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New Bike Test Rides?
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 1:13 pm
by funinaz
What has been everyone's experiences w/ respect to test riding new bikes at a dealer? I visited 4 dealers this past week (two of which were owned by the same company and therefore had the same policy) and only one dealer, the Honda dealer allowed test rides. The other three said that it was for insurance purposes. If I toss the bike, its me they are worried about and not the bike.
FYI, I am in the Phoenix, AZ area.
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 3:28 pm
by poseur
What if you already had insurance set up? Would they allow it then?
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 6:13 am
by funinaz
Its not about me having insurance, it supposedly is the dealers insurance. They don't want the liability. Apprently, if I get hurt and/or worse, they are afraid that I will sue them. This is a fairly large dealership. They own 25 dealers in several states. This obviously is a corporate policy.
Is this common nowadays? Or should I look for a smaller, more customer focused dealership.
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 6:15 am
by poseur
It seems to me that you should be able to sign some sort of agreement stating that you would take full responsiblity for any damages and not hold them liable. I guess they don't want the hassle and don't need the business.
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 8:50 am
by Aggroton
poseur wrote:It seems to me that you should be able to sign some sort of agreement stating that you would take full responsiblity for any damages and not hold them liable. I guess they don't want the hassle and don't need the business.
thats what im thinking...and youd think if they owned that many shops...i dont know who would buy a bike without a testride...you are liscenced right?
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:51 am
by flynrider
poseur wrote:It seems to me that you should be able to sign some sort of agreement stating that you would take full responsiblity for any damages and not hold them liable. I guess they don't want the hassle and don't need the business.
Those kinds of agreements are generally not worth much. While you can waive your right to sue the dealership, you cannot waive someone else's rights. If you kill yourself on their bike, your family could sue them (probably successfully).
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 2:10 pm
by funinaz
According to both of the Floor Managers, noboby rides. There is no waiver to sign.
I thought that this was extremely unusual for a dealership of this size (25 locations ) and accross a number of states.
Oh, well. They aren't the only ones in town!
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:04 pm
by sapaul
Good attitude, no ride no sale.
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:05 am
by DJGroove
Just bought my first bike, and the dealer wouldn't allow any test rides.
Luckily, I had (thanks to the glory of the interschnitzle!) done my research and knew what I wanted when I walked in. It would have helped to test it, but like the other posters said, it's an insurance thing.
~DJ
Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:38 pm
by bikeguy joe
Around here, it's not allowed! I tried to get a ride on several bikes, showed them my license and insurance card, but no go.
I was pretty sure of the bike I wanted and having ridden a LOT of different bikes in my life, I pretty much knew what to expect.
I hate the idea that you can't ride a bike your about to drop several thousand on.....guess it's the world today.
I wouldn't buy a sport bike or a sport touring bike without a ride, guess it's used from now on!