American needing to rent/borrow a Dual-Sport motorcycle on UK visit…Can You Help?
I’m going to Wales with my family for vacation in September. I’ll be with them for about 10 days or so but I want to go early and ride around, exploring the UK by my self. I need to get bike for this and would like it to be a dual-sport (a DR-Z400S would be perfect). I’ll be 21 when I’m there so that might be an issue with renting. I have my motorcycle endorsement in the US and know I’ll probably need to get an international licence. If any of you could point me in the right direction to get my hands on a bike I would greatly appreciate it( I"m researching myself and I’m just trying to get an idea of all my options) Thanks in advance ;D
Brandon from Kansas
Just to make it clear I’ll be with my family in Wales for 10 or so days, but I plan on being in the UK for about a month… so I’ll have a little less than three weeks to explore by myself.
Being able to hire a bike of that type, never mind that particular model, in the UK is unlikely though maybe not impossible. Short of searching with google there is not much else you can do about that. There are lots of other road bikes available though and the oppertunities to use an off roader are few and far between here – a road bike would be best.
Your age should not be a problem.
Helmets are the law here so you will have to factor in bringing one with you or buying one here – obviously you will also need the rest of the gear and a full set of waterproofs is necessary on any long UK trip.
The international permit might be a good idea but as it is just a translation maybe not required as we are quite good at reading American here!
Forget buying a bike here and the shipping back nonesense. By the time you get it sorted with necessary taxes etc it will be time for you to go home!
ok… theres a few ways to do this, not al lof them entirely legal… but, we do exploit loopholes where we find them… and youve got a few months to plan…
1, go buy a harley.. (hear me out) register it, and ship it to an address in england, so you can ride it… (UPS DO IT)
sell said harley when you get here… believe me, youll turn a profit, and you can set this up beforehand…
then armed with the money… go into any bike shop, and talk to teh salesman, BUY your bike, and ship it home after youve ridden it…
end result, you get you r bike, and you ought to have made a profit…
look on ebay UK for bikes, get an idea of the price.. and see what you can do… over here, harleys sell…
and as for insurance, see carole nash’s web page…
ps, you should fail to mention, when questioned that you intend to sell teh harley…. its your ride, youre taking it on holiday…
and one thing… remember we drive on the other side of the road… our roads are narrow and winding, well, twisting… and in wales, land of my father, theres tractors, sheep, and cow shit…
enjoy your trip however you do it… just dont go barreling round blind corners, you cant see over teh hedges, and you have no idea whats around teh bend.. and a 2 ton cow, just like a land rover, is pretty unforgiving… but hey, at least you get free medical while youre here…
References :
cynical old biker
Being able to hire a bike of that type, never mind that particular model, in the UK is unlikely though maybe not impossible. Short of searching with google there is not much else you can do about that. There are lots of other road bikes available though and the oppertunities to use an off roader are few and far between here – a road bike would be best.
Your age should not be a problem.
Helmets are the law here so you will have to factor in bringing one with you or buying one here – obviously you will also need the rest of the gear and a full set of waterproofs is necessary on any long UK trip.
The international permit might be a good idea but as it is just a translation maybe not required as we are quite good at reading American here!
Forget buying a bike here and the shipping back nonesense. By the time you get it sorted with necessary taxes etc it will be time for you to go home!
References :
http://www.2wheeltravel.com/Motorcycle%20Hire/ukhire.htm
buying a dirt bike in the uk is just stupid,
there is no where to ride one for starters, secondly they are expensive compared to sports bikes,
and the harley idea is just dumb, no one in the uk rides them (thats not strictly true) but basically no one wants them when they can buy a bike for half the money that is twice as fast,
buying a bike in the uk is stupidly cheap for about $1500 you could buy a late 90’s sports bike
the problem being is you are only there for 10 days
another problem you are going to face is, legally you must have insurance, even if you manage to borrow a bike and they have insurance on it, it won’t and can’t cover you, you need to get your own insurance, if you are stupid enough to ride without said insurance and get pulled over (which is very likely in the uk) then the bike will be seized, the owner will have to go to court, and probably get points on their licence, and you’ll get a fine as well,
go and introduce your self on some British motorcycle forums, and see if you can convince some one to lend you a bike.
good luck
References :
lived in the uk for a few years
good bike forum
http://www.bikechatforums.com
My point to Timbo is here, he’s given you the best answer so far..
All that GR@P about buying a harley shipping it here and selling it is B0LL0CKS!!!!
People are not buying HD in the UK at the moment unless it is classic old tin and only if it is going for a song!!!
I wish to add to TIMBO’S description further by saying. I’ve Been on holiday with a number USofA mates who have come over to the UK for a vacation and we have had to temper their enthusiasm..
Though it is only 400 miles accross the narrowest part of the UK and there are good motorways and some cracking roads, the one thing you US citizens forget is our bl00dy traffic control systems..
Two of my mates TODD & GEORGE from colorado decided they would take a short drive london to Glasgow , they thought they could do it as a day trip (800 miles each way nothing for an american)
What they didn’t realise was it would take them two days and the fatigue was so severe they actually were gone for nearly a week. We actually had the police out looking for them and were contacting hospitals on route to find out if there had been an accident or something.
Expect to be stretched to your physical limit on UK roads dealing with the frustration of traffic delays and the constant stop start.
BUT Once you’re in wales. Get hunkered down in that saddle and RIDE.
the A44 and the A470 are cracking roads and those up by BALA and RHAYADER around the lakes are just breath taking. The road from Beulah to tregaron is a windy ( little more than a single track road) hill climb with fantastic views and mountain passes. And if you know of little britain ( TV series) you have got to get your photo taken in the village of LLANDDEWI-BREFI on the Tregaron to Lampeter route.
BTW if you are hoping to hire a bike in LONDON and ride it to WALES to enjoy the road FORGET IT!! the restrictions they will place on you will be severe. This is because of the number of guys who have hired GS1150’s and GS1200’s and the hire companies had thought people would be using them on the road, but found that they were recovering the bikes practically wrecked from narrow mountain passess in the black mountains in WALES or were getting summonses from the WELSH POLICE over the recovery costs of their abandoned motorcycles which had been stolen and recovered.
Best to get rail transport or local flight to say liverpool and then get a bike locally in Wales..
Look up POVEY the Paris Dakar Guy who trained Charlie Borman, he has an off road school in wales
I’ve added a couple of links for you too.
EDIT
it is nice to know the thumbs down fairies are following me. Yes you’ve got me listed as a HARLEY HATER.. what of it
Doesn’t mean I’m anti american …
Just goes to show people DON’T read the trends or understand fiscal matters or the costs and time and paperwork of a non resident trying to buy a bike in the UK As TIMBO is Here states it is going to take the length of this guys holiday just to complete the paperwork.
And to the guy who gave me a thumbs down Bet you’ve never ridden the roads in wales or even been to llandewi-brefi, or had ice cream on the shingle beach at cardigan bay after a 16 hour ride to the sunset.
I have.o…!
GBA, just not GBHD …!
References :
http://www.offroadskills.com/
http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/world-of-bmw/off-road-skills/brecon-beacons/
Hi sorry I know this is kind of off topic but I want to recommend a few cities to visit round the UK you may know them and what to do but it does not cost anyone to help another!
1. London (Wembley Stadium, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, House of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, The London Eye and many, many more)
2. Liverpool (Albert Dock, Anfield Stadium, Liver Building, Mersey Ferry, Stanley Park, Liverpool 1 Shopping Mall)
3. Edinburgh (Never been but heard it is a fantastic City)
4. Manchester (Old Trafford, Trafford Centre, Arndale Shopping Mall, City of Manchester Stadium
Look on all the cites websites there are many things to do in the UK! Hope you have a fantastic Vacation!
References :
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