Test rides

[jjones]

Not something I have bothered with:

Bikes not test ridden before purchase
vfr800
gsxr1000
gsxr750
cbr1000rr 1999, 2008 & 2010
s1000rr
gsxr1000r
thundercat
bsa bantam
r1200gs

in fact the only bikes test ridden prior to purchase belonged to friends:
vfr400
zzr600

Anyone else who doesn't bother test riding?

[Krikkit]

Purely out of interest, how many bikes had you ridden before you gave up testing them? I'm guessing from the list you're not picky about riding position etc, nor a gangly/short fker.

[jjones]

Krikkit said:

Purely out of interest, how many bikes had you ridden before you gave up testing them? I'm guessing from the list you're not picky about riding position etc, nor a gangly/short fker.

I'm 6'1, and have never test ridden anything (either dealership or private sale - rode the mates bikes before it was a consideration to buy them) (90% of those bikes came from dealers). Have also purchased 2 aircraft without test flying them!

Have enjoyed all of the bikes I have owned, some more than others, no regrets. I am the laziest person I know and adding test rides just adds complexity and just adds resistance to the buying process, I guess I just cannot be arsed - I know what I want to buy when I see it. e.g. my latest bike the gsxr1000r the deal was done within 10 minutes of walking into the bike shop, hadn't seen one in the flesh before.

[dibblecorse]

Nope, never test rode any of mine .....

VFR400 - Bought before I passed my DAS, hence couldn't.
Brand new CBR - Traded the VFR in for it on a whim because it was pretty ..... didn't ride it until it was delivered to me from Bristol
996 - Just bought one as I always wanted one.
Monster S2R - Got offered it cheap, bought it, rode it when it got delivered.
Gen 1 Multistrada - Bought blind from Riders of Bridgewater, rode it when it got delivered
Hyperstrada - Needed to change the aging Multi, got offered a cracking deal, 1st ride of one was taking it home.
999 - Never test rode it per se but was a friends and bought it when they sold it having gotten to ride it on circuit a few times.
Multi 950 - Hyper needed replacing, bought a brand new big fat Multi, first time I rode one was on the way home.
Pani - Bough blind in Nov, was delivered 2 weeks ago, havent even started it yet !!!!

[black-k1]

I’ve done a number of test rides, and I’m very glad I have. There have been a couple of bikes that I really wanted to like and, without a test ride, would have purchased. However, a test ride made it very clear that the bikes were a huge disappointment and I’m really glad I didn’t buy them.

I’ve also test ridden a few bikes that I originally had no real intention of buying but have been converted by the test ride and have subsequently purchased.

[RemaL]

Always test ride before I buy apart from the H2 which as you could understand they did not give out demo's

As a bike is more personal with comfort etc I like to see if the bike suits me before I spend the £££

[MotorsportTom]

Only a couple of bikes have a test ridden then subsequently bought.

Most bikes I've owned have been without a test ride before hand.

[podman]

If you know what you want, you could argue whats the point, if you desire a BSA Bantam, then what else is there to compare it to?!

Second hand bikes are always a little more trickier to blag a test ride on anyway but if your buying OR just fancy a blat on a new, bike , why not, most people don't like to be that cheeky but if you can give the dealer a bit of blarney and ignore a few voicemails for a week or two afterwards , why not?

Ive found BMW and Triumph in particular are great at throwing the keys at you with a full tank of gas and saying come back in a few hours...no obligation on you to actually buy the thing, try it...

[crofty1984]

I test rode a MK2 Fazer. Had every intention of buying it, private sale, chequebook in my bag, sorted the insurance and when I actually took it for a spin I just didn't like it. It wasn't faulty, it was obviously the guy's pride and joy but I just had to apologise for wasting his time (unintentionally!) and hand the keys back.

[Lee540]

I wanted to test ride my current ZZR1400 pre-purchase but it wouldn’t start..

Still bought it though!

[jjones]

Lee540 said:

but it wouldn’t start..

Still bought it though!

That's the spirit

[CousinDupree]

black-k1 said:

I’ve done a number of test rides, and I’m very glad I have. There have been a couple of bikes that I really wanted to like and, without a test ride, would have purchased. However, a test ride made it very clear that the bikes were a huge disappointment and I’m really glad I didn’t buy them.

I’ve also test ridden a few bikes that I originally had no real intention of buying but have been converted by the test ride and have subsequently purchased.

This.

It really depends how familiar I am with that type of motorcycle, brand etc. I didn't bother to test ride the CBR6F that I bought, having ridden earlier models.

Maybe I'm a fussy git, but as above, I've been disappointed with more bikes I've ridden, than tempted to purchase. Conversely, pretty random test rides have resulted in long shots might just work.

[trickywoo]

The only bike I’ve test ridden was the one I didn’t buy s1000rr - massive buzz through one of the foot pegs.

I have regretted buying two bikes that I don’t think I would have bought if I had test ridden them - v twin Tuono and street triple 765 RS.

[Zedboy]

Only ever test rode one of my 26 bikes and never regretted any purchase. The bike test ridden and not bought was a Z1000 in 1986. Guess what I just bought!