[cooliorz]

I'm going to Italy in a week for my honeymoon and would love to rent a bike.
Can anybody recommend a motorcycle rental shop near Rome, Italy?
Preferably one that would allow me to drop off the bike at another location (i.e. renting in Rome and dropping off in Cinque Terre or Genoa)

Does anybody have any experience with insuring the bike for damages? The rental places I looked at required $2500 damage deposits. Ouch! I'd prefer not to have to pay that and am hoping to find other solutions.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[chris87114]

I just have to ask... have you ever driven in Rome? If not... I would personally recommend listening to the guide books and NOT!

I didn't follow that advice about 2 years ago and it was stressful to say the least. I had a passenger (my fiancee) helping me navigate our way through the city in our rented VW Polo.

Now... driving through Tuscany was awesome, and having a moto out there would be great, but I would highly recommend against driving in Rome or Florence. We found the city traffic to be very fast paced, the street & road signs somewhat difficult to interpret when moving that quickly, lanes completely optional, and keeping a safe space around your vehicle absolutely impossible- And I enjoy driving fairly agressively in the USA.

Also, look out for big brother. I apparently drove down a restricted street in Florence behind a city bus, and got mailed a ~ $200 fine, not including a ~$30 fee on my credit card who gave the agency my contact information so they could mail me a fine back in the USA about 9 months after said offense. Good times.

If, and hopefully when I get back over there again, I'm pretty sure my wife will forbid me from driving in the cities again.

 

[chris87114]

BTW, sorry to not answer your question.. I have no idea about moto rentals. My fiancee doesn't have any desire to ride on my bike at home so I didn't have a need to rent abroad when we were over there together.

 

[cooliorz]

Thanks for the reply. Any tips or advise is appreciated.

I wasn't planning on riding in Rome, just riding North from Rome up to the Cinque Terre area.
I've also heard the driving in the city is stressful and crazy. No thanks to that. ;-)

 

[wally49]

We rode in Italy about 15 months ago.
Hired the bikes in Florence, we were based in Greve in Chianti (about 25 km South).
Motards are excellent around the Tuscany area.
You might find them a bit stressed on Autostrada.
After about 15 mins driving in Rome - despite all the pace and apparent near misses - using a TomTom Rider, was magic.
If you are used to a defensive driving zone of emptiness - forget it.
Italians don't know the meaning of same.
However, they are alert, flash your indicator in the direction you want to go, then do it.
Confidence will mean you know what you are doing and the traffic will compensate for your change in directions.
It was much easier in the traffic as every-one riding lane split and it was the accepted practice every where we went.
I certainly would choose to ride in Italy over riding in Denpasar in Bali.
The net isn't much help as not all the sites rent motorbikes - mainly scooters.
If you speak Italian, it is much easier.
Take the plunge and enjoy it mate.

 

[Jan Zoellner]

Can´t really help you with the rental, we used our own bikes. BUT, people were in general helpful and we often could find someone speaking english. A woman at the reception of a camping site north from rome went out of her way phoning motorcycle companies for changing a "cuscinetto" (just look it up ) in a ´95 GSX-R wheel.

I wasn't planning on riding in Rome,

It´s actually not THAT bad. But I´ve got training surviving nearly 20 years as a cyclist in the city which surely helps.

just riding North from Rome up to the Cinque Terre area.

Hear, hear. You´re in for a terrific trip. Make sure to head inland into the mountains for some time! The coast roads are usually too crowded and - as far as riding goes - not too exciting.

Ciao
Jan