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By [url=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/su_tux]su_tux[/url]
Only a select few in our circle of riding friends will get on our bikes. Other than that, probably not. In fact a friend rode DHs bike home from the dealership several months back. And today a friend is riding my back home from the same place (come on weather, hold out!). Most other friends go by "don't ride it if you can't buy it".
Around here though, especially being military and having to deal with civie rules and base rules, licensed friends ride each others bike on to base or home from the dealership if the new owner isn't licensed. Not only is it bad juju to get into a wreck on a motorcycle as an unlicensed operator, it does not so good things to the career folder.
I ride a lot of other peoples' bikes. Some of them I've been riding with for decades, others are neighbors or people I work with.
Before I get on anyone's bike I tell them that I will pay for anything that should happen to it while I'm riding it. None of this "insurance will pay for it" crap. Just direct responsibility.
My bike doesn't have full coverage, so I'm on the hook if anything happens to it. If I've determined that the rider is not squidly and they're willing to make the same commitment, I'm happy to let them give my bike a try.
There's an increased risk the first time an unfamiliar rider tries out a bike, so you have to account for it.
To this day, I've never scratched anyone else's bike and no one has scratched mine. Although, I've had a lot of people turn down the offer to take my bike because they were not in a position to pony up if they bent it.
I'm very protective of my bikes and I don't play nice. Wouldn't even consider letting someone ride my baby. They don't make my ride anymore and I'm not risking it.
I'd let my brother and my best friend take my bike for a spin... in a parkinglot.
I know where they live, and how to extract money from them.
2008 BMW K1200S
2003 Z1000 - For Sale
1979 KZ650B - Work in progress
2005 Ducati SS 1000DS - sold :'(
1994 VFR750 Interceptor - sold
1984 VF700F Interceptor - sold
2004 Hyosung GV250 - sold