[Last update and copyright 29 June 2008; corrections/additions please to court.fisher@worldnet.att.net]
 

It is important to contact each company directly for the most current information on bike or service availability, prices, terms and conditions of service, because all of these are subject to yearly and seasonal change. Company listings are based on North American and European print advertising, websites, direct contact with many but not all companies, and personal experience by BMW riders; no endorsement is implied by inclusion on this list.

MOTORCYCLE TOURS

The primary business of these companies is providing organized, guided motorcycle tours for groups of riders, usually of one-four weeks duration, use of a bike during the tour, accomodations and meals, a professional guide and preset itinerary. Some of these companies may also offer access to independent motorcycle rentals in North America, or to "bike flight" services.

                     
AdMo Tours
US +1/760-249-1105 [800-944-2356], fax +1/760-249-5550;office@admo-tours.com, www.AdMo-tours.com; 1300 Hwy 2, Suite # 4, P.O. Box 1803 , Wrightwood CA 92397-1803 (tours & rentals worldwide)
Alaska Rider Tours
North America tollfree 800-756-1990, tel 907-783-1990; dualsport@akrider.com,  www.akrider.com; P O Box 1392, Girdwood AK 99587.
American Motorcyclist Association--AMA Tours
Tollfree 800-AMA-JOINx1190, tel 614-856-1190, fax 614-856-1935; fcovucci@ama-cycle.org, or kkiley@ama-cycle.org ; www.amadirectlink.com (click AMA Tours); 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington OH 43147.
Ayres Adventures
North America tollfree 877-275-8238, tel 972-635-5210, fax 972-612-1265; info@ayresadventures.com, www.ayresadventures.com; P O Box 864018, Plano TX 75086.
Blue Ridge Motorcycle Adventures
USA tollfree 877.334.2026, +1.717.334.2026; info@blueridgemotorcycleadventures.com, www.blueridgemotorcycleadventures.com; PO Box 3426, Gettysburg, PA 17325 (BMW rentals available from partner Velocity Cycles, Mechanicsburg PA, www.get.to/blueridge).
Edelweiss Bike Travel
USA tollfree 800-582-2263, Canada 800-661-5035, Europewide tollfree 00800-333593477, Germany +49 (0)2681 5904, Austria home office: +43.5264.5690, fax +43.5264.58533; worldtours@edelweissbike.com, www.edelweissbike.com; Sportplatzweg 14, A-6414 Untermieming.
Great American Motorcycle Touring
USA tollfree 800 727-3390, +1-440-349-1201, fax +1-440 349-1461; skip@gamct.com, www.gamct.com; 34206 Aurora Rd. #254, Solon, OH  44139 (Western USA).
Mountain to Sound Motorcycle Adventures
tel/fax +1.425.222.5598; ride@mtsma.com, www.mtsma.com; 10407 324th Place SE, Issaquah WA (Seattle) 98027 USA.
Northeastern Motorcycle Tours
tel/fax +1.802-869-3999; sreid@sover.net, www.motorcycletours.com;  P O Box 574, Saxtons River VT 05154 USA.
Road Trip USA (FlyRide-USA)
North America tollfree +1.888.317.1313, +1.541.317.1313, fax +1.541.317.1414; info@roadtrip-usa.com, www.roadtrip-usa.com, www.flyride-usa.com; P O Box 8700, Bend OR 97708 USA; UK office +44.(0)7000 86 87 87, fax +44. (0)7000 96 97 97.
Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Holidays Ltd
North America tollfree 888.299.5534, +1.604.938-0126, UK tollfree 0800 085 8804; libby@rockymtnmoto.com, www.rockymtnmoto.com; 102-4369 Main Street, Suite 124, Whistler, BC V0N 1B4 Canada.
Turkey Creek Tours
USA tollfree 888-763-6185, fax +1.303-838-6505; info@turkeycreektours.com, www.turkeycreektours.com; 30001 Kings Valley East, Conifer CO 80433 USA (Colorado, Mexico)

BMW MOTORCYCLE RENTALS IN NORTH AMERICA

In Europe, many BMW rentals are provided by authorized BMW dealers; in NoAmer, almost all BMW rentals are provided by independent companies. BMW rentals are as low as US$500 per week, but most start at about US$800 per week, US$2000 per month. Most also require a refundable US$1000-1500 security deposit to cover the deductible portion of physical damage insurance to the vehicle. Some companies include unlimited mileage in the rental fee; some charge extra per mile above a daily mileage allowance. It is important to check with each company on the exact current details of their rental service.

AdMo Tours (Uwe Diemer)
US +1/760-249-1105 [800-944-2356], fax +1/760-249-5550;office@admo-tours.com, www.AdMo-tours.com; 1300 Hwy 2, Suite # 4, P.O. Box 1803 , Wrightwood CA 92397-1803 (brokers rentals worldwide)
Adventure Motorcycle Rentals
+1.406-560-4221, mike@adventuremotorcyclerental.com, www.adventuremotorcyclerental.com; P O Box 2, Hall MT. GS rentals & support from Kalispell (Glacier Park) MT.
Alaska Motorcycle Adventures (Carl Peterson).
Tel/fax +1.907.376.4513; info@rentalaska.com, www.rentalaska.com; 5901 Arctic Blvd, Anchorage AK 99518 USA.
Arizona Motorcycle Rentals (Iron Horse BMW/ John Cartwright)
+1.520-631-6091, US tollfree 1-877-842-4537; jcartwright@ironhorsemotorcycles.com, www.arizonamotorcyclerental.com; 3444 East Grant Road, Tuscon AZ 85716.
AzRide.Com (Gabor & Monica Zsamboky)
+1.480.970.5530, USA tollfree 1-888-BEEMER-1; contact@azride.com, www.azride.com; MCTOURS LLC, 3007 N.73 St, Scottsdale AZ 85251.
Big Kahuna Motorcycle Tours & Rentals.
Tel +1.808.924.2736, USA tollfree 1-888-451-5544; info@bigkahunarentals.com, www.bigkahunarentals.com; 407 Seaside Ave, Honolulu HI 96815.
BMW of Las Vegas (Lindsey Russie)
Tel +1.702-454-6BMW, fax +1.702-839-9570; lindsey@bmwoflasvegas.com, www.bmwoflasvegas.com; 6675 South Tenaya Way, Las Vegas NV 89113.
California Motorcycle Rentals (Don Picker).
+1.858.456.9577, fax +1.858.456.9477 [all locations], info@calif-motorcyclerental.com,  www.calif-motorcyclerental.com ; 1838 Caminito Ascua, La Jolla CA 92037 USA; local & one-way   rentals from San Diego.
Classic Motorcycle Rides (R.J. Sarber)
+1.509.499.8096; rj@classicmotorcyclerides.com, www.classicmotorcyclerides.com; K-bike rentals from Seattle.
Colorado Tour Bike Rentals.
866-337-7810/ +1.720.231.6349, fax +1.303.399.0353; info@tourbikes.com, www.tourbikes.com; Denver, CO and Austin, TX USA.
Cycle BC Rentals.
+1 250.385.2453, tollfree 866.380.2453; info@cycleBC.ca, www.cyclebc.ca; 747 Douglas Street, Victoria BC V8W 2B4, Canada.
Dubbelju Motorcycle Rentals (Wolfgang Taft).
US tollfree 866.495.2774, +1.415.495.2774, fax +1.415.495.2803; wolfgang@dubbelju.com, www.dubbelju.com; 689 A Bryant Street, San Francisco CA 94107 USA.
Eaglerider.
888-900-9901/ +1.310.536.6777, fax +1.310.536.6776; rent@eaglerider.com, www.eaglerider.com; 11860 S. La Cienga Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90250. Mulitple US locations; BMWs available in Long Beach, LAX, SFO, & San Jose CA, Salt Lake City UT, Washington DC.
Monette Sports BMW.
+1.450.668.6466 [800-263-6466], fax +1.450.668.6799; info@monettesports.com, www.monettesports.com; 251 Boulevard des Laurentides, Laval, Quebec H7G 2T7 Canada.
Moto International.
+1.514.483.6686 (800.871.6686), fax +1.514.483.3454; moto@motointermtl.com, www.motointermtl.com; 6695 Saint Jacques, Montreal, Quebec H45 IV3, Canada.
Moturis Ltd
US tollfree 800-890-2909, Euro tollfree 00800-8080-7000, Swiss homeoffice +41 1 808 7000. Multiple US locations; LAX, LAS & SFO western offices rent BMW R1200GS; www.moturis.com
Mountain to Sound Motorcycle Adventures
tel/fax +1.425.222.5598; ride@mtsma.com, www.mtsma.com; 10407 324th Place SE, Issaquah WA (Seattle) 98027 USA.
Oahu Island Motorcycle Rentals
Tollfree +1.888.451.5544; bikes-oahu@discounthawaiicarrental.com, www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/bikes-oahu.htm
Road Trip USA/ Fly-Ride USA (Scott Sargent).
Tollfree +1.888 317 1313, +1.541.317.1313, fax +1.541.317.1414; info@roadtrip-usa.com, www.roadtrip-usa.com; P O Box 8700, Bend OR 97708 [+ Telluride CO]; UK office (Sarah Balloch), +44/(0)7000 86 87 87, fax +44/(0)7000 96 97 97.
San Jose BMW Motorsport.
+1/408.295.0205, fax +1/408.295.0207; sjbmw@sjbmw.com, www.sjbmw.com; 1886 W. San Carlos, San Jose CA 95128.
Sport Ryder Rentals (Charles McMurray)
Tollfree 1.877.906.7368/ +1.214.906.7472; customerservice@sportryderrentals.com, www.sportryderrentals.com; 401 N. Carroll Ave, #150, Southlake (Dallas/Ft Worth) TX 76092
Thunder Road Motorsports
Tollfree 1.888.400-THUNDER/ +1.415 934-8411, fax:(415) 934-8415; service@thethunderroad.com, www.thethunderroad.com; 123 South Van Ness Ave, San Francisco CA 94106.
To-Hell-U-Riders Cycles & Sleds  (Susie Russell)
+1-970-728-5577, fax 1-970-728-9486; www.tohelluriders.com , ss@tohelluriders.com , Telluride, Colorado located at 160 Front Street, Placerville, CO 81430. GS rentals
Velocity Cycles (Chris Cuomo)
+1.717-766-2523, fax: 717-790-9114; robert.sim@velocitycycle.net, www.velocitycycle.net, www.get.to/blueridge; 6653 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg PA 17050.
WeRentMotorcycles (Jack Reynolds)
USA/Canada toll-free +1 888 849 4098, direct +1 949 579 9422, UK +44 (0) 2081 444865; info@werentmotorcycles.com, www.werentmotorcycles.com; 2549 B Eastbluff Drive, Suite 239, Newport Beach CA 92660.

AIRFREIGHT/Seafreight

Most major airlines can fly your personal motorcycle roundtrip between Europe or elsewhere and North America at regular airfreight prices, usually requiring that the bike be crated. However, some airlines (notably Lufthansa) fly bikes uncrated, and some specialty agents can arrange to fly your bike uncrated on the same plane you fly as a passenger, a convenient option where available. Seafreight is also available from most Euro & other global seaports to North American Eastcoast, Westcoast, & Gulfcoast ports; seafreighted bikes must usually be crated, but some companies also offer 'RO-RO' (roll on - roll off) service on ships designed for motor vehicles.

It is impossible to summarize all price & service options for shipping a bike. As a benchmark, you can usually airfreight a single bike from most Euro cities to Eastcoast US gateway airports for about $2000 roundtrip; cheaper options may be available. Roundtrip seafreight will be somewhat less, but requires a min 10 shipping days each way to & from Europe, 30 days to the Westcoast. Additional seafreight savings are possible with container-load shipments of several bikes together. It is possible for any individual to handle most of the complicated details of researching & arranging bike shipment, including Customs clearance, bike preparation, & overseas vehicle insurance; but most will want to use a local, or bike-specialist freight forwarder/agent. Some Euro & US specialists include:

Bikeworld Travel GmbH +49/(0)5231 580262, fax +49/(0)5231 580265; www.bikeworld-travel.de ; Bad Meinberger Strasse 1, D-32760 Detmold.
Claridon Shipping (UK) Ltd: +44 (0) 1375 656100, fax +44 (0) 1375 656101; chris@claridon.co.uk, www.claridon.com; Claridon House, London Road, Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex GB-SS17 0JY, UK.
Fly & Bike Reise GmbH:  +49/(0)89.66002160, fax (0)89.66 00 21 64; flybike@t-online.de, www.fly-bike.de;  Hauptstrasse 55/Rgb, D-85579 Neubiberg.
KNMV-Royal Dutch Motorcyclists Federation, Att: Jaap van Steenbergen:   +31.26.352 8520, fax +31.26.352 8522; reizen@knmv.nl, www.knmv.nl; P O Box 650, Zijpendaalseweg 1, NL-6800 AR Arnhem.
Knopf Motorradreisen (Stefan Knopf). +49/6221 782913, fax +49/6221 78614, German freecall 0 800 1 00 2499; knopftours@aol.com, www.knopftours.com; Buergerstr 21, D-69124 Heidelberg.
Motorcycle Express (Michael Mandell). +1.516-682-9220 [US 800-245-8726], fax +1.516.682-8231; info@motorcycleexpress.com, www.motorcycleexpress.com; 6800 Jericho Turnkpike, Suite 201W, Syosset NY 11791 USA; [airfreight between NoAm & most Euro gateways, Aus, NZ,].
QCS-Quick Cargo Service GmbH. +49/(0)61 0591328, fax +49/(0)61 051866; www.quick-cargo-service.de; Kuhressenstr. 3, D-64546 Morfelden-Walldorf.
Reiseburo Buhler. +49/7431 134 300, fax +49/7431 134 3028; Icc-buehler-albstadt@t-online.de , www.bikes-travel.de;  Untere Vorstadt 5, D-72458 Albstadt.
Warren Motorcycle Transport (Warren Goodman).  +1/561-737-4954 [US 800-443-7519], fax +1/561-737-4929; bikeship@gate.net, www.worldmotorcycletours.com; 10395 Utopia Circle East, Boynton Beach FL 33437 USA; [airfreight NoAm & most Euro gateways, incl. Scandinavia].

BIKE SHIPPING WITHIN NORTH AMERICA

Two major moving companies, North American Van Lines, www.navl.com, and Allied, www.alliedvan.com, have merged, but still do business under separate brands. Both operate air-suspension point-to-point trucks for uncrated bikes almost anywhere in continental North America, bookable through several local agents, among them:
Federal, www.funtransport.com, 800.747.4100
JC Motors, www.jcmotors.com, 800.730.3150

Forward Air, www.forwardair.com, motorcycles@forwardair.com; 800.726.6654, 617.497.4622, 800.871.1701; trucks containerized or owner-crated motorcycles between 80 airport terminals in USA, Ontario & Quebec.
Haul Bikes, www.haulbikes.com; 1-888-HAULBIKES offers nationwide specialty trucking of motorcycles;
JusRide, www.jusride.com; 877.USE.JUSRIDE (877.873.5877), 610-994-8900; nationwide specialty trucking of motorcycles.
Keyboard Motorcycle Shipping; www.keyboardmotorcyclehsipping.com, 270.737.5797;
USHIP, www.uship.com, is an online 'ebay'- type of auction service: enter your bike shipping need; multiple shippers may respond with competitive shipping prices/ bids.

Amtrak, www.amtrak.com (click to Express Shipping), 1-800-377-6914, the freight arm of the US national passenger railroad, provides USA- wide transportation of bikes (palletized, weight limit 500 lbs) on baggage cars attached to their passenger trains between many of their major railfreight/passenger terminals. You must call the tollfree number for location and pricing detail.

MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE

Personally owned overseas-registered motorcycles can be temporarily imported without Carnet duty free for up to 12 months to ride in NoAm, but must be insured according to US/Canadian motor vehicle insurance requirements. European & other overseas domestic vehicle and "green card" insurance is not valid in North America. Most of the above shipping specialists and some European insurance brokers can arrange North American motorcycle insurance, and it is also easily available directly from several North American & Euro agents:
Berglund Insurance Agency:  +1.480.949.1034, [US 800-537-25555], fax +1.480.994.0321; manager@berglundins.com, www.berglundins.com; 5625 E. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ 85018 USA.
Motorcycle Express.  +1.516.682-9220 [US 800-245-8726], fax +1.516.682-8231; info@motorcycleexpress.com, www.motorcycleexpress.com; 6800 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 201W, Syosset NY 11791 USA.
Sunrise Group International Insurance. +1.407-977-7001 [US 800-478-7648], fax +1.407.977-7004; sunrisegroup@cfl.rr.com, www.sunriseworldwide.com ; 816 Executive Drive, Oviedo FL 32765 USA.
Tour Insure GmbH. +49/(0)40 25 17 21 20, fax +49/(0)40 25 17 21 21; service@tourinsure.de, www.tourinsure.de; Herrengraben 5, D-20459 Hamburg, Germany

MOTORCYCLE BREAKDOWN Insurance

Euro and other overseas riders with breakdown and 'repatriation' coverage provided by their national auto clubs (e.g., ADAC, AA, RAC) will not get equivalent specialized motorcycle service from the US or Canadian auto clubs, AAA or CAA. Specialized motorcycle breakdown service (towing to nearest dealer) is available for the US and Canada from:
Motorcycle Towing Services, Inc (MTS) +1.319-984-6124 [US 800-999-7064], fax +1.319-984-6132; mtstowing@mchsi.com,  www.mtstowing.com ; 105 North State St, PO Box 559, Denver IA 50622 USA

BIKE EXCHANGE

It is possible to trade use of your personal bike in Europe or elsewhere overseas for use of another BMW owner's bike in North America. You can do this through personal contacts, placing a member's free personal want-ad in BMW Owners News, BMW MOA's monthly magazine, or joining a separate membership organization to encourage and assist members' sharing use of their bikes across continents:
TransAtlantic BikeShare--Worldwide In USA (Tom Burklow) Tel/fax +1.513.398.9424, burklow1@aol.com, www.bikeshareworld.com ; 8268 Winters Lane, Mason OH 45040 USA.

BIKE PURCHASE/ Resale

Overseas riders with longer or more flexible travel opportunities in North America may consider buying a new or used BMW in North America, and reselling it at the end of the trip, or even shipping it home. There is no single source or best way to do this. Some independent rental agents may also assist in arranging "guaranteed buy-back" of a used BMW, as may some authorized BMW dealers in the US and Canada, for new or used models. There is also a large regular selection of used BMWs offered for private sale by BMW MOA members through BMW Owners News, MOA's monthly magazine, and the 'Flea Market' pages of this MOA website, www.bmwmoa.org/flea. An additional source is the 'marketplace' webpages of the Internet BMW Riders (IBMWR) email list, www.ibmwr.org. A complete list of authorized BMW dealers in the USA is available from the BMW NA motorcycle website, www.bmwmotorcycles.com,  and for Canada from the BMW Canada website, www.bmw.ca. Many North American BMW dealers have their own websites showing current bike stock & prices. If you buy/ship a US-spec BMW home to another country, be sure to check your home country's vehicle import Customs requirements, import taxes, national 'type-approval' and re-registration rules.

BMW MOA MEMBERSHIP

For overseas BMW riders spending more than a few weeks riding in North America, or just interested in another part of the Beemer world, BMW MOA membership is a good touring information resource and support. In addition to its monthly BMW ON magazine, MOA membership includes the annually updated "Anonymous" paperback directory listing the geographically indexed phone numbers of almost half of MOA's 40,000 members who volunteer to help other members with on-road repairs, or just coffee & conversation at their homes throughout North America. BMW MOA also maintains a members' tollfree telephone service as an on-road message center. Members of overseas BMW clubs on short-term tours in North America can inquire at the MOA office re: temporary access to these services. Regular annual MOA membership including BMW ON surface mail to European or other overseas addresses is US$40 ($60 by air printed matter) by international money order, VISA or Mastercard authorization to: BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, P O Box 3982, Ballwin MO 63022-3992 USA, Tel +1.636.394.7277, fax +1.636.391.1811; bmwmoa@bmwmoa.org, or online at this website, www.bmwmoa.org.

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION

The AMA is the USA's 280 000 member FIM-affiliated national motorcycle federation, and offers a variety of support services to riders touring in North America. As part of an FIM international touring initiative, see the AMA summary at www.ridefim.com, or contact AMA directly +1.614.856-1934 [US 800-AMA-JOIN], Fax +1.614.856-1935 ama@ama-cycle.org, www.amadirectlink.com.; 13515 Yarmouth Dr, Pickerington OH 43147 USA

[end last update and copyright 29 June 2008; additions/corrections please to court.fisher@worldnet.att.net]