Scotland? | Page 4 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Scotland?

I knew you'd love Scotland.

Great pics, thanks for sharing.
 
Looks like an amazing trip. Definitely had me contemplating and looking for bike rentals in the UK this morning.
 
Air Canada flies there with bikes. Be cautious with car or motorcycle rentals there. The whole UK is scammy with added charges etc. Due diligence very needed.

Two weeks will cost you north of $2200 and that's winter rates,

https://www.westsussexmotorcyclehir...t-west-sussex-motorcycle-hire-motorbike-hire/

https://www.saltiremotorcycles.com/motorbike-rental-edinburgh/motorbike-rental-edinburgh-options/

Note they have to stay in the UK so you can't cross to Europe or Scandanavia. Having your own ride should be both cheaper and more enjoyable but I'd go for at least 3 weeks.

https://advrider.com/f/threads/fly-your-bike-2018-air-canada-program.1283632/

Air Canada contacts
https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/en/shipping/shipping-solutions/ac-dgr/motorcycle.html

I spoke to a/c and you have to wait for the promotion to hit in the spring which makes planninig awkward,

https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/shared/en/documents/shipping/FlyYourBike_brochure_en.pdf

Motorcycles can be flown to and from the following cities:
• London (LHR) • Manchester • Milan
• Paris
• Rome • Venice • Zurich
• Calgary
• Montréal
• Toronto
• Vancouver • Dublin • Glasgow
• Athens • Edinburg • Brussels • Frankfurt • Casablanca • Geneva

Available from spring to fall, the program provides preferential rates to Air Canada passengers wishing to book air transport for motorcycles, and competive rates to passengers travelling on other airlines.

Rates are one way and vary depending on the origin and destination. Fuel and security surcharges, navigation tax and a fee for shipping an item categorized as a dangerous good are included in the price. Local charges, GST (in Canada) and fees paid to a dangerous goods consultant for preparation of paperwork may apply.

USEFUL INFORMATION
Our Customer Service agents can provide information on the requirements for preparing your motorcycle for air transport, but these tips can get you started.
• Motorcycles are classified as dangerous goods in air transport, as are all vehicles with a combustion engine. You may need to enlist the help of a dangerous goods consultant to prepare your motorcycle for transport. ( This costs about $100 )

• Arrangements with a local broker may be required at destination.

• We can book your motorcycle on your Air Canada flight, or on the same day as your flight on another airline. However, it is a good idea to ship it the day before your travel date. This will make your travel day easier, and minimize delays at destination.*

• Once you know your date of departure, you can book your bike for transport as early as 30 days prior, and no less than two weeks prior to departure. You can bring the bike to our facilities up to 24 hours in advance, and no less than 6 hours prior to departure time.
 
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Don't forget if you ship your bike you have to get insurance once landed.
 
I just fired this off

cargo.customerservice@aircanada.ca

Motorcyclists planning trips which include flying their bike need to plan well in advance.

Waiting until spring for promotional rates just makes us look at alternatives ie trucking my bike to BC.

Please publish your program early in the year so we can plan

Uncertainty of cost and availability just diminishes the appeal.

I’ve flown my bike before with AC and will likely again but I’m planning now as are others in the community. My son and I were pleased with the service

We need rates with ticket purchase to anchor these trips on. We don’t necessarily need to book really early ..but rather to know the rates and then like 90 day forward booking window

For instance $800 flat rate to Vancouver plus ticket purchase makes all sorts of sense to riders where the standard Air Cargo rates do not.
Waiting on unknown promotional rates in May makes planning a June trip hard.

It makes planning a trip to Europe on such short time frame almost impossible. Fixed rates to Europe around $1700 round trip competes well with rental rates …much above that it’s more practical to rent a bike there,

Your Canadian service appeals to riders both Canadian and from the US from the East going to the west coast for trips to Alaska or south along the coast of California

It appeals to US and Canadian riders from the west wanting to tour in the east.

If it gets much above that then trucking or riding is more attractive,

But we need rates early

Anyone thinking of flying their bike should send something similar - give them a kick start :D

This is locations flown to and from

upload_2018-2-25_10-57-28-png.1119959
 
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https://www.cupar.co.uk/bike-hire.php

That's who we used. Everything went smoothly.

I looked at pretty much every options but settled on them because they were a dealer, they offered a discount for booking multiple days (which they even discounted more for us), had bikes I enjoy riding, and were among the cheapest options. They did have the addition mileage charge but the discount we got for booking 5 days pretty much offset that.

They also have a Kawasaki dealership that rent's Kawi's but I was pretty sure I would hurt someone if I had to listen to the sound of a kawi parallel twin for a week lol

Not a lot of places had middleweight bikes. You really don't need a 1000+ to ride anywhere there, especially without a passenger. The 650s were plenty. There was another place in Inverness that has a fleet of NC500s but that's about the most boring motorcycle known to man so I said Yeah Nah to that.
 
For a weeks rental that's better than flyiing your bike but for 2 weeks or longer I think flying makes more sense - especially as you can leave from another destination ....ie fly the bike to Edinburg and return from Germany or even Athens now.
 
air canada responds

On Dec/4/Tue/2018, at 12/4/9:45 PM, Air Canada Cargo - Customer Service <cargo.customerservice@aircanada.ca> wrote:

Hello,

Your point has been noted, customer relations has been added.

Regards,


Mohamed



Customer Service Agent – Cargo Call Centre
Agent du service clientèle – Centre téléphonique d’Air Canada Cargo
cargo.customerservice@aircanada.ca
 
Air Canada flies there with bikes. Be cautious with car or motorcycle rentals there. The whole UK is scammy with added charges etc. Due diligence very needed.

Two weeks will cost you north of $2200 and that's winter rates,

https://www.westsussexmotorcyclehir...t-west-sussex-motorcycle-hire-motorbike-hire/

https://www.saltiremotorcycles.com/motorbike-rental-edinburgh/motorbike-rental-edinburgh-options/

Note they have to stay in the UK so you can't cross to Europe or Scandanavia. Having your own ride should be both cheaper and more enjoyable but I'd go for at least 3 weeks.

https://advrider.com/f/threads/fly-your-bike-2018-air-canada-program.1283632/

Air Canada contacts
https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/en/shipping/shipping-solutions/ac-dgr/motorcycle.html

I spoke to a/c and you have to wait for the promotion to hit in the spring which makes planninig awkward,

https://www.aircanada.com/cargo/shared/en/documents/shipping/FlyYourBike_brochure_en.pdf

I have been talking to a company that I found when google searching options for rentals. These guys are half the price of everyone else. a GS or RT is 720 pounds for the week that includes insurance and 200 miles a day. If you want to leave the UK they told me they could get me a VE103 certificate which allows you to go to the continent or Ireland for 40 pounds.

https://www.roadtrip.uk/tours/

Been back and forth with them asking some questions, they are quick to reply and seem friendly. Never dealt with them before and would do more research on the company before going any further.

While I like the idea of flying my bike over there, the simplicity of just picking up a bike there is appealing, though nothing is ruled out for when I do eventually do this. Would be nice to not have to think about price in terms of time.
 
For a weeks rental that's better than flyiing your bike but for 2 weeks or longer I think flying makes more sense - especially as you can leave from another destination ....ie fly the bike to Edinburg and return from Germany or even Athens now.

Other things to consider.

Pros for renting:

- Try another bike for a while. It's like an extended test ride
- Most rentals have break-down service so if your bike fails, they will truck you out another rental, often within the same day
- No need to go out in search of insurance, it's all built into the price
- Way more convenient, less hassle.

Pros for shipping your own bike:

- Fixed cost regardless of time. No mileage restriction. Might be cheaper than rental after the 2-3 week mark
- You get to ride a bike that's already set up for you in terms of comfort (seat, shield, GPS, luggage)
- Crossing borders might be easier if you own your bike
 
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Other things to consider.

Pros for renting:

- Try another bike for a while. It's like an extended test ride
- Most rentals have break-down service so if your bike fails, they will truck you out another rental, often within the same day
- No need to go out in search of insurance, it's all built into the price
- Way more convenient, less hassle.

Pros for shipping your own bike:

- Fixed cost regardless of time. No mileage restriction. Might be cheaper than rental after the 2-3 week mark
- You get to ride a bike that's already set up for you in terms of comfort (seat, shield, GPS, luggage)
- Crossing borders might be easier if you own your bike

That is how I have been looking at it. Though honestly I would rent another GS despite owning one. My favourite bike and love touring on it, it does it perfectly for me. I could see maybe going with a multistrada as the only other option or an RT.
 
I'm very unlikely to do it but if I were doing UK/Euro I'd certainly want my bike to be able to roam different countries.
Mind you one week on a rental in Scotland would be okay too.

Iceland is the other destination people should consider.
 
Though honestly I would rent another GS despite owning one. My favourite bike and love touring on it, it does it perfectly for me. I could see maybe going with a multistrada as the only other option or an RT.

The primary appeal of renting for me is to try out different bikes. Naked bikes, full baggers, sportbikes, etc. Was in SoCal for awhile and rented a sportbike for a few days, then went back to the agency and took out a hyper-sport-tourer the next day. That was a lot of fun!

I'm very unlikely to do it but if I were doing UK/Euro I'd certainly want my bike to be able to roam different countries.

Yeah, the UK->Mainland Europe crossing has always been dicey with rental vehicles. Some companies straight out don't allow it, others will charge you an arm-and-a-leg surcharge.

It's only going to get more complicated Post-Brexit.
 
The primary appeal of renting for me is to try out different bikes. Naked bikes, full baggers, sportbikes, etc. Was in SoCal for awhile and rented a sportbike for a few days, then went back to the agency and took out a hyper-sport-tourer the next day. That was a lot of fun!



Yeah, the UK->Mainland Europe crossing has always been dicey with rental vehicles. Some companies straight out don't allow it, others will charge you an arm-and-a-leg surcharge.

It's only going to get more complicated Post-Brexit.

If I am planning on touring with a bike I want a bike I know will be comfortable and enjoyable for a tour. I love my GSA and really would not trade it for anything else out there. Sure if it was a day of riding I would try something but if I am planning on being on the road for a week or two I will be more focused on the tour then the bike and its performance.
 

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