This is one thing we’re hoping BMW Motorrad soon brings stateside. And we also hope it starts a trend across the motorcycle industry.
This week, BMW Motorrad released details about its dealer-based “Rent A Ride” service, which does exactly what is says – provides short-term rentals of BMW motorcycles such as the best-selling R 1200 GS.
The Rent A Ride is currently only available in select dealers in Germany, Austria and France. If the program is successful, BMW plans to expand it across all countries.
“Mobility services are a future focus area that forms one of the cornerstones of our corporate strategy,” says Timo Resch, Head of International Sales and Marketing BMW Motorrad.
“By offering Rent A Ride, BMW Motorrad is advancing the BMW Group’s development towards becoming a customer-oriented mobility company. If the first season of Rent A Ride goes according to expectations, the aim will be to expand the scheme to cover the full extent of the BMW Motorrad sales network.”
BMW says a website with smartphone capability enables customers to select the model of their choice in real time. Once they book a ride, the renter can reserve matching accessories and rider equipment if needed.
The selected motorcycle is then prepared for pick-up at the BMW Motorrad dealership in advance and the customer is given a professional briefing.
Such on-demand “mobility scheme” services has been available for BMW automobiles since 2011 – DriveNow.
“This new mobility scheme gives our customers an attractive and straightforward way of familiarizing themselves closely with a wide range of our BMW motorcycle models on a non-binding basis – by taking a weekend trip, for instance,” says Henning Putzke, Head of BMW Motorrad Germany.
Benda motorcycles are beginning to make a ripple on US shores with four intriguing and competitive models, courtesy of its partnership with Keeway Group. We were impressed with the Napoleonbob 500 and have now gotten our gloves on the persuasive, entry-level 2026 Benda Chinchilla 300, with its modest MSRP of $4999. It would be difficult to design a more welcoming entry-level cruiser than this easy-handling, visually appealing boulevard bobber. Editor Don Williams and Associate Editor Kelly Callan discuss the Benda Chinchilla 300 and how it actually rode for them.
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Our guest this episode is Jesse Merriman, Chief Technician for Jeremy McWilliams at the Arch Motorcycle racing project. Arch Racing was founded by Gard Hollinger and Keanu Reevs to compete in the Moto America Super Hooligan race series. Teejay Adams chats with Jesse about the Arch motorcycle and the challenges of extracting the absolute most from an air-cooled V-Twin racing engine and custom chassis.
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Here’s quick reminder to check out our monthly digital magazine. It’s filled with everything you want to read on motorcycling, including some things you’ve probably not seen elsewhere. It’s absolutely free and you will find it on the Apple App Store and of course on Google Play as well.
Don’t forget to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
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