Test riding a selection of bikes

[CrankyCraig]

Now, perhaps it's a reflection on the showrooms I've been frequenting, or perhaps my generally unkept appearance, but in my experience none are at all keen to accommodate a test ride unless I'm able to convince them that it's been my sole ambition in life to own that very bike, and even then, the test ride can only take place if I provide my first born as a security deposit, I pass a rigorous and thorough medical exam, and the ride doesn't extend beyond the showroom car park, or require starting the engine.

Reviews and such reveal so much, but in my experience, there's no substitute for a test ride. So, before I take a punt on yet another bike that isn't right for me, does anyone know how I could test out a selection of sports bikes spanning multiple decades that doesn't involve sexual favours paid to showroom staff?

Happy to pay in most alternate currencies.

[trickywoo]

Surprised to hear that.

What are you trying to ride?

I've never had a problem with a new bike unless they don't have a demo.

[Bodo]

Try to ride a Zero. The dealers seem to be quite open to this; the manufacturer is probably taking the risk. I tested two different models at two different dealers - both made me pay like €20 for an hour, but waived the fee when I returned.
When you rode one, you want one

[BlackG7R]

Had no problem when I wanted to test ride a Tenere, just showed my license, signed some sort of insurance form (must admit I didn't really read any of the small print) and I was off.

Maybe they are a bit more careful about younger riders, or very high performance bikes.

[GSA_fattie]

i have found dealers quite accomodating in this day and age

they appear to be catching car dealers up with the idea of building relationships to keep you as a customer long-term, which starts with a good test ride

[mikey_b]

Second-hand or new bikes? In my experience, Triumph were very accommodating for test rides, they take a photocopy of your drivers license and a careful note of the times I was out on it, in case they get a speeding ticket or similar later on. But other than that, they were happy for me to bugger off for over an hour completely unsupervised, and even suggested some good local roads.

[Drawweight]

If you do get a test ride beware some dealers have a hefty excess.

Always ask or read the paperwork.

[Mr Squarekins]

Motorrad always seem very good for test rides.

What bikes have you shortlisted?

[croyde]

I've had three test rides recently, two from BMW and one from Triumph.

Triumph was a couple of hours and the BMWs were an hour each.

The Triumph I had to pay £18 to waive any excesses.

I'd still rather pay and hire for a few days to be really sure I wanted that bike. Also I can find out what it's like day to day on the commute.

I sometimes wonder if that's why I had so many bikes when I was younger. No test rides back then thus I'd only find out that I didn't really like the bike after paying for it

[airsafari87]

I don’t know if BMW are still as accommodating?

But I turned up at 9.30am to take an S1000R out about 5 years ago and when I asked when I should bring it back the salesman told me ‘We close at 5.30 so make sure you’re back for then’

They did the same thing again a couple of years later when I took an R1250 RS out.

Triumph only tends to be about an hour.

Aprilia and KTM let me have a bike for a few hours.

[CrankyCraig]

Used bikes is what I was primarily hoping to ride. Every and any big (litre or so) sports bike from the early naughties right through to a year or two old, and not necessarily for any longer than 10 mins on an open road, although happy to hire per day/weekend if required.

Neither do I mind where I travel to find what I'm looking for. With the places I've visited recently it's been apparent that they didn't cater to customers such as myself. The kind of places where you pick your bike, pay your money, and *cough*. Fine for some, but not what I'm after.

Again recently, I attempted to converse with the sales-child on the shop floor regarding the characteristics of a particular bike I was interested in. Not only had he not ridden said bike, but he confessed to not having ridden any bike, ever.

It's like those that work seasons catering ski lodges, but never ski. What are these people doing with the opportunities they're afforded?

I digress. I'm certain there'll be a way to do this that doesn't involve a lot of buying and selling. Any ideas?

croyde said:

I sometimes wonder if that's why I had so many bikes when I was younger. No test rides back then thus I'd only find out that I didn't really like the bike after paying for it

Yep, that's been my approach. I'm up to 4 currently. Or perhaps 3.5 would be more accurate since one went bang. Makes a lovely garage ornament though.

Mr Squarekins said:

What bikes have you shortlisted?

Honestly, my mind is open to practically any sports bike from any generation - I seem to find pluses with them all.

Being tall, I particularly like the fit of some of the older bikes from the naughties (GSXR, ZX-10R), as well as the relative rawness compared to the modern equivalents. But then, my experience with more modern bikes is very limited. One thing I do know, however, is what I like when I find it. Hence my wanting to try everything.

Edited by CrankyCraig on Monday 21st November 22:33

[mikey_b]

The trouble with test riding used bikes is that bikes are a pain in the ass to clean, and buyers expect a spotlessly clean bike on the showroom floor. So every time someone wants to test ride a specific used bike on a damp day, they then have to pay someone to spend at least an hour cleaning it back to showroom condition.

[iidentifyaswoke]

Never tried small used bike dealers or those massive pack ‘em high and sell ‘em cheap used bike dealers.

Main dealers I’ve always found to be quite ok with test rides for new and used bikes.

Some small dealers may also be thinking they need to wash the bike after you ride it.

And you don’t seem to know what you want, other than a sports bike between 2 and 20 years old. Dealer will be thinking they have to clean the bike, take the risk you will crash it, then you probably won’t buy it.

Edited by iidentifyaswoke on Tuesday 22 November 02:01

[Krikkit]

CrankyCraig said:

Again recently, I attempted to converse with the sales-child on the shop floor regarding the characteristics of a particular bike I was interested in. Not only had he not ridden said bike, but he confessed to not having ridden any bike, ever.

It's like those that work seasons catering ski lodges, but never ski. What are these people doing with the opportunities they're afforded?

I digress. I'm certain there'll be a way to do this that doesn't involve a lot of buying and selling. Any ideas?

Crikey you are a cranky bugger

I think the easiest way would be to find a smallish dealership with a few you fancy, turn up on a dry day and hope. Look at it from the flip side - to most sellers you'll sound like a bit of a time-waster if you arrive and want to test everything, so 5+ bikes to wash and put fuel in.

[ccr32]

CrankyCraig said:

Used bikes is what I was primarily hoping to ride. Every and any big (litre or so) sports bike from the early naughties right through to a year or two old, and not necessarily for any longer than 10 mins on an open road, although happy to hire per day/weekend if required.

Not wishing to poke the bear here, but curious as to what you think you would learn about a bike from a 10 minute test ride?

If it is just how well you fit it, then if it were me I would probably go a slightly different route to at least narrow down where I’d be focusing my time - sit on as many bikes as you can in showrooms, and make an assessment of which one feels comfiest/best to you. Then test ride it. If you still like it, then go away and look up the peg-to-seat-to-bar measurements, then research which other bike have similar measurements. You’ll derive a shortlist pretty quickly from doing that, once you have applied other like/dislike criteria too (engine configuration, looks, etc) - then go out and ride the bikes on your shortlist.

Or just skip straight to the end and do what everyone else seems to do, and just buy a Tuono.

[EVOTECH3BELL]

Just buy the bike you want the most and make it fit.

Most bikes I buy need some sort of adjustment to the controls - Aftermarket levers and/or rear sets.
You wouldn't buy a car and not adjust the seat.

No way I'd be riding some boring Honda just because it matches my inside leg measurement the most.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

CrankyCraig said:

Now, perhaps it's a reflection on the showrooms I've been frequenting, or perhaps my generally unkept appearance, but in my experience none are at all keen to accommodate a test ride unless I'm able to convince them that it's been my sole ambition in life to own that very bike, and even then, the test ride can only take place if I provide my first born as a security deposit, I pass a rigorous and thorough medical exam, and the ride doesn't extend beyond the showroom car park, or require starting the engine.

Reviews and such reveal so much, but in my experience, there's no substitute for a test ride. So, before I take a punt on yet another bike that isn't right for me, does anyone know how I could test out a selection of sports bikes spanning multiple decades that doesn't involve sexual favours paid to showroom staff?

Happy to pay in most alternate currencies.

On a two year sportsbike you're potentially talking about a £15 grand machine. How unkempt are you - would it kill you to have a haircut, shave and clean your kit if you think this is holding you back? If you turn up at a dealers looking like you slept in a bin I might be reticent to lend you a £15 grand bike too...and for a smaller dealer there might not be much profit in 1 bike. If you want to ride 5 that need prepped and washed that's a few quid outlay for them if you're not evidently serious.

[KTMsm]

I had a similar issue when I started riding, everyone said buy what you like the look of - but I buy them to ride them, not look at !

I found most independents won't let you test ride, full stop

Some will after you've bought it - eg Super Bike Factory

The problem is that there are simply too many joy riders and it costs time and money to clean bikes

I called the nearest larger dealers and asked if I could come in and sit on a load of bikes, that narrowed my choice

I then read up on my short list and bought anything on it, that came up cheap, so I could sell it on, if I didn't like it

I sold a few, made a profit on each and become a Dealer

[8IKERDAVE]

You need to narrow down your choices somewhat. As said above, a dealer is looking to get the sale and nothing else. If you turn up asking to test ride everything they have in stock your likely to be branded a timewaster.

If you call a dealer first and ask genuine questions about history, condition etc then explain you'd like to test that particular bike along with another they have in stock (asking the same questions) they will be more likely to accomodate.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

KTMsm said:

I had a similar issue when I started riding, everyone said buy what you like the look of - but I buy them to ride them, not look at !

I found most independents won't let you test ride, full stop

Some will after you've bought it - eg Super Bike Factory

The problem is that there are simply too many joy riders and it costs time and money to clean bikes

I called the nearest larger dealers and asked if I could come in and sit on a load of bikes, that narrowed my choice

I then read up on my short list and bought anything on it, that came up cheap, so I could sell it on, if I didn't like it

I sold a few, made a profit on each and become a Dealer

and do you allow test rides?