Rent a motorbike in Lihue?

[ryeflyer]

Hi I am going to have a 36 hour layover in Lihue this coming weekend and would like to rent a motorbike for 24 of those hours, or at least one full afternoon or morning.

I am intersted in sight-seeing suggestions and whether or not it is possible to reant a decent bike there. "decent" would include an engine beyond moped size :kiss

Either post here or direct to me at ryeflyer@yahoo.com

Cheers - Rory

2006 R1200GS

[eljeffe]

Rory,

You might take a quick flight over to the Big Island. For about $150 you can get a round trip from Lihue to Kona. You can rent from DJ's Rentals (www.harleys.com). They used to rent HD bikes, Yamaha Sport Bikes, and even the big Silverwing scooters (as well as the 50cc ones).

Fly into Kona really early, pick up a bike, tour the island, turn it back in in the evening, and catch a flight back to Lihue. You should have enough time to take the northern route to Hilo, around to Volcano National Park, and back to Kona in a single day. Or you can take the Saddle Road to Hilo and then to Volcano NP, and back to Kona to cut out about 3 hours.

Have fun!

[pmdave]

There is a bike rental company in Kapaa, about 5 miles north of the LIH airport. I believe you can rent Harley-Davidson, but not BMW. Frankly, a scooter that does 50 mph will do just fine. Coast to coast on Kauai is about 2 hrs.

However, the roads around Kauai are relatively clogged with traffic, so riding a bike there is OK, but not like having a good canyon road to yourself. Amazingly, it's not the touristas who are bullying their way through traffic, but the locals--trying to get to or from work.

I have a suggestion: forget the road bike and take an ATV ride away from civilization and into the wilds of the interior. info@kauaiatv.com They will provide gear you can get all muddy, and then shower off the red dirt afterward.

Or, go "float the ditch". You get transported into the interior via an offroad truck, then flop into a big innertube and float downhill via an irrigation ditch that runs through tunnels. Lunch included, plus lots of nattering. Since much of the interior of Kauai is locked up, the only way to see it (at ground level) is by joining an organized event.

If you're flying into LIH and departing LIH without stops in HNL, I'd suggest not attempting to travel to the other islands. You can easily get delayed (thunderstorms, etc.) and not get back to LIH in time. But if you're flying via HNL, then the big island is possible, and there are lots more roads on Hawaii, as well as HD rentals. You could do a circuit of the big island in one day, see a bit of volcano, some black sand, walk on some still-warm lava, sip some Kona coffee, get a good sunburn. Kens pancake house is the place to eat in Hilo. Mac nut pancakes and waffles!

pmdave

[ryeflyer]

I am grateful for all the suggestions!

Just called by my crew desk - going to OGG (Maui) now instead of LIH. Best laid plans - I had reserved an HD in LIH. The hours on teh OGG layover do not lend themselves well to any touring - at least not a red eye back though.

Cheers - Rory :drink Guiness lover