No test rides?

[BigFootIsBlurry]

As I've mentioned in a couple of other places on this forum I'm currently looking for a first bike, ideally an SV. Today i went to a couple of local dealers who both had used bikes I would have been interested in and that fell into my budget. However, neither place would allow test rides on there used stock. Is this normal practice for a dealer? I expect private sellers to be reluctant to allow test rides but I fully expect to be able to ride before I buy at a dealer, not least because I'm still not 100% sold on what bike I'm going to get.

Are these dealers the exception or am I just going to have to buy without a test ride?

[Seggons]

You could try the Suzuki site to see if there is a dealer near you that has a demo bike.

http://www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/demo/

[Dangerous Dave]

Are these dealers the exception or am I just going to have to buy without a test ride?
Only normal if the used bike does not belong to the dealer, i.e. they are selling it on behalf of a customer or third party.

As for new bikes, that depends if the dealer has a demo bike or not.

[DarrenSV650S]

How old are you? Or how old do you look?
A lot of places might tell you to get lost if they think you're too young.

[Dappa D]

I expect private sellers to be reluctant to allow test rides

why? i certainly wouldnt buy a bike privately or otherwise without test riding it first.

ive only bought 3 bikes, and test rode all 3 first, from private sellers, one of them wanted money up front, so i gave it to him (which i think is fair enough, if you have got to the point of wanting to ride it your close to buying it anyway), the other wanted to follow me on one of his other bikes so no probs there, and the last one was happy enough that my car was on his drive.

ive sold 2 bikes, and let both of them go on test rides (got my brother in law to follow one of them, the other one left cash).

get private test rides if you see a bike you like and is in your budget bud.

[G]

The only way anyone would get a test ride on any of my bikes would be if they turned up with the full asking price in cash as a deposit and a fully comp insurance certificate.

Having their car on your drive means nothing, I know of two people who have had car stolen and a stolen car left on their drive.

Most of the time dealers insurance only covers over 25's which is a big problem when test riding.

[arenalife]

I'd agree with that G. Someone having fully comp insurance with no liabilty or risk to you is next to impossible so full asking price would be a must. As a buyer I'd always worry about that though in case I got back from the ride and they said "what money??" Weakens your bargaining position a little too unless you leave a few hundred quid short with them, after they see all the lolly they might not want you to walk!

Not sure why the original poster can't get a test ride, if you told the dealer it was your first bike that may have something to do with it. They may just not have wanted their showroom stock covered in salt and crap, though with the poor market they should suck it up and get the YTS boy to clean it.

[shonadoll]

How long have you passed your test for? Lots of dealers won't let new riders test ride, or if they have a restricted licence too.

[BigFootIsBlurry]

Thanks for the comments folks. I'm 22 but look quite a bit older (the beard helps :)) and while I only passed this month neither place knew this. They both gave diffeent reasons for not letting me ride them though, the first place (independent dealer with about 40 used bikes) said that too many bikes were getting smashed so no more test rides for anyone, the second (main Honda dealer with around 50 new and used bikes) said all used bikes were SORN so no test rides. I can understand the first places point of view, even if I'd have thought it might cost them business, but the SORN arguement actually ****ed me off quite a bit.

Never mind, I'll just have to give someone else all of my money instead :mrgreen:

[Luckypants]

I am surprised by the SORN argument, because they have trade plates which allows untaxed vehicles to be on the road. I have certainly test ridden a bike on trade plates as it was not taxed.

[Dangerous Dave]

I am surprised by the SORN argument, because they have trade plates which allows untaxed vehicles to be on the road. I have certainly test ridden a bike on trade plates as it was not taxed.
+ 1, as far as I am aware.

[SoulKiss]

+ 1, as far as I am aware.

+1 - the Z750 I test-rode was on Trade Plates.

[Paws]

never test rode any of my 2nd hand bikes, and have never let anyone do a test ride on a bike im selling (part from my rs125 and even then the buyer got lost on it!)
v nearly wasnt allowed to test ride my 675 either as im under 25 (insurance reasons) but dealership knew me so ok'd it

[johnnyrod]

Never ever buy a bike without a test ride. Dealers are becoming a massive pain over this though, some even try charging you money for it. It's the complete opposite in the car business, dunno about you but I've never had any trouble test driving cars of any age. Some bike shops think they can get away with murder.

[Biker Biggles]

I think a test ride should be done once the sale is agreed "subject to test ride"
That way the price is sorted and the cash can be put up front and the bike is sold unless the test ride shows up a show stopper problem.From the sellers point of view the bike is safe and if you bin it you bought it.

[Dappa D]

I think a test ride should be done once the sale is agreed "subject to test ride"
That way the price is sorted and the cash can be put up front and the bike is sold unless the test ride shows up a show stopper problem.From the sellers point of view the bike is safe and if you bin it you bought it.

this is what i was trying to say...:(....but described better!:p

people buying bikes without test riding them sounds a bit silly to me

[Baph]

I bought both my CG125 (what can be wrong with a CG125 that can't be fixed easily? :lol:) and SV without test riding them.

I bought the CG from a mate I'd known for years, and knew how he looked after his bikes, so no issue.

For the SV, I didn't even have the licence when I bought it! To me, I was buying a new bike to save money on commuting, performance would be better than the car regardless, and it came with a 2 year guarantee. So I wasn't fussed about test riding it.

I've been with people to buy private bikes, most of these have been "leave the cash with me & you can take it for a spin." One of these I remember there being a slight concern over a front end noise (on a 636) when the buyer rode it. So I hopped on & took it down the road & back with no lid. Seller didn't care as he already had the cash.

As for the OP, the SORN issue is bull, they just didn't want to let you out on the bike. The other dealership may of been genuine, try calling back in there in a couple of months, they'll probably change their policy for the rush of people buying bikes in summer.

[-Ralph-]

Never had an issue before, in fact I think I've always been offered a test ride whenever I've shown interest in a used bike at a dealer.

[SV650Racer]

Its always a difficult one when offering test rides. We have a large demo fleet and also will offer test rides on the used bikes.

Problems and reluctancy arises often due to age of the person, I WONT ever allow anyone to demo a bike new or used unless they are covered by my insurance or their own. If they have their own then its got to be fully comp. Our insurance covers 21 and upwards full licence only. Too many dealers will let riders out un-insured!. Quite scarey really.

As a dealer I own the bikes, new and used. I need to know im protected and so is the customer. I also have to cover a depreciation loss when selling demos.

I also dont ever want to have to claim on my trade policy as it costs me over £10k per year as it is. Ive had two drops in the past 4 years. One the guy was totally upfront, honest and offered to pay even more than the excess to cover the damage. The other tried to deny it was him that did it and refused at first to pay. I then found out he had been involved in an accident with a car that was his fault. He then tried to blame me for allowing him to ride a bike that was beyond his ability!.

I guess some dealers, yep could help themselves alot more, but id guess some are just covering their backsides.

[glade]

As I've mentioned in a couple of other places on this forum I'm currently looking for a first bike, ideally an SV. Today i went to a couple of local dealers who both had used bikes I would have been interested in and that fell into my budget. However, neither place would allow test rides on there used stock. Is this normal practice for a dealer? I expect private sellers to be reluctant to allow test rides but I fully expect to be able to ride before I buy at a dealer, not least because I'm still not 100% sold on what bike I'm going to get.

Are these dealers the exception or am I just going to have to buy without a test ride?

George White do this. However they offer a 14 day cool off period, BUT you can only swap for something of equivalent value in their stock.

I nearly bought a ZX6-R, but couldn't test ride it. So I didn't go to the hastle of part-ex and finance for something I may not have enjoyed! Shame because I may have been blown away, and gone for it.

Dealers will often have demos of new bikes. Copy of licence, utility bill, and sign for a £500 excess and you're on your way. I had a superduke for a whole afternoon.

Dealers usually have demos

[twopots]

I've gotta say, especially as its your first big bike you've got get a test ride, even if not just to check the bike is in good riding condition but the test ride will also to make sure its the right bike for you.

I got my first big bike just over a month ago, and when I called up a local Honda Dealership to book a test ride on two different bikes in their used bike stock (the Sv and a 600 Fazer),they had no issue, all I had to bring in was my licence and a utility bill. I wanted to test both bikes to feel the difference between a the V twin and IL4, to see which would be best suited for me. I was originally intending to get the Fazer based on the numerous goods reviews and was a bit apprehensive about the SV (due to reading several bike mags review regarding the long reach, discomfort on the wrists etc). Funy thing was I went out on the Sv first and came back after about twenty minutes of riding with a massive grin on my face...which quickly got wiped off once on got on the Fazer (sorry Fazer owners:smt083)..

[Nutter]

When I bought my first big bike (a 600 Bandit), the dealer had no problem letting me take it for a test ride. When I bought the SV though, the dealer said no because the only one he had in stock was already sold. Fortunately I'd ridden a friends so knew what the were like to ride, and was buying new so knew there wouldn't be anything wrong with the bike. I did come across a couple of dealers though, one which was used bikes only and one which was a franchised dealer, who both said no test rides but they'd consider a refund if I bought and decided I didn't like it - sounded a bit risky to me and I could imagine having a real struggle to get a refund if I went back the day after I bought it saying "nah, don't really like it after all".

[Balky001]

In my experience, motorcycle dealers aren't always very co-operative with test rides. When I bought my SV new I couldn't get a test ride. The GSXR750 was second hand and they allowed me to go out on it for 20 minutes (I'd been a customer of theirs for 5 years and spent a lot of money there). However, when I was looking at a 675 Triumph were so accomodating and excess was only £250. Then again, when my mate wanted a new VFR he had to put £5000 down at the local Honda garage just in case he had an accident. They'd never get away with that if they were selling cars

[-Ralph-]

I'm moving down to England soon, but will be coming back to Scotland to buy my next bike after reading this lot. I can't believe how many dealers won't let you test ride. It's so the opposite in my experience so it must just be English dealers, more traffic on the roads and more risk I suppose. No way I would spend thousands of pounds on any bike without riding it.