Who's comfortable loaning bikes?

[Ramblin Man]

When I had three bikes, I had one that was my "loaner" so bikless freinds could ride with me. If something happened to it, it wouldn't have bothered me too much, mostly because I had two more.

I have one "extra" bike now that I want to sell, and a friend of mine who is a veteran rider, tought by me how to ride 20 years ago, and who bought the bike I had before I bought my FJR and is bikeless is always hinting about how I need to let him ride my extra bike.

Normally I wouldn't be concerned with this person, but when I was showing it to him, the way he blipped the throttle sort of bothered me. I had just fired it up and before it had a chance to get warm he's reving it hard. I didn't like that and right then I decided he wasn't going near it unless he wanted to buy it, which he doesn't.

Anybody else have issues loaning their bikes or do I need to lighten up?

 

[user 8909]

never again... promise I won't wreck it, honest.

 

[HaulinAshe]

Swapping bikes with someone that has just risked as much as you, is not the same thing.

Flat-out loaning a bike to someone else concerns me more about their safety than the welfare of the bike. Your maintenance now becomes critical to their safety, their safety can quickly become questionable if they are "over zealous" and don't respect the strange-to-them machine.

Sounds like you love your bikes. You probably would not loan out your wife or GF. It's okay IMO if you are uncomfortable with loaning your loved one.

 

[SockMonkey]

Not me. Nor will I take someone else's bike for a spin when offered. I don't want the risk and responsibility in either case.

 

[madmike2]

On the other side of the coin, I've had people lend their bikes to me. Always while we were riding together and my friends know that I'll repair or replace anything that gets scratched, bent, broken or lost.

For instance, I went quad riding with a friend, riding an "extra" quad he owns. It so happens I tumbled down a mountain (I didn't counter balance across the face of the hill). Bent handlebars and broken rear fender. He called a dealer friend on Tues., I sent them a check, they shipped the part. HE was amazed because I was the first person in 15 years to even offer to replace/repair. I told him he needed different friends.

I'd expect anyone who used my equipment to be as respectful of my stuff as I am of others machinery.

 

[Niehart]

Dirt bikes, yes. Street bikes, no.

 

[Taff]

Dirt bikes, yes. Street bikes, no.

+1 on that.

I have too much time and money invested in "Cherry" and the "rocket" to lend my steeds out.

A good frind of mine asked if he could ride Feejer, I politely said, "give me a $15,000 deposit" and that would be OK.

Suffice to say he declined. Anyway, with the new suspension etc, plus the fact he has never ridden a bike which has a comparable weight to the FJR, this is a recipe for disaster IMHO.

So, don't feel bad at all. Peeps will not look after stuff that is "not owned by themselves".

Ride safe.

 

[Silent]

The last bike I loaned out came back in a basket, so no. I don't 'loan' bikes out. Period. B)

Swapping for a day is another matter tho. Case by case there.

 

[dean]

a rally buddy of mine has been in the u.k. the past 3 years. before that we always rode in the same group at the rallies. he's coming back this month, but his bike(s?) won't be back in time for the spring rally, and he asked the list if anyone had a spare bike. i had intended on bringing both the fj and fjr anyway, so i offered him the fjr. he's a better, smoother, faster rider than i am, and the fj has lots of suspension upgrades, so i told him maybe that'd keep us even.

i trust him, he's not the sort mentioned in the first post, he's very responsible (again, yet very smooth and fast). besides, he took the gig over in the u.k. to make a crapload of money; that plus the fact that everyone on the list knows i'm loaning him a bike, it'd be a witch hunt if something happened to it and he didn't take care of it. ( :

dean

cincinnati

 

[Mooseonagoose]

Off hand, I can think of about three guys I'd consider letting ride my bike, one is the guy who was my primary mentor when I entered the sport & a longtime riding partner, the others are guys I've know & ridden w/ nearly as long. In the case of the first fellow, I've also ridden his bikes, including while I was learning.

...Then there are about 3-4 guys [also friends] who [as much as I like them] are at the other end of the spectrum, as in: absolutely not!/ no f----n' way in hell!/ What, do I look crazy?/not a chance Pal!/ fugedaboutit!!!! One, for instance is listed in my cell phone index under "maniac'...

 

[Berde]

Last time I loaned something with an engine attached to it was my Waverunner. Needless to say it ended up crashed and sunked. It was toed to he beach like a submarine. I spent about a thouthand dollars on repairs just to realize it was never the same. I have no problems swaping bikes if the person using mine is going to be considerate. If he is going to ride it like he stole it forget it. It is not only about the cost which is quite steep, is been able to sleep at night if the skunk kills himself or gets in bad shape. Probably, if you don't own an FJR or similar bike you should not be riding your friends Feejer.

 

[evil_henchman]

I have extra dirt bikes just for that reason. My standard disclaimer is if the bike gets broken it on me, if you get broken it's on you. Probably wouldn't hold up in court but I have to bribe people to hang out with me :lol:

There are a couple of people I would lend a street bike to but they haven't asked and I haven't offered.

 

[painman]

Seems like any time I ever borrowed someone else's bike or car something went wrong and I had to make it good. Like MM2 said, no way would I "not" make it right if I did break something. And I don't want to put that other person or me in that position. So for that reason unless its an emergency I don't loan out vehicles. Just not worth it IMO. PM. <><

 

[Toecutter]

I'd expect anyone who used my equipment to be as respectful of my stuff as I am of others machinery.

I was Mike, I was....even more than if it was my own.

And thanks again!

 

[ponyfool]

I get my FJR back this week from a co-worker that has had it for a little under two months. Since I had surgery and it was just sitting in my garage, I figure he could ride it. So he did. It's just a piece of equipment. If I thought he would abuse it or wasn't capable of respecting it, I'd never have let him borrow it. But, he is a mature rider and responsible person so I had no issues loaning it.

 

[FJRMGM]

its a very short list that I would loan my bike to.

 

[gypsy]

My attitude is that there is always a risk but in the end it is only money and there is insurance. I wouldn't lend a bike to anyone that I wasn't sure was up to the task. My friends whom I ride with frequently have ridden my bike but no one else. I trust them not to be foolish but I accept the risk that even if the world's safest rider is aboard **** can happen.

Then there is CanadianFJR who can never ride my bike because I have seen him ride his!!!

gypsy

 

[keithaba]

I have to ride with the person several times, and know what types of bikes they have experience.

I wouldn't lend my FJR to someone who has only ridden a SV650.

It wouldn't bother me nearly as much if they had an ST1300 or C-14.

It is definately a case by case.

 

[SMC]

:blink: Generally the answer would be; no. I would neither lend a bike out and now I wouldn't accept someone else's bike to just ride around.

Having said that, there is an extremely short list of people that I would lend my bike out...that list comes to about three people, because I know their riding skills, habits, honesty, they would treat the bike well and not abuse it, and they would be the kind of individuals that if something did happen, inform me of it, get it repaired to spec and as it were before and take care of all costs without trying to squirrel out of it. Even if nothing happened to it, they are the kind of people who would return it with the tank full of the gasoline I use, washed and waxed!