How Does Riders Share Compare to Other Rental Companies? EagleRider, Twisted Road, EagleShare

Aug 22, 2024

We understand that you might be skeptical about a review conducted by Riders Share. To ensure objectivity, we compared the most popular motorcycle rental companies in the United States across seven key categories.

Does Riders Share come in #1 for motorcycle rentals in the USA? 

Well, that depends on the analysis- we’re not in the business of rewording information, excluding information, or coming across as misleading. After all, the more informed you are, the more comfortable both you and the motorcycle owner will be with your rental period. 

The unfortunate part of this is that there's been a lot of misinformation posted by competitors recently that's, well, just either not correct at all or excludes obvious information to inflate a point of view. We're not interested in doing any of those things. If you think we forgot something here, let us know!

Here are the seven categories we’ll go over: 

1. Rental Company Model
2. Availability
3. Motorcycle Selection 
4. Motorcycle Rental Pricing
5. Motorcycle Rental Insurance & Coverage
6. Locations & Convenience 
7. Motorcycle Quality

NOTE: While there are other motorcycle rental companies, this article would quickly become a novel if we included an analysis of them all (and it’s already pretty long). To keep this fair, we focused on companies most similar to and well-known to Riders Share. 

We are not claiming to be affiliated with any of the below companies or their insurance. All information is publically available online, and compiled to compare for purposes of this article. 

Make sure to make a cup of coffee or find a comfy seat to read this- we wanted to be as thorough and transparent as possible. So yes, this is a very long blog. No quick assumptions or misleading information here. EagleRider vs. Riders Share? Twisted Road vs. Riders Share? EagleShare vs. Riders Share? We’ll lay it all out. 

Comparison #1: Rental Company Model

• Peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms: Riders Share, Twisted Road, EagleShare
• Traditional rental company: EagleRider, Hertz

Peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms vs. Traditional rental companies:

Peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms like Riders Share and Twisted Road offer a wider variety of motorcycles at potentially lower prices. The service can vary depending on the individual owner. Traditional rental companies like EagleRider provide standardized service and support across all locations, but they may have higher rates and a more limited selection of motorcycles. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your priorities: flexibility, variety, cost, and service.

Comparison #2: Availability 

Since there’s realistically no way for us to get a completely accurate account of all of the rentals across every platform in the United States, we had to set some control variables: 

• Date (Sept 7-10, availability for 3-day rental) 
• Location (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Seattle, Phoenix, Austin, Honolulu, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami)

Here’s what we found:

• Los Angeles, CA: Riders Share (243), Twisted Road (197), EagleShare (146), EagleRider (26)
• San Francisco, CA: Riders Share (200), Twisted Road (71), EagleShare (72), EagleRider (20)
• Las Vegas, NV: Riders Share (100), Twisted Road (54), EagleShare (67), EagleRider (28)
• Seattle, WA: Riders Share (62), Twisted Road (24), EagleShare (27), EagleRider (18)
• Phoenix, AZ: Riders Share (217), Twisted Road (117), EagleShare (71), EagleRider (23)
• Austin, TX: Riders Share (117), Twisted Road (57), EagleShare (90), EagleRider (6)
• Honolulu, HI: Riders Share (57), Twisted Road (19), EagleShare (38), EagleRider (20)
• Chicago, IL: Riders Share (124), Twisted Road (161), EagleShare (65), EagleRider (26)
• Philadelphia, PA: Riders Share (29), Twisted Road (16), EagleShare (23), EagleRider (NO LOCATION)
• Miami, FL: Riders Share (270), Twisted Road (77), EagleShare (113), EagleRider (Miami location closed on Tuesdays, so we excluded this one)

**Analysis completed on August 21, 2024

Important things to note: Like any other rental company, motorcycle rental availability and variety of ebbs and flows depend on seasonality, bookings, etc. We also identified:

• Companies like EagleShare have a larger map radius, leading to potentially skewed results since they are showing more bikes available across a larger area compared to a smaller radius. 
• EagleShare includes EagleRider’s inventory directly within the results, which makes the numbers higher. 
• Traditional rental companies have less physical space to store bikes, leading to less inventory available.

Conclusion on Availability:

Riders Share overall had the most available and diverse selection of bikes for each of the areas during the date period mentioned above. When accounting for EagleRider inventory on the EagleShare website, this moves Twisted Road up to second place, EagleShare third, and EagleRider fourth. 

On average, Riders Share has about 114.82% more bikes available compared to Twisted Road (2nd place), 96.45% more bikes than EagleShare (3rd place), and 686.45% more bikes than EagleRider (4th place) across the popular cities analyzed. 

Comparison #3: Motorcycle Selection 

In addition to the quantity of motorcycles available across the United States, you, of course, want to be able to find a bike you’re comfortable riding, or even a dream bike if you’re looking for something specific. For example, you’re looking for a memorable experience and want to rent a three-wheeled motorcycle. 

Available Rental Makes by Filtering Options:

• Riders Share - 33 brands 
• Twisted Road - 30 brands
• EagleRider - 23 brands
• EagleShare - 12 brands

Features:

• Riders Share - Offers a large selection of Harley-Davidson/BMW/Honda/Ducati/Indian rentals. Offers hundreds of Polaris Slingshot rentals (no motorcycle license needed). Offers off-road riding options for Dual Sport and Adventure motorcycle rentals (at discretion of owner*). Offers a large selection of scooter rentals both above and below 150cc. Offers a large selection of trike motorcycles and other three-wheel rentals. Offers the largest selection of electric motorcycle rentals. 
• Twisted Road - Offers a good selection of popular brand rentals across the United States. Does not offer off-road motorcycle rentals. Does not offer Slingshot rentals. Has extremely limited selection of scooter rentals. Offers electric motorcycles. 
• EagleShare - EagleShare, another peer-to-peer rental company, offers the least amount of motorcycle makes. Although their selection is comparable to Twisted Road’s. EagleShare offers Slingshots, three-wheeled rentals, scooters, and electric motorcycles. 
• EagleRider - Offers a very limited selection due to available inventory. Primarily Harley-Davidson. Does offer other makes occasionally (depending on location), such as Indian, Ducati, or Honda. Offers only 13 Slingshot rentals across the United States. Offers the occasional ATV/UTV/Snowmobile rental, although only a handful of available rentals across the country. You have the least amount of options with EagleRider. 

*Important note: For peer-to-peer companies, the variety of available bike options is determined by what bikes each owner lists. This leads to a more diverse range of rental options. Certain companies are also limited to the types of vehicles they can list for rent on their platforms. In other words, certain companies may have better availability depending on location, simply because of what owners rent what. The more owners that rent in a given area, the more diverse bike options. Bigger cities offer more diverse options. 

Model Year Selection

• Riders Share: Only accepts bike listings on the platform that maximum of 20 years old and in excellent working mechanical condition (2004 or newer). For commercial listings, there is no age restriction. Commercial listings can be of any value.
• Twisted Road: Accepts bike listings newer than model year 2000, or newer than 1990 if in excellent mechanical condition. 
• EagleShare: No more than 15 years old.
• EagleRider: Model year and quality not clear, as this company only uses stock images of bikes, rather than the actual rental. This is typical of traditional rental companies, although can be misleading on the physical condition of the bike. It can generally be assumed rentals are no older than 10-15 years old. 

Conclusion on Motorcycle Selection:

Riders Share overall has the most motorcycles makes available to rent on its platform, with majority of the bikes listed newer than model year 2014. Riders Share offers the most Harley-Davidson rentals, BMW Motorrad rentals, Ducati, Honda, Polaris (Slingshots), Can Am, and other popular brand rentals in the United States. Riders Share also offers the most available bike types, including off-road rentals, scooters, three-wheeled cars, trikes, touring, cruisers, and more. 

Twisted Road and EagleShare come in second for bike selection, however Twisted Road does not offer three-wheeled car rentals like Slingshots, or allow for off-road riding. Twisted Road offers more makes than EagleShare, but EagleShare trumps TR when it comes to available bike types. 

While EagleRider mainly offers HD rentals, their availability is low, and they are limited by physical location (see below). They do offer some unique rentals, although these are one-offs, and there are only a handful available nationwide. 

Comparison #4- Rental Cost

Motorcycle rental costs vary depending on whether you use a traditional company like EagleRider or a peer-to-peer platform such as Riders Share, Twisted Road, or EagleShare. 

Traditional Rentals: EagleRider

• EagleRider offers rentals similar to car rental companies, with limited locations in major cities and tourist areas. 
• Prices typically range from $150-250/day before additional costs like insurance. To guarantee the bike you book online, EagleRider charges an extra $99.
• Insurance: $29-39/day plus $28.98/day liability, with a deductible of $1,000-$5,000.

Peer-to-Peer Rentals: Riders Share, Twisted Road, EagleShare

Peer-to-peer platforms like Riders Share, Twisted Road, and EagleShare let owners rent out their bikes. These platforms generally offer more competitive pricing and wider availability.

Base Prices:

• Riders Share: Bikes typically range from $25-350/day (excluding outliers). Most bikes fall within $50-100/day range. Discounts can make your rental as low as $14/day. 
• Twisted Road: Bikes typically range from $65-300/day (excluding outliers). Most bikes fall within the $75-125/day range. Discounts can make your rental as low as $52/day. 
• EagleShare: Bikes typically range from $60-250. Most bikes rentals fall within the higher tier of that range ($125-$250). 

Insurance Costs (average):

• Riders Share: Varies, with a $500-$2,000 deposit
• Twisted Road: Varies, with a $500-$2,000 deposit
• EagleShare: Varies, with a $1,000 deposit

Community Fees 

• Riders Share: Riders Share’s service fee is based on 25% of the total cost
• Twisted Road: $50 community fee for a one-day rental. $35/day for rentals 2 days or more. Cost of bike does not appear to affect community fee.
• EagleShare: Based on 15% of the total cost

*Note: Costs increase or decrease based on cost of rental (see below comparison in rental coverage). Deductibles remain the same. The above costs are associated with the average daily cost of insurance. 

Conclusion on Rental Pricing

Traditional rental companies like EagleRider charge the most for a rental’s base, with bigger fees for things like insurance, taxes, and guarenteeing you get the bike you want to book. Riders Share overall offers the lowest bike cost with the lowest base price of $25/day, not including additional discounts. Riders Share also offers the lowest daily cost for insurance with the lowest deposit. EagleShare offered the lowest community fees, but the higher cost of daily rentals paired with insurance options made for a more costly rental. 

Cost Comparison: Riders Share vs. Twisted Road

For the same exact (we’re talking same bike/same owner) 2021 Ducati Scrambler, a 5-day rental costs $544.38 on Riders Share versus $795.00 on Twisted Road, showing significant savings on Riders Share.

Comparison #5: Rental Insurance Coverage

Riders Share

Three options:

1. Minimum: You pay up to $3,000 for damage and $4,000 for liability, theft, and total loss. You’re covered for up to $30,000 for damage, plus state minimum liability insurance. Security deposit: $2,000.
2. Standard: You pay up to $2,000 for damage and $3,000 for liability, theft, and total loss. You’re covered for up to $30,000 for damage, plus state minimum liability insurance. Security deposit: $1,000.
3. Premium: You pay up to $1,000 for damage and $2,000 for liability, theft, and total loss. You’re covered for up to $30,000 for damage, plus state minimum liability insurance. Security deposit: $500.

Twisted Road

Three standard options, plus one option for high-value bikes:

1. Minimum: You pay up to $2,500 for damage and $5,000 for liability and theft. You’re covered for up to $25,000 for damage and theft, plus state minimum liability insurance. Security deposit: $2,000
2. Standard: You pay up to $2,000 for damage and $5,000 for liability and theft. You’re covered for up to $25,000 for damage and theft, plus state minimum liability insurance. Security deposit: $1,000
3. Premium: You pay up to $1,000 for damage and $2,500 for liability and theft. You’re covered for up to $25,000 for damage and theft, plus state minimum liability insurance. Security deposit: $500
4. High-Value Bikes: You pay up to $2,500 for damage and $5,000 for liability and theft. You’re covered for up to $40,000 for damage and theft, plus state minimum liability insurance.

EagleShare

EagleShare offers different insurance options depending on whether you rent from private or commercial owners:

1. Rent from Private Owners: You get up to $25,000 in damage and theft coverage, with a $1,000 deductible for damage and a $2,500 deductible for theft. The plan includes state-required minimum liability limits, and a $1,000 security deposit is required.
2. Rent from Commercial Owners Using EagleShare Insurance: Coverage is the same as for private owners, offering up to $25,000 in damage and theft coverage, with a $1,000 deductible for damage and a $2,500 deductible for theft. The plan includes state-required minimum liability limits, and a $1,000 security deposit is required.
3. Rent from Commercial Owners Without EagleShare Insurance: The commercial owner provides the insurance. You'll need to check directly with the owner for details about coverage limits, exclusions, and costs.

EagleRider

Three different types of insurance:

1. No Coverage Purchased: You pay the full retail value for damage and theft. Refund for breakdowns over 12 hours. Security deposit: $5,000.
2. VIP Protection Plus Theft & Damage Waiver: You pay up to $2,000 for damage and $5,000 for theft. Up to $35/day for a replacement rental and refund. Security deposit: $2,000.
3. VIP-ZERO Protection Plus Theft & Damage Waiver: You pay $0 for damage and up to $1,000 for theft. Up to $100/day for a replacement rental and refund. Security deposit: $100.

Conclusion on Insurance Coverage & Damage Waivers

Rider's Share stands out with its more affordable and flexible insurance options compared to Twisted Road, EagleShare, and EagleRider. Rider's Share offers a Premium Plan with only $1,000 in damage deductible, $2,000 for liability and theft, and a low $500 security deposit, all while providing up to $30,000 in damage coverage. In contrast, Twisted Road’s Premium Plan has similar deductibles but lower overall damage coverage, and EagleRider's most affordable option requires a higher deposit for similar benefits. EagleShare’s plans also have higher deductibles, making Rider's Share the more cost-effective and comprehensive choice.

Comparison #6: Locations & Convenience 

Note: Due to the nature of peer-to-peer platforms allowing for rentals wherever an owner would like to list, it was not feasible to do an accurate comparison of exact rental locations.

• Riders Share: Offers rentals across hundreds of locations in the United States, surrounding areas, and US Territories. Offers delivery services at discretion of owner for an extra fee to locations like New York (where peer-to-peer rentals are not available), airports, your hotel, and more. Riders can sort listings by options that allow for delivery, right within the platform. 
• Twisted Road: Offers rentals across hundreds of locations in the United States, although it does appear to be fewer locations than Riders Share. Does claim to offer delivery, although you can’t easily discover which bikes are available for delivery or not. 
• EagleShare: Offers peer-to-peer rentals across the United States, although at less locations compared to Riders Share or Twisted Road. Bike delivery not not appear to be available.
• EagleRider: Limited to rentals by physical location. EagleRider does offer delivery services, but it varies by location and availability, and is difficult to find information on. Renters will have to wait at the physical location during business hours. 

Comparison #7: Motorcycle Quality

Let’s be honest here, this one is tricky to put a value to. Other comparisons by competitors try and say that peer-to-peer companies such as Riders Share offer lower quality, older bikes. This simply isn’t true. While we can’t guarantee the quality of ANY bike across ANY platform without physically looking at thousands of bikes to compare, we can say this: 

• EagleRider: Typically offers more expensive, potentially newer rentals. Stock photos on the website do not allow renters to view the bike they’re renting, meaning if you’re looking to compare with your own eyes, it’s not really possible. Riders generally note the upkeep of bikes is consistent, although it can vary across locations. 
• Rider's Share: As a peer-to-peer platform, the quality of bikes can vary because you're renting from individual owners. However, most of the owners are riders themselves who typically take good care of their bikes. Rider's Share has a reputation for offering newer bikes, with most models being from 2014 or later. This ensures that, on average, the bikes are relatively modern and well-maintained. Riders Share offers bikes as new as the model year available. You’ll find some owners already listing 2024 bikes on our platform (looking to test ride?). 
• Twisted Road: Like Rider's Share, Twisted Road also operates as a peer-to-peer platform where bike quality depends on the owner’s care. However, Twisted Road offers a wider range of bike ages, including some rentals dating back to 1990. While you can still find newer models comparable to those on Rider's Share, Twisted Road’s inventory offers a broader mix, potentially including older motorcycles for rent.
• EagleShare: This is also a peer-to-peer platform, but it includes a mix of privately owned motorcycles and EagleRider's commercial fleet. When renting through EagleShare, you could access the same bikes found at EagleRider locations if you're renting from a commercial owner. However, for private owners, the bike quality may vary just like with Rider's Share and Twisted Road.

The biggest thing we can note here, across all peer-to-peer companies, is that each platform has its own listing requirements. We can confidently say that none of the above listed companies, including our competitors, allow any old, beat up, possibly salvaged bikes on the platforms. Quality may very across location and owner. Use your own eyes to your advantage! For example, on Riders Share, we encourage owners to provide honest and helpful photos of their bikes. If you run into a situation where there is something wrong with your bike, or it looks in worse condition than expected, make sure to document, take photos, and contact Riders Share ASAP.

How Does Riders Share Compare to Other Rental Companies?

Riders Share, Twisted Road, EagleShare, and EagleRider all offer unique advantages, and which one comes out on top depends on your priorities. Riders Share, Twisted Road, and EagleShare operate as peer-to-peer platforms, providing more variety and flexibility in motorcycle rentals, while EagleRider functions more like a traditional rental company with a standardized approach. Riders Share consistently ranks highest in terms of availability, with the largest selection of newer motorcycles and a wide range of brands and models. EagleRider offers newer bikes but with limited availability and higher rental costs due to its traditional setup.

When it comes to motorcycle selection, Riders Share leads with 33 available brands, followed by Twisted Road and EagleShare, while EagleRider offers fewer options, mainly focusing on Harley-Davidson. Riders Share still offers the largest selection of Harley-Davidson rentals nationwide. 

Rental pricing also tends to be more competitive on peer-to-peer platforms like Riders Share and Twisted Road, where the daily cost is typically lower than EagleRider’s standard rates. Riders Share has the lowest daily cost of all platforms. 

Insurance coverage is another area where Riders Share excels, offering more flexible and affordable plans with higher coverage limits than its competitors.

Ultimately, Riders Share stands out as a leader in availability, affordability, and flexibility, making it a top choice for riders looking for diverse options at competitive prices.