Peer-to-peer motorcycle rental platforms — like Riders Share and Twisted Road — connect private bike owners like the guy above with people looking to rent. You scroll through listings in the city you live, or the one you’re visiting, find a bike that looks cool, and book it. On paper, it looks and feels simple — just like Airbnb, but for motorcycles.

But unlike Airbnb, there’s no oversight or regulation on how the bikes are maintained. You're renting from a stranger with no standards, no service schedule, and no way to know if the oil’s fresh, the battery’s strong, or the tires are safe. You’re showing up to someone’s garage, hoping the bike’s ready to ride — and putting your life in the hands of a private owner you don’t know… and peer-to-peer platorms don’t know enough about them either.

There’s no denying the appeal. Peer-to-peer platforms often show lower base rates than rental shops. You’ll see Harleys listed at $58, $75, even $130/day — and that looks like a steal compared to a business quoting $243 or more per day.

The listings feel casual. The process seems easy. For unknowing riders, it seems like a more relaxed rental experience — like borrowing a motorcycle from a friend instead of a rigid business owner or corporation. If everything goes right, you ride off with a fun story and maybe a little money saved.

Even the most promising ride can go sideways fast. You could be 500 miles from anywhere, stuck in 110-degree heat, with no cell service, no hotel, and no help or backup bike on the way.

A dead battery. A flat tire. An owner who skipped an oil change. These aren’t far-fetched peer-to-peer scenarios — they happen a lot. And when they do, you’re the one stranded, rethinking your ride plans, burning hours waiting for a car to drive by, or tow truck to arrive, wondering how you’re getting back to that garage 500 miles away where your rental started.

That $75/day rate that caught your eye? It almost never ends up being $75. Once you add in insurance waivers, service fees, and the mystery math of platform algorithms, your final price at checkout can be double or even triple the advertised rate.

We've seen service fees range from as low as $27/day to as high as $175/day — with no clear explanation for how they're calculated. Pricing can fluctuate based on when you book, how far in advance you reserve, whether you’re a first-time renter, what your renter profile looks like, and more. You won’t know the final cost until you click "checkout" — and even then, you may not fully understand how the number got so high.

And then there’s the deposit. Unless you pay extra to reduce your risk tier, you could see a refundable hold of $2,000, $2,500, or even $3,500 placed on your card — and that’s before you even pick up the bike.

What started as a “great deal” between a couple of riders can quickly become a higher per-day rental rate than what well-known, trusted rental businesses offer.

Let’s say you and a few friends want to book a motorcycle trip together. Instead of one clean pickup location with a unified experience, you’re now spending half your day driving around town, coordinating bike pickups from random strangers’ garages.

You may show up to one house with limited riding gear or no size options. Another where the bike’s not ready. Another where the owner suddenly isn’t available. You’ll waste time, burn energy, and likely start your trip more stressed than stoked.

And if you all need gear? Good luck. Most private owners can’t outfit a single rider properly — let alone a full group with passengers.

We’re not knocking peer-to-peer — Riders Share is actually one of our favorite platforms in the space. We just want to help you ride into that decision with your eyes wide open. Peer-to-peer platforms are great. But they’re unpredictable — and the pricing isn’t nearly as transparent as it seems.

That base rate? It’s just the beginning. Insurance, platform fees, deposits, and variables you’ll never see coming all add up. And when you combine that with the lack of included gear, inconsistent bike prep, and no backup plan if something breaks — you’re not saving money. You’re gambling with your trip.

So before you book, ask the hard questions. Read the fine print. And make sure the ride you think you’re getting doesn’t come with surprises that leave you stranded.