Rise of the easy renter

Big motorcycles can be expensive. But you can live out your biking fantasies for less, says Tom Herbst

It's a little known piece of pop trivia but it was the Valentine Brothers, from Ohio, who wrote the song Money's Too Tight To Mention, not Simply Red. Listen to the lyrics and they resonate when it comes to owning sports bikes - they're financially hernia-inducing.

It's a little known piece of pop trivia but it was the Valentine Brothers, from Ohio, who wrote the song Money's Too Tight To Mention, not Simply Red. Listen to the lyrics and they resonate when it comes to owning sports bikes - they're financially hernia-inducing.

Spiralling insurance costs means that bikes can cost thousands of pounds, especially if you live in a high-risk area. According to the Home Office, there are twice as many bike thefts as cars, and insurers such as Norwich Union refuse to insure comprehensively group 17 bikes if not garaged - which scuppers ownership for most people who live in cities. Add to this the purchase price, depreciation, road tax, servicing, tyres and parking, and the bills escalate.

So, what's the alternative for people who want to ride but struggle to find the cash to justify owning day-to-day? The answer is renting. Although the geographical coverage of bike rental companies is nowhere near that of the car market, there are numerous places - independent specialists and dealers - renting bikes on a daily, weekend or weekly basis.

Name a bike and you'll be pretty much guaranteed to get what you're after. Fancy a super sports bike? Riverbank Motorcycles will let you have an R1, Fireblade or Blackbird for £98 a day or £180 for the weekend, including insurance and unlimited mileage.

Want to try the latest crop of sports 600s? A CBR600RR, R6 or GSX-R600 can be yours for £195 from Raceways for a long weekend, picking up anytime Friday and returning anytime Monday. Or if touring is more your thing, HGB Motorcycles has both 1500 and 1800 Goldwings, and old and current Pan Europeans. Costs vary between £75 and £100 a day, from £225 to £300 for a weekend, and up to £500 for a new Wing for a week.

Allan Jefferies has the whole BMW fleet available. Can't afford to stump up £14,815 for a K1200 LT Lux on the road? Pop down to the showroom and take one away for £125 a day.

Paul Hughes, managing director of Bournemouth Motorcycle Hire, says the holiday market is key: "Seventy per cent of our business comes from people going to Europe on holiday. We don't charge mileage, as you tend to frighten people off if you do."

Terry Emblen, Raceways' manager, explains: "About 30 per cent of our business comes from yuppies who want to go off on the latest bike and don't want the hassle and expense of owning."

But rental bikes are sought for other reasons: people from abroad coming on touring holidays; sports bikers who need something different to take their girlfriends on the back of; prospective buyers wanting a bike longer than a normal test drive; and people giving a rental gift voucher as a fun present.

Emblen says: "We rent scooters to people who want to see whether they can cut down their commute time. The retros attract the born-again bikers and we do rent, try, buy. We've also had quite a lot of people renting for weddings and putting their bride on the back."

Jeff Stone, of the British Motorcycle Federation, says: "Lots of people don't think about bike rental. Car hire is popular, but the big difference is that motorcycling is a personal and involving thing - and for many people, their number one priority. Many bikers would sell their grandmothers to make sure they have a bike, but there are others for whom running a bike is not an option. There may be nowhere to park securely, or their job might mean they can't sensibly or economically use a bike. Renting is practical."

Renting a bike is no different to car hire and you'll need:

* A reasonably clean driving licence. Most will take SP30s, but they won't accept drink or dangerous driving convictions.

* A utility bill so that you can prove your address.

* A credit card. Few firms will let you ride off without a proper guarantee.

* To book early. Bike hire fleets are not as large as car rental firms and a lot of people want specific bikes and will reserve way in advance.

* To think about your ability. You'll need two years' driving experience for certain bikes, so don't expect an enthusiastic response if you've just passed your test and expect to jump straight onto a GSXR1000.

* A substantial deposit to cover insurance excess. In terms of age, each firm has its own policy as to what you can take out; contacting them directly is best.

So, if you want to test, tour or just tank, hiring can make a lot of sense, especially if you want to use a bike infrequently. It's also perfect for those wanting to broaden their experience. And of course, it's an excellent way for some to avoid their bank accounts becoming simply red from the day-to-day running costs of big bike ownership.

Allan Jefferies BMW, 01274 776077, www.bmwbikes.co.uk.

Bournemouth Motorcycle Hire, 01202 380388, www.motorcycle-hire.co.uk.

HGB Motorcycles, 01895 630442, www.hgbmotorcycles.co.uk

Raceway Rental, 020-8749 8181, www.raceways.net.

Riverbank Motorcycles, 020-8983 4896, www.rentbikes.net.