Gear Head Gift Ideas: DD Motorcycle Rentals

Maybe the open road has been calling your name. Maybe your SO leaves back issues of "Cycle World" open to the Harley-Davidson Street Glide, Classic or 1200 CC Sportster, the Honda VTX 1300R or the King-of-the-Road Honda GL 1800 Goldwing. If so, D&D Motorcycle Rentals at 617 South McClintock has a proposition for you. Instead of laying out everything but your last pint of blood to snag a bike that would leave the most hardened Iron Butt with a bad case of bun burn, you can rent the bike of your choice for a day trip, weekend jaunt or a week-long gypsy tour.

Sure, you might take a little ribbing over renting, but according to Honda Goldwing rider and "Gypsy Moon" author Pamela Rose Anders of Tempe, Arizona, "The benefit to renting is you get to try out a certain type of motorcycle before you buy it." Just laugh all the way to the bank while your buddy gripes about the heartbreak of ownership as he works on his latest rolling basket.

Ms. Anders, who has put around 7,000 miles on her Honda GL 1800 Goldwing since purchasing it in March of this year after selling her Honda Shadow in 1978, has all her service done at D&D. "Most everyone who owns a Goldwing (in Tempe or Phoenix) goes there. I just think they have a way of making you feel like you can trust them. (They provide) very personable service. They don't try to up-sell. They just tell you what you need."

A day trip on a Honda VTX 1300R or a Harley-Davidson 1200CC Sportster is just $119, or you can have either bike for a week for just $595. The Harley-Davidson Classic and Street Glide are in mid-formation at $149 dollars for a day trip or $745 a week. The Honda GL1800 Goldwing tops the chart at $179 a day or $745 for the week, but your buns will thank you.