Total Motorcycle Community Forums

It is really interesting to see how the manufacturers deal with this and the comment about the BMW dealership. In SA some BMW dealerships will lend you a bike for a weekend if they consider you a serious buyer and are not sure which model you want. All the BMW dealers here have demo bikes. It is the Japs and Brit bikes that you can not get demos on. If I put my BMW in for service they will give a loaner to get home on.

My local dealer has a selection of demo bikes and providing you meet the insurance criteria you can book test rides; you have to have a full license for at least one year, but two years for 1000+cc.

Looks like we have it better than the yanks. Anyone for tea?

I'll take some tea. It doesn't surprise me that it's simpler to take test rides in many other countries. America is increasingly run by insurance companies it seems. It won't be long before we have to get a pass from the ins. co to go camping on the weekend.

I was able to test ride "2" models before making my purchace. The dealer only required safety gear, rode along side one of the service techs.

Interested buyers should be given the opportunity to test ride before a purchace. At the same time dealers need to have a system in place both for the protection of the rider and the motorcycle.

I've always test rode bikes before purchasing, and don't think i would ever purchase a bike without riding it first, new or used, unless I had ridden the same model bike at some time and knew the seller well.

oh, actually, one bike i did buy without test riding was an unrideable crash damaged bike that I had never ridden, and only had magazine reviews to go with... after the expected fixing up it worked out very well. In that case it was sort of like getting a steal of a deal on a mint used Porsche that needed a little TLC. It was a "no lose" situation.

The "feel" factor in riding has often been very important to me with most bikes. Some bikes just don't have that mix which comes together and works for ya: Synergy. There are so many subtelties that can be determined from a short test ride which all the spec numbers will never reveal.

The more ya ride, the more discerning you become with certain things and the more forgiving of others. Sometimes when moving to a dramatically different bike (like 1980's motocrosser to 2005 motocrosser, or 1985 FZ750 sport bike to 2005 Scorpa 250 Trials bike) you just have to accept that the bike will feel VERY different and ya have to somewhat start over in your thinking of "how and what" a bike is capable of, then adapt your riding style and learn anew...

//monkey

Some of the long timers on another thread said that new bikes have no soul. I disagree and say it is a fusion of souls when you find that right bike. I have really liked some bikes looking at the tech specs and hated them when I have ridden them. I also have to feel them or I just will not buy. Luckily for me my wife is the same way. As 80% of our riding is together she also wants to feel what it is like as a pillion. Mostly we agree.

I don't know about soul, that's too metaphysical for my simple intellect, but every bike I've ever ridden has had personality. And even the mildest motorcycle personality is far more entertaining than 99% of car personalities.

The local Harley dealer will allow test rides for those that they determine are serious buyers and not "just looking". When my wifes cousin bought her sportster she got to test ride it first. Only condition is the sales guy rode his bike along with you. Not sure of the other dealers in cheyenne except the suzuki shop. The Kawasaki dealer is tiny and I doubt would have any demo bikes. The yamaha shop is decent size but no clue if they have demo bikes or allow test rides. The Suzuki shop does allow test rides and even allows test rides of their dirt bikes and ATVs on their own little course. Honda is sold locally by the same shop that sells Harley, though getting them to willingly sell you a honda could be difficult (their honda selection stinks and they always try to steer customers towards harley or buell).

I was told by the BMW dealer that it was MANDATORY for them to provide demo bikes as part of their dealership agreement. Every time I stop by there, they are offering one for me to ride. Only problem is, I can't get past the price tag. For that kinda money, I'd sooner have a Harley.............