I cant test ride any bikes!

I think its just very variable.

When I first passed I went look at an Africa Twin on sale at Arriva Kawasaki and as it was just huge went along with being persuaded to test ride a s/h Fazer (which I did just to have a go ). Absolutely no problems and Id only passed a week. However the Z750 was just coming out and there was a 'No' on demo'oing that., i.e. there was no demo bike.

There was also no questions at all at BMW for trying an F650GS. although I was new with the licence.

When I went to Fowlers for an SV there were no demonstrators available as well, so Ive no idea what there licence policy was.

Same more recently the DL650. No from Fowlers and George White, yes form a smaller dealer in Cheltenham juts cos they happened to have one on demo.

Other places I rang said new licences were not acceptable, so had that one as well.

So its a combination of all the factors.

Originally Posted by Skip

A large second hand dealer in Lowestoft said that I could test ride anything as long as I turned up with my pass certificate and the correct gear on....

Maybe its if your face fits or not?!

I think in general this is the way to go. Find the bike you are interested in in a s/h dealer and try it there even if you may buy a new one. Also gives you the chance to ride one with a few miles on, important with some bikes.

Caines, you could try the onyerbike people out near Aylesbury. Big s/h stock of lots of bikes, do new as well. They may be happy with you demo'ing

My mate tested a Ducati monster 620 just weeks after passing. That was Ducati London South.

I learnt last year with Streetbike in the Midlands - immediately after my pass they were happy to let me have 5 test rides on 4 bikes*, including an extended one on the SV650S that I bought. Very friendly, loads of advice provided about how to adapt riding styles to each type on engine, really useful as a newbie.

Liam

* Funduro 600
Thundercat - scary just having passed on an ER500!
Deauville
SV650S (which became my pride & joy)

Both bikes I have bought, I did not get a test ride!

The SV I bought new before I had passed my test, so obviously couldn't get a test ride!

The Daytona was second hand from a local dealer and they required that you be over 25, leave with them, your driving licence and a credit card and then you were only allowed to rode on a particular route which had been agreed with the insurers... It was all of 11 miles long! As I have only just turned 23, I needed someone to test ride it for me, which is where the old git Chutz came in handy!!

I have been very lucky in that I have absolutely adored both bikes I have bought.
However, when I took my Daytona to get checked out by a local Triumph dealer, they were shocked & horrified that they wouldn't let me test ride it!
They don't have a problem with anyone with a full licence testing any of their bikes and actively encourage you to have the bike for several hours... They are also carrying out warranty work, free of charge on my nearly 8 year old bike and have provided me with a loan bike (TT600) while thay have mine... They are also polite & friendly, which makes a change!! I have never bought anything from them but I can guarantee that I will be returning there for anything else I need!

A mate had just passed his DAS and George White in London let him out on a ZX6R with no hassles. Think he's about 22-23 at most. He bought it right away. Mind you, he'd crashed and burned it within a month. Hey ho.

I'm on 33bhp which doesn't help - virtually impossible to get a ride so have just had to pick the bike, get it restricted and hope... first the ER5 and then the SV - helps if you pick a bike that you're almost certain is the one for you, and the SV is definitely it for now.

when you test ride a bike , do you have to sort out the insurance and stuff yourself ?

or does the dealer provide it free ?

No probs round here (Oxford) at all. In fact yesterday when I went to pick up the 950 the dealer said I had to go back and ride the 990 Superduke 'for a laugh'. He said just take at away for the day! Guess what I'm doing!!!! And he knows there is no way I'm going to buy one!

Originally Posted by bikageboy

when you test ride a bike , do you have to sort out the insurance and stuff yourself ?

or does the dealer provide it free ?

Normally the dealer is insured but you have to sign a declaration for speeding tickets etc, and sometimes the first couple of hundred quid of an accident...

.

Guy at work was told, when taking his Honda CBF600 out for a test ride (before buying it) that if he dropped it he'd have to fork out up to £1500 or so on the excess for their policy. Don't think I'd bother with test riding if I was told that! I can't imagine their policy would state that, but I guess some places might want to come off well if the customer does drop it (i.e. not have to claim on their policy at all for most accidents)

Anyone else had experiences like that?