Hawaii: Renting Something OTHER Than a Harley in Maui?
 

I'm going to be in the Islands for about two weeks at the end of this month for a photoshoot. I'll have a few days to kill in Maui while the client is conducting some meetings...

So, why not bring my helmet and gear with me and rent a bike to ride around Maui for a day, right?

...except I can't find a single place in Maui to rent anything OTHER than a Harley.

Does anyone have any tips/suggestions? I have nothing against Harleys, other than that they just aren't my style...

Thanks!

There's not enough highway "room" in Maui to allow you to exercise most bikes to any extent, and police enforcement is strict, so the type of bike you get is not really critical. I would probably just go for a Sportster. You're a Beemer guy, so you will be wearing a fully face helmet, anyway, right? :D I've rented Harleys, and they're lots of fun.

If I lived on the island, I don't think I would own anything much bigger than a 400.

Last time I was in Maui, the HD dealer also rented a couple of metric cruisers. Lots of places rent the metric cruisers as well.

Do note that the top of the volcano is at 10,000 feet and it's a bit cooler up there, so bring a jacket if you're going riding up there.

Just rent a scooter... hard to go faster than 35 anyways

We hiked down into the volcano last February, in cold weather gear:

http://rinty.smugmug.com/Other/Karin...30_h6Avi-M.jpg

That's probably the best road for riding, on the island.

It was about 40 degrees F up top; pretty nippy.

The max speed is 45, sounds like a Harley would be the bike of choice.

Last time I was there (2009), there was a shop on the way out of the airport that had a 950 Adventure for rent. A couple showed up at our hotel a few days later on it.

I can't remember the name but will try and track it down.

and ride it to Hana

That was Jon Stockton of Maui Dual Sports. As I understand it, he closed that business. I was the first renter of his 950ADV and as far as I'm concerned, it was the perfect bike to ride around the island. I had so much fun, I rode the road to Hana twice :clap Last time I looked, there was still some info on his website. If he's still there, I'd talk with him. I did a write up here so a search should find that for you.

There are several places on the island (at least there were in 2003) that rent these things but they allow you very little freedom. I know, not even close to what you were thinking but I had to throw it in there.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...5advlowres.jpg

Taken in June at the top of Haleakala... yep, pretty cool.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...9advlowres.jpg

Summer tourists don't usually take jackets to Hawaii so you see a lot of people running around wrapped in beach towels up there.

We brought spring skiing stuff, for our hike. That crater is an awesome place.

I'll be on Maui for 3 weeks in November, and I think I'm going to try that - rent scooter and ride eastern Maui loop "Paia - Hana - Kula - Paia". Not sure if Haleakala climb doable on scooter.

How do you plan on getting from Hana to Kula? Are you going to backtrack back up the Hana highway or continue past Hana, past the seven sacred pools and finish the circle around the back/south side of the island?

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...ide1lowres.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...ide2lowres.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...sidelowres.jpg

Yes, I want to do full loop. I did it on car few years ago.

Cool beans! Have a blast and bring back lots'o pics to share!