Until recently, the question of "Should I rent or buy a motorcycle?" was rarely considered a viable option.

We all agree on one thing: we all wish we had one more bike. But it was during the pandemic that renting a motorcycle became a reality. COVID woke up the industry as people got back into their old hobby of riding. Since then, motorcycle rentals have grown.

And if you're looking for a motorcycle to rent, there are a variety of locations where you can ride anything from an Indian Chief to a Honda Goldwing. A Ducati Monster or a BMW Adventure bike. And Harleys. And Triumphs. You get the idea.

But isn't it just better to own a motorcycle? That way, we can ride whenever and wherever we want. We all feel like the proverbial kid in a candy store—excited to be here but paralyzed by choice.

Well, finally it’s easy—and we have prepared our own rent or buy a motorcycle quiz to see which one is best for you. For years, the “rent or buy” decision was an option available everywhere except the moto community. Consumers weighed whether they should buy or lease a car, while business owners decided whether they should rent or purchase real estate.

Even hiring decisions (full-time or temp) are lease or buy propositions. Only recently have we been able to use the same analysis when deciding which bike we'll ride next. BMW, Indian, and Hertz are all launching traditional motorcycle rental locations, while Twisted Road has introduced peer-to-peer motorcycle rental in the US.

1. The cost of owning versus renting a motorcycle
2. Your riding preference: pavement or dirt?
3. Your motorcycle lifestyle

The cost of owning versus renting

In almost every situation, renting a motorcycle is less expensive than owning one. For example, a new Harley-Davidson Fat Bob retails for $19K, or $372 monthly. Once insurance and maintenance are considered, the cost can approach $500 monthly. Renting a new bike is considerably less and can average $100-$125 daily.

Now, you’re probably thinking, “If I ride my bike five days a month, it’s better to buy, right?” Not necessarily. First, you need to understand how often you will ride truly.

Are you really going to ride five days a month, every single month of the year? I live in Chicago, where we're lucky to get six good riding months annually. Given the reduced season, I would need to ride ten days every month to offset the months without riding while my bike is hibernating. In this case, it could be more advantageous to rent a motorcycle.

On the other hand, some regions are made for year-round riding. For example, not only can you ride year round (and rent a motorcycle) in Los Angeles, but you can also lane split. In San Francisco, you’ll see dedicated motorcycle parking on the street due to the sheer volume of bikes. In these climates, many people commute on their motos. It’s a rider’s dream.

Your riding preference: pavement or dirt?

Motorcycle rental options can be a little limiting regarding off-road riding. It's challenging to find a company that rents dirt bikes. Adventure bikes are easier to rent to take off-road, but often, they come packaged with a motorcycle tour. If you love to ride a dirt bike or need to take your BMW 1200 GSA on an off-road adventure, consider buying. But if you are on two wheels, on the pavement, renting a motorcycle could be better than buying one.