RIP test rides

[johnnyrod]

So I'm chopping in my SV, just need to test ride a few choice bikes and pick one. Great, only no-one is allowing test rides unless they're a big franchise dealer, so the odds of one of those having something I'm after are small. WTF? It's been a few years since I last looked at a new bike (new to me, secondhand), but it wasn't like this. Loads of places also punting out finance first and who cares what bike, shocking reviews. Am getting fed up of ringing around and getting the same answer. Who the hell buys a bike without a test ride?

[DJ123]

Many don't these days (unless you're buying it) due to the costs behind it. Which is why big dealers have specific test ride bikes to take the cost/depreciation hits.

Bike has to be cleaned and re-inspected after return
wear and tear on components (someone may abuse it tyres/chain/brakes etc)
mileage updated on advert/diminishing the service interval
more miles on bike (depreciation - how many test rides do you offer?)

At the end of the day what does a 30 minute test ride do, except tell you the bike is different to what you have? You can't get to know how it really rides, performs and copes with everything all in 30 minutes.

[johnnyleitrim]

On my recent bike search, there were several places that wouldn't even allow a test drive on a second-hand bike - I was shocked. I'm new to biking, so any little handling differences are a big thing to me at the moment, so I needed the test drives!

[johnnyrod]

I do understand the risks from their side, this isn't news, and after 32 years of riding bikes, I can very much get what I need from even a 10 minute test ride, speaking for myself.

[DJ123]

What little do you need to know that becomes apparent in 10 minutes? Genuinely intrigued as to what this small time scale really tells you about the bike.

[johnnyrod]

Bikes are tactile things, unlike are that are a much more mechanical experience, so that makes it hard to put into words. You're not going to explore too much of the bike in any short time, but you can get a feel of the power delivery, ergonomics, the way the steering behaves and the first bits of handling, whether all of this is adding up much like if you talked to someone for 10mins, by the end of that you'd know quite a lot both about them and about what you think of them. We're all different though, conversely it takes me quite a long time to take any bike and ride it fast. Mate of mine rides fairly fast all the time, on track days he needs one session to get his head in the game, for me it's all morning.

[Adam Ef]

You might not be able to tell if a bike is going to be perfect for you on a half hour test, but you can definitely tell pretty quickly if it's not right for you.


I knew fairly quickly that I didn't like the Tiger 800 I rode. I knew immediatley the the KTM 690 Enduro was too similar a ride to my DRZ400 to justify the expense. I knew in half an hour that the BMW 800 GT (although a decent bike) wasn't what I was looking for.


Some places still allow them, on demonstrators and some even on second hand bikes in my experience. I've test ridden a lot of bikes in the past couple of years.


I've also had a couple of places who want you to pay for a service on any second hand bike first before you can ride it. What!!?

[svenrico]

You might not be able to tell if a bike is going to be perfect for you on a half hour test, but you can definitely tell pretty quickly if it's not right for you. Exactly
I knew fairly quickly that I didn't like the Tiger 800 I rode. I knew immediatley the the KTM 690 Enduro was too similar a ride to my DRZ400 to justify the expense. I knew in half an hour that the BMW 800 GT (although a decent bike) wasn't what I was looking for. similar here,with some test rides
Some places still allow them, on demonstrators and some even on second hand bikes in my experience. I've test ridden a lot of bikes in the past couple of years. I have only had one dealer who wanted me to pretty much say I was going to buy the bike before allowing a test ride -but buying depends on the test ride so I didn't bother ,I have had several test rides on bikes from my usual dealer where I didn't buy after testing ,but I have bought a lot of bikes from them over the years
I've also had a couple of places who want you to pay for a service on any second hand bike first before you can ride it. What!!?
Having said all that I bought a few bikes after test rides that turned out a bad decision

[redtrummy]

Back in the day did anyone have a test ride? It was at a time when there were loads of bike shops but no stock! You chose your bike and patiently waited for it to be made. I never thought about asking for a test ride when I bought Suzy, but it was an inspired choice. As the years go by even more so. Its light, powerful enough (for me) and since I have never ridden a perfect suspension set up I am not envious of those that have

[squirrel_hunter]

I've taken one or two bikes for a test ride before...

With new bikes the main dealers should have a demonstrator available to take out, but its not always their whole range. The bigger shop you go with the more likely they will have what you want. I was in a main dealer just before Christmas with a mate and they had a demonstrator for the bike he was looking at that we'd be welcome to take out.

As for secondhand bikes from a dealer they should allow it. If you are serious about the bike and meet the insurance requirements (age and licence) then it shouldnt be a problem. Without a test ride I wouldnt by the bike. I've ridden back to back models before and then picked the best one.

If its from a private seller then its a little more tricky as you'll likely need to arrange insurance and have the cash ready. When selling I'd let someone test ride if they could prove insurance and passed the sniff test. As for buying, the bikes I go for these days need lifting into a van so not really something I've considered recently.

[Adam Ef]

Second hand places often don't service the bikes or check in the workshop them until they know they're sold, so won't let you ride them on a safety basis.

[ethariel]

Then you have the issue that the main dealer that lets you take a test ride forgot to mention the 3k of go faster parts and super comfort seat fitted to the demo so the bike you get delivered is a totally different beast to the demo machine (HD are a huge example of this, a lot of demo bikes are fully stage 1 of not stage 2 bikes)

[Luckypants]

Back in the day did anyone have a test ride? It was at a time when there were loads of bike shops but no stock! You chose your bike and patiently waited for it to be made. I never thought about asking for a test ride when I bought Suzy, but it was an inspired choice. As the years go by even more so. Its light, powerful enough (for me) and since I have never ridden a perfect suspension set up I am not envious of those that haveDunno what counts as 'back in the day' but in 1999/2000 I was given an SV for a full day from York Suzuki. (maybe just the afternoon?) Rode it for miles and ordered a new one when I got back.

When the SV1000S came out I had an hour's test before I took it back, but could have had longer.

Test driven several bikes from dealers since, not really been an issue.

But I haven't had a test ride in 10 or more years, so don't know current practice.

[redtrummy]

Dunno what counts as 'back in the day'



1967 and there abouts

[svenrico]

I've taken one or two bikes for a test ride before...

With new bikes the main dealers should have a demonstrator available to take out, but its not always their whole range. The bigger shop you go with the more likely they will have what you want. I was in a main dealer just before Christmas with a mate and they had a demonstrator for the bike he was looking at that we'd be welcome to take out.


A lot of new bikes haven't been available at dealers recently of course because of supply problems - at least at Honda and Suzuki dealers I have called in at anyway.

[svenrico]

Second hand places often don't service the bikes or check in the workshop them until they know they're sold, so won't let you ride them on a safety basis.
I would expect them to check all safety aspects of the bike at least (having said that a reputable dealer did send me out on a test ride on a bike with a broken clutch lever )before a test ride ,but yes, I don't think they usually service them until you have agreed to buy the bike.
I should think all dealers use their discretion with test rides, if they know you and you are a regular customer there shouldn't be a problem.

[Ruffy]

... if they know you and you are a regular customer there shouldn't be a problem.
Unfortunately, the issue with this is that it's likely the only time I would likely use a dealer is to purchase a bike. That doesn't happen very often. Since I generally do my own servicing, and parts come from a wide range of places, including mail order (also I get my MOTs done at a local place that doesn't do bike sales), I'm unlikely ever to become a known regular customer. I'm sure I'm not the only one like this.

[svenrico]

Unfortunately, the issue with this is that it's likely the only time I would likely use a dealer is to purchase a bike. That doesn't happen very often. Since I generally do my own servicing, and parts come from a wide range of places, including mail order (also I get my MOTs done at a local place that doesn't do bike sales), I'm unlikely ever to become a known regular customer. I'm sure I'm not the only one like this.
I suppose it depends how often you change bikes. probably not the best thing to do but I have tended to change bikes fairly often about every 2 years ,sometimes longer ,sometimes shorter ,and used one particular dealer many times.

[Ruffy]

I suppose it depends how often you change bikes. probably not the best thing to do but I have tended to change bikes fairly often about every 2 years ,sometimes longer ,sometimes shorter ,and used one particular dealer many times.
Yes, you're quite right, of course, it depends.

I accept I am probably far from the norm (expecially the norm the sales-led manufacturers/dealers would like): I've tended to change bikes about once a decade on average - I'm a serial long-termer, though admittedly some of that is due to money limitations rather than personal desire! But thanks to good friends etc. I've ridden many more than I've owned so I don't feel like I'm missing out.

[svenrico]

Yes, you're quite right, of course, it depends.

I accept I am probably far from the norm (expecially the norm the sales-led manufacturers/dealers would like): I've tended to change bikes about once a decade on average - I'm a serial long-termer, though admittedly some of that is due to money limitations rather than personal desire! But thanks to good friends etc. I've ridden many more than I've owned so I don't feel like I'm missing out.

I couldn't really afford it but I have usually found there was something about a bike that annoyed me and I needed to change or I felt the mileage was building up too far.

[DJ123]

I couldn't really afford it but I have usually found there was something about a bike that annoyed me and I needed to change or I felt the mileage was building up too far.

Why buy something and not ride it as much as you want? They're designed to be ridden and enjoyed.

[svenrico]

Why buy something and not ride it as much as you want? They're designed to be ridden and enjoyed.
:confused: I do ride them as much as I want ! I do well over what dealers seem to regard as average mileage; I did about 14000 miles in less than 2 years on my last bike if I remember correctly. What I meant was I like to sell them before the mileage is too high in order to get a decent price in part exchange.

[DJ123]

:confused: I do ride them as much as I want ! I do well over what dealers seem to regard as average mileage; I did about 14000 miles in less than 2 years on my last bike if I remember correctly. What I meant was I like to sell them before the mileage is too high in order to get a decent price in part exchange.

You ride them enough, but probably not as much as you want to? Miles don't make a big difference to the price, so long as they're not astronomical and far out of kilter to the norm.
Plenty of bikes sell well with miles on, as they're expected to be used. eg touring Bikes, mid-weight sports Bikes, commuter Bikes etc

[svenrico]

You ride them enough, but probably not as much as you want to? Miles don't make a big difference to the price, so long as they're not astronomical and far out of kilter to the norm.
Plenty of bikes sell well with miles on, as they're expected to be used. eg touring Bikes, mid-weight sports Bikes, commuter Bikes etc
I don't understand - I know how much I want to ride and I ride when I want
to ! If I trade in a bike after say 2 years of riding it that doesn't mean I put off riding it ! I agree bikes are meant to be ridden but dealers do consider mileage.
I was a amazed once when part exchanging that a dealer said my bike had done above average mileage because I had done more than something like 4,000 miles a year.

[Adam Ef]

Depends on the bikes and the dealer. BMW don't like to take any bikes in for used stock if it's over 30k miles, even their tourers. A lot of people would say a VFR with 30k on it is just starting to get going. Try selling a GSXR with 40k miles on it. Sportsbikes don't get a lot of interest at higher mileages.

[DJ123]

BMW will take them in, but not sell them via the main dealer. I would imagine this is due to the warranty terms (my local dealer gives 2 year warranty and recovery on used bikes), and also for selling more premium Bikes, vs those with higher miles on.

The same is on particular ages too, usually not more than 5(ish) years old unless its special edition/rare/unique etc.

[svenrico]

Depends on the bikes and the dealer. BMW don't like to take any bikes in for used stock if it's over 30k miles, even their tourers. A lot of people would say a VFR with 30k on it is just starting to get going. Try selling a GSXR with 40k miles on it. Sportsbikes don't get a lot of interest at higher mileages.
Bikes are meant to be ridden as I said previously but most dealers would state 'low mileage ' as a selling point on used bikes. I think most people would prefer a bike that has been looked after and ridden rather than just stuck in a garage.