Test Rides for Newbies
Discussion
My local Honda dealer said today that they cannot allow anyone who has not had their bike license for 12 months to have a test ride due to insurance. He said it quite common. I said 'so how do you know if a bike is right' and he said by 'doing research'!!!!
Is this right and common. How the bloody hell do you know if a bike is right for you without riding it?
Is this right and common. How the bloody hell do you know if a bike is right for you without riding it?
IMHO bikes of the same type are not sufficiently different from each other that you could necessarily be able to definitively say one is substantially better than another unless you are an experienced rider anyway.
I found that among the sportsbikes I have had the only one I really didn't like was the zx6r because it tended to understeer which I hated but there's no way I could tell that on the test ride and I only noticed it a month or so in when I'd built up confidence.
The guy is right in that research will tell you what kind of bike you want and if any of your choices are known to have weaknesses. The rest, imo, is purely down to brand, looks, reputation and what the current hot bike is as decided by the mags. In addition to that you should be able to tell just by sitting on it if it's going to fit you.
Mark
I found that among the sportsbikes I have had the only one I really didn't like was the zx6r because it tended to understeer which I hated but there's no way I could tell that on the test ride and I only noticed it a month or so in when I'd built up confidence.
The guy is right in that research will tell you what kind of bike you want and if any of your choices are known to have weaknesses. The rest, imo, is purely down to brand, looks, reputation and what the current hot bike is as decided by the mags. In addition to that you should be able to tell just by sitting on it if it's going to fit you.
Mark
lol just replied to remal's similar thread!
Say "No ride, no buy"
I cannot recommend more highly that you get a test ride: I would never have picked my bike unless I'd ridden it. As good as the reviews I'd read had been for it, it just didn't appeal. But after a reasonable test ride (on my dealers insistance) of that and competitors I thought I'd prefer (from the reviews), the Fazer stood right out as the obvious choice for me. In truth, I knew within a minute of riding it that it was "right" for me.
In a nutshell, no one can tell you what will be a good bike for you to ride, and you can't tell from sitting on it in a showroom. I feel any good dealer will appreciate this and will be prepared to let you out on bikes that are sensible for you. If they won't, maybe your cash should go elsewhere....
The insurance malarkey I believe to be nonsense, nothing more than an easy excuse by the sounds of it. My dealer said they were unusual, but they were happy to let a new rider out for test rides on bikes. Perhaps it was because they knew me as I did all my training there, but after a good chat about the options and what I was after, they chucked me straight out the door on a TDM850!
I had all the test rides I needed until I felt comfortable to make a choice, and as I said above, I would never have picked the bike I did without the test ride. So yeah, I'd shop around, maybe speak to the company that trained you, see if they can recommend somewhere?
hiccy said:
Say "No ride, no buy"
I cannot recommend more highly that you get a test ride: I would never have picked my bike unless I'd ridden it. As good as the reviews I'd read had been for it, it just didn't appeal. But after a reasonable test ride (on my dealers insistance) of that and competitors I thought I'd prefer (from the reviews), the Fazer stood right out as the obvious choice for me. In truth, I knew within a minute of riding it that it was "right" for me.
In a nutshell, no one can tell you what will be a good bike for you to ride, and you can't tell from sitting on it in a showroom. I feel any good dealer will appreciate this and will be prepared to let you out on bikes that are sensible for you. If they won't, maybe your cash should go elsewhere....
The insurance malarkey I believe to be nonsense, nothing more than an easy excuse by the sounds of it. My dealer said they were unusual, but they were happy to let a new rider out for test rides on bikes. Perhaps it was because they knew me as I did all my training there, but after a good chat about the options and what I was after, they chucked me straight out the door on a TDM850!
I had all the test rides I needed until I felt comfortable to make a choice, and as I said above, I would never have picked the bike I did without the test ride. So yeah, I'd shop around, maybe speak to the company that trained you, see if they can recommend somewhere?
Edited by hiccy on Wednesday 1st November 21:19
4500 and you can have my ltd ducati 748s, with all carbon 50mm (inc downpipe) leo vince exhaust 600 notes worth alone on ducati GP spec carbon air intakes etc etc etc etc 1 owner, fastidiusly taken care of, perfect condition bike.
its in the classifieds, the local official ducati dealer have offered 4400, "thats what the book says" etc, wont get any more for the carbon even if you have the original parts etc.
in saying that though they have a older, much higher milage crap condition (mines perfect apart from 1 small stonechip) same colour/model but NOT the last rev bike (the last ones had jap electrics so are 100% reliable) and DOESENT have ANY carbon still on std exhaust for retail sale at 5500. . . . .
I could do with the cash for a new biz venture im playing with (read not winning just yet), so its going at the weekend if no one else offers higher than 4400 the stealers will have it up for 6 grand without a doubt.
its in the classifieds, the local official ducati dealer have offered 4400, "thats what the book says" etc, wont get any more for the carbon even if you have the original parts etc.
in saying that though they have a older, much higher milage crap condition (mines perfect apart from 1 small stonechip) same colour/model but NOT the last rev bike (the last ones had jap electrics so are 100% reliable) and DOESENT have ANY carbon still on std exhaust for retail sale at 5500. . . . .
I could do with the cash for a new biz venture im playing with (read not winning just yet), so its going at the weekend if no one else offers higher than 4400 the stealers will have it up for 6 grand without a doubt.
Edited by DucatiGary on Thursday 2nd November 18:01
garyhun said:
My local Honda dealer said today that they cannot allow anyone who has not had their bike license for 12 months to have a test ride due to insurance. He said it quite common. I said 'so how do you know if a bike is right' and he said by 'doing research'!!!!
Is this right and common. How the bloody hell do you know if a bike is right for you without riding it?
Is this right and common. How the bloody hell do you know if a bike is right for you without riding it?
I had exactly the same a few weeks back. I passed my test September 29th. I'd been looking at bikes before that and was told I couldn't test ride them. Fortunately the place I did my training with (Woking Yamaha) were happy to let me test their bikes as long as I went with an instructor - that way they could call it a lesson.
So I test drove a Fazer 600 - which everyone said I should have - and a new R6, which I bought.
ChopperEllis said:
garyhun said:
Is this right and common. How the bloody hell do you know if a bike is right for you without riding it?
I had exactly the same a few weeks back. I passed my test September 29th. I'd been looking at bikes before that and was told I couldn't test ride them. Fortunately the place I did my training with (Woking Yamaha) were happy to let me test their bikes as long as I went with an instructor - that way they could call it a lesson.
So I test drove a Fazer 600 - which everyone said I should have - and a new R6, which I bought.
at least they were flexible. even going out with an instructor is better thanseeing a bike you love but not being allowed to ride it and see if it feels good. but as always they are happy to hand over the bike once they get the cash
shame they don't do that woth new car drivers. hoodies would never get a car
ChopperEllis said:
garyhun said:
My local Honda dealer said today that they cannot allow anyone who has not had their bike license for 12 months to have a test ride due to insurance. He said it quite common. I said 'so how do you know if a bike is right' and he said by 'doing research'!!!!
Is this right and common. How the bloody hell do you know if a bike is right for you without riding it?
Is this right and common. How the bloody hell do you know if a bike is right for you without riding it?
I had exactly the same a few weeks back. I passed my test September 29th. I'd been looking at bikes before that and was told I couldn't test ride them. Fortunately the place I did my training with (Woking Yamaha) were happy to let me test their bikes as long as I went with an instructor - that way they could call it a lesson.
So I test drove a Fazer 600 - which everyone said I should have - and a new R6, which I bought.
R6.... rather nice!!!
I bought my 06 600RR from Wheels in Grimsby - 2 months before passing my test!!!!
It was love at first sight. Bugger a test ride.
My knees have paid me back since though :-)
Abingdon Honda were quite happy to let me loose on a VFR800, at which point I'd barely been riding three months. I did sign a meaty insurance doc though!
I guess it's down to your approach, and what the policy of the particular dealer is.
J.
It was love at first sight. Bugger a test ride.
My knees have paid me back since though :-)
Abingdon Honda were quite happy to let me loose on a VFR800, at which point I'd barely been riding three months. I did sign a meaty insurance doc though!
I guess it's down to your approach, and what the policy of the particular dealer is.
J.
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