The Austin area is a blast, with a great music food, and bar scene. For riders, there are a lot of amazing motorcycle rides, long and short. There are some epic highway routes, as well as unique areas to visit on a bike within the city limits.
There are also several cool annual motorcycle events in Austin, and moto culture as a whole is vibrant and strong. It's easy to rent a motorcycle in Austin that fits your riding style, and the type of riding you want to do.
Read on to learn about:
- Renting a Motorcycle in Austin
- Best Motorcycle Rides in Austin
- Austin Motorcycle Hangouts
- Austin Weather & Riding
- Austin Motorcycle Rules & Tips
- Preparing For Your Austin Ride
How to Rent a Motorcycle in Austin
When it comes to renting a motorcycle in Austin, you have virtually unlimited options with Twisted Road.
You can search our Austin Motorcycle listings and rent whatever you feel like riding during your trip—a touring motorcycle, adventure bike, a sportbike, a cruiser—our community of riders has all sorts of bikes listed. And there’s 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!
Austin TX Motorcycle Rides
Where are the best places to ride in and around Austin?
- Austin to Marble Falls (twisty and scenic)
- Lime Creek Road (on Lake Travis, great for twisties!)
- The Twisted Sisters (state roads: 335, 336, 337)
- Local Ranch Roads (1431, 2222 and 2769)
- Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area
You can find some more tips from locals on places to ride in our article, Austin Area Roads, Routes, and Roadside Stops.
Austin Motorcycle Hangouts
There are some seriously cool shops to check out in Austin—both to outfit yourself and to customize your bike.
Revival Cycles has some of the most amazing custom builds we’ve ever seen. And they have all sorts of great parts and accessories (for you and your bike) that you can easily pack in your bag to take home, or order to have shipped to your door. They also host the Handbuilt Motorcycle Show on MotoGP weekend each year, which is a must-attend for any gearhead or anyone who appreciates the art and detail of fine handcrafted bikes.
Another great Austin motorcycle event to keep in mind when you’re planning your trip is the Republic of Texas Biker Rally (otherwise known as the ROT Rally); it descends on Austin in June of each year.
Also, a great stop for any gear or apparel needs is Motorangutan. Whether you need a helmet, a jacket, or some parts to customize your bike at home, they have a huge selection—fun to check it out when you’re in town, or visit their online store to order at home.
If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path dive bar with an authentic Texas feel, be sure to check out C. Hunt’s Ice House, an institution in these parts. Sam’s Town Point is another great spot for a drink and live music if you’re looking to make an evening of it. And finally, check out Yellow Jacket’s and Little Darlin’s, two more of our favorite biker-friendly bars. (And we know you’ll be extra responsible if you’re riding to these places!)
Austin Motorcycle Rental: Weather & Riding
Austin weather is generally pretty bike-friendly, in the sense that it lacks the extremes of some other areas. However, it does get very hot and fairly humid in the summer months and can be very cold in winter so make sure you bring appropriate riding gear.
As with many places, fall may be a perfect time, for the most moderate temperatures. Spring is also usually ideal, though there can be occasional thunderstorms and (Texas-sized) hail.
Austin Motorcycle Rules & Tips
Texas state law is different from many states in that it allows riding without a helmet if you’re over 21, have passed a DPS-approved motorcycle course, and carry over $10,000 in medical insurance (and can show proof of that.)
If you want to ride with a passenger, you can do that only if the bike you’re riding has a designated passenger seat. Including footpegs and handholds.
Lane splitting is illegal in Texas—you must use a separate lane to pass other vehicles and cannot ride between lanes.
One Austin-specific law that’s particularly moto-friendly is free parking—a motorcycle can be parked free of charge at Austin city meters, for up to 12 hours.
Preparing for your Austin Motorcycle Rental Ride
When you’re packing and planning for your trip to Austin, you’ll want to keep in mind the time of year it is—pack your lighter-weight gear for the summer months, and extra layers (and waterproof gear just in case) for the winter.
For fall and spring, you can bring more moderate layers because temps won’t be extreme, but it’s a good idea to bring lightweight rain layers just in case you get caught in Texas showers.
And you’ll, of course, want to remember all of your protective gear—helmet, jacket, riding pants, gloves, 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.
Finally, make sure you check out our Austin Motorcycle Rider's Guide for more local tips!
Live in Austin? Earn Extra Money Renting Out Your Motorcycle
As one of the leading peer-to-peer motorcycle rental marketplaces, Twisted Road makes it easy for owners and riders to connect and negotiate rental terms on a bike with one another.
Plus, all owners earn 70% of profit, which means accruing total earnings of $1,000 will return $700 to your pocket. It's an excellent deal in a world where it's often 50/50 or worse.
