Motorcycle Vacations: To Ride, Haul, Ship or Rent?

All of my best vacations involve a motorcycle component. However the biggest question usually boils down to how to incorporate a ride: ride my own motorcycle to the vacation destination; tow or haul my motorcycle there; ship my bike directly; or rent a motorcycle at my final destination.

If you’ve faced this challenge before, you know each option has its ups and downs. We explore each one in depth, below, to help you better navigate the decision for any upcoming travels.

Ride

Advantages: When riding your own bike, familiarity is on your side. You know your bike’s capabilities, strengths and weaknesses, and you won’t be surprised along the way. Additionally, you can load your bike at home and take a test ride to make sure you have everything dialed in. Riding your own bike is good for your travel budget, too, as the only additional expenses will be gas, oil and wear and tear.

Disadvantages: If you ride your own bike, however, your trip is limited by time and distance. Factoring in the riding time to and from your destination is critical, and may cut down on the time you can spend at the destination. Also, you’ll be putting miles on your own bike, wearing out tires and other consumables, and using up some of its capacity. And that’s assuming that your bike is even appropriate for the trip you’re planning.

Haul or Tow

Advantages: If you want to ride your bike when you reach your vacation spot, hauling or towing your bike is a great option. This means that your bike won’t experience the wear and tear of riding along the way, and I’ll be able to pack your gear in your tow vehicle instead of on your bike. You can even make stops along the way, unload the bike, ride locally, and then load it back on the trailer for another hop. It’s a great compromise.

Disadvantages: It’s not all roses when it comes to towing or hauling, though. There’s more risk when driving with a motorcycle or trailer in tow, and fuel economy for the tow vehicle will be reduced. Parking challenges will be magnified as will the difficulty of maneuvering in heavy traffic. A good trailer or tow rig is not cheap, either. You don’t want to put your treasured bike up on a rigidly suspended trailer, or one without proper motorcycle rails and tie-downs.

Ship

Advantages: Motorcycle transport companies provide another good option for getting your bike where you want it, when you want it there. You send your bike ahead, and pick it up at your destination when you arrive by plane, train, boat or car, giving you plenty of great options for travel. Professional transport companies are experts at pampering your bike in enclosed trailers with good tie-downs and security.

Disadvantages: The challenges with motorcycle transport are financial and temporal. Good bike shipping is not cheap, starting at a minimum of $200 and ranging upwards to $2,000 or more, depending on distance traveled and the weight of the bike. Bikes have to be drained of all gasoline before shipping, and there is always a risk of damage, which is a hassle even if the bike is insured. Your bike will have to leave long before you do, so you’ll be without it for a week or more before your trip.

Rental 

Advantages: The most frequent choice for distant travel on a motorcycle is rental – just consider all of the motorcycles in the Harley-Davidson Authorized Rental program to be part of your fleet. First, pick a participating dealer near your vacation spot and reserve the bike of your choice for your vacation period. Then, go directly to the dealership upon your arrival and start your trip from there. The bikes are current year models, in great condition and covered by Harley-Davidson Roadside Assistance. The rental price is reasonable, usually about $100 per day at most locations, and you get a chance to ride bikes that are likely way better and newer than your personal ride.

Disadvantages: The downside of rental is that you have to turn the bike back in at the end of your trip! While your vacation may be over, at least you are left with the memories of a great experience in a remote location.

No matter which option you choose one thing in for sure, the best part of a travel getaway is spent on two wheels. What is your preferred method of motorcycle travel? Let me know in the comments below.