Top 5 Reasons to Rent a Motorcycle in Sacramento, California

May 10, 2022

There’s a saying in Sacramento, “California begins here.” This saying is true in more ways than one. Unlike the numerous boomtowns that dried up into ghost towns after the end of the Gold Rush, Sacramento remains relevant in the Golden State’s history, serving as its capital for over 167 years. Sacramento is one of the few modern cities that continues to honor its Gold Rush heritage. While the city ran out of gold a long time ago, it’s still willing to share its treasure of history and culture with all visitors, whether they come on foot or on a Sacramento motorcycle rental.

Ditch your car for a BMW motorcycle in Sacramento. California law allows for lane sharing, so you’ll cut a significant amount of commuting time during a stay. Start off a two-wheeled tour of the city by riding through Old Sacramento State Historic Park, the historic downtown area of Sacramento that’s practically bursting at the seams with western buildings, bars, and theaters. Continue your journey into the past by taking a lantern-led nighttime tour of Sacramento’s Old City Cemetery, where many a state governor and city mayor lie buried. 

After you’ve learned about the state’s original inhabitants at the California State Indian Museum, head to the Crocker Art Museum for a dose of visual culture before ending your vacation at The Dive Bar, where refreshments are served amid 7,500 gallons of water and an array of mermaids and mermen!

You’ll find Harley-Davidsons, BMWs, and Ducatis in the Sacramento area—you only need to search Riders Share and select the perfect street bike for the journey. Once you’ve locked down your ride, make plans to visit some or all of the following premier attractions in the city. Need more trip ideas? Read the Top 5 Motorcycle Routes Near Sacramento, California article. 

1. Old Sacramento State Historic Park and BMW’s R 1200 GS Adventure

Although it might be cliche, no one can claim to have experienced the Golden State capital without a visit to Old Sacramento State Historic Park. Although it began life in the 1850s as the city’s business district, Old Sacramento became a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and has been wowing visitors with well-preserved examples of Gold Rush-era architecture ever since. Within 28 acres, you’ll get to see all manner of old-time architecture, the most famous of which is the Eagle Theater.

Whether you’re looking for a Ducati in Sacramento or perhaps a BMW, you have plenty of choices. For instance, the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure. This adventure-touring bike will make you the envy of all the riders as you pass through Old Sacramento. Expect heated hand grips, a GPS, and rugged good looks. Throw in electronic suspension adjustment, multiple riding modes, and an LED headlamp, and you have the perfect set of wheels for night rides downtown.

2. Crocker Art Museum and Harley-Davidson’s FXDWGI Dyna Wide Glide

Although not as culturally relevant as San Francisco or Los Angeles, Sacramento still offers art-lovers something to indulge in. Ride to the Crocker Art Museum, the longest continuously-operating art museum in western America. This art museum opened in 1871 and has been displaying collections of art to the public ever since. 

Inside, you’ll find art dating from the Gold Rush to contemporary times, as well as one of the largest collections of international ceramic in the country. Art from Asia, Africa, and Europe is also well-represented, so you’ll get to see a little bit of everything should you add the Crocker Art Museum to your itinerary.

If a Ducati isn’t your thing consider picking up a Harley-Davidson FXDWGI Dyna Wide Glide in town. Its raised handlebar, forward controls, and generously-adorned chrome exterior make it a graceful ride to the equally-graceful Crocker Art Museum.

3. The Dive Bar and Ducati’s 1199 Panigale S

Picking up a Sacramento motorcycle rental instead of a car entitles you a little fun, right? You’ll find more than enough of it if you head to the quirkiest watering hole in the city, The Dive Bar. This is a bar that takes its name literally: patrons will be able to sip the drink of their choice as they watch employees dressed as mermaids and mermen swim through a 7,500-gallon tank. If this bar is open the next time you find yourself in town, make sure you pay it a visit—it’s liable to be the coolest experience you’ll have in northern California.

The 1199 Panigale S is the best Ducati in Sacramento to rent. Equipped with a ripping-fast engine and a racy sport bike look, this rocket is bound to look mean and lean in The Dive Bar’s parking lot.

4. Old City Cemetery and Harley-Davidson’s VRSCR Street Rod

Cemeteries aren’t just for the dead—they’re for the living too. From the perspective of grave-finders or pretty much anyone with a love of spooky graveyards, Sacramento possesses the good fortune of having an old cemetery dating back to 1849. If you take your Sacramento motorcycle rental to the cemetery grounds, you’ll see a beautiful Victorian garden populated by numerous headstones grand and humble, representing the final resting places of mayors and governors. We recommend visiting at night—lantern-led nighttime tours are offered by volunteers! If BMW motorcycles from Sacramento aren’t your thing, pick up the Harley-Davidson VRSCR Street Rod instead. 

5. California State Indian Museum and BMW’s R 1200 RT

Since 1940, the California State Indian Museum has educated the public about the importance of spirit, family, and nature in Native American life. Here you’ll find artifacts and photographs demonstrating the vitality of Native American life in the Golden State over thousands of years, as well as an exhibit centered around Ishi, the last known survivor of the Yahi Tribe. No Sacramento exploration would be complete without paying homage to a people who have played an integral part in the region’s history for so long.

The R 1200 RT is the most comfortable ride around and one of the best BMW motorcycles in Sacramento. You’ll have plenty of space to store all your gear, and the heated hand grips will make those early-morning and late-afternoon rides a lot less harrowing.