Test drives

[Cold Hans]

My local Honda dealer tells me I can't test ride any bikes on a full driver + CBT licence? Is this usual?

[y2blade]

i dunno tbh i've never had a problem getting test drives on any bikes i like


if you are young or inexperianced it might be an issue with some dealers insurance cover

[outlaw biker]

I've no idea, but it sounds reasonable....you are effectively a learner.

[y2blade]

let me get this straight you have a FULL DRIVER (car license) and CBT only!!!!!!


is that correct?

[Cold Hans]

y2blade said:

let me get this straight you have a FULL DRIVER (car license) and CBT only!!!!!!

Actually, I don't have CBT yet, taking it next week. Not sure why that seems so strange.

I had motorbikes about 25 years ago, never took my test (should have done, but hardly anyone did then). Passed my driving test when I was 19 and have driven cars since. Now thinking about getting a bike just for fun, so would take my CBT. Am I so strange?

[y2blade]

Cold Hans said:

y2blade said:

let me get this straight you have a FULL DRIVER (car license) and CBT only!!!!!!

Actually, I don't have CBT yet, taking it next week. Not sure why that seems so strange.

I had motorbikes about 25 years ago, never took my test (should have done, but hardly anyone did then). Passed my driving test when I was 19 and have driven cars since. Now thinking about getting a bike just for fun, so would take my CBT. Am I so strange?

i'm not surprised you are having trouble getting a test drive if you dont have a full BIKE license


that's just the way it is as far as i know, i might be wrong but i dont think so

Edited by y2blade on Monday 27th October 21:22

[Ace-T]

CH, you do realise that if you are given a CBT cert it only allows you to ride a bike up to 125cc/11bhp with L plates for 2 years don't you?

It is very unlikely a dealer will let you test ride a 125 and it ain't happening for anything bigger.

Or have I misunderstood your post?

Trace

[y2blade]

Ace-T said:

CH, you do realise that if you are given a CBT cert it only allows you to ride a bike up to 125cc/11bhp with L plates for 2 years don't you?

It is very unlikely a dealer will let you test ride a 125 and it ain't happening for anything bigger.

Or have I misunderstood your post?

Trace

that's the way i read it too

[Cold Hans]

Ace-T said:

CH, you do realise that if you are given a CBT cert it only allows you to ride a bike up to 125cc/11bhp with L plates for 2 years don't you?

Yes, I do realise that. I only want to test ride 125 bikes which I can buy and ride with CBT cert (the "learner legal" bikes).

[outlaw biker]

Cold Hans said:

y2blade said:

let me get this straight you have a FULL DRIVER (car license) and CBT only!!!!!!

Actually, I don't have CBT yet, taking it next week. Not sure why that seems so strange.

I had motorbikes about 25 years ago, never took my test (should have done, but hardly anyone did then). Passed my driving test when I was 19 and have driven cars since. Now thinking about getting a bike just for fun, so would take my CBT. Am I so strange?

Ok, so you don't even have a CBT...which is the minimum requirement for even riding anything between 50cc and 125cc on the road....I wonder why you can't get a test ride???? Seems crazy

[Cold Hans]

[quote]Ok, so you don't even have a CBT...which is the minimum requirement for even riding anything between 50cc and 125cc on the road....I wonder why you can't get a test ride???? Seems crazy
[/quote]

No, you did misunderstand this bit. I didn't want to test ride any bikes BEFORE I had my CBT, I was just browsing. I asked him if I could come back and try the "learner legal" 125cc bikes ONCE I had got my CBT. He said no I couldn't. He would happily sell me one, but wouldn't let me try it first.

Edited by Cold Hans on Monday 27th October 21:33

Edited by Cold Hans on Monday 27th October 21:34

[speed_monkey]

outlaw biker said:

Cold Hans said:

y2blade said:

let me get this straight you have a FULL DRIVER (car license) and CBT only!!!!!!

Actually, I don't have CBT yet, taking it next week. Not sure why that seems so strange.

I had motorbikes about 25 years ago, never took my test (should have done, but hardly anyone did then). Passed my driving test when I was 19 and have driven cars since. Now thinking about getting a bike just for fun, so would take my CBT. Am I so strange?

Ok, so you don't even have a CBT...which is the minimum requirement for even riding anything between 50cc and 125cc on the road....I wonder why you can't get a test ride???? Seems crazy

you sarcy bd

[Ace-T]

Cold Hans said:

Ace-T said:

CH, you do realise that if you are given a CBT cert it only allows you to ride a bike up to 125cc/11bhp with L plates for 2 years don't you?

Yes, I do realise that. I only want to test ride 125 bikes which I can buy and ride with CBT cert (the "learner legal" bikes).

Righto, ta for clarifying. I think it still unlikely that the dealer will allow you to test ride with just a CBT/full car licence though due to their insurance restrictions. Prolly best to do a load of reading up on the kind of bike you want (sports, commuter etc) and then ask specific questions about the ones you are thinking about on here. That way even if you don't get to ride-before-you-buy at least you will have a fair idea of what you will be getting on to and as you clearly have previous biking experience you will know what people are on about.

It's what I did before I got my 125 (CBR125R) (though not the previous experience!) and I thought it was a great little bike. Did the same for the SV too and I absolutely love it. All IMHO of course

Trace

Edited by Ace-T on Monday 27th October 21:36

[speed_monkey]

Ch instead of getting a 125 just do your full DAS like advised in your other thread bud

[Ace-T]

speed_monkey said:

Ch instead of getting a 125 just do your full DAS like advised in your other thread bud

^^
Wot 'e sed

Trace

[outlaw biker]

Cold Hans said:

Outlaw_biker said:

Ok, so you don't even have a CBT...which is the minimum requirement for even riding anything between 50cc and 125cc on the road....I wonder why you can't get a test ride???? Seems crazy

No, you did misunderstand this bit. I didn't want to test ride any bikes BEFORE I had my CBT, I was just browsing. I asked him if I could come back and try the "learner legal" 125cc bikes ONCE I had got my CBT. He said no I couldn't. He would happily sell me one, but wouldn't let me try it first.

You need to think of it this way...if you were a learner car driver do you think a dealer (or anyone) would let you test drive a Nissan Micra? On L plates on your own? Or even with an experienced driver?

[Roger McLittriss]

I think the reasoning is something like:
(a) you might bin it
(b) on the assumption that you've never ridden a bike, you won't know what to look for anyway (ie one 125 is as good as any other for your first bike: you can decide riding position (eg sports, cruiser, enduro) without actually needing to ride, although you might suffer later)
(c) you might bin it

[Cold Hans]

Ace-T said:

Cold Hans said:

Ace-T said:

CH, you do realise that if you are given a CBT cert it only allows you to ride a bike up to 125cc/11bhp with L plates for 2 years don't you?

Yes, I do realise that. I only want to test ride 125 bikes which I can buy and ride with CBT cert (the "learner legal" bikes).

Righto, ta for clarifying. I think it still unlikely that the dealer will allow you to test ride with just a CBT/full car licence though due to their insurance restrictions. Prolly best to do a load of reading up on the kind of bike you want (sports, commuter etc) and then ask specific questions about the ones you are thinking about on here. That way even if you don't get to ride-before-you-buy at least you will have a fair idea of what you will be getting on to and as you clearly have previous biking experience you will know what people are on about.

It's what I did before I got my 125 (CBR125R) (though not the previous experience!) and I thought it was a great little bike. Did the same for the SV too and I absolutely love it. All IMHO of course

Trace

Edited by Ace-T on Monday 27th October 21:36

Yes, thanks for that. I'll seek your advice when I've narrowed it down.

However (shout me down here) this does seem wrong to me. OK dealers have to have insurance-I get that.
But-I have never bought a car without driving it. I have never bought a cycle without riding it. If I have a certificate which says I can buy and ride away on a bike (with L plates) then someone who wants to sell me that bike should realise that I'm going to want to try it first.

This dealer does CBT course as well I discovered. So he can put me on one bike with L plates before I've even completed my CBT, and he's covered. But he can't do the same on another bike which I'm thinking of buying AFTER I've completed the CBT?

[y2blade]

Cold Hans said:

No, you did misunderstand this bit. I didn't want to test ride any bikes BEFORE I had my CBT, I was just browsing. I asked him if I could come back and try the "learner legal" 125cc bikes ONCE I had got my CBT. He said no I couldn't. He would happily sell me one, but wouldn't let me try it first.

Edited by Cold Hans on Monday 27th October 21:33

Edited by Cold Hans on Monday 27th October 21:34

that's down to the dealers insurance policy...you must be over a "X" age AND have a FULL UK BIKE LICENSE held for a "X" length of time...that's the way i understand it

[outlaw biker]

Cold Hans said:

Ace-T said:

Cold Hans said:

Ace-T said:

CH, you do realise that if you are given a CBT cert it only allows you to ride a bike up to 125cc/11bhp with L plates for 2 years don't you?

Yes, I do realise that. I only want to test ride 125 bikes which I can buy and ride with CBT cert (the "learner legal" bikes).

Righto, ta for clarifying. I think it still unlikely that the dealer will allow you to test ride with just a CBT/full car licence though due to their insurance restrictions. Prolly best to do a load of reading up on the kind of bike you want (sports, commuter etc) and then ask specific questions about the ones you are thinking about on here. That way even if you don't get to ride-before-you-buy at least you will have a fair idea of what you will be getting on to and as you clearly have previous biking experience you will know what people are on about.

It's what I did before I got my 125 (CBR125R) (though not the previous experience!) and I thought it was a great little bike. Did the same for the SV too and I absolutely love it. All IMHO of course

Trace

Edited by Ace-T on Monday 27th October 21:36

Yes, thanks for that. I'll seek your advice when I've narrowed it down.

However (shout me down here) this does seem wrong to me. OK dealers have to have insurance-I get that.
But-I have never bought a car without driving it. I have never bought a cycle without riding it. If I have a certificate which says I can buy and ride away on a bike (with L plates) then someone who wants to sell me that bike should realise that I'm going to want to try it first.

This dealer does CBT course as well I discovered. So he can put me on one bike with L plates before I've even completed my CBT, and he's covered. But he can't do the same on another bike which I'm thinking of buying AFTER I've completed the CBT?

No, what he can do is sell you a bike. He can sell you a bike (or Ferrari F40) before you've passed your test....what he can't do is insure you to test drive/ride it. You're thinking about this with a very strange type of logic that actually doesn't make sense.