UPDATE: 3/17/18 - as of this date have not received any response from EagleRider regarding our experience. This is after providing the reservation number as requested, and even reaching out again a couple weeks later to follow up.
Reviewers' background: riding 3x/week minimum for over ten years in multiple cities and states.
Prior Eagle Riders experience: 2015 in Las Vegas, an experience we recommend highly. Had no reason not to expect the same or at least similar in Orlando, but unfortunately, based on today we understand Las Vegas was an exceptional location. Their efficient check-in process includes a knowledgable person on staff very much like a concierge at a hotel who provided us excellent materials on routes through the mountains and valleys in the area. They also let us know that if we decided we wanted to ride through the state park, there would be a one-time $5 fee at the park entrance. When you're ready to go back to your hotel, they take you there using their shuttle service for nearby customers.
The comparison with their Orlando location leaves much to be desired.
Reservation
- After booking online the same way we had for LV, found a Weekday Deal on another page for half the price we had already registered to pay.
- Nobody will go over any special offers with you when you arrive. It wouldn't have been unreasonable for something along the lines of "Oh, we actually have a weekday deal and since you're riding on a Wednesday you would qualify" and changing our reservation to the special price.
- The above point would have especially been appreciated and appropriate since they did not have the bike we paid to reserve.
Arrival
- We took an Uber and made a point to arrive early to the Eagle Riders Orlando (ERO) office; however, despite all the signage still up on both the building and by the road, this office was completely closed. Nothing on their website indicates they very recently changed locations.
- ERO called and spoke with us the week before our trip to let us know the motorcycle we originally reserved would not be available. Would have been easy enough to notify us at that time of their change in location.
- ALL THE MAPS DIRECTED US TO THE WRONG LOCATION, even when we put in the correct physical address and didn't go by what was pulled up by entering "Eagle Riders."
- Since they are now associated with Orlando Harley Davidson, the ONLY way we could get to ERO was by putting Orlando Harley Davidson in the navigation app.
- Orlando is undergoing a LOT of interstate construction. Our hotel was only 8 miles away but it took 40 minutes of travel between here and the rental spot. We took an Uber to get to the incorrect place, only to have a gentleman with the Indian Motorcycle dealership next door inform us that we now needed to get another Uber to trek us back across town.
- Several more unnecessary dollars later, we were met with a disorganized, defensive atmosphere when we finally arrived to the correct place and during check-in mentioned their address issue. "That's above my pay grade" is not an appropriate response to out-of-town, paying customers letting you know you're directly inconveniencing them and other potential clients...
- Inefficient check-in process took longer than necessary. Seemed very rushed, complaining that it had been a hectic morning (no apologies about anything, by the way, not the address issue, not the lack of customer service) and like they just wanted to be done and get us on the road, out of their way.
Information
-Did not provide any useful routes to popular places, or any place for that matter.
-Did not make us aware of multiple tolls going in both directions using FL interstates.
-Did not volunteer that some of these are COIN SPECIFIC tolls, accepting exact change in coins only. Highly recommend taking a roll of quarters and keeping it in a place of easy access.
Final Thoughts
Would not recommend for first time renters- rent at another Eagle Rider location first. This will help you through the check in process because you'll already know what to expect, and trust me they could really use the help. The bike itself was nice enough and appeared to be well maintained. Most of the issues of concern lay with the lack of preparedness by the staff. My experience was on a Wednesday in February, I can only imagine how hectic it may be during weekends in summer months. I personally would not rent at this location again, for the total cost of renting (the rental fee, insurance, multiple uber rides, time invested- left the hotel at 8:30 & wasn't on the road until 10:30, took 40 minutes to get back to the hotel only 8 miles away, etc) I could have, and should have, made arrangements to bring my own bike. read more