When people first visit Twisted Road, they quickly realize how many motorcycle rentals we have on our platform. For example, a quick search on rental motorcycles in Los Angeles or motorcycles rentals in Chicago each return more than 200 results. That can be overwhelming. We're here to help you decide which rental motorcycle is the right one for your next outing.

Ask yourself these three questions to quickly narrow to your perfect motorcycle rental:

1. Why do you want to rent a motorcycle?
2. Where will you be riding the motorcycle?
3. How can you narrow in on a rental motorcycle that fits your specific needs?

In this article, we will explore each of these steps in detail to ease this process. 

Why do you want to rent a motorcycle?

There are four reasons why people rent motorcycles:

1. They don't own a motorcycle
2. They own a motorcycle but are traveling
3. They are test riding before they purchase
4. They just want to try something different

Understanding what's driving your decision to rent a motorcycle will help you narrow your search. For example, if you're test riding before you purchase, consider the other motorcycles that you already own, and which bike will best complement what's in your garage. If you don't own a motorcycle, start with understanding the type of riding that you plan to do. Are you planning to ride locally to get to work or use your motorcycle for longer rides, like a one week trip to Sturgis. Maybe you're renting to try something new. In that case, consider which bikes you don't own but have been excited to try. Let's say you own a Triumph Thruxton but want to try out a Harley-Davidson. Maybe your hipster friends would kill you if you ever became a member of the Harley Owner's Group, so it's time to rent a Harley to live out your motorcycle dreams.

Once you've identified why you're renting, it's time to proceed to the next step.

Where will you be riding the motorcycle?

The next step is to really understand the type of riding you plan to do so you can match your motorcycle rental to the terrain. Some examples are shown below.

Standard motorcycles: For short, urban riding

If you live in a major metropolitan area, like San Francisco or San Diego, your riding is likely going to consist of short trips around the city. Perhaps you just want to ride to a coffee shop and get some work done. Or maybe you plan to meet some friends for lunch. The best type of motorcycle for this riding is called a Standard Motorcycle. Standards often have an upright riding position, and aren't too heavy. These bikes rarely have comfortable passenger accommodations and rarely have storage. Although you might be able to find one with some storage, the panniers on a standard bike are often on the smaller side. People who ride standards usually don't take them on long, overnight trips and tend to use their cases for some magazines, an iPad, laptop, or a few bottled waters.

The riding position, weight, and size make these perfect for the nimble riding needed in a major metro. Renting a motorcycle Boston and need to quickly move out of harm's way? The standard motorcycle is your best friend. Think of Steve McQueen in the Great Escape—he's riding a Triumph Bonneville, which is, you guessed it, a standard motorcycle.

Sportbikes: For riding fast

Many people have the desire to go fast on two wheels, to push their speed into triple digits, and to set new landspeed records. So which is the bike of choice for this? Easy: a sportbike. Don't expect a sportbike to have storage, nor realistic passenger accommodations. They are light with a ton of power. The riding position is such that a rider feels like they're lying on their stomachs with their heads facing the front of the bike and their feet towards the back. These motorcycles have fiberglass fairings to reduce wind resistance and increase miles-per-hour.

If you're thinking of renting a sportbike for your trip, we suggest you consider renting a Ducati motorcycle.

Cruisers: For weekend cruising

How about if you want to go on some longer rides in your leather jacket? Maybe you want to take a weekend trip on your motorcycle and turn heads while you're doing it? You're looking for the traditional roar of the engine and chrome that glistens with every move. What you're looking for is a cruiser. It's America's motorcycle. If you're watching a movie and 50's music is playing and the cool guy enters the scene on a bike? He's on a cruiser.

Cruisers are made for comfort. They're very stable, and heavier than the other bikes we've discussed. They don't have much storage but when they do, they'll have more than a standard. The riding position is more relaxed. Often, the rider is slightly reclined and his feet are forward. These bikes are perfect for shorter trips, limited city riding, and looking cool.

Touring motorcycles: For long rides and trips

So you've been riding for a little bit and would like to take a long ride across the country. Perhaps you want to ride to Daytona Bike Week. Or ride from Portland to Portland (Maine to Oregon, that is). The perfect bike for this is a touring motorcycle, or tourer. The first thing you'll notice about a touring bike is the large fairing and the windshield to block the wind. Then, you'll recognize the comfort. And finally, the accessories. With extensive systems, perfect-sounding stereos, reverse, and A/C, touring motorcycles make long travel very comfortable. They're almost always equipped for a passenger and boast extensive storage. 

These bikes are very heavy and extremely sturdy with a low center of gravity. Because these motorcycles are made for long highway rides, they're best when making swooping turns, rather than shorter turns within a dense city. The riding position is comfortable (like a cruiser) and is either upright or slightly reclined, depending on the location of the controls.

Adventure motorcycles: For when you want to get a little dirty 

There are plenty of backroads throughout the country, that range from packed dirt to gravel, and from woods to streams. If you'd like to get off the street and explore a little off-roading, the perfect motorcycle for this is an adventure bike (many people prefer the BMW GS 1250 adventure bike, but there are plenty of options). In fact, Harley's Pan America has been a recent favorite as well. These all have an upright riding position, tires meant for street or dirt riding, and high clearance. Often they have hard cases made to withstand the element to handily carry your gear and tools. 

How can you narrow in on a rental motorcycle that fits your specific needs?

Once you've identified why you are renting, and what terrain you'll be on, the next step is to find the perfect bike for you. When you search for motorcycle rentals on Twisted Road you might return thousands of results. The key is the use the information you've gained from the questions above to narrow your search.

First, enter the location you'd like to ride and potential riding dates (especially if they're not flexible). You'll see plenty of rental motorcycles to choose from. Now it's time to filter out results that don't meet your needs. You can narrow by brand, style, price, or distance. Once you have a shorter list, you can review the bike specs to see if the motorcycle height, weight, and power are right for you. You can also check if the bike has storage or not, and also has room for a passenger if you'll be riding with one. Take a look to see which bikes have passed our 20-point inspection, then pack your gear, schedule the ride, and you're on your way!