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MOTORCYCLE RENTAL FAQS

RIDE FREE Rental Overview

# I think RIDE FREE is the perfect balance. We are not one of the huge corporate travel industry tour companies, and we are not some guys just trying this tour thing out for a couple of years. While we are the oldest motorcycle tour company in the USA “since 1993”, and started before there was even a motorcycle tour industry in the USA, we have stayed small and true to what we are about. We are a professional company, but we have stayed a real USA mom and pop company. We have not grown out of our passion for meeting new people from around the world, making great friends, and riding on the road together. We care about each and every person that rides on one of our tour, does a self guided tour, or a rental with us. It is the personal touch that sets us apart. We want you to have an amazing adventure of a lifetime, and we will do everything we can possibly do to make that happen. As the owner, I am aware of every person on all of our tours and rentals. If I am not leading the tour, I am in contact with our guides and am personally vested in every day of your tour while you are on it.  I also head up the phone support roadside assistance. 

When you are on a RIDE FREE experience, it does not really feel like just renting a bike.  We are just your new friends from America, with the local knowledge, handling all the problems we can instead of you, showing you best time we can. So you have an adventure and experience of a lifetime.  We will be there every step of the way on your rental.  Call me anytime. 

Ride Free Rental Package Includes these RIDE FREE Services at no extra cost

We often save people a day to days of lost rental and trip time if they have a flat tire or other issue on the road
With Ride Free Roadside Assistance we go above and beyond for you.  I can tell you story after story ( just call and ask ) where for example, a renter has dropped their bike and broken a clutch lever or gotten a flat tire…. and they are told by the main rental company it will be a few days to get fixed, or can’t be fixed, go get a rental car.  We spring into action and get them the part and find someone to fix it, and get them back on the road that day or the next morning.
– Ride Free will give you a great rate and Ride Free Package with every rental.
–  7 days a week RIDE FREE Roadside Assistance.  The best and most experienced in the USA, on top of what comes with the huge rental companies.  We will be Waiting for YOUR call when you are on the road.  A real professional tour guide and often a mechanic is only a phone call away.
– We are small enough that you are important and known to us.
– 7 days a week help line / We are your support team.  Are you lost?  Any problems at all?  Need help?  Real tour guides who know these areas like the back of their hands, with lots of connections etc standing by for your call
–  We are not just here to quickly book your rental.  We are happy to give you some suggestions that will make your trip better
– Want to Skype about your trip or rental?  “Ride Free Tours”   Or call us 3109789558
We would book your rental with one of our rental partner companies, the one that will be best for your specific rental.
Not only will you get everything they have to offer, but also our roadside assistance on top of theirs.
We have the best specialty roadside assistance bar none, on top of their Roadside Assistance.
And I am happy to help you with suggestions before the trip and after.
You get our smaller specialty company and real bike and car guys / tour guides, and mechanics ( www.sakowskimotors.com Classic Car and Motorcycle Repairs and Worldwide Sales  is us also ), helping you on top of everything our rental partner has to offer.
All at NO EXTRA COST to you.   All upside to you, absolutely no downside.  You get 2 for 1.

Just give me a call or contact me and we are happy to talk to you about whether RIDE FREE is the best fit for you.

EXAMPLES OF WHY RENT WITH RIDE FREE - WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE AND BENEFIT?

Below are some examples of why book a rental with Ride Free Tours and Rentals.
Rental:  
First, if you book rentals with me it will not cost one penny more to you than booking direct with the giant rental companies. There are some vast differences though when you book with Ride Free.  Basically you have a better chance of getting the bike you booked, and have far superior support on your trip that can save you days getting your flat tire or bike fixed.  And, I am here to help out or give some tips every step along the way.  The huge companies have about 5,000 bikes they are supporting, and at times 10 guided tours and hundreds of self drives going on at one time.  We only handle a handful of the above.  You won’t get lost in the cracks.  Call myself the owner of Ride Free anytime.  I will help you.  The small companies we work with don’t have our experience to help you.

Some recent examples .1-   A few days ago ( September 10, 2019 ) at one location our partners didn’t have the bikes they promised people. Some people that booked the huge company  direct got lowriders, a very small bar hopping bike, instead of Electra Glides…. huge difference.  My customers on that same day that booked Street Glides, would have gotten lowriders… but I called my people and with all the thousands of rentals I do there, my guys got a Road Glide = basically same as Street Glide, and an upgrade to a Electra Glide for the person with a passenger.  They are happy and on the road as we speak. Not like the very unhappy people who booked direct to the huge company on lowriders as we speak 
2-  We had a customer  with a flat tire, the company we work with was going to send them a tow from 4 hours away, then tow them back 4 hours, then fit the tire the next day.. All in a direction they were not going…..  = lose 2 days..   I called a little teeny tiny shop I knew in the area where the owner keeps some spare Harley tires for travelers.  They were towed and back on the road in about an hour from calling me…. 1 hour Ride Free versus 2 days with the huge company direct.   I could tell stories all day like this.
3- you also would support small business, not just international corporate conglomerates.  And at times, I use my own fleet so just supporting small business and locals.

Support on your trip:  Call me daily, whatsapp, text me, I am your support center.  However I can help.  

Get lost?  Take a picture and text it to me.  I can probably tell you where you are just from a picture, as we have been riding these roads on tour since 1993.  We know how to help you the fastest way and best if you need it on the road.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MOTORCYCLE RENTALS

Roadside Phone Support:  Call RIDE FREE for help on the road.  We will use our 25 years of experience to help get you back on the road as soon as possible.  

Orientation:  A representative will go over your motorcycle with you and answer any questions. 

Storage of luggage: Location will store your luggage at your risk at pick up location.

Luggage: Storing and Shipping
If you are starting and ending at the same location, you can leave your luggage cases at the rental store. 
If you are starting at lone location and ending at another location, your luggage can be arranged to be shipped from the pick up to the drop off location. The cost to you will range depending on how fast you need it there, the size, weight, distance, and locations Usually it is about $60 to $100 per bag.  That is just a rough estimate.

Helmets: Half helmets DOT approved, come with a rental for driver and passenger. 

Additional Drivers:  At most locations, you can add 1 additional driver at no extra cost. 

What About Insurance?

Many Different Waiver Options. Motorcycle Insurance Waiver Options (click)
We recommend the vip zero damage waiver and the sli 300 million supplemental liability at available locations.
Trip Insurance is highly recommended in case you have to cancel last minute or have other covered issues. 
This is not sold by Ride Free. Please buy it. 

Waiver options van vary per location.

Can I bring my passenger?

Yes. Passengers are welcome on your motorcycle.

Do I need to bring a helmet?

No, however most participants bring their own helmets. Small DOT lid helmets are provided at the rental store. You can also buy full face helmets at the rental store starting around $150. The included helmets are not full face. There is also jackets and gear that can be rented or bought when we pick up the bikes. We recommend you bring your own jackets etc.

Where will we sleep on the tour?

You are on a Rental, so no hotels included.  If you do a Self Guided Tour, the route, support, and hotels are included. 

The choice of lodging is a huge part of a Ride Free Tour and experience.

Lodging ranges from hotels in Vegas, motels on old Route 66, to camping in the middle of nowhere ( Camping is ONLY on custom camping tours ). Most tours include a mix of hotels and motels. About 3 Star is the average.

When available we stay at the small places with the most character. I prefer the old vintage places from a bygone era with
lots of character. If we are doing a ride for your group, we can book any level of hotel when available.
We stay away from places more tours go to, the box chain hotels which are the same no matter what country or city you are in. We prefer the mom and pop small local places. Yes, these places are harder to book, not just click it on line like the big corporate companies do.. But this extra work and attention to detail of an authentic locals road trip, you will see in every aspect of Ride Free. This is what sets up apart.

The lodging we stay at are cool places that I stay at when I ride with my friends or wife. They usually strategically located in town, walking distance to dinner, pubs, and fun. That way you don’t have to drive after a long day. Also, they are picked to be motorcycle parking and motorcycle friendly.

See the Testimonials about our lodging: https://ridefree.com/testimonials

Cleanliness of a hotel in very important to Ride Free.

Individuals traveling by themselves will book the 1 person – 1 bike – 1 room and have a room by themselves. If you are traveling by yourself and want to reduce cost and have a room mate. Request that, and if there is another individual that wants to share a room, we will introduce both of you and you can decide whether you want to share a room. Often, it is fun to have a room partner, and people become great friends.

Hotels Before and After Tour – We can arrange your hotel before and after the tour for you in the hotel we stay in. We suggest arriving at least a night before the first schedule night of tour, and stay at least one extra night after the last day. The hotel in included on the first listed day of tour. The last listed date of the tour, does not include a hotel because that is the departure day.

You will want your rest before and after the tour. Don’t let a delayed flight ruin your trip, or expect to be able to catch up on your sleep once the tour starts.
When finishing the tour, the night where we arrive to final destination does include a hotel that night. We arrive in the afternoon, then have a last victory dinner together. The next day is the last listed day of tour, which includes no hotel and is the departure day is all.

Is airfare included in the rental cost / Hotels before and after tour / transportation?

No. Your tour begins in the start city the day of the rental. We have found that this is really the best option for you. Arrangements can be made for extra hotel accommodations, upon request through a Self Guided Tour. The hotels we use on the first and last day of tour are usually close to the airport. In most situations and tours, there will be a shuttle to shuttle you to or from the airport.  We suggest arriving a couple of days early, and leaving a couple of days after the tour so you have time to rest before and after the rental. 

Most locations do not provide transportation.  We have found that these days an Uber is the fastest and easiest way to get to and from the rental location most of the time.

When I make a deposit how much, and when is my final payment due?

If you reserve a rental with a deposit, your final payment will be due = received / cleared to Ride Free’s account at least 60 days prior to your reserved rental date. 

20 percent is due to book and reserve your rental 

How Do I Pay for and book the Rental? When should I book?

 When you contact us to book, we either have forms and waivers you can fill out quickly and easily online, or we can email your a PDF for you to fill out and mail or email back to us.
We have a number of different payment options depending on a number of factors. Contact us and we will give you the options. Final payment is due received and cleared before 90 days before tour dates.

All rentals must be paid for before your rental.  It is best to book 1 year in advance for availability.  I would highly suggest booking at least 6 months ahead.  The farther the better for you.  If you have a last minute rental, we will do all we can to help you with what is left at that point. 

Can I get a refund on my deposit?

Rental deposit refunds are not available.   Refer to the rental terms and conditions.  Please get trip cancellation insurance from a broker so you don’t lose out if you have to cancel. Ride Free does not sell trip cancellation insurance. 

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Please please please purchase trip cancellation  insurance from a broker so if you can’t come last minute you will be reimbursed from the insurance company your loss of money. We will want to help you and we will feel honestly horrible for you, but we will be unable to help you.
Again, please read the above again and purchase trip cancellation insurance, and read their terms and conditions, and exclusions.  Ride Free does not sell trip cancellation insurance.

Invisible
RIDE FREE Rental Overview

# I think RIDE FREE is the perfect balance. We are not one of the huge corporate travel industry tour companies, and we are not some guys just trying this tour thing out for a couple of years. While we are the oldest motorcycle tour company in the USA “since 1993”, and started before there was even a motorcycle tour industry in the USA, we have stayed small and true to what we are about. We are a professional company, but we have stayed a real USA mom and pop company. We have not grown out of our passion for meeting new people from around the world, making great friends, and riding on the road together. We care about each and every person that rides on one of our tour, does a self guided tour, or a rental with us. It is the personal touch that sets us apart. We want you to have an amazing adventure of a lifetime, and we will do everything we can possibly do to make that happen. As the owner, I am aware of every person on all of our tours and rentals. If I am not leading the tour, I am in contact with our guides and am personally vested in every day of your tour while you are on it.  I also head up the phone support roadside assistance. 

When you are on a RIDE FREE experience, it does not really feel like just renting a bike.  We are just your new friends from America, with the local knowledge, handling all the problems we can instead of you, showing you best time we can. So you have an adventure and experience of a lifetime.  We will be there every step of the way on your rental.  Call me anytime. 

Ride Free Rental Package Includes these RIDE FREE Services at no extra cost

We often save people a day to days of lost rental and trip time if they have a flat tire or other issue on the road
With Ride Free Roadside Assistance we go above and beyond for you.  I can tell you story after story ( just call and ask ) where for example, a renter has dropped their bike and broken a clutch lever or gotten a flat tire…. and they are told by the main rental company it will be a few days to get fixed, or can’t be fixed, go get a rental car.  We spring into action and get them the part and find someone to fix it, and get them back on the road that day or the next morning.
– Ride Free will give you a great rate and Ride Free Package with every rental.
–  7 days a week RIDE FREE Roadside Assistance.  The best and most experienced in the USA, on top of what comes with the huge rental companies.  We will be Waiting for YOUR call when you are on the road.  A real professional tour guide and often a mechanic is only a phone call away.
– We are small enough that you are important and known to us.
– 7 days a week help line / We are your support team.  Are you lost?  Any problems at all?  Need help?  Real tour guides who know these areas like the back of their hands, with lots of connections etc standing by for your call
–  We are not just here to quickly book your rental.  We are happy to give you some suggestions that will make your trip better
– Want to Skype about your trip or rental?  “Ride Free Tours”   Or call us 3109789558
We would book your rental with one of our rental partner companies, the one that will be best for your specific rental.
Not only will you get everything they have to offer, but also our roadside assistance on top of theirs.
We have the best specialty roadside assistance bar none, on top of their Roadside Assistance.
And I am happy to help you with suggestions before the trip and after.
You get our smaller specialty company and real bike and car guys / tour guides, and mechanics ( www.sakowskimotors.com Classic Car and Motorcycle Repairs and Worldwide Sales  is us also ), helping you on top of everything our rental partner has to offer.
All at NO EXTRA COST to you.   All upside to you, absolutely no downside.  You get 2 for 1.

Just give me a call or contact me and we are happy to talk to you about whether RIDE FREE is the best fit for you.

EXAMPLES OF WHY RENT WITH RIDE FREE - WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE AND BENEFIT?

Below are some examples of why book a rental with Ride Free Tours and Rentals.
Rental:  
First, if you book rentals with me it will not cost one penny more to you than booking direct with the giant rental companies. There are some vast differences though when you book with Ride Free.  Basically you have a better chance of getting the bike you booked, and have far superior support on your trip that can save you days getting your flat tire or bike fixed.  And, I am here to help out or give some tips every step along the way.  The huge companies have about 5,000 bikes they are supporting, and at times 10 guided tours and hundreds of self drives going on at one time.  We only handle a handful of the above.  You won’t get lost in the cracks.  Call myself the owner of Ride Free anytime.  I will help you.  The small companies we work with don’t have our experience to help you.

Some recent examples .1-   A few days ago ( September 10, 2019 ) at one location our partners didn’t have the bikes they promised people. Some people that booked the huge company  direct got lowriders, a very small bar hopping bike, instead of Electra Glides…. huge difference.  My customers on that same day that booked Street Glides, would have gotten lowriders… but I called my people and with all the thousands of rentals I do there, my guys got a Road Glide = basically same as Street Glide, and an upgrade to a Electra Glide for the person with a passenger.  They are happy and on the road as we speak. Not like the very unhappy people who booked direct to the huge company on lowriders as we speak 
2-  We had a customer  with a flat tire, the company we work with was going to send them a tow from 4 hours away, then tow them back 4 hours, then fit the tire the next day.. All in a direction they were not going…..  = lose 2 days..   I called a little teeny tiny shop I knew in the area where the owner keeps some spare Harley tires for travelers.  They were towed and back on the road in about an hour from calling me…. 1 hour Ride Free versus 2 days with the huge company direct.   I could tell stories all day like this.
3- you also would support small business, not just international corporate conglomerates.  And at times, I use my own fleet so just supporting small business and locals.

Support on your trip:  Call me daily, whatsapp, text me, I am your support center.  However I can help.  

Get lost?  Take a picture and text it to me.  I can probably tell you where you are just from a picture, as we have been riding these roads on tour since 1993.  We know how to help you the fastest way and best if you need it on the road.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MOTORCYCLE RENTALS

Roadside Phone Support:  Call RIDE FREE for help on the road.  We will use our 25 years of experience to help get you back on the road as soon as possible.  

Orientation:  A representative will go over your motorcycle with you and answer any questions. 

Storage of luggage: Location will store your luggage at your risk at pick up location.

Luggage: Storing and Shipping
If you are starting and ending at the same location, you can leave your luggage cases at the rental store. 
If you are starting at lone location and ending at another location, your luggage can be arranged to be shipped from the pick up to the drop off location. The cost to you will range depending on how fast you need it there, the size, weight, distance, and locations Usually it is about $60 to $100 per bag.  That is just a rough estimate.

Helmets: Half helmets DOT approved, come with a rental for driver and passenger. 

Additional Drivers:  At most locations, you can add 1 additional driver at no extra cost. 

What About Insurance?

Many Different Waiver Options. Motorcycle Insurance Waiver Options (click)
We recommend the vip zero damage waiver and the sli 300 million supplemental liability at available locations.
Trip Insurance is highly recommended in case you have to cancel last minute or have other covered issues. 
This is not sold by Ride Free. Please buy it. 

Waiver options van vary per location.

Can I bring my passenger?

Yes. Passengers are welcome on your motorcycle.

Do I need to bring a helmet?

No, however most participants bring their own helmets. Small DOT lid helmets are provided at the rental store. You can also buy full face helmets at the rental store starting around $150. The included helmets are not full face. There is also jackets and gear that can be rented or bought when we pick up the bikes. We recommend you bring your own jackets etc.

Where will we sleep on the tour?

You are on a Rental, so no hotels included.  If you do a Self Guided Tour, the route, support, and hotels are included. 

The choice of lodging is a huge part of a Ride Free Tour and experience.

Lodging ranges from hotels in Vegas, motels on old Route 66, to camping in the middle of nowhere ( Camping is ONLY on custom camping tours ). Most tours include a mix of hotels and motels. About 3 Star is the average.

When available we stay at the small places with the most character. I prefer the old vintage places from a bygone era with
lots of character. If we are doing a ride for your group, we can book any level of hotel when available.
We stay away from places more tours go to, the box chain hotels which are the same no matter what country or city you are in. We prefer the mom and pop small local places. Yes, these places are harder to book, not just click it on line like the big corporate companies do.. But this extra work and attention to detail of an authentic locals road trip, you will see in every aspect of Ride Free. This is what sets up apart.

The lodging we stay at are cool places that I stay at when I ride with my friends or wife. They usually strategically located in town, walking distance to dinner, pubs, and fun. That way you don’t have to drive after a long day. Also, they are picked to be motorcycle parking and motorcycle friendly.

See the Testimonials about our lodging: https://ridefree.com/testimonials

Cleanliness of a hotel in very important to Ride Free.

Individuals traveling by themselves will book the 1 person – 1 bike – 1 room and have a room by themselves. If you are traveling by yourself and want to reduce cost and have a room mate. Request that, and if there is another individual that wants to share a room, we will introduce both of you and you can decide whether you want to share a room. Often, it is fun to have a room partner, and people become great friends.

Hotels Before and After Tour – We can arrange your hotel before and after the tour for you in the hotel we stay in. We suggest arriving at least a night before the first schedule night of tour, and stay at least one extra night after the last day. The hotel in included on the first listed day of tour. The last listed date of the tour, does not include a hotel because that is the departure day.

You will want your rest before and after the tour. Don’t let a delayed flight ruin your trip, or expect to be able to catch up on your sleep once the tour starts.
When finishing the tour, the night where we arrive to final destination does include a hotel that night. We arrive in the afternoon, then have a last victory dinner together. The next day is the last listed day of tour, which includes no hotel and is the departure day is all.

Is airfare included in the rental cost / Hotels before and after tour / transportation?

No. Your tour begins in the start city the day of the rental. We have found that this is really the best option for you. Arrangements can be made for extra hotel accommodations, upon request through a Self Guided Tour. The hotels we use on the first and last day of tour are usually close to the airport. In most situations and tours, there will be a shuttle to shuttle you to or from the airport.  We suggest arriving a couple of days early, and leaving a couple of days after the tour so you have time to rest before and after the rental. 

Most locations do not provide transportation.  We have found that these days an Uber is the fastest and easiest way to get to and from the rental location most of the time.

When I make a deposit how much, and when is my final payment due?

If you reserve a rental with a deposit, your final payment will be due = received / cleared to Ride Free’s account at least 60 days prior to your reserved rental date. 

20 percent is due to book and reserve your rental 

How Do I Pay for and book the Rental? When should I book?

 When you contact us to book, we either have forms and waivers you can fill out quickly and easily online, or we can email your a PDF for you to fill out and mail or email back to us.
We have a number of different payment options depending on a number of factors. Contact us and we will give you the options. Final payment is due received and cleared before 90 days before tour dates.

All rentals must be paid for before your rental.  It is best to book 1 year in advance for availability.  I would highly suggest booking at least 6 months ahead.  The farther the better for you.  If you have a last minute rental, we will do all we can to help you with what is left at that point. 

Can I get a refund on my deposit?

Rental deposit refunds are not available.   Refer to the rental terms and conditions.  Please get trip cancellation insurance from a broker so you don’t lose out if you have to cancel. Ride Free does not sell trip cancellation insurance.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Please please please purchase trip cancellation  insurance from a broker so if you can’t come last minute you will be reimbursed from the insurance company your loss of money. We will want to help you and we will feel honestly horrible for you, but we will be unable to help you.
Again, please read the above again and purchase trip cancellation insurance, and read their terms and conditions, and exclusions.  Ride Free does not sell trip cancellation insurance.

  •   Our RideFree experience was an adventure of epic proportions. With the guidance of Wil and strategic planning, we managed to do a self-guided tour from LA to Yosemite National park,... read more

    Nick S
    4/24/2020
  •   Nathan Peach ( Overseal, Derbyshire, United Kingdom ) Just recently completed a Ride Free organised tour of Northern California, me and my buddy hatched an idea to go... read more

    nathanp265
    11/11/2019
  •   Wil and Erin at Ride Free organised our whole trip along route 66 then the coast road to San Francisco. A self guided driving tour we did with our friends.... read more

    Andrew H
    10/26/2019

Sturgis Tour

"The Greatest Trip of my life!"

Hello Wil and Erin. Just a short note to thank you for the ‘BEST VACATION EVER’. Both Brian and Andy were exceptionally professional and it is fair to say that that trip would not have been as good without the professional and friendly banter between the group and the guides. They were well able to cater for the differences in the group and this aided the holiday. The locations, lodgings and roads traveled matched and, sometimes, exceeded our expectations. On at least two occasions the accommodations were part of our dreams. ( Log cabin on a lake ) Read More

© 2019 Ride Free Motorcycle Tours

© 2019 Ride Free Motorcycle Tours

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