Anyone been to a "demo ride?"

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Ian522 · #1 Unread post by **Ian522** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:41 am

Just curious to know what happens at these demo days I see advertised by dealers, bike rallies and stuff like that. Do they just let you go in a few circles around an empty parking lot? Or actually take the bike out on the road?

Im just curious because it sounds like a good opportunity to experiance different types of motorcycles.

Anyone know of any demo events in the New Jersey/New York area this summer?

#2 Unread post by **sv-wolf** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:45 am

Demos/test rides are more common over here in the UK than the US, I believe.

If you go to a dealer who does test rides here in the UK you will probably get the chance to take the bike out for an hour on your own. If you take a ride at a show you will usually go out for an hour or so in a led group.

'Demos' are great ways to try out other bikes. If you get the chance, then go for it. Check out the insurance situation though before you do it and make sure you are prepared to accept the risk.

Gatineau_Guy · Thu May 31, 2007 11:54 am

I've been to a few recently (Victory and BMW - Harley is in two weeks). The demo rides are usually, from my experience, about 30-40 minutes long in a variety of settings (in town, secondary highway, freeway). They have a set route that the group of bikes follows. There is usually one or two of each model and you have to sign up for rides.

Most manufacturers require a license and full gear to take a bike on a demo ride.

Cheers,
Gatineau_Guy

Ian522 · #4 Unread post by **Ian522** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:56 am

Sounds pretty cool. I was under the impression that a demo ride was just rolling around a parking lot. I guess they are worth checking out then.

High_Side · #5 Unread post by **High_Side** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:08 am

Demo rides have done a lot to prevent me from buying a few different bikes

You see something that you think you have to have, and once I get the chance to go for a ride it really doesn't seem as good as the bike that I rode in on....

Although it is fun to get to ride the new bikes you have to be aware of the Demo Ride Heros. They wait all year for Demo day, then book as many rides as they can get on the GSXRCB-RRZXYZF whatevers and go about showing off their mad skillz. They'll share your lane, pass you in 30km/hr corners (it's a led group you tool), and make you want to stroke them at the first light. Often it's the only time they get to ride a nice bike (or even a bike) so it is important that they show eveyone what they've got. Stay at the back and try to ride around the carnage that can possibly ensue. It's a great position to watch the stupidity that happens up front.

jjhotrods · #6 Unread post by **jjhotrods** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:34 am

If you can get to one they can be fun. They are pretty rare for the metric brands though.

Ian522 · #7 Unread post by **Ian522** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:44 am

jjhotrods wrote:If you can get to one they can be fun. They are pretty rare for the metric brands though.

Yea the only ones ive seen advertised have been for harley/buell and triumph. Im specifically looking to demo ride a harley sportster to see what the whole harley thing is all about.

Is there some sort of waiting list that you have to sign up for? Or are they usually first come, first serve basis?

Sat Jun 02, 2007 8:56 am

Gatineau_Guy wrote:... The demo rides are usually, from my experience, about 30-40 minutes long in a variety of settings (in town, secondary highway, freeway). They have a set route that the group of bikes follows. There is usually one or two of each model and you have to sign up for rides.

Most manufacturers require a license and full gear to take a bike on a demo ride.

Cheers,
Gatineau_Guy

Victory. What he said ^^ plus sign off a waiver form. First come first serve basis. Group ride led by 1 person and 1 in at the back of the group, tailrider. Was about 40 minutes through the city, down the freeway, on the highway and back through the city. Max bikes available for the group ride was 8 plus the 2 staff reps. Don't know what the other manufacturers do for their demo days.

coyote · #9 Unread post by **coyote** » Sun Jun 03, 2007 9:27 am

Where I live Harley and Victory have their Demo's day on the same Day, Harley always has free Food, so we ride something, then eat... Then go to Victory, they always have a Dyno for free testing of how much Power Your bike makes, then take a Victory for a Test Ride.... Makes for a good Day, and the wife really enjoys herself as well...
The next Demo Days are June 8th weekend in RedDeer, AB....
As You can see from my Avatar I ride a sport touring, but I enjoy taking a cruiser for a good couple of runs, but I always enjoy the Victory Hammer over any HD I've tested.... The wife is damn glad to Ride Home again After..... she's not into either HD or Victory if she's on the back...

Sun Jun 03, 2007 6:15 pm

I attended 2 demo days so far this year. First one was for triumph which I wrote a review about. Second one was for buell which I didn't write anything about since I wasn't impressed with buells in the least.

The rules were you must have a motorcycle license, helmet, and gloves. Altho they did have loner helmets and gloves available. For triumph you had to be at least 25yrs old. For buell you had to be at least 18 yrs old.

The demos lasted about 30 mins and included city and hi-way riding. There was no passing allowed or stunting or sling shotting. We were in groups of about 10-12 riders with a factory lead rider and tail rider.

I never heard of sling shotting before. Appearantely, people make pretend like they don't know what they are doing or have some problem with the bike and fall behind. Once enough space has opened up they open the throttle to catch up again.

The demo days were run on a first come first served basis. The triumph one was very busy and I waited about an hour to get a ride. The buell one wasn't busy at all and I only waited about 15 mins.

This week on Sat June 9th a dealer in Danbury, CT is having ducati demos. If your in north jersey/NYC it mite be worth the trip. Danbury is about 60 miles north of NYC. They won't have any 1098 available to demo tho.