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

[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

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

[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

$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

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.