Choosing a California Rental Motorcycle
Every year, I take a 10-day motorcycle trip somewhere in the US. I rent a motorcycle from Twisted Road, chart my path, and then go. In 2019, it was California, the PCH, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. During COVID it was a ride around Lake Michigan
I’ve told people that I own one motorcycle but have 4,500 in my garage so whenever I plan a trip, I’m challenged. This trip to Southern California was no exception. I was going to be gone for a week, so I needed some storage—my search was narrowed down to two styles—a Harley bagger or an adventure bike.
So I started by looking at the motorcycles for rent in Los Angeles. Finding the perfect bike was a fun, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone.
I had never ridden a bagger before, and it just… I don’t know… it wasn’t appealing. But I really wanted to mix it up, and there is something American about riding Route 1 on a Harley. So I booked KLani’s 2018 Road King Special and started getting ready to ride.
There were two things that scared me. First, the size. It had a wet weight of 836 pounds and a displacement of 1,750cc. Compared to my v7 Classic (482 pounds and 750cc) this was a beast.
Second, this bike had ape hangers. Look, I had only been riding for four years (and remember, I live in Chicago, so our riding season is limited). I hadn’t ridden with apes before, and here I was, renting a bike for a week, with ape hangers.
It needed to be tamed. I was freaking out.
Days 1-2: Long Beach, CA through Los Padres National Forest to Atascadero
I reached out to KLani before the ride, and she couldn’t have been nicer. She explained how comfortable the ape hangers were, and how they are lower than shoulder-height. We realized that we are around the same height, so I took her word for it.
When I arrived, she had cleaned the bike, filled it with fuel, and added a phone mount and charger. Amazing.
I pulled out of KLani’s tight driveway, made a sharp turn into the alley, and then slowly turned onto the street. I was petrified. So I practiced. I rode through a residential neighborhood making tight turns. Leaning heavily. Braking. Really getting the feel for this Harley Hog. And when I felt comfortable, I finally left.
After a few meetings near LA, and a night in Simi Valley, I turned the bike towards Los Padres National Forest and started to ride.
I don’t really have any good pictures of Los Padres, and here’s why. Route 33 is a two-lane road without a shoulder, with significant turns and grade changes. There aren’t many good places to stop and snap pictures, and I just needed to enjoy the ride. So I did. It was one of the most beautiful and unknown roads in the states and is worth a detour.
The first night I stayed in Atascadero. Why? Because I found this incredible cabin on Airbnb. It was peaceful. Quiet. Relaxing. I parked my bike (notice how I said my bike), walked past a few friendly dogs, and got settled. This cabin was the best place I stayed in 2019—it was exceptional.
That evening, I grabbed a burger at Sylvester’s Burgers (I got the Desperado) and then hopped on the bike to visit Paso Robles. There was a beautiful light exhibit that I heard about, but when I got there and parked the Road King, I couldn’t find my glasses. I was wearing my prescription sunglasses, but needed my real glasses as it was getting dark. So after about 10 minutes of searching, I headed back to Sylvester’s, searched the parking lot, and asked inside. Nothing.
After a few minutes of considering my options (including having a new pair made and just wearing shades everywhere I went for the next week), I took one last look in the pannier. And, there they were. The black case blending into the black color of the bag, hidden in the shadows. Mocking me.
I grabbed them, put them on, and rode back to the cabin where I made a fire and enjoyed a cigar before settling in for the night.
Days 3-6: Atascadero, CA through the wine country, to the PCH and Sebastapol
I left the cabin in Atascadero and cruised north, through San Francisco (or SF as the locals call it), and through the wine country. I took the 101 to Cloverdale, where I hopped on route 128 to Boonville, and turned left on Mountain View Road toward the coast.
Then it happened. I hit Route 1. OK, so how was it to ride the California Coast on a Harley? Here's the real answer, it's ok. Now I know many of you are going to be frustrated at how cavalier I am, but hear me out. Route 1 is beautiful. But it doesn't change. It's basically the same thing, for a few hundred miles. I enjoyed myself, sure, but next time I may stick to some roads in the interior of The Golden State.
Along the way, I stopped in at The Zen House, a motorcycle shop in Point Arena.
I then traveled to Sebastapol, where I stayed in another Airbnb, this one was called Miss Daisy's Magical Music Land. Yes. You read that correctly.
Miss Daisy was amazing. With long braided silver hair, she gave me a tour of her "magic land". I reserved a teepee (because, why not?). She lived in a rainbow-colored RV, offered me fresh coffee, and overused the word "groovy". I felt like I was in 1968. It was groovy.
Days 7-8: The ride to Santa Cruz
I slept like a rock. It could have been from all the riding. Daisy offered her own explanation, "it's because in the teepee, you are sleeping closer to the earth." And with that piece of insight, I headed south to Santa Cruz.
On my way there, I took a detour through Big Basin State Park (route 1 through SF, to 92 to 35 to 9 to 236 then back to 9). This was spectacular. Quiet and peaceful, and the trees towered overhead. The road twisted and turned and was barely wide enough for two cars. Perfect for a bike.
I then wound my way to Santa Cruz, checked into the hotel, took a much-needed shower, and then found a laundromat. On prior trips, I packed clothes for every day of the trip, but this time I packed just enough clothes for 3 days, with a plan to do laundry along the way.
I walked a mile to the laundromat so I could have clean clothes ready(after this much riding, sometimes a walk feels good). I was going to be a guest on a moto-podcast, so as I was mentally preparing for that, I saw a familiar taco joint called De La Hacienda Taqueria. I had been here. A year ago. The last time I did this podcast. Somehow, I stumbled upon the one laundromat that was two blocks away from my upcoming podcast. Huh.
Laundry, Mexican food, podcast. Check, check, check.
If you haven't had a chance to listen to Recycle Garage's weekly Motorcycles and Misfits podcast, I strongly suggest you do so. Naked Jim, Miss Emma, Nak, Bagel, and Liza. These guys know and love bikes, and it's just fun. I went on the show, and had a blast.
Days 9-10: Santa Barbara and then Long Beach, CA
The next morning, I rode to my last stop, a tiny house in Arroyo Grande, dropped off my gear, ate a quick meal at the Shell Beach Brewhouse (I got the poké salad), and then went to bed.
The final ride to Long Beach was uneventful. I saw an old friend in Santa Barbara, and then kept riding. Returned the bike to KLani, and enjoyed a cold LaCroix with her on her patio.
I'm pretty fortunate. My company gives me the flexibility to take a 1-2 week solo ride every year. In 2017, it was Nashville and the Blue Ridge Parkway. 2018, Vegas and Denver. 2019, California.
You can also read more about KLani and her success renting her bikes with Twisted Road here.
Thanks for reading, and for being a part of our growing Twisted Road community.
Austin
This article was originally published in 2019 and has been slightly updated with current links
