Renting a bike at RIBE - we went through the rental process

By now, everyone is familiar with Airbnb, as if it has always been around. When a hotel is too expensive, you check out nearby rooms or even entire apartments where you can spend your vacation more affordably and flexibly. RIBE works similarly, but it's specifically for motorcycle enthusiasts who want to rent a bike.

If you want to spend a day, a sunny weekend, or even an entire vacation riding a motorcycle, you'll quickly encounter a problem with rental companies: they usually only have the latest models available. Since RIBE consists of countless bikers who love to offer their gems for others to ride, you'll find cool motorcycles in every niche. This includes vintage bikes, custom bikes, or just quirky special editions. If you're considering purchasing a motorcycle, you're often limited to a short test ride around the block. Therefore, RIBE is also perfect for thoroughly testing potential motorcycles over a weekend rental.

Additionally, if you own a motorcycle but can't ride it regularly due to other commitments, you might find it more cost-effective to simply rent a bike for those few occasions. The flexible and straightforward rental process minimizes the extra effort. Plus, you can try out new motorcycles anytime.

To make the test of a rental process as authentic as possible, I first set out to find a suitable motorcycle. For this, I clicked on my desired rental date on the RIBE motorcycle sharing platform, set the preferred filter criteria, and adjusted the geographical radius. Since the selection of cool and unique bikes was so vast, I had difficulty deciding on my test object. After some time, I finally chose an exceptional scrambler, as I am a big scrambler fan myself and the BMW R NINE T has always piqued my interest. The motorcycle was listed for CHF 70 for a day – with insurance costs and fees, the final price to be paid was CHF 87, including 200 kilometers. The object of desire was a 2016 model and was equipped with a beautiful Akrapovic exhaust that still rumbles nicely as soon as you start the engine.

Since the motorcycle was available on my desired date and Lennart, the owner of the well-maintained R NINE T, had activated the "Instant Booking" feature on the listing, I was able to immediately reserve and pay for the motorcycle for the agreed day. Shortly thereafter, I contacted Lennart via the chat function to confirm that everything was in order. With RIBE, you can also contact a landlord at any time before booking to clarify any questions.

On the evening before the rental day, I picked up the motorcycle from Lennart. The location was communicated to me through the website, and by then we had already exchanged numbers, allowing us to easily plan the handover via WhatsApp. Picking up the motorcycle the evening before the rental start saved time and allowed me to fully enjoy the day in the saddle. Upon arriving at Lennart's, we chatted about his R NINE T, what motivated him to buy it back then, and why he rents it out on RIBE. When it came to the actual handover, we jointly inspected the motorcycle for any pre-existing defects or damages. We then recorded these together in the "handover protocol" provided by RIBE – all paperless and directly via mobile phone.

We were also able to sign the rental agreement via mobile phone, and upon submitting the form, I automatically received a copy by email. The process was very efficient and straightforward.

Thanks to RIBE, I had the opportunity to experience an eight-year-old machine that would otherwise be hard to access unless you buy your own. Quite counterproductive in the sense that after this wonderful ride-out, the desire to own this motorcycle yourself becomes even stronger. The BMW R NINE T rides beautifully with a unique sound. The seating position is comfortable even for longer rides. Although the mighty 1200cc boxer engine might seem intimidating at first glance, the bike rides with ease and a relaxed smoothness, both in the city and on slower roads. However, the R NINE T is definitely at home on twisty mountain roads, where it effortlessly steers into the corners with its wide handlebars, ready to accelerate out with plenty of grunt.

After an unforgettable day, it was time to return the fully fueled R NINE T to Lennart. We inspected the bike together again, even though I assured him that I hadn't caused any damage. The insurance is automatically covered by Helvetia when renting through RIBE, so you don't have to worry about any issues in case of damage and can enjoy the ride carefree. After the successful handover, we filled out and submitted the final protocol. Thus, a complete rental process was completed, and I quickly made my way before the R NINE T's charming smile could enchant me even more.

I also exchanged messages with Lennart here and there after the rental and was very pleased to have met a like-minded person through this rental. Therefore, I see this as another great aspect of renting motorcycles directly from private individuals – the great conversations and friendships that can arise.

Lennart's BMW R NINE T rental listing can be found here.