Frequently Asked Questions - All FAQs

It is straightforward to answer! We do everything to make sure you have a great experience with our motorcycles and that there are no surprises. We never promise something that we don't deliver.  We are the first and longest-running motorcycle rental and tour operator in Ecuador. Our customers have given us a vote of confidence, and we have earned the coveted "Certificate of Excellence" from TripAdvisor year after year since we started our business.   In 2017, we were awarded "Motorcycle Tour Operator of the Year" by Luxury Travel Guide. In 2018 and 2019, we won "All-Inclusive Guided Tour Operator of the Year - Ecuador" - a Business Excellence Award - from Business Insider Magazine.

We are proud and active members of the Adventure Travel Trade Association, which assures you that we follow a strict code of ethics and industry-standard procedures to ensure quality service and community involvement.  Our business is wholly based in Ecuador, and we support the local economy and provide support through our unique community outreach programs.  

We have the best and most extensive selection of adventure-ready motorcycles in South America.  Unlike other Ecuador operators, we purchase only brand-new bikes, and we own all of our bikes ourselves. We don't "borrow" bikes from others to rent them out to customers. Buying new bikes, owning them, and maintaining them in-house is the only way we can be sure of the maintenance history of the bikes we provide. Combined with our computerized pro-active maintenance schedules, it assures you that you will have a trouble-free vacation on our bikes.  

We don't take chances with our fleet and only offer the highest quality adventure motorcycles from the highest quality manufacturers.  Adventure motorcycles are designed for all types of terrains and road conditions and are designed to go long distances without trouble.  This commitment to quality is what you need in Ecuador.  

Other motorcycle rental companies advertise low rates, but when you look deeper into what they charge, you will find all kinds of hidden charges for helmets, for luggage, for an air pump,  for mileage, for processing charges, for gloves, etc. These little charges can add up and give you an unpleasant surprise when you pick up the bike or bring it back. We don't play that game! We have a simple pricing structure, and we explain every charge and fee clearly and upfront.  The motorcycles we provide are late model dual-sport motorcycles specifically designed for the types of roads and riding conditions that you will find in Ecuador.

Our in-house maintenance crew includes a master mechanic who has worked for several years on our motorcycle brands and has tremendous experience in diagnosing and preventing even the most complicated mechanical and electrical failures.  Our motorcycles and vehicles are inspected and hand-washed by a professional, qualified mechanic each time they return from a ride. On departure, we perform a multi-point pre-ride checklist to make sure everything is in perfect working condition before you head out on the road.

We equip our vehicles with the most robust accessories and equipment in the world.  Our in-house technicians design and manufacture the lateral crash bars, skid plates, and other protective features on the bikes.  There are no better crash bars on the market - so we created them ourselves. 

We also use quality, proven luggage, and accessories from our partners, such as Doubletake Mirror, Touratech, Mosko Moto, Hepco & Becker, and AltRider.  Providing you the best equipment on the market is what we are in business for - so we don't take shortcuts with cheap imitations.  Our partnership with Continental Tires and MotoZ tires from Australia ensures you have the highest quality rubber on your bike. 

We exceed all of the manufacturers' recommendations for service and maintenance intervals. We provide 24-hour assistance so that within hours, should you have a problem on the road, we can get a replacement motorcycle to you wherever you are in the country. (Please note that this does not apply to flat tires or to running out of gas - only mechanical problems if they ever occur, which we aim to make as rare as humanly possible). We provide a generous set of spare inner tubes, brake and clutch handles, tire repair kits, and tools with every rental, and we provide all of our rental customers with a pre-paid cell phone to call us for support at any time. 

We are a 100% Ecuadorian company operated by a French / American management team with years of customer service experience and years of experience riding motorcycles worldwide.  Being 100% Ecuadorian means that we keep all of our revenue in the country.  That means no commissions to foreign travel agencies or foreign banks since we only sell direct and use Ecuador-based payments systems.  We pay all of our taxes in Ecuador on 100% of our revenue.  We do not pay foreign booking sites and agencies 15-20% commissions.  We use Ecuador-based banking systems for payment (we don't ask customers to wire money to an offshore account). We use that extra margin to provide better quality accessories, services, and hotels for our guests. That is what being 100% Ecuadorian is really about.

We are bikers ourselves, and we run this business passionately for bikers. We understand that our customers come first and look for quality, honesty, and fun. We do everything we can to make sure all of our customers leave with smiles on their faces. 

There are a few fundamental reasons to ride on a tour with Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental:

• First and foremost, we are not like many tour companies that offer tours in countries all over the world - but are specialists in none. We are specialists in Ecuador. We know Ecuador, and we live here. We don't ship bikes in from a foreign country and then bring in a foreign guide who is not familiar with local customs and roads and then try to show you around as best as possible while taking all the profits out of the country. No! No! No! We know this country intimately, and we love to share our knowledge and experience of riding here. We have contacts around the country that can help in an emergency and make things right. This means you will always get an "insiders view of the country."  Nobody has more experience than us in providing motorcycle tours of Ecuador than Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental.  Nobody.   

• We only use our own motorcycles and perform the maintenance on them ourselves.  Our computerized, pro-active maintenance schedule means that you'll be riding a bike that will not break down, guaranteed.  Our large fleet of motorcycles means that should a breakdown occur; we will easily and efficiently replace the motorcycle.  Other companies borrow or rent motorcycles from other companies and don't know their history or reliability.

• When we say "all-inclusive," we mean it! Many other companies will say they offer "all-inclusive" tours but don't cover things like meals, gasoline, and entrance fees. These little charges can add up, and the tour costs a lot more than you thought it would. We include meals, gasoline, entrance fees, great first-class single occupancy accommodations, and more. We don't think it's right to tell you it's "all-inclusive" and then have you pulling your wallet out left and right. The only thing you will have to pay for is for your personal items you want to purchase along the way (souvenirs, etc.) and alcoholic drinks (we don't think it would be such a good idea to offer unlimited, free alcohol on a motorcycle tour!).

• All of our tours are run with a guaranteed departure policy.  This means that you can go ahead and book your flight and save on airfare when you sign up for one of our tours.   We will not contact you 30 days before the trip to tell you it is canceled because we did not sign enough people up for the tour, as most motorcycle tour operators can do.  We don't think that is fair.    We want you to be able to plan your trip and be sure you are going!

• Our goal is to get you immersed in the landscapes and the cultures of Ecuador.  We make many stops to visit our friends around the country after so many years in business.  We are a 100% Ecuadorian company run by a French / American management team involved in the community and giving back.

• We are a small company and working hard to get established with a good reputation.  We have won the "Certificate of Excellence" from TripAdvisor.com year after year.  We want to generate business by word of mouth, and this means we make sure that you are delighted with your trip. This also means that your tour groups will be small, usually up to 5 or 6 other riders only. Any more riders than that make it too complicated - when filling up with gas, checking into hotels, etc.   No other tour company rates better with real reviews than Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental.

• We provide accommodations that have been carefully chosen and provide single occupancy accommodations are standard. We know that after spending a great day of riding with your companions, you may not necessarily want to sleep with them! We provide you with your own hotel room so you can have some relaxing, personal downtime. Most tour companies do not offer this, or if they do, they charge a hefty fee for it.  We include this for FREE. 

• We are very open and transparent about our tours. Our web page has very detailed daily itineraries and routes provided.  We also provide links to the top-notch accommodations we use on each tour.  Other companies keep this a secret for a reason!

• We have great routes that have been tried and tested yet still take you off the beaten track. We know you are looking for great riding - and we know that taking the time to "smell the roses" is also what makes a motorcycle tour special. Our tours offer great riding and adequate rest breaks, and fantastic opportunities during the days off from riding so that you can enjoy other activities, meet the people, learn about the cultures here and relax and enjoy Ecuador!

• We have the widest selection of tours available in Ecuador, including off-road, dual-sport, and fully paved tours.   We can also create a custom tour for you and your group of friends. Over several years in business, we have developed our database of little-known routes and gems in the country to combine to make the perfect, custom-tailored tour you are looking for!

• It may appear that our tours may have short riding distances.  Do not be fooled!   In Ecuador, it takes about 2-3 times to ride the same distance as you would in other countries.  The reason is, unlike other tour companies, we do not use the main highways.   Since we know all the best backroads after so many years in business, we will take you on a carefully designed route.  The route gives us time to stop and see things and meet people along the way and, above all, to ride SAFELY.  Riding at night is what we avoid - which is why you will see us making sure our routes are carefully designed with the proper distances each day.

We are the longest-running and most experienced motorcycle tour operation in Ecuador and one of the Americas' most experienced.  In this business, experience and knowledge are everything, and that is what we love to share with our customers.

-We are open seven days a week from 09:00 am to 18:00 (6:00) pm, including all holidays.  The bikes must be picked up and returned during these times.  Our shop is located in the safest and most modern part of the city and within just a few turns you are on the highways leading out of the city without having to ride in any significant traffic to leave the city.  Getting out of Quito is a breeze from our shop location!

We rent late model, professionally-maintained, high-quality, dual-purpose motorcycles that are well-suited to the riding conditions in Ecuador. We own and maintain all of our motorcycles in our maintenance center. For more information about the bikes and prices, please see our motorcycle rentals page.

To ride a motorcycle on your own, you must possess a valid motorcycle license and be at least 21 years old. However, if you plan to ride with another person, you can be as young as 18 years old as long as the other rider is at least 25 years old.

-No, your driving license (with motorcycle endorsement) from your country, province or state of residence is all that is required

-You need your motorcycle driving license, a passport or identity card from your country of residence, and a valid credit card  (MasterCard, Visa, American Express) for the security deposit ($500 - $2500 per motorcycle).  

When you get to our office in Quito to pick up your bike, we will require a deposit for damages on your credit card.  Please contact your bank prior to leaving for Ecuador to make sure that they know that you are traveling to Ecuador and renting a bike so that the transaction is approved when here.   Please also note that we only accept credit (not debit) cards for the security deposit.

-No. Your license must permit you to operate a motorcycle or scooter in your home state, province or country.  If you are not sure, check with your local motor vehicle license issuer to confirm if you are licensed to operate a motorcycle or scooter.

All of our motorcycle rentals include the standard SOAT (Seguros Obligatorios de Accidentes de Transito) insurance. It covers third-party emergency medical care in a public hospital in the case of an accident with another vehicle or pedestrian. We do not have other insurance available.

We offer a_*Loss Damage Waiver*_ (LDW) program that limits your responsibility to $2500 (you must pay the first $2500 in damages). The LDW is available for $30/day for motorcycles <700cc and $50 for motorcycles >700cc.

We have several features that reduce your risk of costly damage to our bikes. Our bikes are equipped with crash bars and protective vinyl decaling, which reduce the risk of costly scratches and dents to the bikes. Our motorcycles are also equipped with hidden anti-theft GPS tracking devices to locate the bike if it is stolen. Since 2009, with thousands of customers, we have never had a motorcycle stolen. On our guided and self-guided tours, guarded parking is provided at each overnight stop and at all of the points of interest along the way.

Travel Insurance
It is highly recommended that you secure an international travel insurance policy from a reputable travel insurance company. Making claims and dealing with an international insurance company can be difficult - we want you to have that relationship with the provider on your own to be fully covered and regulated in your state or country of residence.
We highly recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy to cover trip cancellation and medical and repatriation expenses.

Remember - you are traveling to a developing country and participating in a dangerous activity (motorcycling). If there was ever a time for travel insurance, this is it!

Medical and security emergencies happen; when they do, we rely on Global Rescue, The world’s leading membership organization providing integrated medical, security, travel risk, and crisis response services to our travelers worldwide. Memberships start at $129

Global Rescue has created the industry’s most complete travel insurance that was built with the outdoorsman in mind. With minimal exclusions, the IMG Signature Travel Insurance is the perfect add-on to your Global Rescue membership.
To find out more information, please visit our landing page at https://partner.globalrescue.com/freedombikerental

Insurance is a personal thing.  What is good for your situation may not be good for another. We want to make sure our customers have the proper coverage amounts and proper and personal service from an international travel insurance company from their country of origin.  Making claims and dealing with an international insurance company can be difficult and frustrating - we want you to have that relationship with the provider on your own so that you are fully covered.

We've tried to deal with Ecuadorian insurance companies - and honestly, it can be a real headache, and we find there is really no such thing as "bulletproof" Ecuadorian insurance!  There are many travel insurance plans and subscriptions available to fit your needs better than something we would choose for you.  When you buy travel insurance - you get the coverage you want - you can include trip cancellation and trip delay coverage. 

Medical and security emergencies happen; when they do, we rely on Global Rescue - the world’s leading membership organization providing integrated medical, security, travel risk, and crisis response services to adventurous travelers worldwide. Memberships start at just $129

Global Rescue has created the industry’s most complete travel insurance that was built with the outdoorsman in mind. With minimal exclusions, the IMG Signature Travel Insurance is the perfect add-on to your Global Rescue membership.

To find out more information please visit our landing page at: https://partner.globalrescue.com/freedombikerental