Bike rentals in Europe

[ranette]

I'm starting to look into putting a trip together for my wife and I.  We prefer to travel independently rather than as part of a tour.  I've found a few places that offer rentals in Europe, but they seem to be independent shops meaning you have to drop the bikes off in the same location you picked them up.  I would really like to pick up a bike in Italy and finish up in Belgium though that is not set in stone.  Does anybody know of a company that would be able to accommodate a rental like that?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[kendenton]

Sorry, can't offer any help with that.  I will say that dealing with Moto Mader near Zurich was fantastic this summer.  Great communications, lots of bike selections, excellent service - ask for Tommy.

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,40861.0.html

[Orson]

The only one way rental I know of is Edelweiss Tours, but those are package tours.

I took an Edelweiss tour in 1986 starting in London, dipping down to the Dolomites before returning north to Munich. They do a good job, but a tad pricey. A nice way for first timers to get their feet wet.

[Global Rider]

Does anybody know of a company that would be able to accommodate a rental like that?

No and chances are good you won't.

Europe isn't that big that you can't do a "loop", starting and finishing at the same location.

I would recommend Knopf for rentals. Stefan provides unlimited mileage with his rentals so you're not counting how much more it'll all cost at the end of each day. Furthermore, Stefan pretty well has the best rates and he is a short train ride down to Heidelberg from Frankfurt, a major airport hub.

Other bonuses include airport pick-up and B&B service which he also offers at very resonable rates.

http://www.knopftours.com/Web-Site/Welcome.html

[ranette]

Thanks for the responses,  Guess we'll just have to make two trips.  Looks like we'll stick to the north this trip, starting in Belgium, working our way east into the Netherlands, down through Germany, into Alsace, Luxembourg and back to Brussels.  Looks like Dockx is a major Belgian car rental agency that also rents bikes at a pretty decent rate.  Anybody used them?  Hopefully, come April/May I'll have a decent trip report to post.

[Orson]

The Alsace region has some decently mountainous terrain  

Going up into Germany, the B48 into Kaiserslautern is popular with local bikers. Plenty of curves as it follows a stream through a steep canyon. The forest is so thick that even on sunny days, much of the road is in the shade. The road along the Mosel River has dramatic, terraced vineyards clinging to the hillsides.

Northern Luxembourg has some surprisingly nice riding as well as the Ardennes region in southern Belgium.

Sorry, I can't help you with bike rentals.

[newhorizons]

Hi

 Ased about for you and you not going to be able to do it as most have one base and with money tight right now new places opening up is not going to happen the only way you going to do it is to hire and have them fly out and ride there own bike back or see if they have a hire near your stop point.

[notarian]

May I ask why you want to start in Belgium? Belgium has great pomme frits and good beer, but the terrain is flat, so is the Netherlands, so is the cross over in Germany. It's only then going south that it starts to get interesting and fun riding.

Unless flying into Belgium is vital, I'd fly somewhere closer to the better riding areas and maximise the ride quality - like Munich, Zurich or another biking rental centre such as Global Rider recommends.

If you must go to Belgium, why not take a train to one of these cities and collect/drop off a bike there? Then train back to Belgium for the flight home.

Unlike North America, Europe has a massive and great train network, doesn't cost the earth and an easy way to travel.

[bucktownbilly]

Any feed back on these guys?

http://www.rental-motorcycle.com/europe/germany/munich_rental.html

[kendenton]

Any feed back on these guys?

http://www.rental-motorcycle.com/europe/germany/munich_rental.html

I was going to use Ad-Mo for my Zurich rental, until I did some research and found the dealer they were renting from (Moto Mader in Oberentfelden).  Ad-Mo just fronts the dealership rentals and adds 20% for their trouble (and a booking fee, I believe).  Not sure what they offer that the dealership doesn't.  

[ranette]

May I ask why you want to start in Belgium? Belgium has great pomme frits and good beer, but the terrain is flat, so is the Netherlands, so is the cross over in Germany. It's only then going south that it starts to get interesting and fun riding.

Unless flying into Belgium is vital, I'd fly somewhere closer to the better riding areas and maximise the ride quality - like Munich, Zurich or another biking rental centre such as Global Rider recommends.

If you must go to Belgium, why not take a train to one of these cities and collect/drop off a bike there? Then train back to Belgium for the flight home.

Unlike North America, Europe has a massive and great train network, doesn't cost the earth and an easy way to travel.

Flights in and out of Brussels are already set.  To be honest, the trip is about pomme frites, beer etc, first, riding second, and Belgium is a place my wife has always wanted to go.  With our planned itinerary, in retrospect, it might have been easier from a rental standpoint to fly in and out of Frankfurt, but when you're using FF miles and the flights are there you better grab them, so Brussels it is.  When I booked the flights I didn't think a rental and return in Brussels would be any problem.  In my initial post I had mentioned a Belgian rental agency, Dockx, that rented bikes at pretty reasonable rates.  However when I contacted them they informed me that they only rented to Belgian residents, which I found odd, but that is their policy.  As far as renting in Brussels the choices seem to be an agency connected to Admo Tours, http://www.rental-motorcycle.com/europe/belgium/belgium_rental.html or a local Yamaha shop, http://www.baelemotostore.be/locations_en.html though neither rent an F800ST which would be my first choice.  As far as taking a train to another city and renting/returning there, logistically it just won't work.  It's either find a viable option near Brussels or resort to doing the trip by car.

Our planned itinerary, which isn't set, except for beginning and ending in Brussels, calls for us to head east to the Mosel region of Germany on April 24th, then work our way south to Heidelberg on the 29th, up through Alsace, Luxembourg, back into Belgium, arriving in Bruges on May 4th and flying home out of Brussels on the 7th.  From what I've seen the temps might be a little cooler than I might have expected.  Does anybody have any experience in riding in that part of Europe so early in the season?  We're in Vermont so cold is something we could deal with, but a probability that it would be both cold and wet might push us to Hertz.  So if anybody has any personal experience it would be a big help.

Thanks for the responses.

[Orson]

Our planned itinerary, which isn't set, except for beginning and ending in Brussels, calls for us to head east to the Mosel region of Germany on April 24th, then work our way south to Heidelberg on the 29th, up through Alsace, Luxembourg, back into Belgium, arriving in Bruges on May 4th and flying home out of Brussels on the 7th.

I've never been that early.

Here's the average temperature and rainfall for Brussels: world weather

[dtor]

 Does anybody have any experience in riding in that part of Europe so early in the season?  We're in Vermont so cold is something we could deal with, but a probability that it would be both cold and wet might push us to Hertz.  So if anybody has any personal experience it would be a big help.

The earliest I've ridden in Europe is 2 weeks beginning on April 14. From Heidelberg to Brittany, up to Antwerp and back to Heidelberg. Rainy and cool, but nothing that a good riding suit, the high of European riding, and some electrics couldn't handle. Rooms are certainly easy to find I will say, that faced with the same weather here, I'd be in my car.

[FJR-UK]

So if anybody has any personal experience it would be a big help.

It will be chilly in the morning, but not cold. Nothing like Vermont at the same time of year. Do, however, take good waterproofs. You can expect the days to alternate between rain and sunshine. It rains a lot in Alsace and the Moselle any time of year, but the upside is a beautiful ride when the sun comes out.

A bike with a useful windscreen would be appreciated, too.

[ranette]

Thanks for all of the first hand info, much appreciated.  My current thoughts are to wait until the last minute, maybe about a week before we fly out, to try to get a better feel for the general weather pattern, and then make a decision.  Probably will negatively affect the cost of a car rental if that's the way we go, don't think it will have any effect on the cost of a bike.

[Global Rider]

Ad-Mo just fronts the dealership rentals and adds 20% for their trouble (and a booking fee, I believe).  Not sure what they offer that the dealership doesn't.

Which is why I never recommend renting from a company that is a tour operator first and a rental agency on the side.

Motorcycle rental rates (lets not even talk about the price of organized tours) are out to lunch to start off with, so consumers might as well get the best rates they can.  "You don't understand...I want to rent it; not buy it".  

[newhorizons]

Like to think my rates are quite good and i no most tour guide places who i deal with quite a lot.