View Full Version : Ex demo bikes
Would you buy an ex-demonstrator bike? They tend to be discounted, have low miles but possibly many riders and potentially abused.
On the other hand I've ridden demo bikes and just ridden them "normally", not "what'll it do?" They still have the manufacturers warranty...
I'm looking to get rid of the MT09 and have been offered an ex demo bike on a 69 plate for £2500 + MT09 locally, or a brand new bike for £900 more from a remote dealer (Preston).
(...and let's face it, my decision making recently hasn't been top notch).
yokohama
03-08-20, 07:55 PM
I bought my Yamaha with less than 150 miles on the clock as an ex demo. I saved over £1500 on list price and it's been fine. Some places restrict the demo ride time these days so once you get out of the city, there might not be enough time to really thrash the engine. (4 cylinder bikes tend to need more revs anyway) There are even some who argue that engines should be thrashed during the run in.
As you say you'll get the remaining warranty and if you negotiate the first service to be included and done before you ride away, that will probably save you a couple of hundred too.
Questions to ask are when exactly was the bike registered and how many miles has it done. Is a new bike on a 20 plate worth the £900 difference?
Alternatively, how much do you hate the Yamaha? OK, the suspension is awful but what about the engine, the handling, ergonomics etc? A front fork cartridge upgrade should radically improve the bike and only set you back around £800
DarrenSV650S
03-08-20, 07:56 PM
For the sake of £900 you'd be crazy to get the demo one
daktulos
03-08-20, 08:24 PM
i'd want a lot more than £900 off for an ex-demo bike, but that's just me. If you believe running-in is important, then I would assume that a demo bike ... wasn't.
Craig380
03-08-20, 08:39 PM
My SV was an ex-demo. No problems, apart from a couple of bolt heads etc had mild corrosion because it hadn't been washed off properly after rides (but that can happen with any used bike, in fairness).
Alternatively, how much do you hate the Yamaha? OK, the suspension is awful but what about the engine, the handling, ergonomics etc? A front fork cartridge upgrade should radically improve the bike and only set you back around £800
if it was just the suspension (bearing in mind that this was the main reason for purchase), I'd maybe consider fixing it but the gearbox is poor (compared to the SV) and the fuelling rough at low revs. It's unpleasant to ride or for my style of riding at least.
The advantage with the ex-demo is that I could be riding it this week, there's a 2 week lead time on the new bike. After waiting 7 months for the H1F and then 3 weeks for the MT09, I can see another Summer slipping by. Having just written that it does sound stupid. A "first world problem" as a reddit.com meme would say. On the other hand, Lancashire is having a climb in virus cases - will they get a new lockdown? Maybe I worry too much :(
I suppose, as Craig380 says, buying a demo bike is the same as buying any secondhand bike. I think I'll see if I can get the low seat thrown in or at least discounted on the demo - it's sold on ebay for £250.
Biker Biggles
04-08-20, 06:59 AM
Depends on the bike. Some "ex demo" bikes are really unused pre reg examples and some have quite a bit of mileage on them. Id want a much better deal on the latter.
timwilky
04-08-20, 08:09 AM
if it was just the suspension (bearing in mind that this was the main reason for purchase), I'd maybe consider fixing it but the gearbox is poor (compared to the SV) and the fuelling rough at low revs. It's unpleasant to ride or for my style of riding at least.
The advantage with the ex-demo is that I could be riding it this week, there's a 2 week lead time on the new bike. After waiting 7 months for the H1F and then 3 weeks for the MT09, I can see another Summer slipping by. Having just written that it does sound stupid. A "first world problem" as a reddit.com meme would say. On the other hand, Lancashire is having a climb in virus cases - will they get a new lockdown? Maybe I worry too much :(
I suppose, as Craig380 says, buying a demo bike is the same as buying any secondhand bike. I think I'll see if I can get the low seat thrown in or at least discounted on the demo - it's sold on ebay for £250.
Hey, I live just outside Preston and we have no corona virus issues here as we behave ourselves. I bought my GSX-S1000 as soon as the shops opened and obviously had a test ride on a demonstration bike first. Test ride booked by appointment. door of the shop only opened to those with an appointment. test ride limited to 45 minutes so no time to get into the lanes and back.
In my case it was 500 cheaper for a pre registered. Not worth it as when I come to sell it is a two owner bike So waited 2 weeks for a "New".
shiftin_gear98
04-08-20, 08:31 AM
I really doubt I will ever be in the position to buy a new bike, or a demo bike. So feel your pain at having bought a dud.
But if I did, I'd want the difference to be more than £900 to tempt me to buy into the unknown. Compared to new and shiny.
Personally I'd wait the two weeks, and save a few more pennies.
I really doubt I will ever be in the position to buy a new bike, or a demo bike. So feel your pain at having bought a dud.
But if I did, I'd want the difference to be more than £900 to tempt me to buy into the unknown. Compared to new and shiny.
Personally I'd wait the two weeks, and save a few more pennies.
I've made a counter offer on the new one, the sales guy is off today, we'll see what happens tomorrow.
Dave20046
04-08-20, 09:32 AM
Oh no ,what happened with the MT?
Knowing that there are other **** heads like me out there, I would not buy a demo bike. They're often given to idiots within their running-in mileage who only took the test ride because they got an email saying if they did they'd be entered into a competition and the sun was out, they then jump on it cold and wonder how responsive the power delivery is and how fast it revs, as they get used to it they grind the hero blobs off and start to open it up revving high and having fun.
And that's just the ones who sort of know how to ride, get people fresh off a cbt who don't know how to use a clutch etc and it's even more early wear.
Really I always thought dealerships should have been given or loaned them by the manufacturer/written them off profit-wise
Dave20046
04-08-20, 09:35 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEd5YhLAfyE
STRAMASHER
04-08-20, 09:36 AM
Bought the ex-demo I test rode at the beginning of June. 120 miles on it. All the extras I wanted (plus some I would not have bothered with) plus all the OE bits all boxed up. Mint nick. I have never got the fear of buying ex-demos. This is my 2nd.
I decided to go with new. The difference between the demo and new was reduced to £800 so I paid the deposit this morning and hopefully the bike will be here in 2 weeks.
I've only regretted 2 bike purchases and both were Yamahas - a 1972 YCS5e 200cc two stroke with a major plug fouling problem (from new) and this MT09SP, although, to be fair, there was a Yamaha YR5 350cc two stroke which was brilliant, in between.
shiftin_gear98
05-08-20, 12:04 PM
Fingers crossed this one is right for you.
STRAMASHER
05-08-20, 01:15 PM
aye good luck Seeker, this on a standard MT-09?
Fingers crossed this one is right for you.
aye good luck Seeker, this on a standard MT-09?
thanks. I'm trading my MT09SP for a Z900RS and keeping the SV.
STRAMASHER
05-08-20, 02:19 PM
Lovely! Cafe or Nekkid?
Lovely! Cafe or Nekkid?
nekkid in candytone green. Since I'm vertically challenged I also ordered the low seat which is the same as the bike that I borrowed.
yokohama
05-08-20, 03:51 PM
Hope you'll be happy with the Kawasaki after all the Yamaha grief.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/06/preston-faces-fresh-coronavirus-lockdown-health-official-says
...guess where my new bike is coming from...
BoltonSte
06-08-20, 11:47 AM
We're going through this (Bolton) it's not as bad as they make out. Mainly around not going into each others houses/gardens or meeting mates in the pub.
You can still meet them in a park though and you can also still meet them at the pub as long as you are sat outside.
It's just about trying to allow people to be close to each other where a risk assessment and some mitigation has been put in place.
Businesses are still open.
Ste
timwilky
06-08-20, 01:09 PM
I am guessing you are buying from Shorrocks. Which is lower Penwortham. Technically not Preston. But south ribble
I am guessing you are buying from Shorrocks. Which is lower Penwortham. Technically not Preston. But south ribble
MotoGB Ltd
Waterloo Road, Ashton
Preston, PR2 1BQ
timwilky
09-08-20, 02:24 PM
Ah Slingers as was. This is where I bought my bike a month ago. Excellent covid controls in place.
ethariel
11-08-20, 07:20 AM
I picked up an ex demo with 161 miles on the clock, 40 of that I did during my test ride, 100 done by the dealer for the initial run in and 21 done by one other person in October last year.
Saving a grand on the price of the bike and 1500 for the exhaust that's fitted and a few other bits I would have bought anyhow resulting in close to a 20% discount on a new one.
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