Modern Vespa

Anyone know of a place to rent a scooter or motorcycle in the Yucatan?

I can't remember seeing a single Scoot or MC when I went to Cancun a couple years ago. I ended up renting a Jeep for the trip to Chichen Itza to get the wind in my hair because I couldn't even rent a convertible. Good luck on finding a place.

Anyone have any leads on scooter clubs in Mexico? Maybe I can talk them into renting me a beater for a few weeks.

Someone from a Mexican scooter club showed up at the NYSC Wed night meet-up a few weeks ago....

.... I'll try to find some contact info for you.


*edit*
Found the club's site www.vespa.ya.st
I believe it was the president of Club Vespa de Mexico located in Mexico City who came out.

I'll try to get some more specific contact info for you

Depends where in the Yucatan you're going. There are three places to rent scooters in Tulum -- in the pueblo. The Honda moto dealer has the best quality bikes. There are several more in Playa Del Carmen as well. If you're headed to Cozumel, you can't throw a rock without hitting about five scooter rental places, but most rent crap Chinese stuff. Be careful riding after the afternoon rains on Cozumel. The caked-on grease covered streets turn into ice skating rinks.

--Roy--

www.RevolutionMoto.com

I bailed a sailor out of jail in Cancun when he rented a scooter and had an accicent. I was heading back to the ship with the ship's doctor when another sailor franticly told us of the accident and that a sailor was in the hospital. We caught a cab to the hospital. They had patched up cuts and bruises and the police took him. Another cab to the police station, then the fun began. We were verbally given a long list of damages to the scooter and whatever he supposedly hit. We asked how much and got the list again. We asked how much again and got the list again, and again, and again.... We did not understand the culture and how to negotiate and stayed in this endless loop multiple times. Finally we literally opened our wallets and the police chief left us enough cash for a cab back to the landing. Next payday the sailor paid us back glad to be on the ship. Had we not been there he would have missed ship's movement in the morning and been in deep trouble with the U.S. Navy.

If you have even a minor accident expect it to be officially your fault and be expensive. I expect the owner of the scooter never saw a dime.

I was in Cozumel this past January

SUPER IMPORTANT - I can't stress this enough!

In Mexico you ABSOLUTELY need separate auto insurance. I've handled numerous cases where people are involved in accidents south of the border and their US policies are of no use whatsoever. Be absolutely sure you have MEXICAN AUTO INSURANCE or you will be SOL.

We have vacationed in the Mayan Riviera two times. We stayed at a resort about midway between Tulum and Playa Del Carmen. I would never rent a Motorcycle or a Scooter down there. The Police are scary and the drivers are insane! There are accidents and death on the roads on a regular basis. It is a beautiful area with some of the best beaches around but I would stick to Taxi Cabs or a Hotel Van Service.

Good luck,

Gianni

Tequila goes much better with taxis than scooters...

And there's a lot of it there. good stuff. for cheep.

They don't seem to incorporate a sense of mortality into their driving style down there. I spent some time in Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, etc. Scooting is tempting but possibly not worth it. It would be a crazy ride though.

We vacation in the Yucatan at least once a year, mostly in Cozumel. Scooter rental places are all over the place. It almost seems as if they're Cozumel's second industry, after diving.

There is no way I'd even consider riding a scooter in Mexico. The roads are complete crap, the scooters and their maintenance are crap, and there are many drunk tourist drivers on the road. Ride long enough and you will eventually be killed. Scooter crashes are extremely common even among locals who grew up on scooters and know the roads like the backs of their hands. Finally, unless you take your own protective gear, you'll be riding naked. There is a helmet law and you get a helmet with a rental, but it resembles nothing more than a baseball batting helmet (injection-molded plastic and a strap. That's it.).

Yes, I've been tempted. There are a couple of Vespa and Ducati dealers and every once in a long while I see one on the road and get wistful. Then I realize I'd like to finish up my vacation outside the hospital.