I was invited on a 7 day road trip out of Denver, Co in early June. I live on Long Island, own a 2008 GS 1200 with 8k on it. I have a limited amount of time and thought about flying out there, Renting a bike . (175 a day?) . I assume many folks have had experience shipping their bike, but in checking prices, It doesn't seem to be cost effective, plus the hassle of lead and lag time of shipping the bike. Any thoughts?
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Do I rent, or ship my 2008 GS from NY to Denver
- Thread starter paulsgs
- Start date
My (our) circumstances were different as we did not concentrate on one specific area like Colorado. But it was one of the best trips taken with my older brother (his desire/age was reason for shipping and flying), shipped our RT's from Indiana and Illinois respectively to Portland, OR. Our plan was to simply meander back to our homes. Two and half weeks shipping window, with fly out and pickup at Portland's BMW dealer at the time. We had our own rides and nothing but time as we were both retired.
Very enjoyable, nicely paced journey back...OR, WA, CA, NV, UT, CO and some flat ones the rest of way. It cost me about $550 to ship and $300 or so for airfare (one way)...this was 2010. I think our trip lasted 9 days. Say $250.00 (4,000 miles) for gas (it was more expensive in 2010) and 8 motel nights, which we split...I'd say I was out $1,600 plus food and drink. If I had flown and rented, first I couldn't have done trip the way we did and rental cost + flight (round trip) + motels + gas would have been more in the $2,600 area.
I didn't mind being without bike for the shipping time, especially to accommodate my brother in pulling this trip off, but I had no time limitation...the cost savings was just a bonus. Of course a round trip ticket and 6 day rental could be more in line with your perimeters. Especially if you have no interest in seeing fly over real estate.
Very enjoyable, nicely paced journey back...OR, WA, CA, NV, UT, CO and some flat ones the rest of way. It cost me about $550 to ship and $300 or so for airfare (one way)...this was 2010. I think our trip lasted 9 days. Say $250.00 (4,000 miles) for gas (it was more expensive in 2010) and 8 motel nights, which we split...I'd say I was out $1,600 plus food and drink. If I had flown and rented, first I couldn't have done trip the way we did and rental cost + flight (round trip) + motels + gas would have been more in the $2,600 area.
I didn't mind being without bike for the shipping time, especially to accommodate my brother in pulling this trip off, but I had no time limitation...the cost savings was just a bonus. Of course a round trip ticket and 6 day rental could be more in line with your perimeters. Especially if you have no interest in seeing fly over real estate.
alancoles
Dress for fall & avoid it
I think the OP's situation is different in that he'll need to ship the bike in both directions.
Flight, meals, gas and accommodations are the same whether you rent a bike or ship your own bike, as is airfare, so the only real difference is renting vs shipping.
A quality shipper (don't us a fly by night) is $620~ each way, so $1,240 for the trip. Plus you will need to allow for the cost of 1-2 additional days (food and accommodations) potentially due to shipping not being guaranteed for specific dates. So $1,240 bare minimum if everything goes like clockwork.
EagleRider in Denver rents R1200RTs, plus Harleys and Indians by the day or week. A one-week RT rental is $109/day x 7 = $763 ($129/day for daily rentals). You'd want insurance on that, but IIRC, it would be under $100 for the week, so say $850 all in plus tax renting, vs 45% more to ship @ $1,240. That's by my math anyway.
If you don't have specific routes in mind yet check out NW of Denver - Route-70 to Route-40 to Route-34 to Route-7 to Route-72 to Route-119 S. I've been looking at this for a ride in July. Be warned thought, there is a section of Route-34 closed until mid-late June, so check with the Colorado DOT, they do a good job of identifying road closures, etc., and you can do an email subscription for updates on your specific route for closures, accidents, etc.
Flight, meals, gas and accommodations are the same whether you rent a bike or ship your own bike, as is airfare, so the only real difference is renting vs shipping.
A quality shipper (don't us a fly by night) is $620~ each way, so $1,240 for the trip. Plus you will need to allow for the cost of 1-2 additional days (food and accommodations) potentially due to shipping not being guaranteed for specific dates. So $1,240 bare minimum if everything goes like clockwork.
EagleRider in Denver rents R1200RTs, plus Harleys and Indians by the day or week. A one-week RT rental is $109/day x 7 = $763 ($129/day for daily rentals). You'd want insurance on that, but IIRC, it would be under $100 for the week, so say $850 all in plus tax renting, vs 45% more to ship @ $1,240. That's by my math anyway.
If you don't have specific routes in mind yet check out NW of Denver - Route-70 to Route-40 to Route-34 to Route-7 to Route-72 to Route-119 S. I've been looking at this for a ride in July. Be warned thought, there is a section of Route-34 closed until mid-late June, so check with the Colorado DOT, they do a good job of identifying road closures, etc., and you can do an email subscription for updates on your specific route for closures, accidents, etc.
alancoles
Dress for fall & avoid it
Paul, EagleRider HQ told me a couple of weeks ago that they expect to have 15 RTs available in Denver by June of this year. Don't know if they wil have any GSs. IIRC, the RT comes with the saddlebags included in their price. Some locations also have top-cases available for the RT. I'm renting from their Denver location in July, so if you do go that route, please let me know how it goes. Looks like they've got the RTWs but pictures aren't always reflective of what is actually available.
I'm hoping (believe) they'll have the GPS Pre-package so my Nav-V will slip right in. Just have to remember to not leave it on the bike when I return it. ;-)
Like you, I rented an Electra Glide in Vegas five weeks ago, and everything was quick, smooth and painless.
I'm hoping (believe) they'll have the GPS Pre-package so my Nav-V will slip right in. Just have to remember to not leave it on the bike when I return it. ;-)
Like you, I rented an Electra Glide in Vegas five weeks ago, and everything was quick, smooth and painless.
pglaves
#13338
Since you do this every year and he has a bike you have ridden for sale, why not buy it and have him keep it for you.
alancoles
Dress for fall & avoid it
Good idea Paul.
If that doesn't fit the bill, consider a membership to EagleRider. Then you'll get 12-13 rental days included per year (must be an Club Eagle outlet) for the $29/month membership fee. Your cost for each of those days is the ancillary charges and any insurance you need. Pays for itself with just 3-4 rental days per year, but until they make changes it is just from the Club Eagle outlets.
If that doesn't fit the bill, consider a membership to EagleRider. Then you'll get 12-13 rental days included per year (must be an Club Eagle outlet) for the $29/month membership fee. Your cost for each of those days is the ancillary charges and any insurance you need. Pays for itself with just 3-4 rental days per year, but until they make changes it is just from the Club Eagle outlets.
Since you do this every year and he has a bike you have ridden for sale, why not buy it and have him keep it for you.
I have thought about it since I know the history of the bike and put half of its 20K on the clock. I'm just not sure I want to have a '95 as my long distance machine that I use once or twice a year, and I don't get to go out in the garage and look at it! I'm kinda in the heading to retirement stage and thinning out items. Here in the east I have a 08 GS, and a 69 BSA Lightening, with the latter getting maybe 100 miles a year. They are both kept at a relatives garage for the winter since I am now apartment living. The other side is the '95 is mint , its the last year of the airhead so, hopefully it will maintain value.
Yes, I have thought of that as well, two of friends have in fact joined it. However one lives in Vegas, and the other in Tampa. If I get my act together and retire somewhere off of Long Island, then maybe it makes more sense. Thanks
Alan, I went ahead and joined inspite of what I previously had written. The local Denver dealer was not getting back to me and after doing the math, I will probably get more riding out of it.
Stay tuned!
Alan, I went ahead and joined inspite of what I previously had written. The local Denver dealer was not getting back to me and after doing the math, I will probably get more riding out of it.
Stay tuned!
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