How do you do this test riding?

[Road kill]

Ok I want to buy a new bike,,not sure what so plan on riding a few.
All this means going to shops and asking to ride the things.
Only problem here is that I have no intension of buying 99.9% of the things and I don't like lying to people,so the whole thing makes me feel really uncomfortable.
So what do "you" do,,do you tell the sales person you just want to try to help you decide,,,and thus get told to "fuck off mate",,,,or do you lie through your teeth then go home and complain about how so many people today are bloody dishonest.
Or is there some way of going about this where both parties actually know they ain't bullshitting each other.

[James Deuce]

Any salesman or woman worth their salt will be happy to let you ride stuff. You may not buy now, but you WILL tell people about the bikes you were allowed to try by "x" dealer and one day you may go back to them and buy a bike. In the meantime you might be swayed by a positive attitude to use them for parts and accessories and even better, servicing.

Don't feel bad about it, just get to it.

[Ender EnZed]

So what do "you" do,,do you tell the sales person you just want to try to help you decide

Yes.


and thus get told to "fuck off mate"

It won't happen.

[wysper]

All this means going to shops and asking to ride the things.


This is what they are there for. They know you are not going to buy every bike you take for a spin. But then you are almost certain NOT to buy a bike you haven't ridden.

I just don't take out the brand new bikes. I ride either the second hand ones or the demo bikes. If I ever get to the point that I might buy a brand new bike that might be different, but for now I would ride a zero k's bike.

[Oakie]

Never been turned down for a test ride but then I'm not a tyre-kicker either.

The only time I ever struck any resistance was from a car sales yard selling a traded Katana. Even then it was only when I asked to take it out for a second time with Mrs Oakie on the back that the salesman said that usually car dealers don't allow test drives without the salesman. It was only later that I realised what he was really saying. Hmmm.

[steve_t]

Didn't Slofox take his gixxer6 on a test ride but had to sign up to an insurance excess of several thousand dollars? I'm too lazy to search :innocent:

[James Deuce]

Didn't Slofox take his gixxer6 on a test ride but had to sign up to an insurance excess of several thousand dollars? I'm too lazy to search :innocent:
That's normal. Usually between $2,000 and $6,000.

[jellywrestler]

maybe this will help narrow it down a bit????
http://cycle-ergo.com/

[Mom]

To the OP. If the shop you visit are actually in the business of selling bikes they will do what ever they can to tempt you.

I bought my Mille from a shop I visited that I had no intention of buying from. All I wanted to do was test one to see if my feet reached the ground. I even told the salesman that. He told me all about how the seats could be adjusted to lower them and lots of other tips and wished me well in my search.

I was back there in no time to put together a deal that fit us both.

Just ask mate, most shops are very agreeable to helping customers, as others have said, just dont drop the test bike, it hurts your pocket :pinch:

[tigertim20]

Be honest.
Im looking at a new bike, but Im not sure what I want. my needs are xxxxx, what stock do you have that fits my requirements?
You then test ride them. simple.

Anyone who is interested in actually making a sale will be happy to let you test ride, I think more often than not the test ride sells a bike, not the dealer's pressure! a good salesman will know this and be hapy to let you fall in love with a bike on a test ride

[slofox]

Didn't Slofox take his gixxer6 on a test ride but had to sign up to an insurance excess of several thousand dollars? I'm too lazy to search :innocent:

$3000 excess I think it was. Which made me take enough care not to crash it...most places will make you sign an insurance excess doco - they'd be dumb not to.

[EJK]

Just ask mate, most shops are very agreeable to helping customers, as others have said, just dont drop the test bike, it hurts your pocket :pinch:

Do you know any bar/ bedtime/ campfire story regarding to that? Just curious...

[Road kill]

To everybody else,,thanks much for your input.

[PrincessBandit]

Be honest.
Im looking at a new bike, but Im not sure what I want. my needs are xxxxx, what stock do you have that fits my requirements?
You then test ride them. simple.



Yup. Honesty is best - just be expecting the insurance sign up which is par for the course.

[MaxCannon]

Do you know any bar/ bedtime/ campfire story regarding to that? Just curious...

Yip - my mate who had just passed his basic handling and done his scratch and win took out a 250 from a dealship on the North Shore (I'm not saying which one). They made him sign an excess of $1500

He binned it about 5 minutes away from the shop. Rode it back and they pinged him for the damage.

He decided riding was too risky and gave up.

This highlights two things.
1 - People are not taught how to ride properly. 2 hours riding round a carpark in
2nd gear doesn't prepare you for the road.
2 - If you think you are a muppet and might bin a bike round a 30k corner in the dry you shouldn't sign a $1500 excess agreement.

[Renegade]

i recently took a bike for a test ride from a local Tauranga dealer, i saw it and thought that could be a bit of me, now i want want want it :facepalm:

[Hitcher]

I've ridden heaps of demos or floor stock bikes over the years, many of those from dealers I've yet to buy something off. Fair dos too. If I've ridden the bike for more than an hour, it always goes back with a full tank of gas.

[Gremlin]

You're likely to not buy anything you haven't ridden... however, it's also possible you'll buy something you didn't plan to. Be honest, either do your research before hand on what you want, or listen to the salesman. If you have no interest in buying a bike, then I wouldn't expect to bother test riding it either.

Expect to sign up lots of dollars of excess (usually 2-3 grand) in case anything happens during the test ride. I've been offered far more test rides than I've actually done... just didn't see any reason, but the dealers would love to tempt me.

For my last purchase, I popped down to Mt Maunganui to inspect the bike and have a test ride (none available in Auckland). I assume the sheer fact of riding 2.5 hours one way made me a serious buyer, and slightly unplanned, I rode back to Auckland having signed a deal to buy the bike :blink:

Damn salespeople...

[ajturbo]

every bike i have brought this century i have taken for the day or weekend...

and i have taken many more bikes out than i have brought....

each goes back with a full tank..except for this one time.. we were running a bit late... but we brought the bike a week later...

so go and test as many as you need to.. just take care..! and if you crash... make sure you can blame someone else....:innocent:

[gale_wolf]

$3000 excess I think it was. Which made me take enough care not to crash it...most places will make you sign an insurance excess doco - they'd be dumb not to.
Yep they usually make you sign one. I thought it rather odd when I test rode a GSXR1000 after testing various other bikes but I wasn't asked to sign for excess on the gixxer. Must be my honest face :innocent: Had it for several hours then went back and rode it again the next day. End result, I bought the bike.

[bluninja]

Didn't test ride my bike, just had it delivered and then rode it. But then I did know the engine really well, and the seat was comfy in the shop.

I've had 6 brand new bikes and only test rode 1, er or 2 depending on how you look at it. I took out a standard rsv mille, then the rsvr. Grin a mile wide and bought the rsvr.

[Her_C4]

Do you know any bar/ bedtime/ campfire story regarding to that? Just curious...

I do :shutup: :facepalm:

[slofox]

Yep they usually make you sign one. I thought it rather odd when I test rode a GSXR1000 after testing various other bikes but I wasn't asked to sign for excess on the gixxer. Must be my honest face :innocent: Had it for several hours then went back and rode it again the next day. End result, I bought the bike.

I only rode the gixxer six for twenty minutes before I was hooked...like clamping on a body suit.

Rode the SV home, stuck it in the garage and left it there until I had the gixxer.


Which is why shops like you to test ride their bikes, OP.

[Swoop]

You're likely to not buy anything you haven't ridden...
Oddly I'm the opposite. The last three bikes have been bought without a test ride.

The current ride was a case of the bike being assembled and sitting on the shop floor, but not fully set up and ready to go. "Stuff it, I'll have it!" being the result.:innocent:

Certainly haven't regretted it either.

[gijoe1313]

Oddly enough, the best bike salepeople I absolutely hate are the ones who just toss you the keys and say "have fun, don't crash it!" :facepalm:

And even if you don't buy anything, they know you know people and know it may all come back swings and roundabouts!

But then, I've heard of experiences from others who are treated with the disdain of a used piece of toilet paper (who promptly went and bought the same bike from a different dealer because of that experience!)

[Gremlin]

And even if you don't buy anything, they know you know people and know it may all come back swings and roundabouts!
I dunno... I walk in and they say "awwww man, the day was going so well".

That said, I rarely walk out having not bought something, or arranged to buy something... :shutup:

[Laava]

A good salesman should be able to size you up and suss out what kind of bike/s you would best suit and go from there. ie if you have been riding for say 10 years he is not gonna try to sell you a GN125. Notice I said GOOD salesman.

[Zamiam]

Have only test ridden 1 out of 4 new bikes. Had never ridden a Harley until mine was delivered.

[gijoe1313]

I dunno... I walk in and they say "awwww man, the day was going so well".

That said, I rarely walk out having not bought something, or arranged to buy something... :shutup:

No, just about anybody who has had any dealings with you or inkling of your rep says that! Usually with the :facepalm: as well ...

[ynot slow]

My experience,looked at new bandit 650 & 1250,sv1000 in suzuki fest in 2008,could take the 650 out,no sv to demo,saw an 18mth 1250 and bought it after 10mins ride.Went to trade,saw a cbr954 took out,took gsxr750,and also an sv1000 just to compare and curious,ended up with gixxer,so most I've ridden I was interested in at time,riding too many clouds judgement maybe.

[hellokitty]

A good salesman goes for a ride with the scaredy cat woman so she then realises that she cannot be without this bike! This guy rode my bike and I rode the shop bike on the understanding that if I didn't like it, I could get off it and back on my bike AND he didn't laugh at me either! He told me I could have it painted any colour I wanted and of course I had to have it! :love:
I have found that KTL, Colemans and Cyclespot are really friendly shops who will go out of their way to help you (and I have bought from all these shops)

AMPS wouldn't even acknowledge me when I had cash and wanted to buy!

If you are honest and say that you have no idea what you want, then most shops should be okay with that, as someone else said, if you get good treatment, you may come back at a later time to buy.

[pritch]

If you have a relationship with the shop it's a bit easier. I've ridden most of the Honda range including the Goldwing and they didn't harbour any hopes that I'd be buying that. The CBR600RR is one exception and as it has been rated "possibly the best balanced bike ever" I'd like to ride one. But not too far!

The 600 Hornet would be interesting too.

There are a couple of Triumphs I'd like to ride: Bonneville & Street Triple. ANZA were very forthcomiing with an offer of future rides (the weather wasn't great that day) but I haven't asked the local dealer. Yet.

[imdying]

Ok I want to buy a new bike,,not sure what so plan on riding a few.
All this means going to shops and asking to ride the things.
Only problem here is that I have no intension of buying 99.9% of the things and I don't like lying to people,so the whole thing makes me feel really uncomfortable.
So what do "you" do,,do you tell the sales person you just want to try to help you decide,,,and thus get told to "fuck off mate",,,,or do you lie through your teeth then go home and complain about how so many people today are bloody dishonest.
Or is there some way of going about this where both parties actually know they ain't bullshitting each other.I don't sell bikes, but I know people that do. I can assure you if you roll in for some test rides they won't mind at all. No need to tell them that you're just tyre kicking.

They know that currently they have a 0% chance of selling you a bike... but if they can somehow get you to ride some of there bikes, then those odds just got a little bit better :)

[BMWST?]

I don't sell bikes, but I know people that do. I can assure you if you roll in for some test rides they won't mind at all. No need to tell them that you're just tyre kicking.

They know that currently they have a 0% chance of selling you a bike... but if they can somehow get you to ride some of there bikes, then those odds just got a little bit better :)

i disagree i think you should tell them exactly what you are up to...I took a 950 KTM for a test ride after telling them i had absolutely no intention of buying one....

[EJK]

How long can a test ride last for?

[hellokitty]

How long can a test ride last for?

I had the offer of taking a new Stateline for the whole day! I told him there was no way I would buy one but he still said take it.... I didn't want to risk it in case I wanted it!

[Gremlin]

How long can a test ride last for?
Depends on store usually. Some have a strict ride route for insurance purposes, some are more lenient.

If I'm test riding in Auckland, I have a specific route I like that has a particular set of corners that allows me to really test the handling of the bike. I check with them that it's ok to go there, and I haven't had anyone stop me yet.

[BMWST?]

They told me to go a certain route...i told them no i wanted to do a different route and get a tag(picture) on the way....

[slofox]

...I took a 950 KTM for a test ride after telling them i had absolutely no intention of buying one....

I took a gixxer six for a test ride after telling them I had absolutely no intention of buying one...I bought it...:facepalm:

[imdying]

i disagree i think you should tell them exactly what you are up to...I took a 950 KTM for a test ride after telling them i had absolutely no intention of buying one....Ahhh, good on you?