Riders-Share Motorcycle Rental

Headed to Hawaii in 2025 with some friends, so got to checking and found a place to rent bikes.  I read up on one company a few years ago, and started looking for it (Twisted Road), but stumbled across what looks to be a much better site.  Did some searching and thinking "damned.. great prices and lots of options!"  So I do what I always do and research it.  Looks to be legit, so ... I'm in!  Create a Profile, update all my pertinent info for renting and start the process.

When the smoke clears I've 'rented' an '18 CVO Road Glide.  Clean, low miles and after selecting Insurance, etc.  ... about $350 for 48 hours.  A LOT less than I thought it'd be. For what I'm wanting to do, looks like a great deal.  Look around for our friends and come across two trikes, similar cost, same owner.  Damned.  This will truly simplify things.  We can pick them both up at the same place. No brainer I'm thinking!  Interestingly this guy with the account has TEN diff' HDs listed, all newer nice shape.  I'm thinking he's got a helluva business going there, writing off his toys.  Hell, I even messaged him asking if they were his personal bikes or a business renting them.  Led me to believe they were mostly his.  Huh...  maybe I'm missing a business opportunity here in Tejas?

Thyago 

Dec 14, 2024 @ 7:35 pm

Yes, indeed, I understand where you're coming from and I'm happy to help clarify things. The bikes listed on the platform are a mix of my personal bikes and additional ones that I've added specifically for rental purposes. I've been riding for quite some time myself and I've always had a passion for various models, hence the diversified portfolio. My Ride Share activities are more of a side project compared to my main occupation. However, rest assured that I take it very seriously.

As for the reviews, I appreciate that you've noticed. We haven’t had a million rentals yet, but the ones we’ve had liked us a lot and that's why we only have a few. Also, it's natural that not everyone leaves a review after their rental experience, but I can assure you that all our bikes are well-maintained and ready to offer you a great ride.

The FLTRX and Tri Glide are both excellent choices. I'm confident that you and your buddy will have a fantastic time riding these bikes.

Well, I get my bike locked down, paid for , and pass the info to my friends.  Now, the fun begins.  First part is weird because they had trouble creating their profile on Riders-Share.  It's not 100% obvious the first time and I got my butt kicked.  Well, after a crazy amount of time and with my help having to use my own phone, we've got it setup.  Last night they attempted to lock it down and then ... the fun begins.  Ride-Share won't authorize the credit card, so they are considering the PayPal option. However, the guy renting them is giving his own PayPal address saying they are having issues and don't worry. Well now, EVERY FLAG is going off.  We chat back and forth and I tell him I'll look into tomorrow (i.e.. today).  Well, my reservation is now CANX by Ride-Share.  I'm guessing he initiated it.  So, I go to look at it all and his listing for the '18 CVO is gone.  ALL the bikes he listed are gone.  Check my CC and Ride-Share has been refunded by $350.00 so no problem there (though I'll keep my eyes open).    Supposedly this guy had been on Ride-Share for over five years.  Supposedly had 10 bikes.  But, only five reviews.  Huh.

Well, now I'm in full blown investigative mode as I type this.  In fact, I'm going to pause and check on his phone number and email address. Hell not sure his profile is still active.

Profile on Riders-Share: GONE   Was under "THYAGO"

Phone number he's texting me from:  Out of SC with an 803 area code.  803.368.3634    

PayPal he's using ties back to Frank Lem*****.   Search of that name shows a lot in TX but not SC

Gmail he's using: ffaban***@gmail.com

The part that bugs me is ...  his profile showed active for many years.  Showed rentals that went back a few years, but only a handful.  That's the only I thing that made me question if it was legit.  After I post this I'll reach out to that site with more questions...

When I was getting texts from him last night, again .. my flags were going on.  The English was pretty good, but not the way most of us 'talk?'

Cell Texts:

Thyago: Hi William, You are renting my HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE CVO in April. Please confirm if this is the best way to reach you.

Me: Shot him a screen shot from my friends convo' with him

Thyago:  Yes, Definitely. I am unable to take your buddy's booking on riders-share.com

Me: Weird .. why not?

Thyago: Not weird.  It is due to an ongoing issue that I am currently facing. The site seems to have some technical difficulties in releasing payments from previous rentals. Emphasizing that my previous rental experiences have garnered excellent reviews, which is a testament to my credibility as a responsible renter

Me:  I'll chat with my friends tomorrow .   My charge went clean via Ride Share yesterday.    They're concerned as you can imagine.  

Thyago:  Yes, I can understand your friends’ concerns. But please reassure them there’s absolutely no need to worry. To further alleviate their concerns, could you let them know that the tri glide is directly from me? Moreover, I’ll be personally delivering it to them as they request for delivery.

Was going to research more to day .. but then ...  reservation was canx.

Looking at the texts my friend had ... now REEKS of BS which is why I left some of their info there.   Wanted the payment via FRIENDs and FAMILY.  No refunds when you do that.  I'm feeling back I brought them into this but mine went smooth and appeared legit.  I believe they are good to go now as well not sending it to the 'correct' email

Lesson Learned here?  Not sure there is one, except do NOT send funds outside the system.  Rings true with Airbnb's as well.  Spoke to the site and they are supposed to be crediting me someway, somehow.  The guys account was hacked and the account suspended I'm told.  We just happened to stumble into the mix.

On a positive note .... no money lost, but wasted hours over the previous 24 hrs. with this scammer

"ARE YOU SAFE?!?!" Life360 App

 I've touched on this subject before but never expounded on it.  I've got a Samsung, wife has an iPhone.  Point being, iPhones have a simple process to track each other if they choose to participate.  Samsung's, not so much.  But an App that installs on either is available; Life360.  This allows users of both brands to cross communicate shared location. (ie Iphone <> Iphone, Samsung <> Samsung and/or Iphone <>Samsung)

Here's the example of why I'm promoting this..... and I'll go from there.  I'm referencing the motorcycle world, but it applies to everyone's 'world.'

Group of folks that ride together often, are out on a ride.  After the Ride, someone will usually say " Ride Safe ... let us know you got home okay ..."   Then a large percentage of the time, they forget.   Does the National Guard get called out?  No.  Does the rest of the group call their phone at 0200 hrs. asking if they got home?  No. A week later if they haven't been heard from them, is a missing person report initiated?  No.   But, had they used LIFE360, within a few seconds if someone cares and checks their App,  they know the answer.

Second Example.  Via Social Media or News outlet, one sees a "Biker went down" in an area near where we all ride.  Few inevitably put a post on Social Media about it with  " CHECK IN please!" .  There could be a hundred members seeing that post and something like 5 or 10 will comment 'safe', 'okay' .. whatever.  But, Ninety percent ... no answer.   Once again, does anyone check on the remaining group?  No.  So, what was the point of the question?  If someone WAS involved, 99% sure once they are identified, the news will travel fast .. eventually.  However, a quick look at LIFE360 would tell you if one of the members was at that location.  Takes a few seconds.

Here's a more frequent one, that happened to one of my folks just this past weekend.   Several folks riding to an event with a stop along the way.  But, one of our guys missed the meet point with the others.  Had they had LIFE360 running, the folks traveling could have seen the other was running late. Could maybe have waited. Then, in this particular situation, that person running late couldn't locate the others.  BUT, had they had LIFE360, they could have seen where the final destination was fifteen minutes later and caught up with the group.  Instead, they were in the dark. Mission Failure.

Now, a few naysayers chime in about security, but let me try and clarify something first.   PRIVACY.  Folks don't want the world knowing where they are 24/7.   This app leverages Location Services on the one's phone.  This can be turned off at the phone and/or app level.   Me personally, I normally turn it on at the app level when I'm Riding on my Bike.  If I'm on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, not sure I see the value... but .. have left it on before.  Point being, one can decide when they want their locations advertised to others in the group.   The info is NOT public, but contained in specified 'circles'. Now ... more specific info about this particular app.

It uses what it calls 'circle of friends'    One could have 1, 3, .. hell ...dozens of circles.  For discussion sake, I have two.  My riding group and Family.  They are 100% separate.  Location Services can be on or off, for each, separately.  Me personally, I leave my family circle on 100% of the time for obvious reasons.  They all do as well.   My Riding Group Circle, if I think about it and not on 2 wheels, I sometimes turn it off.  About 25% of the others seem to as well.  But, if they don't turn it on when riding, sort of defeats the whole purpose?

I've had this on my phone for over a year now.  I use it almost daily.   I've been able to find my spouses phone when they misplaced it (okay.. she found mine).  I've been able to verify others are enroute to a meetup  vs. bug them with "have you left yet??".  And, most importantly, when I've heard "Rider Down", a quick check and know.... those in my 'circle' are safe and not at the site in question.

https://www.life360.com/

Chapter Life Member

Earlier this year I was down at a 23-3 meeting, and heard someone mention something about "Chapter Life Member."  Thought I'd heard wrong so asked about it. Sure enough, they have that in place.  I'd never heard of it.  Turns out at least 3 chapters in Texas have this initiative.   Looking into it deeper, realized it needed a By Law Change (BLCP) to create it.  Along the way, Boomer saw a comment of mine and gave me his perspective on it (he's a great mentor BTW).  So, I'm game on....  

Been in the Combat Vets' for almost seven years now, and never been a fan of BLCPs.  Seems like they are always over menial issues, typos, wording changes, whatever.  Now, I find myself in the fray figuring out the system.  Pretty straight forward, so I ask our CEB internally for opinions and perspectives.  Everyone seems okay with it, zero against it.  So, I start the long odorous task. Actually, wasn't that big of a deal, just seemed to drag on and on.  Come September, the chapter unanimously voted it in and ... finally .. few days ago, we get the NBOD blessing.  Our updated Chapter ByLaws are official and posted.

So, this morning I brought up my PayPal account, shot the funds over to our treasurer and now Lucy and I are the first Lifetime Chapter Members of 23-11.  What's changed? Well.. nothing. But, it reiterates our commitment towards the CVMA and more specifically, our Chapter.

Good Days Ahead!