advice for renting a bike in Montana

[DaveD]

Hi folks - I've been thinking for years that I'd like to fly to Montana, rent myself a bike, and ride up to Jasper park in Canada. I'm starting to get serious, did some googling and up popped this place Adventure Motorcycle.

Any reviews? Are these guys legit? They don't have any FJRs, but they seem to have some nice bikes.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I don't know anything about this place -- but, I went to the site (linked) and it sure does look good/professional.

I can tell you that there's a place in Missoula (nr. where this guy is), Adventure Cycling, that runs bicycle tours -- that has a great reputation. If he's patterning his business after them? (or, is somehow connected...?) that's probably good, too.

There's a BMW dealer in Missoula -- only one in the state. (probably a Suzuki and Yamaha dealer, too -- since he rents those, too).

He seems to be offering the right mix of services -- to me? And, is certainly located in a good area to support some 'Adventure Riding'.

Good luck (if you use Adventure Motorcycle, report back...)

 

[Big Sky]

I'm from Montana so have never had the need to rent a bike here so know nothing about these folks. Pick up the phone, call 'em and talk to 'em. Ask for a few references, then call those.

Kootenai, Banff and Jasper are all beautiful parks, but the road north to Jasper is actually pretty straight and dull and handles quite a bit of traffic during the season. IMHO there is much better riding than that to be had in BC.

Nate Bertland, a very good man, is the BMW dealer in Missoula - Big Sky Motors - and he also has Kawasaki. I don't know if he does rentals.

By the way, it is snowing right now here in Butte, MT at 5,400 feet of elevation. It's been a lo-o-o-ng winter.

 

[DaveD]

Thanks for the info; I'll get in touch with the Missoula BMW guy, too.

Big Sky - any advice on routes north and towns with good brew pubs and steakhouses, at least as far as Banff, would be appreciated!

 

[Spud]

If you want to start a little further south and take off straight into Teton/Yellowstone to start your trip, you could go here: They rent BMW's....and some other bikes too

https://www.eaglerider.com/jacksonhole/rentals.aspx

 

[Big Sky]

DaveD,

Congrats on what sounds like a wonderful ride. Are you prepared for price sticker shock in Canada? Vital commodities (fuel, alcohol, tobacco) are all heavily taxed and very expensive. The old exchange rates, when the Canadian Dollar was worth 65 U.S. cents and things were relatively cheap, are gone. We very much like the route north from the east side of Waterton Natl. Park through Pincher Creek and/or Longview, or go further west over Crowe's Nest Pass, through Fernie, then north through Radium Hot Springs.

Some of our favorite routes are further to the west: Bonner's Ferry, ID north to Creston, BC, along Kootenai Lake to Crawford Bay, take the ferry to Balfour, then north past Ainsworth Hot Springs (very cool place) to Kalsow, New Denver, Nakusp, Vernon, etc.

It's all good. Enjoy!

 

[Steve Scheer]

Dunno about Adventure Motorcycle, but I have rented in Seattle, LA, Denver (twice) and just this past week Las Vegas, and in every case, the folks I dealt with were honest, friendly, and enthusiastic about motorcycles. This past week was my first time with Eagleriders, since they often don't have anything other than HD or Gold Wings availble. I got the Honda ST1300, which was incredibly familiar after riding the FJR. Motorcycle rentals are just so darn expensive, but they've allowed me to explore the Colorado Rockies, the Four Corners/Mesa Verde area, the Mojave desert, Death Valley and British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies (incredible!) without spending days and days riding from the mid-south to get there and back.

 

[Steve Scheer]

Some of our favorite routes are further to the west: Bonner's Ferry, ID north to Creston, BC, along Kootenai Lake to Crawford Bay, take the ferry to Balfour, then north past Ainsworth Hot Springs (very cool place) to Kalsow, New Denver, Nakusp, Vernon, etc.

And watch your speeds in Canada. I got a ticket two days in a row because I would not go the ridiculously low speeds around Kootenay and the freeways.

 

[DaveD]

thanks, folks. I'll report back and let you all know how it goes.

 

[sportsguy]

DaveD,

Congrats on what sounds like a wonderful ride. Are you prepared for price sticker shock in Canada? Vital commodities (fuel, alcohol, tobacco) are all heavily taxed and very expensive. The old exchange rates, when the Canadian Dollar was worth 65 U.S. cents and things were relatively cheap, are gone. We very much like the route north from the east side of Waterton Natl. Park through Pincher Creek and/or Longview, or go further west over Crowe's Nest Pass, through Fernie, then north through Radium Hot Springs.

Some of our favorite routes are further to the west: Bonner's Ferry, ID north to Creston, BC, along Kootenai Lake to Crawford Bay, take the ferry to Balfour, then north past Ainsworth Hot Springs (very cool place) to Kalsow, New Denver, Nakusp, Vernon, etc.

It's all good. Enjoy!

Just make sure to stop at a tourist office. Provinicial tourism offices, or even their official websites, are a great resource for things like learnign if you can submit a form and get the money you paid in taxes back...you know, given you don't live there and all...

Federal tax rebate program for visitors

Visitor service for Alberta