Top 5 best motorcycle rentals in Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City doesn't look like a motorcycle town from the freeway, but give it twenty minutes and you're climbing switchbacks with granite walls on either side, or watching the Great Salt Lake flatten out to the horizon. One afternoon you can be leaning through the curves of Big Cottonwood Canyon, the next you're rolling out onto the causeway at Antelope Island with bison grazing a few feet from the road. Renting a motorcycle in Salt Lake City turns the Wasatch Range from scenery into a route, and that's a different trip entirely than watching it through a windshield.

The city itself makes this an easy call. Downtown is compact and laid out on a simple grid, so parking and short hops are painless even if you've never ridden here before. Step outside that grid, though, and the terrain does the rest of the selling: tight canyon switchbacks, high mountain passes, and long straight roads across salt flats reward a bike that can lean into a curve, not a car negotiating them at half speed. A motorcycle rental in Salt Lake City genuinely changes what's reachable on a single day off.

Top 10 things to see in Salt Lake City by motorcycle

1. Big Cottonwood Canyon — a twisty paved road climbing straight out of the city into pine forest and granite cliffs.
2. Little Cottonwood Canyon — short, steep and dramatic, running up to Snowbird and Alta beneath sheer rock walls.
3. Mirror Lake Highway (Utah Route 150) — a high-alpine byway through the Uinta Mountains and one of the state's classic long rides.
4. Alpine Loop Scenic Byway — a winding loop around Mount Timpanogos, popular as a full-day ride from the valley.
5. Guardsman Pass Road — links Big Cottonwood Canyon to Park City over a high, curvy summit with panoramic views.
6. Antelope Island State Park — a causeway ride onto the Great Salt Lake, with free-roaming bison and wide-open water views.
7. Bonneville Salt Flats — a flat, blindingly white expanse about two hours west, famous for land-speed racing and worth a longer day trip.
8. Park City Main Street — a historic ski-town street reached by a scenic mountain approach, with easy parking once you're there.
9. Temple Square — the city's central landmark and a good anchor point for a downtown loop.
10. This Is The Place Heritage Park — sits at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, with a pleasant short climb on the way up.

What do you need to rent a motorcycle in Salt Lake City?

Every state requires a motorcycle endorsement (commonly called a Class M) added to a valid driver's licence, and rental companies typically want to see documented riding experience as well. An International Driving Permit isn't legally required, though acceptance of a foreign licence is really down to the individual company, so it's worth carrying one if you have it. Most operators set their own minimum age rather than following a state law — expect 21 as a baseline, with 25 and up common for avoiding young-rider surcharges. A deposit or credit-card hold is standard practice, and the card needs to be in your own name.

How much does it cost to rent a motorcycle in Salt Lake City?

Expect to pay 25-35 USD per day in low season, rising to 45-70 USD per day in high season, with premium touring or larger-displacement models running 90-150+ USD per day.

• Prices climb through June-September, the peak riding months, with an extra bump in August around Bonneville Speed Week.
• Prices drop from November through March, when canyon roads can be cold or snowed in and demand is lowest.

When to book a rental motorcycle in Salt Lake City?

If you want the canyons and mountain passes fully open and the best chance at good weather, aim for June through September — book a few weeks ahead, since this is also when prices peak. Riding in the shoulder months can mean lingering snow at higher elevations like Guardsman Pass or Mirror Lake Highway, so check conditions before committing to a route. November through March is the cheapest window by far, but many of the higher passes close and riding turns into a cold-weather, city-and-valley affair rather than a canyon trip.

Local traffic rules in Salt Lake City

Traffic in the United States drives on the right. Utah's blood-alcohol limit for driving is 0.05%, stricter than the national 0.08%, with zero tolerance under 21. Utah does not require helmets for adult riders under state law, though wearing one on canyon roads is simply common sense given the terrain. Speed limits generally run 25-35 mph on city streets, 55-65 mph on rural two-lane roads, and up to 75 mph on interstates, with school zones tightly enforced. Utah is also one of the few states that permits limited low-speed lane filtering, so don't assume the rules you know from home apply everywhere.

Types of motorcycles available

On our website you can rent the following types of motorcycles: cruiser, sport, touring, standard, classic, dual-purpose, dirt bikes, street, naked bikes or roadsters, choppers, custom, streetfighter, sport-touring, dual-sport, on-road, off-road, adventure motorcycles, supermoto, scrambler, motorcycle with sidecar, enduro, motocross mx, trail, motards, tricycles, bikes with automatic or manual gears, luxury motorbikes.

Models of motorcycles available

On our website you can hire motorcycles from the following manufacturers: BMW, Harley Davidson, Aprilia, Buell, Cagiva, Ducati, Gilera, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Husqvarna, Jawa, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Benelli, Bajaj, Indian, Royal Enfield, TVS, Beta, Bimota.

Which insurance is provided?

Most providers include basic third-party liability insurance in the rental price, with options to upgrade to fuller coverage that reduces or removes your deposit liability in case of damage or theft. Always confirm exactly what is and isn’t covered before you set off.

Extra services available

When you make an online motorbike reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, or delivery to your chosen address.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Compare prices from multiple local rental companies in one place;
• Read reviews from previous customers;
• Reserve online with a Best Price Guarantee;
• Friendly support if your plans change.

Most of our motorcycle rental providers have years of experience and will equip you with a well-maintained bike, helmet and insurance for the ride ahead. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a motorcycle locally, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!