Test-riding a shop's bikes: is intended immediate purchase morally necessary?

**jrandom** · 26th February 2011, 10:30

A recent discussion brought this question up.

Mully's shy, and thinks he shouldn't ask a shop to let him test-ride one of their bikes when he doesn't really plan on buying it.

I argued in response that there is, in fact, the chance that he'd like it enough after a test-ride to change his mind on that question, and that I doubt the shop would mind under the circumstances.

In fact, in my experience (such as it is) decent shops, when a test ride is requested, don't usually ask questions that go beyond checking that one has a current licence and isn't a blackguardly incompetent scoundrel who'll bin the machine and run away.

So. Your opinions please, ladies and gentlemen (and, of course, I use both terms very loosely, in present company).

Is it morally reprehensible to turn up at a motorcycle shop and ask, mostly out of curiosity, to test ride a machine that one probably won't buy, unless some sort of unexpected epiphany occurs during the test ride?

Or is that perfectly all right?

**BMWST?** · 26th February 2011, 10:33

i have told shops before i ask for a test ride that my purpose for test riding is more for interest than for purchase.....they know this,but the chances of selling a bike is much higher after a test ride....drive.
I am completely upfront about it...I do not pretend that i am serious

**Grubber** · 26th February 2011, 10:37

Generally i don't test ride unless i'm keen to buy. Doesn't really interest me to test ride just for the sake of a ride. Already got a bike to ride so don't really need to ride others.
Have found in the past that dealers are very good when i do ask for a ride.

**Madness** · 26th February 2011, 10:39

Not bike related I must admit, however Mrs Madness & myself recently test-drove a couple of used cars at a stealership in East Orchland. We were trying to decide on which of two cars Mrs M would like to upgrade to in the not-too-distant future. What followed was the most blatant hard-sell, high-pressure sales pitch I've ever been witness to. Sadly this approach left us with a clear decision that we would not be buying anything from this particular business and she's still undecided on the car she wants, typical!.

Edit: What's up with the mighty GSX14, not enough torque for ya Mully?.

**slofox** · 26th February 2011, 10:39

Originally Posted by jrandom

I argued in response that there is, in fact, the chance that he'd like it enough after a test-ride to change his mind on that question...

Eggsackery. That is what happened to me last bike change. I'd seen this gixxer in the shop over a period of several months. Eventually I asked for a ride being as how I'd never ridden an IL4 let alone a performance version...I had NO intention of buying it...until the end of the test ride at which point I knew my resolve not to buy was, to coin a phrase, "fucked"...

**george formby** · 26th February 2011, 10:40

Nothing wrong with being up front. From a dealers perspective ( I would hope ) it is an opportunity to demonstrate good service & build a relationship with a potential customer. They can only say no.

**steve_t** · 26th February 2011, 10:43

I think there's a difference between probably won't buy and can't buy. If you don't have the financial capacity to buy the bike, then it's morally reprehensible to be test piloting demonstrator bikes. If you probably won't buy the bike but are open to having your mind changed, I think you should go for it. Go Mully

**White trash** · 26th February 2011, 10:51

From an industry insiders point of view, I have no problem with people riding our demonstrators just for the hell of it. As long as they're not expecting to take it all day.

Used bikes are a different story, I'd prefer to keep the kays off them if I can.

What REALLY fucks me off is people blatantly bullshitting, riding our demo bikes and buying out of town or privately or riding our used bikes as a demo to buy a new bike of a franchise that doesn't have a demonstrator.

But ride our demos all ya want, that's what they're here for.

**jrandom** · 26th February 2011, 10:52

Originally Posted by steve_t

If you don't have the financial capacity to buy the bike, then it's morally reprehensible to be test piloting demonstrator bikes.

I'd agree with that.

The bike that kicked off the discussion that prompted this thread, though, is a ten-year-old second hand example that's quite within Mully's reach if he wanted it enough (I mean, Mrs Mully probably wouldn't let him change bikes again, but that's beside the point).

So my initial comments were cast in light of that.

**jrandom** · 26th February 2011, 10:55

Originally Posted by White trash

Used bikes are a different story, I'd prefer to keep the kays off them if I can.

Good point. I didn't think of that. Still, I wouldn't let it stop me from asking.

**SpankMe** · 26th February 2011, 10:58

No it's not. I brought my first GSX-R750 after test riding it just out of curiosity. Wasn't looking to buy a new bike, but the ride made me decide to change bikes.

**Maha** · 26th February 2011, 11:01

Same could be said when purchasing takeaways...
''Dude, do you mind if I eat some first, I may not want to pay for that shit''.

**Mully** · 26th February 2011, 11:10

Thanks, Mr Random for setting this up. Been some interesting responses.

This started as a post on Facebook asking for someone to lend me a Harley cos I want a go on one. In the manner of all good posts, it evolved into something else.

I think the issue I have is I don't like feeling I'm wasting the salesman's time (moreso than the dealer) when I have no "permission' (my own and, more importantly, Mrs Mully's) to buy a new bike. And really, no desire to change at the moment.

I always think there's some bloke on the other side of the shop floor with a wodge of cash who will actually buy what he's looking at while I'm discussing tassles per square inch.

I did go and ride a demo Buell from AMPS once - cos Mrs Mully wanted the free backpack that they were offering (which the fuckers never sent, come to think of it!)

Maybe once the house is prepped and on the market, I should spend a weekend day on a demo....

Originally Posted by Maha

Same could be said when purchasing takeaways...
''Dude, do you mind if I eat some first, I may not want to pay for that shit''.

Our local new Indian takeaway does that - which I personally think is a marvellous plan. Lets me try new stuff without having to buy a big serving of it which I may not like.

**jrandom** · 26th February 2011, 11:11

Originally Posted by Maha

Same could be said when purchasing takeaways...
''Dude, do you mind if I eat some first, I may not want to pay for that shit''.

I was in a local liquor store the other day, contemplating a bottom-shelf whisky that I hadn't tried before (I'm a working class man these days, y'know), and asked the shop attendant if it was palatable.

He didn't know, but called the manager from out the back, who proceeded to open a bottle and serve me a shot to try.

We're talking a $35 bottle of whisky here, not a case of Laphroaig. They weren't about to make a mint on it. But he still poured me a shot.

And, yes, I bought the bottle. It wasn't too bad.

Letting customers try before buying is good business.

**Big Dave** · 26th February 2011, 11:43

Any salesman worth his oats has long, medium and short term prospects.

He should properly qualify you for your purchasing ability and time frames first - and then make appropriate investment in cultivating you as a future client.

Part of that investment is making vehicles available to test ride. It's a service that may eventuate in a sale.