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

[madbikeboy]

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?

Moral dilemmas? JR??? Huh?

BTW - What's with you trying to commit suicide by riding your bike under some poor cage? (according to rumour from another pedally the other day)

[jrandom]

BTW - What's with you trying to commit suicide by riding your bike under some poor cage? (according to rumour from another pedally the other day)

Wasn't me, dude, I quit that job and moved out of town months ago.

[Smifffy]

Possibly.
The new bike I purchased ended up being from a decent dealership whith whom I wanted to develop a relationship and get servicing, (etc, etc) done with.

A seriously interested buyer ended up spending dollars with a good outlet.

Many years ago Dad worked for an NZ motorcycling icon in his shop (probably many years before the person you may think).

He told me of an object lesson in not pre-judging the intentions, or financial means of a potential customer.

Turns out the guy who they didn't think could afford a bike had a big roll of cash in his pocket that he had been saving for a long time for the bike he wanted.

Missed out on the sale.

[Geeen]

Turns out the guy who they didn't think could afford a bike had a big roll of cash in his pocket that he had been saving for a long time for the bike he wanted.

One of my customer looks raggedy as anything yet has one of the most expensive stereo setups in NZ as well as Ferraris and such, to look at him you'd think him broke

[buellbabe]

I have bought 2 of the bikes I've test ridden and its only lack of $$s that have stopped me purchasing others...and really how many bikes do I need? (probably only 2 but that doesn't seem to stop me!).

Anyways I have always been completely up front with the bike shop, and there have been numerous occasions when I have had mates from out of town visiting (flown up to Aucks so bikeless) and I have arranged 2 bikes for us to take out for the day. The salesman has no problem with it.

Mind you one of those mates loved the bike she rode so much (it was her first time on an XB12R) that she went home to Ch Ch and not long afterwards she bought the exact same model

I reckon that satisfying your curiosity about a bike is the only way to know if its something you need and gotta have! And its alao a great way to confirm that your current ride rocks!

[Eyegasm]

This thread is very interesting.

I am looking at purchasing a new bike around August. I will be jumping on
every bike I can to make sure that it is right for me.

Question I have is how long is a decent test ride?

I am really looking at the Suzuki GSX-R 750 and want to make sure that it gets all the ticks. Would it be wrong to ask a dealership to have it for the morning/afternoon? (more than a ride around the block)

[White trash]

This thread is very interesting.

I am looking at purchasing a new bike around August. I will be jumping on
every bike I can to make sure that it is right for me.

Question I have is how long is a decent test ride?

I am really looking at the Suzuki GSX-R 750 and want to make sure that it gets all the ticks. Would it be wrong to ask a dealership to have it for the morning/afternoon? (more than a ride around the block)

Yes, that would be totally rude and unjustified. However, you're more than welcome to use our R6 for the morning/afternoon.

[buellbabe]

In my opinion a morning or afternoon is a reasonable request but it depends what day it is cos if its a Saturday then there are probably other people also wanting to test ride the same bike so time is limited.

I do my test rides during the week... and I have a very good relationship with a couple of dealers so am able to take bikes out for the entire day In fact I have even had a couple for an entire weekend!

[Eyegasm]

Yes, that would be totally rude and unjustified. However, you're more than welcome to use our R6 for the morning/afternoon.

Cheers Jimmy.

But you better get your hands on an Gsx-r 750! seriously it ticks all the right boxes at the moment, just lacking the test ride to confirm. The R6 is not as close to all the boxes...

In my opinion a morning or afternoon is a reasonable request but it depends what day it is cos if its a Saturday then there are probably other people also wanting to test ride the same bike so time is limited.

It will be weekday as the roads I wish to ride will be pretty much empty.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Question I have is how long is a decent test ride?

I am really looking at the Suzuki GSX-R 750 and want to make sure that it gets all the ticks. Would it be wrong to ask a dealership to have it for the morning/afternoon? (more than a ride around the block)

I'll happily organize you a 750 for an afternoon mate.

Yes, that would be totally rude and unjustified. However, you're more than welcome to use our R6 for the morning/afternoon.

He's not looking for a bike for his GF mate.

[White trash]

Cheers Jimmy.

But you better get your hands on an Gsx-r 750! seriously it ticks all the right boxes at the moment, just lacking the test ride to confirm. The R6 is not as close to all the boxes...



It will be weekday as the roads I wish to ride will be pretty much empty.

What year you looking for Clint? I'll keep an eye out brother.

[White trash]

He's not looking for a bike for his GF mate.

Lol. Maybe we needs to have a little R6 versus GSXR750 battle at the hillclimb my friend?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Lol. Maybe we needs to have a little R6 versus GSXR750 battle at the hillclimb my friend?

Would you like me to remove two, or three plug leads to make it fair?

[Eyegasm]

I'll happily organize you a 750 for an afternoon mate.

Have to wait till I get my full Pete, hence the timeframe.

What year you looking for Clint? I'll keep an eye out brother.

Would prefer 2011, but doubt you'll be able to get your mitts on one of those.
BPF and Brembos...Mmmmmm. But would look at 08' onwards.

[Toaster]

Would prefer 2011, but doubt you'll be able to get your mitts on one of those.
BPF and Brembos...Mmmmmm. But would look at 08' onwards.

The new 2011 GSX750RL1 is very nice indeed. Some nice updates over the existing L0 bike, and they are of course at run out prices circa $16k, so a fair bit of price difference there over the new bike somewhere around $20k apparently.

I am currently looking at selling my bike and moving to a tourer of some kind as my hip pain gets progressively worse in both hips. If you go for a 750, make sure it fits well.... they are narrow and very small. Too small for me anyway.