Bike hire in Crete
 

A friend and I are thinking about touring around Crete for a week - 10 days in September/October 2008 and thinking about hiring mopeds or bikes.

Does anyone know of anywhere on the island to hire from?

Many thanks
Rachel

I'd advise against it. Last time my mates were there, he returned the bike after a collision with a car and had a gun shoved in his face until he agreed to pay up. It seems like the guy is some kind of local gangster who owns a few separate hire outlets in Malia and other tourist areas.

I can't recommend anywhere specific but there are loads of bike rental places in the main tourist areas.

If you're going on a package (a cheap and easy way to go) ask your rep. They're less likely to be invoved with a dodgy rental outfit. They'll prob caution against riding (check your insurance etc) but it's up to you.

If you're not on a package I'd ask at a tourist office or collar a few tourists and ask them if they were recommended a renter and by whom - then play it by ear.

hi,

i can recommend Yannis on this side Eurodriver Bikes Rent a bike in Crete Crete Bike Rentals
2006 i rent a Yamaha Xt 600, 2007 a Suzuki Freewind 650,
both bikes were in good condition,and they have really economic prices.
Yannis is a tough, nice guy,even i had not to pay for a broken indicator and some abrasions on the yamaha.
enjoy crete, imho one of the most wonderful places on earth to ride a bike

helmut

one-week trip in crete june 2007
quikmaps.com :: show

Try Car Hire in Crete Greece, Motor Bike Rentals in Crete, Greenways I have not used them but their website looks very good and they also do organised tours and guides. They rent proper bikes too, transalps, KTMs etc.

Hello, it depends where you are going and how.. If you go by ship (crete has 4 ports linked with Athens) you can find easily outside the port several stores hiring bikes. The same happens outside airports. I would suggest hire a bigger bike than a moped, if you want to turn around the island. Of course the island is very big with several road and many off-road parts that you will need about a month to discover... Try the south part of the island. Prices depends on which type you will choose. Passport and driving licence are needed. Have a nice time.

good choice.
 

you will not have any problem finding a bike to rent.
Also prises drop very much after august.
From my side I would like to advise you to take some rain protection with you and eat as much as you can in Creta. food is fantastic!!!:thumbup1:
Also avoid the mean road north and explore the southern part.
Refuling is also not a problem.Even if you run out someone will help you in minutes. Cretans are very frently people.
Now conserning "guns" us cretans never get them out of there holders without a reason......
Enjoy your holidays.

Brings back memories
 

Yeah, definitely do it. Wonderful Island, even better people.

I did it 4 times in the 80´s 90´s. I hired a KLR250 and had a wonderful time. I still have strong feelings for Kriti - warm Retsina wine, dusty mountain paths, naked sun-bathing, smell of rosemary in the evenings... donkey shit. RaisorR1200GS mentioned the South, well that´s the wonder of Crete - IMHO Malia, Sitia (sp?) are just places to go watch the Brits act all funny.

As for guns, well don´t mess with a Cretan. Bin the bike, well pay your dues. Don´t hand over the passport and treat with respect, a smile and a firm understanding of the contract. This will avoid the need to be smuggled to the airport in the boot of a taxi. But then you aren´t spotty-faced no-respectin´ little chavs are you?

Ooohhhh! I´m jealous already!

Stinking Rosemary
 

How does she smell in the morning though?

Dirty minds
 

You know Dave, I de-capitalised that word in the edit just for people like you. All to no avail!!
I mainly remember Sharon, however. She smelt fine, but her legs didn´t look good with all those mosquito bites.

Thanks but a waste of time!
 

Hyphenation, punctuation, it's all the same and never works with a twisted mind such as mine!

If the driving/riding in Crete is anything like Ibiza or Malta then you don't need any distracting smells, or distractions of any other nature - all of one's mind needs to be on the road, ahead, behind and to the sides.