dealer charging for a test ride...
Discussion
I've been speaking to a dealer about a test ride of one of their demo bikes. Apparently they charge £25 for a test ride. Now that's not a huge amount of money in the grand scheme of things, but it seems wrong to me somehow, even though you get it back if you buy.
Am I just behind the times? is this the way test rides are now, or is this dealer an exception?
Am I just behind the times? is this the way test rides are now, or is this dealer an exception?
There's a local dealer to me that's been on the go for years and they don't do test rides on anything, new or used. I don't know how they sell bikes because I wouldn't buy a bike I hadn't ridden. I find the whole set up bizarre. Horrible atmosphere in the shop as if you're taking up their valuable time by even speaking to them. Shame as I've had a few bikes serviced there and the service has been second to none, the mechanics always take you into the workshop and have a chat when you pick the bike up, telling you what they've done and what needs kept an eye on.
The shop where I've bought the majority of my bikes is the polar opposite, glance at a bike in the showroom and they're like here's the keys, bring it back whenever, bend it you mend it. Yet I've nothing nice to say about their service department whatsoever. Think the two shops should merge!
The shop where I've bought the majority of my bikes is the polar opposite, glance at a bike in the showroom and they're like here's the keys, bring it back whenever, bend it you mend it. Yet I've nothing nice to say about their service department whatsoever. Think the two shops should merge!
I once had to pay that for insurance on a test ride.
I guess it sorts out the people who are serious from those who just want a few hours on a free toy to t
t around on.
Depends on the bike of course.
Mine was for a Hayabussa when they first came out.
I wouldn't pay that for a CB125 :-)
It was fully refunded if you purchased (which I did, as back then Hayabussas were in a world of their own on performance).
I guess it sorts out the people who are serious from those who just want a few hours on a free toy to t
t around on.Depends on the bike of course.
Mine was for a Hayabussa when they first came out.
I wouldn't pay that for a CB125 :-)
It was fully refunded if you purchased (which I did, as back then Hayabussas were in a world of their own on performance).
The bike's a GSX-R1000, which is one of a few I plan to test before I make a decision. Given that my list has 4 or 5 bikes on it £25 a pop will add up.
Problem I've got is a lack of local dealers, so they don't know me and I don't know them, for whatever difference that might make, and I'm already facing a 200 mile round trip to the shop in the first place! (Not their fault, but I want to spend the money on the bike, not on test rides!)
Might have to take a couple of days off and head somewhere with more dealers so I can test them all back to back.
Problem I've got is a lack of local dealers, so they don't know me and I don't know them, for whatever difference that might make, and I'm already facing a 200 mile round trip to the shop in the first place! (Not their fault, but I want to spend the money on the bike, not on test rides!)
Might have to take a couple of days off and head somewhere with more dealers so I can test them all back to back.
MrsMiggins said:
The bike's a GSX-R1000, which is one of a few I plan to test before I make a decision. Given that my list has 4 or 5 bikes on it £25 a pop will add up.
Problem I've got is a lack of local dealers, so they don't know me and I don't know them, for whatever difference that might make, and I'm already facing a 200 mile round trip to the shop in the first place! (Not their fault, but I want to spend the money on the bike, not on test rides!)
Might have to take a couple of days off and head somewhere with more dealers so I can test them all back to back.
Are all the bikes you plan on test riding in the same shop? Problem I've got is a lack of local dealers, so they don't know me and I don't know them, for whatever difference that might make, and I'm already facing a 200 mile round trip to the shop in the first place! (Not their fault, but I want to spend the money on the bike, not on test rides!)
Might have to take a couple of days off and head somewhere with more dealers so I can test them all back to back.
What year of gsxr? I just picked up a k4 about a month ago.
MrsMiggins said:
2 Suzuki, 2 Kawasaki and 2 BMW, all new. That's at least 2 dealers, probably 3 by the time I find dealers with demo bikes. There's no way i'm spending £10k+ on a bike without a test ride first.
If I have to pay I'll suck it up, but I'd obviously rather not if I can avoid it.
Can't see all three dealers asking for that. See if you can book a test ride somewhere else and then go to the one that wants to charge you last, maybe one of the other bikes will have won you over by then. If not just pay the 25 quid and ask for it back if you buy the bike?If I have to pay I'll suck it up, but I'd obviously rather not if I can avoid it.
Unless the bike is unusual/rare or very expensive, I'd not expect to pay a fee to be honest.
Plenty of GSXR dealers will give you a free test ride, same for Kawasaki and my local BMW Motorrad dealers.
Just keep looking until you find a dealer that will test FOC.
Where do you live ? 200 mile round trip must be Highlands of Scotland or something I guess.
Plenty of GSXR dealers will give you a free test ride, same for Kawasaki and my local BMW Motorrad dealers.
Just keep looking until you find a dealer that will test FOC.
Where do you live ? 200 mile round trip must be Highlands of Scotland or something I guess.
MrsMiggins said:
I'm about 30 miles north of Aberdeen. I think I'll speak to some dealers in Glasgow and find out the score with them first.
I'm not going to start naming names on a forum but the dealer I mentioned that doesn't do test rides is in Glasgow! Haven't been in for a few years so maybe they've changed their policy.Happy hunting!
About 10 years ago I had to ride from Essex to Gatwick area and pay £10.00 plus put a few quids worth of fuel into a GSXR1000 K6 I think it was. I would have got my money back if I purchased one which I didnt. It was an epic bike though and certainly got my money's worth in entertainment though!!
MrsMiggins said:
I'm about 30 miles north of Aberdeen. I think I'll speak to some dealers in Glasgow and find out the score with them first.
Are shirlaws and ecosse in aberdeen no use to you?By my reckoning on your distance from aberdeen id say you are somewhere near keith way?
Willie youngs in elgin do test rides. Its just his mechanics who are utter w
kersI do understand dealers charging for demo rides. As mentioned before, it does help reduce the amount of people just wanting to go for a play to the people actually interested in buying one.
We don't ourselves, the sales guys just ask for any fuel to be replaced, which I think is fair enough.
With the service loan bikes, we charge a £20 surcharge for fuel which is refunded/removed from the service bill when a receipt is produced.
It's surprising how many people just don't bother refilling the bike and pay the £20. Maybe we should just put it up a bit....
We don't ourselves, the sales guys just ask for any fuel to be replaced, which I think is fair enough.
With the service loan bikes, we charge a £20 surcharge for fuel which is refunded/removed from the service bill when a receipt is produced.
It's surprising how many people just don't bother refilling the bike and pay the £20. Maybe we should just put it up a bit....
Not unreasonable (imo) sorts the serious punters from the test pilots, I would pay £30 just to experience a GXR1000 for half an hour or so.
Maybe £20 might be more like it, you get it refunded if you buy the bike anyhow.
Many years ago I bought a brand new GPZ900R without a test ride and knew within ten miles I had made a mistake, the riding position was awful. (for me)...lovely bike but I hated riding it.
Much prefer upright riding position like on classic Triumphs etc.
Always take a test ride when spending serious money....£20 is now't..
Maybe £20 might be more like it, you get it refunded if you buy the bike anyhow.
Many years ago I bought a brand new GPZ900R without a test ride and knew within ten miles I had made a mistake, the riding position was awful. (for me)...lovely bike but I hated riding it.
Much prefer upright riding position like on classic Triumphs etc.
Always take a test ride when spending serious money....£20 is now't..
Nords said:
Was it a Ducati at 'on yer bike'? They have been doing it for years...
I decided I wanted a Honda Blackbird one morning, on a total whim 
so I had a look round and found that On Yer Bike was the only place near me who had a black one in stock, with an MOT, that I could tip up, buy and ride away on that day. I turned up unannounced, told the first salesthing I met that I was going to buy one that day, and could I take it out for a test ride first? I wasn't even in leathers, I had just brought my lid.
He just threw me the keys and said 'see ya later.' No charge or anything.
I came back after half an hour, handed over my debit card, and was out of there 15 minutes later.
48 hours later on my first proper ride, I was caught doing the most heinous speed ever on a single carriageway, and copped it big time in court - but that's another story
Must be hard being a dealer as you have to try to differentiate between people that are actually planning to (and financially capable) of buying a new bike and those with no intention of buying but rather just want a free ride on a bike they fancy but can't afford. Given how easy it is to drop or crash a bike I'm surprised most dealers are so willing to provide test rides at all.
I do expect a free test ride but I am not sure that expectation is just or fair for the dealers.
I do expect a free test ride but I am not sure that expectation is just or fair for the dealers.
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