Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

Hiya all

Can anybody recommend somewhere I can rent a bike for 3 days (I'm on a pretty tight budget)

I'm going to be visiting for three weeks come the end of July...most of the time will be in Northumberland with my sister and her family but I'm hoping for a few days reprieve from the family duties to get a little riding in. Surprisingly, my sister is so excited by the prospect she has already sorted access into their small back garden in the event I have a bike whilst there.

The nearest big town from where I'll be is Newcastle but I'm not necessarily tied to starting out from there. I'm thinking I really would like to do one of three options, a lil bit of Scotland and the roads around my sister's area or a few days in Northern Ireland and visit a few folk there or a few days down south with a friend based in Kent.

Maybe I'm being a sook, but I'd prefer an SV purely and simply coz I love my beast and I'm confident and comfortable on him and given I'll be in completely different traffic to what we experience in Oz and I don't really know the lay of the land, I don't want waste time learning to feel confident (and relatively safe) with something else

cheers
Linda

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days
 

In Scotland there is

www.perthmcs.com/bike_hire.php
www.cupar.co.uk/bike_hire.php
http://www.kdykawasaki.com/bike_hire.php

I can't recommend anywhere else closer to Northumberland without doing a google search, which you are quite capable of doing yourself I'm sure.

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days
 

thanks Ralph. I've been googling and found cupars which sounds promising (I've sent them an email), especially as I'll be in Edinburgh a week before I'm due to go home and I haven't yet sorted how I'll get back to Heathrow. I may well fly out of Edinburgh instead of the train from Newcastle...perfect methinks

I still want to explore all the options though and posted coz I though someone may know of a mechanic or some-such who does rentals.

Oooh, I'm just a wee bit excited 8-)

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days
 

Try:
www.ukmotorbikehire.co.uk
They're in York, 2 hours from London
HTH

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days
 

Those three I posted are the same company. The one in Cupar would be a bit of a pain to get to if you have no transport, but the one in Kirkcaldy would be easy.

http://www.kdykawasaki.com/bike_hire.php

Direct train Edinburgh to Kirkcaldy takes about 30 minutes, then you can get a taxi from Kirkcaldy station to take you to the dealership there are usually a few waiting when an Edinburgh train comes in, or AE Taxis 01592 202040 if you want to phone ahead (my Uncles taxi firm).

There is a bus which runs from the Airport into Edinburgh regularly and stops just outside the train station.

They also state on the website

"We can collect you from Edinburgh Airport or from Kirkcaldy rail station by arrangement", but I don't know what the cost would be.

You would find an ER6 very easy to ride if you are used to the SV.

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days
 

lots of info there Ralph. I'll be in Edinburgh with my sister and she'll be able to drive me to the company before she heads back to Hexham. In fact I may well follow her back for a day or two in her area. I lived in Edinburgh for 6 months but it certainly wasn't long enough to learn the lay of the land beyond the town, only long enough to want to come back to do some riding...so many options :D

I've emailed both businesses with lots of questions so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what they come back with.

PunyXpress thanks for the info and I checked out their site. they only do BMs or Trumpys..well, put it this way...I wouldn't be able to put both feet on the ground :)

I'll keep looking though coz I may well be lucky enough to find one around Newcastle.

cheers

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days
 

sadly out of Newcastle its H*rleys or h*rleys, saying that if its the dealer is doing this now there could be the chance of a triumph

http://www.hadrianhdtours.co.uk/bike-hire/

I'd do what Ralphs suggested and get one in Scotland then run down to Newcaslte. Its about 2 hours on the back roads through Gatso country

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days
 

avoid the a702 its full of 4x4 driver who try to park on you
hth

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days
 

I'm just a little bit excited...nah...I'm so bloody excited I can't sleep.

I've booked the 650 from Cupars for from 9/8 to 13/8...that's five days of motorcycling \\:D/ I've booked extra accommodation in Edinburgh for a night at each end of the five days and then it's a flight out of Edinburgh to London for a day with a mate in Kent before flying home.

I've sorta got two possible scenarios in mind

1. Head back down to my sister's in Hexham and spend a day or two exploring the roads around there, then saying my farewells to the family and spending the other 3 days heading north and back to cupars on saturday arvo.

2. Head down to my sisters for one more night, say my goodbyes in the morning and head west to catch a ferry to Belfast and spend a few days in Northern Ireland and cross back on saturday giving me time to have a cuppa tea with a friend in Glasgow before returning the bike.

too many options with so little time.

I don't know the roads well, if at all so any advice, feedback, suggestions, recommendations, must do's and must nots would be most appreciated.

Did I mention I'm bloody excited \\:D/ and just a wee bit scared TBH

BTW, where/what is gatso country?

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

its the stretch's of the A1, A68 and A697 from Edinburgh to roughly Morpeth (A1 and A697) and Carter Bar (A68). The Lothian and Borders police force love there speed enforcement cameras.

If your around the Hexham area the Hartside pass the closest of the fun roads (and the back roads from Hexham to the Alston road (A686)

Heres a few good ones in the area http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=158547

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days
 

Gatso is a type of speed camera - nasty things on a pole that take a picture of your back (and therefore number plate). The hire company WILL tell the police who you are.

Two other main types of static speed camera as well - SPECS (linked cameras that measure speed over distance) and Truvelo (fixed point) both take pics of you head on. We like these as you cannot be positively identified.

Mobile units abound as well. The common theme is to stop us enjoying ourselves and to make money. Some say they are to reduce accidents but not many of us believe that.

Just about any nice biking area is "Gatso Country" these days...

By the way - riding over for the ferry to NI will take up a lot of your limited time. I'd stick to Northumberland and Scottyland as both are bike heaven.

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

Excellent. Enjoy it!

Take this route south of Edinburgh and you'll avoid the worst of Gasto country

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=...10&via=1,2&z=9

While at Cupar, go visit St Andrews. If you look at Fife on a map it's the shape of a Highland Terriers head. The dogs nose is called the East Neuk, ride round that, sticking to the coast all the way back to Edinburgh, stopping at Anstruther for a fish supper at Anstruther Fish Bar.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=...=1,2,3,4,5&z=9

Have fun!!

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

I may do that route in the future/ next time am going to Edinburgh

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

It's not particularly great in terms of roads, some are quite bumpy and annoying particularly if you have clip-ons, but little fishing villages and coastal scenery that you pass through are worth it.

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

Although I've been to St Andrews before I was driving a hire car full of Aussie women on a snowy stormy afternoon in the middle of winter. It was a lark but I didn't see a great deal and I stuck to the highway. I've added your route to my googlemaps route thanks Ralph

The leg from Edinburgh down the A68 is also familiar having driven to Wark that way, but again, in the darkness of winter, icy roads and a blanket of white. It was beautiful but I am looking forward to seeing it in summer.

I might just have to take in Roslin Chapel (coz I always meant to but never did) and then take a break to view the family home Thirlestane hehe...I'm a Maitland on my dads side.

I'm familiar with the gatsos but I didn't know that's what they were called. Sounds much more exciting than "road safety cameras" :smt068They are the same as we have here all through NSW. I suspect I'm going to be a bit of a plodder the first day out...getting used to a different bike, different roads and different traffic behavior so hopefully I won't forget I'm travelling in MPH not KPH and be zipping along at 100mph instead of 100kph :eek:

I'll go trawl the best ride out thread but keep the info and suggestions coming. It is really appreciated :grin:

I've yet to sort :smt015 arrangements and decent coffee


Cheers
Linda
:riding:

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

So come you ended up getting one from Cupar, not Kirkcaldy which would have been closer? Did Kirkcaldy not have any bikes for rent, or did they just not have the bike you wanted?

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

Ralph, Kirkcaldy didn't have the SV but given I hadta get the train anyway another 30 minutes didn't make much difference. I'm an Aussie...I'm used to travelling distances...I often ride for more than an hour to get to a clients. I probably wouldn't have considered the route through St Andrews and along the coast if I went to Kirkcaldy so I'm very happy with the result.:D

The good news is they have upgraded my booking to "I have had a rethink for you, to save you carrying your seat all the way over from Australia I am giving you a free upgrade to a nearly new SFV 650 Gladius ( with top case fitted ) this also gives you AA cover as well. The bike is finished in Blue and White and benefits from having a seat lowering kit already fitted, so a seat height of only of approx 765mm. I hope this is ok for you"

What a great level of customer service! Our Aussie dealers could really learn from this :D

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

Only three more days and four more sleeps (if the excitement doesn't keep me awake that is) :grin:

I've finally sorted a route and accommodation along the way

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=...62377,4.938354

Going to shut up shop in half an hour and then I'm officially on holidays :cheers:

cheers
Linda

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

Thats a trip indeed.

Some of the best roads and views in the country (Europe even, if the sun's out[-o< )

Have fun.

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

After two days in Edinburgh, walking miles and miles and taking in all the Fringe has to offer, tomorrow is the big day! I pick up the rental bike for my five days of adventure.

I'm so bloody excited :cool:

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

Have a great adventure and ride safe!!

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

Hope you have a great time. Ride safe have fun :D

Re: Motorcycle rental for a few days?
 

oooh exciting... enjoy and hopefully the weather is sunny and the roads are dry :)