stayed in B&Bs, some in smalls towns and at least one on a farm outside Peebles just south of Edinburgh and another one over a pub in York. That was great fun! When I get a chance to back, I'll do it the same way.
Both times we flew into London a then drove north in a rental car. I prefer Scotland over England, sorry to my southern neighbors, but Scotland is my homeland. So, the next time I'll fly into Glasgow. I may need to fly out of Vancouver, BC to do it. This will also allow me to get much further north than I could flying into London. Keep me posted.

I did get out yesterday for ~200 miles of twisty entertainment form Monroe north through Granite Falls to the South Skagit Highway and then south to Darrington an back home to Duvall. The leaves were spectacular and the road were quite quiet.