1/2 hour test rides?

I've just spent a couple of days ringing various Suzuki dealerships in the Windsor/Thames Valley area trying to arrange a test ride of an SV650S, the longest I was offered is half an hour, is this the norm?

I'm looking at spending 5K on Suzuki's 0% finance deal, but obviously want to ride the bike for an hour or so first.

Am I being too demanding? Bike magazine recently ran a report on getting a good test ride before buying, and surely it's in the dealers interests to offer good length test rides, on specific demonstator bikes?

Just insist you want it longer. however presenting yourself in person will help if you look decent enough!

Just don't do what I did, turn up at said dealer with scuffed knee sliders. Wasn't allowed to take the ZX10 out.

[fizzwheel]

Might be worth popping in somewhere and talking to the sales person direct.

If you've got cash and or you look keen and you look like you're definately going to buy I reckon they'd let you have longer, it really does help to build up a relationship with a dealer face to face rather than just ringing round IMHO.

I think though that you can make up your own mind pretty quick in half an hour, failing that take it for a hour and when you take it back say you got carried away as its such a good bike etc ete

maybe worth explaining you want long enough to do city/b road/motorway test (which I imagine you will)

Sometimes the time limit is because of their insurance policies.

[Viney]

Try Premier Suzuki in west wickham. Top dealership and staff.

well if you take your bike in and leave something important like the keys and a Credit card as well they might be more inclined to let you take it for longer.

Take it for an hour, say you don't know the area and got lost *cough*

Dan

[northwind]

You can't test a bike in half an hour, that's barely long enough to work out where the keys go. If I was thinking of buying a bike, and really serious about it, I'd want it for a good few hours so I can actually ride it.