Shout out to South Florida Feejers

[FastJoyRide]

I participate with a small group of Canadian Construction Association (CCA) members in an annual 1 or 2 day ride on rental bikes when we're attending that group's annual conferences. This year's conference is on a cruise which will be departing from Fort Lauderdale on March 16, 2010. Before that date we would like to take a ride down to Key West as many of the CCA bikers have never seen it. We are thinking an overnighter this time so that we can have a relaxed pace, lots of photo opps etc, and maybe get into a little trouble the evening we're in Key West! None of these folks (except me) are IBA members so big-mile days are out.

Two years ago the conference was is Victoria BC and my buddy RocketDoc kindly helped us out with our pre-ride planning, then on the day showed up to be ride leader and show us some of his favourite roads.

This past March the CCA conference was in Scottsdale and SkooterG and his buddy John (another FJR rider) met us at the rental place and rode with us all day - showing us some gorgeous AZ roads.

Today's request is very simple: can you recommend any motorcycle rental resources which are reliable and handy to Fort Lauderdale? Our preference is non-Harley as about 1/2 of the riders are 2-up and Harley rental bikes tend to have brutally uncomfortable passenger seats (in my wife's opinion anyway!). Our riders are quite a mix, but mostly in their 50's and have been riding many years. Their bikes at home incude Wings, BMW's, FJR's, and an assortment of other sport-touring and sport bikes. We even have some newer members including a lady motocross racer/champion!

Any and all assistance and recommendations most appreciated!

 

[BrunDog]

I will shop this to the local South Florida FJR owners group to seek their collective knowledge. My belief is you will get mostly Hardleys. Some other shops have closed recently, so their ain't much left.

-BD

 

[FastJoyRide]

Thanks BD - much appreciated!

 

[FastJoyRide]

Shameless bump - can't anyone give me a lead on a non-Harley bike rental shop in S. Florida?!

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.eaglerider.com/Vehicle-Accessor...ComponentID=251 Dave, for grins and giggles I requested a BMW R1200RT for January 26; just to check on availability on non-Harley rentals. They did confirm they had BMW R1200RT's available to rent to me. Since you know exact date, punch them in and see what you find! NOTE: I've used Eagle Rider before with great success!

POSTSCRIPT: Had tried Fort Lauderdale 1st, no bueno; only H-D's or Vespas. If Niehart was with you, I'd go with the Vespas!

PSS: Be forewarned, FastJoyRide: Once you ride an R1200RT, just like a first date with Beyonce or Shakira, you won't go back!

 

[Patriot]

Looks to me like Eagle Rider rentals is in Fort Lauderdale and besides HD, they rent Goldwings and other Hondas.

https://www.okfloridabikes.com/states/florida.htm also it seems

This in 60 seconds of googling "rental motorcycles in Fort Lauderdale Florida"

 

[wfooshee]

Define "big-mile days." Ft. Lauderdale to Key West is almost 200 miles, and the causeways are at low speed limits. The first bit of the trip has to go through Miami, either toll-road slab or congested surface streets. (The Turnpike is the only way to get to Homestead without suffering through surface streets.) That may be "big" miles for some folks. My wife is done at that distance, maybe a little before.

Also, don't use any of the hotels whose brochures contain the phrase "men only." Just a fair warning, unless that's what you're looking for, not that there's anything wrong with that.

Pointless unnecessary info: you're actually closer to Freeport in the Bahamas than to Key West, but you can't ride there.

 

[Larry33319]

Another way to get to Key West without going on the Turnpike or thru Miami would be to head west on 595, a couple miles from the port at Fort Lauderdale. Follow 595 west to 75 south to 27 south. Follow 27 south to Krome Ave south. That will get you to Rt.1 / A1A straight to Key West. Should take about 4-5 hours at a liesurely pace.

 

[FastJoyRide]

Great info guys - thanks very much! I guess my first post got lost in the clutter of a busy day.

I also got the Eagle Rider link through Google Mike, but I didn't see anything but Hardleys in Lauderdale. Hadn't thought to check Miami - thanks Don! We'll see if maybe they'll bring some non-Hardleys up to us, or (if we have to) maybe we'll pick them up in Miami.

I've drunk my share of the Kool-Aid Don. First BMW was a 1964 R69US which I bought in very used condition, complete with a huge desert tank and finished in Rommel flat off-white. My last BMW was a gorgeous candy-apple red 1985 K75T on which I put a Russell seat and rode it well over 100K miles. That's the bike that I wish I hadn't sold - although it would be interesting to me now only as a day-rider - it couldn't hold a candle to the FJR for S-T duty. My hip to knee dimension puts my knees right into the back of the RT fairing - otherwise (and if the final drives were fixed) it would be a contender.

Bypassing Miami seems like a hell of an idea to me - on many levels.

 

[BrunDog]

I have found no joy on non-HD rentals. Many bike shops in FL went OOB. Even Triumph/Ducati bit the dust.

Try the BMW dealer in Davie, FL. They might have some ideas.

-BD

 

[beemerdons]

Good Morning, Dave. As you know, Miami and Fort Lauderdale are only thirty miles apart; I would think that Eagle Rider will work with you folks, especially if you are a larger group. Like I mentioned, I used Eagle Rider in Baltimore when I rented a V-Rod to ride Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkwasy; and I rented an Electra-Glide from Chicago Eagle Rider when I rode up to Door County, Wisconsin and then put the H-D on the ferry across Lake Michigan-and down the other side. Nice People!!

The R69US was a sweet Beemer, my first BMW was the 1966 R60/2 with the Earles Forks. The K75 series was absolutely the most mechanically perfect Motorraden das Fabrik has ever built! That machine is still dearly missed by the old BMW Faithful!!!

 

[beemerdons]

I have found no joy on non-HD rentals. Many bike shops in FL went OOB. Even Triumph/Ducati bit the dust.
Try the BMW dealer in Davie, FL. They might have some ideas.

-BD

FastJoyRide: Having owned and ridden BMW for forty years now, you know I have thirty years worth of the BMW Owners Anonymous booklets on my book shelves or on my three Beemers. In 2009 Anonymous I saw no listing for Davie, Florida.

HOWEVER: Motorcycles of Miami, 7501 NW 36th Street, Miami, Florida 33166 Phone: (786) 845-0052 Fax: (305) 594-4652.

https://www.BMWmotorcyclesofmiami.com Like BrunDog says, contact them and see if they can steer you to non-HD Rentals!

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.knopftours.com/Web-Site/Hello.html Dave, if you ever get nostalgic about riding a BMW K75, mein Freund Stefan Knopf has a dozen of them at his Rental Agency in Heidelberg, Deutschland: Knopf MotorradReisen. Es sehr gut! Mach Schnell!

If I'm bringing along a Lady to ride die Alpen mit mir, I always rent his black 2004 BMW R1150RT to ride us two-up for a week.

BUT, if I'm riding Alps solo: I never consider renting anything but one of his over a dozen collection of BMW K75's; all models!

Stefan does all his own mechanical maintenance of fleet of used BMW maschinen: Hands down, never any problems mit K75's!