Moto Racing St-Barth
Born to ride: the island's go-to scooter, moto & quad shop since 1997
Why Go
St. Barth is small, steep, and stitched together by ribbon-thin roads that hairpin past turquoise bays ΓÇö a two-wheeler isn't a novelty here, it's the smartest way to actually see the island. Moto Racing has been outfitting locals and visitors with the right ride for that job since 1997, and nearly three decades in, they're still the reference point everyone else gets measured against.
The Experience
Tucked into Quartier du Roy in Anse-des-Cayes, Moto Racing feels less like a rental counter and more like a proper motorcycle house ΓÇö a team of ten-plus mechanics, salespeople, and gear specialists moving between the showroom, workshop, and rental fleet. As authorized dealers for KYMCO, SYM, FANTIC, and BENELLI, they keep their bikes newer and better-maintained than the average island outfit, so the scooter you roll out on is genuinely ready for St. Barth's punishing gradients and salt-heavy air. Expect a quick fitting for a helmet, a candid rundown of which routes suit your comfort level, and the kind of honest advice you only get from people who ride these roads every day. It's a working shop with a real service bay ΓÇö not a beach-shack rental ΓÇö and that quiet professionalism is exactly why residents send friends here.
What to Try
For first-time island riders, a 125cc automatic scooter is the sweet spot ΓÇö enough power to climb to Colombier and Toiny without straining, easy enough to park in Gustavia's tight lanes. Confident riders should ask about the FANTIC and BENELLI motorcycles for a more spirited loop up to Morne de Vitet or along the windward coast. Groups or families with older teens often go for the quads, which handle the rougher approaches to hidden coves like Anse de Grande Saline. Whatever you take, tack on the pilot accessories ΓÇö proper gloves and a good visor make a real difference on gusty afternoons.
Insider Tip
They're closed weekends (MonΓÇôFri, 8amΓÇô5pm only), which trips up a lot of Saturday arrivals ΓÇö pick up your ride Friday afternoon if your plane lands on the weekend, and drop it back before 5pm on your last weekday. Also worth knowing: locals rate their after-sales service (SAV) as the best on the island, so if anything glitches mid-rental, you're in far better hands here than with the beach-adjacent kiosks.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Quartier du Roy, Anse-des-Cayes, 97133 Saint-Barthélemy. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (closed weekends). Phone: +590 590 29 86 30. Email: sav.motoracing@gmail.com. A valid motorcycle license is required for anything over 50cc; bring your passport and a credit card for the deposit. Roads are narrow, steep, and often wet in short bursts — ride with headlights on and give way on blind curves.
Pair It With
- 1493 Lodges St Barth — A quiet Colombier hillside stay that's far easier to reach ΓÇö and enjoy ΓÇö with your own two wheels parked outside the door.
- Absolute Hot Yoga — Zip into Gustavia for a morning class, then peel off on the scooter to a windward beach without fighting for parking.
- Abyss Restaurant — An easy after-dark ride from Anse-des-Cayes ΓÇö the kind of dinner spot that's worth having your own transport for.
- A├⌐roport de Saint-Barth├⌐lemy — Just minutes from the shop, so you can land, cab straight over, and be on the road before check-in at your villa.