would you buy a demo bike?

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dean owens · #1 Post by **dean owens** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:55 am

title kinda says it. if you could get a newer bike, with less than 100 miles on it... but it got those miles being a demo bike... would you do it? or are demo bikes a no no with a lot of red flags?

thanks

Johnj · #2 Post by **Johnj** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:50 am

Dean, have you ever tried to get a demo ride at a dealership? Most of the time it's a group ride, and you don't get a chance to do squidly things.

So it comes down to how much you'll be saving. How much off the list price is the bike? Has the first service been done? Do they expect you to pay for it? Do you get the complete warranty?

#3 Post by **MZ33** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:22 am

dean!! you ain't gonna spill about the bike? Is it an FZ6 in your preferred color, outfitted with anything? `08 or `09?

My "demo" bike was actually the owner's ride, and had 1100 miles on it. It still came with complete warranty, since this was its first title. I figure he is better at breaking in a bike than I am, even if he didn't follow the rules--he probably doesn't lug a bike as I might.

Since it is a demo bike, they should definitely let you test ride it. It may answer any questions you have about whether you need it lowered.

dean owens · #4 Post by **dean owens** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:00 am

Johnj wrote:Dean, have you ever tried to get a demo ride at a dealership? Most of the time it's a group ride, and you don't get a chance to do squidly things.

So it comes down to how much you'll be saving. How much off the list price is the bike? Has the first service been done? Do they expect you to pay for it? Do you get the complete warranty?

no i haven't. i never knew how those worked. thanks for the info and the questions. that's stuff i would have never thought of.

MZ33 wrote:dean!! you ain't gonna spill about the bike? Is it an FZ6 in your preferred color, outfitted with anything? `08 or `09?

My "demo" bike was actually the owner's ride, and had 1100 miles on it. It still came with complete warranty, since this was its first title. I figure he is better at breaking in a bike than I am, even if he didn't follow the rules--he probably doesn't lug a bike as I might.

Since it is a demo bike, they should definitely let you test ride it. It may answer any questions you have about whether you need it lowered.

oh, it's an fz6 (08 - 71 miles). it's one on ebay and it's in atlanta. that's about a 4.5 hour ride for me. thought it could be worth it for that new of a bike to pay the extra. but reason has started to kick in (somewhat) and i'm looking to spend a little less than the bike is going to go for.

i hopefully will be updating my "should i buy a new bike" thread very soon. like by tomorrow evening.

jstark47 · #5 Post by **jstark47** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:35 am

I would definitely not have a problem buying a demo bike. My wife's BMW XCountry came with about 500 miles on it. I would push assertively on the dealer for a price break, though.

I would sooner buy a demo bike than a new old stock bike - better it be ridden a bit than sitting around for several years unused.

Brackstone · #6 Post by **Brackstone** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:38 am

I HATE being the Devil's Advocate, but since I want everyone on this forum to be happy I'll always share a story when I have one.

I would just ask them for a test ride and if they say someone is going to come with you? Then it's probably a safe bet.

Now if you read my thread about buying my shiver? The guy I was with was doing burnouts on the demo Spyder and trying to get me to fly down the roads (25Mph) at around 60.

However I'm sure my demo ride was the exception to the rule just keep that in mind though!