Goa and Gokarna have many things in common: serene beaches, lush green cliffs overlooking the expansive sea, and a laidback vibe that’s unlike any other place. The route connecting these two beautiful destinations is just as stunning and we think it’ll make for a good bike trip. The journey covers a distance of about 122 kilometers and only takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. However, if you’re confused about whether you should rent or ride your bike for the trip, here’s Team Unstumbled helping you out solve this dilemma!
Renting Or Riding Your Own Bike: Pros And Cons For A Goa To Gokarna Trip
Pros Of Renting A Bike
It’s Convenient!
Renting a bike is quite convenient, especially when you don’t own one yourself. With just a few documents, you can get your hands on a motorbike – no need of purchasing a bike at all! It’s easy and convenient, especially if you don’t already own a bike or cannot use your own vehicle for some reason.
Plenty Of Choices
Bike rental stores have plenty of options for you to choose from and that is what makes renting a bike a better option than owning it yourself. When renting a bike, you can choose between a variety of options depending on your budget, road conditions, and the distance you’ll cover. For a Goa to Gokarna route, you don’t require a motorbike that’s as heavy duty as a Himalayan bike and you can choose the one that suits your riding style, thanks to the plenty of choices available while renting a bike.
Cost-Effective for Short Trips
Renting a bike is better than riding your own bike, especially if you are planning a short trip of a few hours or 3 to 5 days. This is because you save wear and tear on your bike and save fuel and other logistics costs that would rise to ride your motorbike from Goa to Gokarna.
Less Hassle, More Fun!
When you’re renting a bike instead of driving your own, you need not worry about servicing your bike. No need for pre-trip maintenance, service repairs, or preparing in advance! Simply rent a bike and you’re good to go. Most rental bikes come in good shape and are equipped with up-to-date servicing and maintenance. This saves a lot of money and time that you’d have used had you chosen to ride your own bike.
Cons of Renting A Bike
Condition of the Bike
While we did mention that most rental bikes come in good shape, there can be instances when the bike hasn’t been maintained properly. You might end up with a bike that looks all good but what if it breaks down in the middle of your journey? You clearly wouldn’t want that, would you? So, when renting a bike, make sure you check if it has been properly maintained and serviced.
Hidden Costs, Fuel, and Deposits
Daily rental prices can seem cheap – for you can get a bike for as cheap as INR 800 to INR 1000 per day. However, behind that one-time cost that you see, there are many other hidden costs you might fail to notice. These include the fuel cost, refundable security deposits, and late return fees (in case you return it late). Plus, if you unfortunately damage the vehicle, some rental companies charge an additional penalty fee along with the full repair costs. So, overall, renting a bike might seem cheap but make sure you consider all these hidden costs too!
Limited Personalization
Renting a bike means you get to choose between plenty of options, but when you’re used to your own bike, it can be a little difficult to get used to a new set of brakes, clutches, and other controls on a bike. After all, the comfort you have with your own bike can’t be mimicked by a completely different bike you rented just a few hours ago. Rental bikes don’t offer many personalization options that you might be used to on your own bike.
Pros Of Owning A Bike
Ultimate Comfort and Familiarity
Your bike, your rules! When you own a bike, you are quite familiar with all of its components and features. You know all about the gear shifts, its mileage, and everything else that will help you in your trip. Plus, being familiar with your bike will give you more confidence driving it on the road and trust us, you need a lot of confidence to drive on long stretches of highways and unfamiliar roads.
Better Performance and Control
You’ve maintained and upgraded your bike as per your requirements, so it’s obvious that you’ve optimized it as per your needs. This is, however, not possible when renting a bike. You can’t possibly upgrade or personalize a rental bike as per your riding skills but you can easily do so when you own it.
No Rental Drama
Renting a bike is a tedious process, especially when you have to haggle for the right price. Plus, there is always a pressure of returning it safely and before the deadline to avoid late charges. However, when you’re driving your own bike, you need not pay rental fees to anyone. Neither do you have any pressure of running on time. You are in control of your time and pace and this will allow you to explore the way you want it and extend your stay if the need arises.
Con Of Owning A Bike
Logistics and Maintenance
Riding your bike isn’t as simple as just renting a bike and driving it. You must service it before the trip to avoid any unfortunate mishaps. While this problem won’t likely arise if you rent a bike from Goa to Gokarna, you will have to take care of servicing and maintenance costs of your bike to avoid any inconvenience on the road.
Renting Or Riding Your Bike: What’s Better?
So, it all boils down to one question: “Is renting a bike a better option than driving your own bike for a Goa to Gokarna trip?”
Well, the ultimate answer depends on the kind of traveler you are.
You must rent a bike if you’re a spontaneous traveler who loves traveling light. If you don’t mind spending on rental fees and are comfortable driving vehicles you aren’t familiar with, you can rent a bike. Plus, if you don’t own the right bike for your adventure, renting a bike remains the only option!
On the other hand, if you are more comfortable with your own bike and don’t like to be bound to deadlines, you might be better off riding your own bike. This way you’ll have more control over your itinerary and not have to worry about any kind of rental drama!
Summing Up
By carefully considering pros and cons of both renting and riding your own bike, you can make your Goa to Gokarna bike trip experience even more enjoyable. Remember to weigh in all the pros and cons and decide based on the kind of traveler you are. And of course, remember to travel safe – helmets, knee pads, and emergency fuel to the rescue!
