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Rent a bike in Uganda or Tanzania or Kenya? Rent a bike in Uganda or Tanzania or Kenya?
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
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  #1  
Old 24 Oct 2010
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Rent a bike in Uganda or Tanzania or Kenya?
Hello all, do you know where to rent a bike in one of the three countries in the subject?

I'm starting to think about the next year trip. I've just started to "study" and I would understand the shipping costs and the available alternatives.

Thank you.
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  #2  
Old 24 Oct 2010
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Coming from a non biker, I might get slaughtered fro this, but I have noticed a few interesting things in my last 3 months driving around East Africa.

1: All local bikes are between 125 and 250cc.

2: All biker overlanders with big bikes really struggle to get spares.

3: You normally don't go faster than 80km/h in East Africa.

Now, what I thought was GENIUS was a French guy I met in Jinja in Uganda. He flew into Entebbe and bought a second hand "Boda-Boda" (Baja 200cc I think), strapped some soft paniers to it and spent the next few months riding it around. His idea was to sell it again when he leaves.

That would be my advice. They only cost about £600 new. Spares are in every village and your fuel bill will be next to nothing.

Check out 2wherever for a blog about someone that has done a trans africa on one of these bad boys.
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  #3  
Old 25 Oct 2010
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Try Jock Boyer in Northern Rwanda. Hes got a few 650 Dakars he loans out. You can get him at teamrwandacoach@gmail.com
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  #4  
Old 25 Oct 2010
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Thank you very much for your interest.

Quote:
Originally Posted by freeflyd View Post
Now, what I thought was GENIUS was a French guy I met in Jinja in Uganda. He flew into Entebbe and bought a second hand "Boda-Boda" (Baja 200cc I think), strapped some soft paniers to it and spent the next few months riding it around. His idea was to sell it again when he leaves.
It would be a great idea but, as you say, that French could spend some months around: I have to escape from my life to have some months to spend on a motorbike! Next year I'll have only 2 weeks of holidays, maybe 3, and the buyback option is less interesting for short periods of time.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Boomster View Post
Try Jock Boyer in Northern Rwanda. Hes got a few 650 Dakars he loans out. You can get him at teamrwandacoach@gmail.com
Jock Boyer is on Wikipedia... He was a good cyclist, but I see he had a recent experience with a motorbike. If you say he can rent some motorbikes, I'll try. Rwanda was not planned, so first I'll try something on the itinerary, but there is time to change our mind.

Bye
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  #5  
Old 25 Oct 2010
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I cant recommend Rwanda highly enough, even if you don't hook up with Jock. Its got a completely different vibe to the rest of East Africa and the people are extraordinary. Its also recommended as THE best place to see mountain gorillas. I had a fatastic experience their.

Take care
Boomer
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  #6  
Old 1 Nov 2010
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Jock here in Rwanda, I do have several 650GS BMW's, two 650GS Dakar BMW's one 1150GS and a 1150GS ADV. Prices are about $125-$150/day depending on the length of your journey and gear you get with the bikes..
Feel free to email me.. teamrwandacoach@gmail.com if you are interested...
All the best.. and thanks Boomster for the recommendation..
And ps, anyone on two or 4x4 wheels are welcome to hang out at our houses here .. got internet and limited lodging.. very overland welcome..
Jock
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  #7  
Old 12 Dec 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jockinafrica View Post
Jock here in Rwanda, I do have several 650GS BMW's, two 650GS Dakar BMW's one 1150GS and a 1150GS ADV. (...)
Sorry, sorry, sorry for the long delay. As I wrote, at the moment we don't plan to visit Rwanda next summer, but never say never. This apart, I write to thank you for your offers: if we'll change our mind, I'll contact you for sure.
Bye
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  #8  
Old 5 Feb 2012
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Hello Jock, are you still there? I sent you an email, is the address still active?
Bye
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  #9  
Old 10 Jan 2014
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Hi Jack,
i'm thinking to do the same trip this summer.
Have you rent a bike or shipping your bike?
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  #10  
Old 10 Jan 2014
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Hello Stefano, yes, I was in Uganda in 2011 and around Lake Victoria starting again from Uganda in 2013. As I had short holidays, I preferred to rent some bikes in Entebbe.
So, if you don't start your trip from Rwanda where you can contact Jock, in Uganda you can contact Jacques of Uganda Bike Safaris | Bike Safaris
Don't expect brand new motorbikes, they are not exactly perfect, but they take you everywhere. Let me know if you need more info.
One question: are you from Italy?
Bye
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  #11  
Old 11 Jan 2014
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In Kenya, on facebook, there's https://www.facebook.com/groups/3150...46783/?fref=ts or Dusty Helmets. Netta is the person who rents them so I hear.
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  #12  
Old 12 Jan 2014
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Hi Captain,
thanks for your informations.

Two year ago I rented a gs 800 to travel alone around south africa - namibia and botswana. The bike works very well, but it was very expensive.

yes i'm italian, from the north.
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  #13  
Old 12 Jan 2014
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Thanks Lorraine!!
maybe kenya is more up for me.
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  #14  
Old 22 Jan 2014
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Hello Stefano, I did something like you in 2008: from Johannesburg to Lusaka and back with 2 friends and 3 GS650 rented at Karoo Biking (I hope this is not considered spamming, I write their name only because I was very satisfied with them).
But South Africa is different from Uganda, and the motorbikes rented too: you can consider about half the price you could have spent in SA.
Shipping the bike is not cheaper than renting it, but obviously it depends on how long you can stay abroad. Furthermore, with an eastern african rented bike, you avoid lot of border crossing hassles, first of all the CDP that I hate.
Greetings from Emilia.
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  #15  
Old 1 Feb 2014
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Thanks Jack!
i also rented the bike from karoo biking for my trip in 2012!good guys..
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