By Shilpa Raina
Panaji, Dec 6 (IANS) If you fancy riding the latest sports bikes but can’t afford one, fly down to Goa and rent a super bike for as little as Rs.350 a day and get set for a long ride.

“Youngsters love to ride new and latest models. So we invest in such bikes and recover our costs easily,” Johnny Gonsalves, who rents bikes, told IANS.

“As soon as a new model hits the market, we buy it. Though we have to invest a lot in these bikes, but as the season approaches, we recover every bit of it,” he added.

Starting from Yamaha’s Fazer, YZF-R15 and FZ series to Hero Honda Karizma to Bajaj Avenger and latest models of Bajaj Pulsar are available on rent. These bikes cost Rs.70,000-Rs.90,000.

According to Gonsalves, the rentals soar in December and January and can go up to Rs.1,000 per day.

“December and January are the peak season when the influx of tourists is more in the city. That time rentals of these super bikes easily go up to Rs.1,000 a day while for a Honda Activa it can easily go up to Rs.500 which otherwise is available for Rs.200 per day,” he said.

“Given this, we easily recover all our costs easily,” Gonsalves added.

The craze for these bikes is such that even when the rentals are high, it doesn’t dampen the spirits of youngsters to take them on rent.

“I normally ride a Pulsar 200 in my hometown. When I am here, I prefer to ride something that I wish to ride in future or fancy. So I opt for these super bikes that are not at all affordable for me but I can afford them on rent and have the ride of my lifetime,” Sumeet Dhawan, who rented a Fazer, told IANS.

“Even if I have to pay Rs.1,000 for a day, I won’t mind. I would be riding my dream bike. Coming to Goa is no less than a joy ride, so riding my favourite bike is a part of it. So I don’t want to compromise on my happiness here,” he added.

The problem is that people on rented bikes often cross speed limits which in turn leads to accidents.

“The accident rate in Goa is also very high, thanks to the rash driving these people indulge in. These things happen because they want to use these rented bikes to the fullest. It’s not their bike, so they are free to experiment,” said Gonsalves.

To rent a bike, carry your driving licence. Apart from this, if a bike is damaged, the customer will have to pay for it.. It may sometimes make sense to take a test ride before renting a bike because some bikes are in bad shape.

(Shilpa Raina can be contacted at shilpa.r@ians.in)