Renting a Motorcycle: Suggestions?

[1.21GW]

I'm in SF for Thanksgiving and on Friday after the holiday the friend I'm staying with wants to rent bikes.  He has his license but currently no bike.  Anyway, I'm deciding what to rent from this site:

http://www.dubbelju.com/

Considerations:

- Just going to be a day trip.  Probably no more than 150-200 miles.  Thus, no need for big tourer.

- I have only ever ridden my duc, a harley I rented in Alaska once (awful), a vintage honda CB400 (fun but rattle-y), and the 125cc Kawa (basically a bicycle) that I rode in my MSF course.

- I have the desire to do some ADVing or at least some sport touring in the next few years and might want to get a more ADV/sport tourer in 2016.  So this may be a chance to test ride some I might want in the future.

- Previous bullet notwithstanding, I'm ultimately riding for fun not research so "zippy" might be my highest priority.

Leaning towards Multistrada or R9T.

Opine away!

[Dirty Duc]

KTM 1190 Adv.

[1.21GW]

Reason?

[Dirty Duc]

Because it is a zippy adventure touring bike...

The ktms have the best off road rep. The multi is really just a hooligan touring bike.

[SpikeC]

 If it was me, I would get the R9t. The engine produces a large amount of torque and decent horsepower for a street bike and would be capable of going as fast as anything else on public roads. It has character to burn, would be comfortable, and the boxer engine is entertaining. If you have never ridden a modern BMW it would be something of an eye opener, I suspect!

[MikeZ]

Just rented a bike last month in Phoenix.  1st, 3rd and 5th thing they said was ASPHALT ONLY so it wouldn't surprise me if that's a standard deal w/ rentals.
Either of the KTMs or the Multi would be great rides

[1.21GW]

Just rented a bike last month in Phoenix.  1st, 3rd and 5th thing they said was ASPHALT ONLY so it wouldn't surprise me if that's a standard deal w/ rentals.
Either of the KTMs or the Multi would be great rides

Interesting.  This rental place has so many ADVs that you would think they expect some off-road use.  That said, our plans only include asphalt so no problem if they have the same rules.

[Scoober1103]

Personally I'd go with either the multi, ktm or triumph tiger. They are zippyer then most give credit for and very far removed from what you have already ridden and what your riding now! Plus don't look at it as research but experiencing something different.

How tall you are comes into play. I'm a short arse and the Tiger was my fav from that and the KTM 990 adventure. Haven't ridden a multi but dearly want too! Just my 2c though!

 

[1.21GW]

Yeah, leaning towards multi.  Not to over analyze, but since I have 1.5 months before I do this, I can ask useless minutia in the meantime, like:

Can anyone give me a quick rundown of how the KTM, R9T, Multi, and GS800 would feel versus each other and my duc.  Lighter/heavier?  Turn easier/harder?  Power band?  Etc.

[Xanthoria]

Assuming you already know this and it's not an issue, but you have to have had an MC license for 2 years and have ridden over 600 cc for that time too IIRC. A visiting friend did not qualify, and they wouldn't bend the rules.

[1.21GW]

Assuming you already know this and it's not an issue, but you have to have had an MC license for 2 years and have ridden over 600 cc for that time too IIRC. A visiting friend did not qualify, and they wouldn't bend the rules.

Thanks, because I did not know.  I'm fine, but not sure my buddy is.

Just curious: how do you prove how long you've had the license and what cc bike you normally ride?

[Dirty Duc]

Thanks, because I did not know.  I'm fine, but not sure my buddy is.

Just curious: how do you prove how long you've had the license and what cc bike you normally ride?

Sound like you know what you are talking about...

Often rental companies rely on human judgement, especially when you are from out of town.  They want you to be a confident rider... not a tentative noob.

[thought]

Make sure you book the bike you want pretty early too... their selection can get pretty slim if you do it last minute.

If I were looking for a bike just to do comfy day trip on while testing out a ADV, I'd just go with anything with a GS in front of it.  They're the benchmark of the class and any bike you try after will be held up to that standard.  The new 1200 isnt any kind of slouch either.