Ask The Guide
Q: Why would I want to use Vegas Valley Motorcycle
Tours, I usually can organize myself for something like this.
A: Why Ride?
Q: Will I receive some kind of information about my tour before I
arrive?
A: You will be given information in packets telling
you details about where to meet and other matters pertaining to the
tours. Some information such as maps, the day of the tour.
Q: I own a motorcycle; can I ride my own bike on a guided tour?
A: Yes, you can bring your own bike; cost are posted. Primarily, most of our users rent.
Q: What are typical days like?
A: We'll start the day by meeting up with you, either at a designated
point or at your hotel. Your tour
guide's will be
at the meeting location around the time to depart. Before
departure, we'll have safety discussion, we mount up and head-out. We don't wait for late
comers, we leave promptly.
Q: How much money do I have to estimate for gas?
A: Approximately $20 per day, depending on the bike you're driving -
Fill your bike up before you come to
breakfast. While
there is gas available on some of the out-laying areas, our trips and
suggested stops for filling up are pre-determined and we ALWAYS start
off with a full tank, each day.
Q: Will there be enough photo stops on a guided tour?
A: While one person just likes to ride and is hardly to be kept off his bike,
another may want to stop every 5 minutes to get this very special photo
shot. We try to find a good average of stops to accommodate everyone's
needs and get the photos that matter the most. You are always welcome to
shoot out on your own if you need to do so.
Q:
Could you provide us with a custom Tour?
A: Yes, see below.
Dress
Q: What kind of clothes should I bring?
A: What to Wear
Q: Do I need to bring rain gear?
A: Definitely, unless you enjoy the rain.
Due to the fact that we are in and out of areas and elevations, it's a
good idea. Try and find something that can be packed without a lot of
bulk. I like the
Motorcycle Super Store. They seem to always have something coming to
us and respond quickly to orders.
Q: What kind of helmet comes with the rental?
A: Standard open face type helmet, sort
of half helmet looking things. Bring
sunglasses - Eye protection is mandatory law, & EAR PLUGS will help
if you could remember to bring some.
Group Riding
Q: What is No Group Minimum?
A: No minimum amount of riders to book any tour, any day, at least one rider and we will make the trip on our 1/2 day, 3/4
day and FULL day tours. Overnights are one fee and include unlimited
riders with the same stipulations.
Q: Do You Offer Group Discounts?
A: Yes and No, it doesn't matter how many bikes, passengers or riders
you have it's all the same price per group, per tour.
Q: How many people are in a group, what is your
maximum groups?
A: So, far it hasn't been an issue.
Q: CUSTOM TRIPS: We Like One Of The Tours - A Group of Us Would
Like To Book It Privately.
A: We would be more than happy to book a tour for your group on specific
dates you have in mind. The minimum payment would is posted for
all of our tours, all overnights include unlimited riders. All day trips
are done by riders or groups, as posted. If you'd like to book something not posted
for an extended period of time, let us know. We can accommodate your
group with custom routes for a maximum of 14 days. For example, up the
California coast, Red Wood Forest, Little Dragon, Yosemite National
Park, Yellow Stone, High Sierras, Arizona Grand Canyon, Zion National
Park, Bryce Park, Eagle Valley, Mining towns and across some parts of
Arizona could be done in about 10 to 14 days.
Q: Do I have to stay with the group at all times?
A: You can take alternate routes or split from the group as long as
this will not result in a change of schedule / itinerary for the rest of
the group. So far we've never had anyone that wanted to part from their
newly made friends and ride on their own.
Q: Do you drive in a group, like ducks?
A: That depends what you mean by driving in a group. We sort of stay
together with 50 to a 100 yards between each rider, when traveling down
the highway. Although fun to do, we don't encourage a 2x2
riding formations due to the hazards for which most people are not prepared for,
nor do we want anyone to feel uncomfortable about this. In this type of a tour,
long ducks-in-a-row style seems to work the
best and most people enjoy this type of atmosphere for group riding. If you
want to safely speed up ahead, that is up to you, we'll meet you
along the path of our day, so feel free to ride at your own pace. All in the
group will ride at there own pace keeping an eye on the rider behind
them. It is the most important aspect of riding with us.
Ride for
yourself, pull in traffic for yourself, turn for yourself, shift for
yourself. :)
THE SINGLE BIGGEST ISSUE WE'VE HAD IS PEOPLE
RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE OF FOLLOWING TO CLOSE WHEN
THE GUIDE NEEDS TO TURN....
Q: What if we would like your help with a group
tour?
A: We don't mind doing custom group work, see above.
Contact us for further information.
Insurance
Q: What kind of insurance do you recommend?
A: Most of the insurance arrangements can be taken care of when you rent
a bike. You'll notice there are different kinds. Some require more or
less money, as an expense. Obviously the more daily insurance you spend
the less likely hood in the event of a totaled or stolen bike will be
out that much less cash.
Motorcycle
Reservations and Information
- Q: Do I need a motorcycle drivers license to take part in a guided tour?
A: Yes, a valid motorcycle driver license is mandatory to take part in a
guided tour or rent any motorcycle if you're the driver. Please see
Terms & Conditions
-
Q:
What age must I be to rent a motorcycle?
A: You must be at least 25 years of age to rent a motorcycle,
at some locations.
- You MUST Pick up
the bike the day before the tour, we leave 2 or 3 hours earlier than
shops open in SOME cases.
- Insurance: You can make insurance arrangements for the
motorcycle when you pick it up from the renter.
- Q: Where Can I Pick Up the
Motorcycle Rental?
A: We will send this along with other useful
information after payment.
-
Q:
Paperwork: When does all the paperwork need to be
completed?
A: We will not run the tour, unless
the, "Terms and Conditions" along with the "Waiver" has
been signed and returned by all participants. If you
can't fax it over to us,
you can bring it
with you the morning of the tour.
- Q: What type of drivers
license is accepted to rent a motorcycle?
A: Regular motorcycle endorsement on your license. GERMAN 1A Licenses are accepted. Please note upon reservation.
TRIKE
Rentals require a Motorcycle License out of Bend, OR – but only a
car license out of Las Vegas, NV.
- Q: Must I wear a Helmet in
Nevada?
A: Yes, but not a legal issue in Utah or
Arizona. Helmets are required by law and must be worn by
all participants of the tour, including passengers and are included
in the price of the motorcycle. These are open face helmets. We
require helmets for ANY tour.
-
Q: What type of
security deposit is required?
A:
This will vary by motorcycle rental agencies. Depending on the type of daily coverage you purchase.
$1,000 - $300 Deposit. This is common with Recreational
Vehicles.
Motorcycle Driving
Q: Do you require certain experience to participate in a guided tour?
A: We would never turn anybody down because he/she does not have a
certain amount of experience. But for your own safety and level of
comfort we recommend that you do have at least enough experience that
riding a motorcycle through a curve doesn't scare you.
The Rider/The Tour:
The participant of the motorcycle tours should be at least an
intermediate rider, with a few thousand miles under his/her belt. We
will traverse many conditions, which could include rain & snow,
especially when going over the top of mountain passes, 6% grades,
twisties with short and long curved roads, gullies most all typical road
conditions.
You should be able to ride a bike through
50mph cross winds if the
desert, we'll blast right on through it. If you watch that video
to the first intersection you'll see we could barely stop the bike and
LISTEN to the wind setting still. We are just saying that it would be
for the best if you had some experience with various elements.
You must be able to control a bike when a sudden stop
is eminent, such as the guide making a turn and can't see him/her
because of the guy in front of you OR FOLLOWING TO CLOSELY. This has
been an issue. You must be able to use the front and back brake
properly, especially in a corner, a flat tire or sand on the road.
Ok... this isn't you're first rodeo.
We'll be
straddling our motorcycles under every set of road types that
include a barrage of twisted remote hi-ways while peering down the sides
of cliffs from thousands of feet above the ground and therefore need to
be able to handle a heavy motorcycle around all types of corners at
various speeds. These are not the tours to learn to ride. Once again, the rider should have a few thousand miles
racked up under his/her belt before attempting make a longer type
journey such as this.
We've done 600 mile tours in a day running through 30
and 40 degree weather. The days will be about
250 / 380 miles per day. Always seems we have at
least one day we need to put some miles down on the road. We'll move the group along at a nice steady relaxed pace with
pre-determined stops to re-group for photos, bathrooms and to eat. So no matter how fast or slow you
drive, you'll have a chance to catch up if you need to re-group at some
point along the day. You'll have a map of our pre-determined stops. You don't even have to stay
with the group, but we think you'll want to.
WOW... ALREADY SOUNDS FUN, and it certainly
will be! And at the end of our trips, will know you've come to have a
passionate love for riding motorcycles.
Q: How much luggage can I bring?
A: As much as you can carry on YOUR OWN back pack or saddle bags comfortably
and safely.
Q: Do I have to wear a helmet?
A: For your own safety we require you to wear a helmet at all times when
riding on the tour, on the motorcycles, including passengers, so does
state law.
Q: Do I need to bring my own helmet?
A: Helmets are provided for riders and passengers as part of the
rental fees usually. Personally, I like having a helmet that hasn't been on a
lot of other peoples heads. We also prefer full faced, vs half helmets.
Q: What bike is best if I ride with a passenger?
A: Most comfortable bikes for passengers are Electra Glide, Road Glide,
Road King and Heritage Softail, Goldwing; Goldwings are the most
comfortable it seems. Any other Harley model
is not recommended if you ride with a passenger along with most sport
bikes. Typically,
if your renting a bike, take a taxi over to the rental outfit or ask if
they can pick you up. Usually, if it's within 6 miles of the office,
they will. It is possible to have the bike back
to your rental facility the day of the tour if all goes well.
Q: Do all bikes have windshields, do I need one?
A: Most of the cruisers have windshields but not all. It's not just the
matter of warding off blasting hot air in the summer and ice-cold air in
the winter but works nicely against stones, large bugs, birds and other flying objects from
off the road.
Q: What if I get into some sort of a problem and need
to stop?
A: Ride your own pace and if you need to make an extra stop, make it and
catch up to the group. We have plenty of stops. If needed you can pull
in front of the group and put on a blinker to pull over, this
isn't a problem at all. Or if you have a communication device you can
see our what-to-wear page for further
information on what we use.
Q: What if I have a 50cc smaller type
of scooter?
A: Unfortunately, while this would be fun to putt-putt around town, it would not be allowed on the interstate. Additionally, there
is not enough speed to keep up with the group.
Payment
Q: I don't see any pricing.
A: Click on the drop-down list for either one
day or multi-day tours. It is
also on the top of EVERY tour page on the site.
Q: Do I get the tour I want if I book early enough?
A: That should never be a problem, it's booking at the last minute that
generally creates issues. We would prefer to have at least 30 days advance notice
for ANY Trip.
Q: Do I have to pay a deposit to make a reservation?
A: You must pay for the tour in full. - see
terms & conditions.
Q: What is your cancellation policy on one day tours?
A: Please see terms & conditions
Q: What is your refund policy on motorcycles?
A: Please see terms & conditions
Tour Questions
Q: How much notice do you
need for the One Day Trips?
A: Hardly any, we can ALWAYS work you in the group, providing you can
get the bike the day prior.
Q: Can I book additional nights before or after the tour?
A: Yes, you are always welcome to come on the next schedule of any of our tours
and we hope you will. Yes, some can be co-mingled.
Q: How old do I have to be to go on a tour?
A: You have to be at least 25 years young to drive on the tour. If a
younger child is on the back of your bike, that is up to you but we need
to know about it in advance for the waiver.
Q: Can I check my email or cell phone messages while on tour?
A: Most cell phones work any where on the tour. Certain valleys and
remote areas but they mostly work.
Q: What is the weather going to be like on a Tour?
A: Uh.... ok, Weather is weather so check the forecast.
It's not just rain & snow that create problems for a tour group, it's wind.
Some people will not, nor cannot drive a bike in the wind. We will not go out in weather that could create a hazard for
the bikes with huge winds, like 50mph cross winds. We can probably drive a bit slower if you
still want to go but wind gust across wide open deserts can be dangerous. Keep
an eye on the news prior to any upcoming tours.
Q: How many miles do we ride each day?
A: Depends on the tour, 185 on FULL single days
to 400 miles on other multi-day.
Q: Will I receive maps if I book a guided tour?
A: Each day before the group starts every rider will receive a small map
that shows the day's route, mileage, hotel address and telephone no.
Q: Tours Run Everyday.
A: Contact us.
Q: What about smoking breaks?
A: We don't take breaks to smoke on the tour but we do stop for gas and
photos, so that would most likely be the time for it. We stop for gas at
least every 130 miles or so.
Updated: 05/26/2010 |
