Test Ride Limitations - How can I get my leg over ?

Nomisf

Nomisf

Nomisf

Man of Honour
Joined
6 Aug 2006
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1,481
Location
Stratford-upon-Avon
Hi All,

I have held my licence for nearly 10 months, and in that time have owned a couple of second hand bikes of different types and sizes.

The time has come, now I know what I want, that I would like to buy a dealer approved used nearly new, or even a new bike.

The problem is, most of the dealers in Reading I have approached won't let me anywhere near their demonstrators without having held my licence for 12 or 18 months. I am very nearly IAM Advanced qualified, but this makes no difference apparently.

The obvious answer is just wait two or three months, but I would ideally like something for most of summer. The other option is go to some less reputable dealers, but they don't seem to carry the age of bikes I am looking at.

Has anyone found a solution to this problem ?
 
Nomisf said:
Hi All,

I have held my licence for nearly 10 months, and in that time have owned a couple of second hand bikes of different types and sizes.

The time has come, now I know what I want, that I would like to buy a dealer approved used nearly new, or even a new bike.

The problem is, most of the dealers in Reading I have approached won't let me anywhere near their demonstrators without having held my licence for 12 or 18 months. I am very nearly IAM Advanced qualified, but this makes no difference apparently.

The obvious answer is just wait two or three months, but I would ideally like something for most of summer. The other option is go to some less reputable dealers, but they don't seem to carry the age of bikes I am looking at.

Has anyone found a solution to this problem ?
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Can't you find something close to similar at a smaller dealer that will let you test ride? Even if it's a few years newer or older, it'll still give you an idea of that bike, then you can go to the main dealer or wherever you want.

I got a good deal on my first bike, didn't even bother test riding it and enjoyed it while it lasted, so you could just go for something you like the look of and hope for the best? :D the length of a test ride normally isn't long enough anyway if you're wanting to find out if the bike is comfortable for long distance or not.
 
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You need to find a better dealer. I have very little issue with test riding stuff having just passed my test.

There's also the roadshow test events, the Yamaha MT tour, Suzuki tour and so on, none of those need a year of your licence (apart from Ducati, they needed 2 years). I test rode an MT09, MT09 tracer, GSX-S1000, V-strom 1000 and Monster 821 all within the first year of passing my test.

It's down to the dealers insurance, try some big dealers with lots of demo bikes.
 
It'll be their insurance. If you can prove your seriousness to buying and the salesman wants his commission then test rides can happen 'off the books'. If you know what you want though then just buy it. If you buy private you rarely get a test ride.
 
It might depend on what kind of money you're looking at spending, but slapping a wod of cash on a table probably wouldn't hurt.

Who is going to buy a bike without riding it.
 
That is also true, if you're demo'ing bikes just for the sake of it you'll be less likely to get a test ride - if they know you're a serious buyer then losing a sale may twist their arm :D

Or, if you know what bike you want, and find a good one, you can try doing the deal and basically buy it but with the caveat that you want a test ride and if the bike isn't good then the deal is off.

This is what I'll have to do when looking for a Tuono - there aren't any demo bikes around, so it'll be a case of finding the right bike, haggling on price, doing the deal and then taking it for a test ride.
 
I bought both my 125 and SV650 without a test ride and just went on gut instinct to be honest. Luckily, they paid off :p

The dealer i bought my SV from apparently don't offer test rides for anyone under 25 because insurance. By that point I will have had my license for 3 years :( Next time I change my bike will be around a year from now at the earliest when i will actually be 25 but it does kinda suck.
 
No issues with the dealer's up here. Last year I was out test riding the Yamaha MT range in the afternoon after passing my DAS that morning.
 
I think you'll find that's just a standard statement dealers use to put off the test pilots & if you put a serious amount of cash on his desk he would find a way for you to have a test ride.

Craig321 said:
the length of a test ride normally isn't long enough anyway if you're wanting to find out if the bike is comfortable for long distance or not.
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This is the main problem as even I can ride a sports bike for half an hour to an hour comfortably it's beyond that when you find out whether you could live with the bike day to day.
 
Craig321 said:
Can't you find something close to similar at a smaller dealer that will let you test ride? Even if it's a few years newer or older, it'll still give you an idea of that bike, then you can go to the main dealer or wherever you want.

I got a good deal on my first bike, didn't even bother test riding it and enjoyed it while it lasted, so you could just go for something you like the look of and hope for the best? :D the length of a test ride normally isn't long enough anyway if you're wanting to find out if the bike is comfortable for long distance or not.
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I think this is my next course of action, if I can find a reasonable example of the bike in the local area :)

TallPaul_S said:
You need to find a better dealer. I have very little issue with test riding stuff having just passed my test.

There's also the roadshow test events, the Yamaha MT tour, Suzuki tour and so on, none of those need a year of your licence (apart from Ducati, they needed 2 years). I test rode an MT09, MT09 tracer, GSX-S1000, V-strom 1000 and Monster 821 all within the first year of passing my test.

It's down to the dealers insurance, try some big dealers with lots of demo bikes.
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Its Ducati I am having the problem with, not helped by the fact all my local dealers are part of the Blade Group - with similar policies!

TallPaul_S said:
That is also true, if you're demo'ing bikes just for the sake of it you'll be less likely to get a test ride - if they know you're a serious buyer then losing a sale may twist their arm :D

Or, if you know what bike you want, and find a good one, you can try doing the deal and basically buy it but with the caveat that you want a test ride and if the bike isn't good then the deal is off.

This is what I'll have to do when looking for a Tuono - there aren't any demo bikes around, so it'll be a case of finding the right bike, haggling on price, doing the deal and then taking it for a test ride.
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I have wasted a good 45 minutes of the salesmans time, including proving the cash is waiting, ready to go - but when it gets to the final hurdle - "Just want to take one out for an hour to be sure before I sign" - they tell me its a firm "No". I few weekends back I was within an hour of lining the dealers hand outright, save for a test ride.

NooBish AbbZ said:
Maybe i need to find a new dealer then..
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Likewise!

Sin_Chase said:
Go to BMW Mottorad, should let you jump on whatever. Although I guess you don't want a BMW? :P
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I did ride past Bahnstormer the other day ... :D


Thanks for all the suggestions :)
 
Hmm, might be a bit far - but Laguna Performance in Ashford (straight down the M20) are really good for test rides, they let me out on a Monster 821 a month after passing my test, in November. I could have ridden a Monster 1200 too.

The whole Laguna group near me are really good for test rides, they cover Triumph, Ducati, KTM, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and probably more. Ashford is mainly a Ducati and KTM dealer.

Which model Ducati are you trying to test ride?
 
arfoll said:
they stereotype buyers a lot, so try fit in with who they think will buy the bike. Or book the test ride online like I did for BMW on friday :) I don't think I fit the BMW rider stereotype so figured I'd ask for the test ride virtually ahaha.
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Out of curiosity, what is the 'BMW rider' stereotype? :D
 
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