Colorado’s capital city features top-notch pro sports teams, great shopping areas, and some of the best breweries in the country. In addition to all of that, Denver is a perfect place to rent a motorcycle.
- Renting a Motorcycle in Denver, Colorado
- Best Motorcycle Rides in and around Denver
- Denver Motorcycle Hangouts
- Denver Weather & Riding
- Denver Motorcycle Rules & Tips
- Preparing For Your Denver motorcycle trip
Where to rent a motorcycle in Denver
If you’re looking for a motorcycle rental, Denver is a great place to be. Twisted Road has you covered with a wide selection of bikes up for rent by our member community.
You can search our members’ motorcycles for rent in Denver and find whatever you feel like riding during your trip; a touring motorcycle, a sportbike, a cruiser… our community of riders have all sorts of bikes listed. And no need to rent just one bike while you’re in town; you can check out a different one every day or two if you want to!
Best Motorcycle Rides in Denver and surrounding areas
Some of the best and most popular Denver motorcycle routes are:
- Mount Evans Scenic Byway (open Memorial Day to Labor Day)
- South Park Basin Loop
- Deer Creek Canyon
- Peak to Peak
- Route 67: Pine Junction to Woodland Park
- Morrison to Fairplay
Every Twisted Road motorcycle rental includes unlimited miles, so you can ride all over northern Colorado if you feel like it! (Check out our Twisted Road review page to hear from our riders, and see why we’re your best source for a motorcycle rental in Denver!)
Motorcycle hangouts in Denver
Denver and its surrounding areas are great places to explore on a bike. Here are some of our favorite spots to stop for a break—and a bite or a drink—in and around the Mile High City.
The Weathervane Cafe
Start your day with a great cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast, we suggest stopping by the Weathervane Cafe. It’s a neighborhood spot housed in a late 1800s carriage house, and it has a friendly, vintage vibe. You can get breakfast or lunch here, including the—if you’re feeling meta—Denver omelet. There’s also a selection of local artisanal pantry items, including—in case you need to stock up for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride—mustache and beard balm.
Owlbear Barbecue
For some seriously legit barbecue, be sure to ride over to Owlbear. Its pitmaster honed his craft at Austin’s legendary Franklin Barbecue, and his brisket, pulled pork, and ribs get rave reviews from food critics and grizzled barbecue connoisseurs alike. You might want to get there early because it’s open from 11 AM until they run out of meat… and at Franklin’s, that happens fairly quickly every day!
Westbound & Down
Just a short ride up I-70, you’ll find Westbound & Down—a modern brewpub with burgers, fried chicken, and other southern fares (fried green tomatoes, even!). You can also get a bison burger—and don’t worry about offending any CU Boulder college students; the bison and their mascot the buffalo are distinct species.
Piper Inn
The Piper Inn has been around for over 50 years and draws a varied and welcoming crowd. It’s a little bit biker, a little bit dive, and a lot of fun and friendly. Highlights at the Piper are pool tournaments, people watching, and their famed and eclectic selection of wings.
Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs
If you’re looking for a memorable lunch stop—owned by a fellow rider—Biker Jim’s should be on your list. You can get a regular dog or a bacon-wrapped variety… but if you want to make things interesting, Jim offers game meats like rattlesnake, pheasant, and ostrich. The whole menu is seriously creative, and there’s even a selection of wings if meats in a casing aren’t your thing.
Colorado Motorcycle Expo
If you’ll be in town the first week of February, and you’re interested in catching a legendary Denver motorcycle show, look no further than the Colorado Motorcycle Expo. It’s one of the longest-running motorcycle events in the country. It features live music, a custom and antique motorcycle show, food, and drinks… and draws about 20,000 motorcycle lovers.
Denver Weather & Riding
Denver has some hot weather in the summer months, but nothing too extreme; it’s typically in the 80s during July, the hottest month. And it’s a dry heat, which makes it seem less hot than some other areas at the same temps.
During the winter, Denver doesn’t get much snow—and it typically doesn’t stick. There are about 300 days of sunshine a year, and the winter temps range between about 20 and 50 degrees, so riding is possible with proper gear.
Denver Motorcycle Rules & Tips
As always, it’s important to ride safely. In Denver, that means watching out for ice (on particularly cold days or early mornings in the winter months), being prepared for rain, and watching for cars turning from the middle lane.
In the state of Colorado, everyone under 18 (riders and passengers) must wear a DOT-approved helmet when they’re on a motorcycle. All riders and passengers are required to wear eye protection (regardless of whether the motorcycle has a windshield). Passengers can be any age, as long as they’re wearing a helmet and eye protection.
If you’re riding with a passenger, state law requires that the bike you’re on has footpegs and that your passenger uses them.
Preparing For Your Denver Ride
Because Denver can be a little warm, you’ll want to bring protective but well-ventilated clothing to make sure you stay comfortable if you’re visiting in the summer months. If you’ll be there in the fall or winter, pack gear that will keep you warm in the high 20s to high 50s range. Layers are always a good idea—that way you'll be prepared for fluctuations in temperature.
You also might want to check out our guide to the best warm-weather motorcycle gear for women, and the best warm-weather motorcycle gear for men.
You’ll of course also want to bring your helmet, riding boots, and jacket, etc. (Make sure you check out our article on traveling with gear before you leave!) If you’re not traveling with your protective gear, please let us know and we can work with the owner to try and find local options for you. Often, owners are more than happy to lend their gear to fellow riders.
