Test Rides

[JTalbut]

1) Balderston BMW (who for some reason seem under-represented here)
2) I did book a few days in advance, the only reason this is necessary is so that they can make sure the bike is available (they are 20+ miles from home).
3) I did about 70 miles, I was under specific instructions NOT to bring it back in under two hours "you need time to get to know and appreciate a boxer" (that's a misquote, but TJ said summat like that)
4) Not sure, but there was one and it was probably £500.
5) If you read Ride about a year or so back there were two staff GSs (both yellow). One was "owned" by Steve Rose, the other was the one that had just gone back to Balderston and I took for the test ride.
Celebrity bike, woohoo.

I bought my GS (all black) from them by accident about 8 months later.

 

[wessie]

I bought my GS (all black) from them by accident about 8 months later.

Please elaborate.

Did you point to the wrong one?

 

[JTalbut]

Please elaborate.

Did you point to the wrong one?

After the test ride I gave them the spec of the bike I wanted, but didn't commit to anything as I hadn't taken the Tiger for a test ride.
I took the Tiger out, then got married and suddenly found I had no money, so I didn't confirm the GS order.

Some months later I contacted Balderstons to ask about Adventures and TJ said "Ah. I've got the GS we ordered for you turning up in March".
Obviously, as I hadn't formalised anything, I could have said that I didn't want it, but I did, so I didn't, and I bought it (the only thing I really want from the Adventure is the big tank, but the standard one looks better).

 

[Flyer]

Called in at Williams, Manchester today. I was looking at GSs and the salesman offered to book me a test ride. I asked about insurance; "1000 pound excess" says he.

"No thanks", says I.

Flyer

 

[DELV]

Test Ride

Well, the bike's arrived and I'm taking it for a test ride this afternoon. Sun's out, roads are dry and am really looking forward to it. If all goes well, I may become a permanent member of the BB.

 

[Cheesy Mike]

1) Which dealer?

Spoke to my local dealer, Bath Street in Bristol. Salesman seemed really offhand especially when I mentioned that I had an Aprilia Pegaso to trade in. His loss as I probably won't go back there for service either.

Then spoke to dealer in Stroud. Nice friendly but didn't have a bike in stock that I was especially interested in.

Finally spoke to Coopers in Reading. Incredibly friendly, helpful etc.

2) How much notice.
Convinced me to turn up a couple of days later. Didn't book a specific time, just told him I'd turn up on Monday sometime.

3) How long?
As long as I wanted - his words. Actually took about 1:30 including a short stop for lunch.

4) Insurance excess?
£500 although he took pains to point out that if I dropped it and caused £100 damage that was all he would charge me.

5) Err anything else?

This bike is the dog's dangly bits.

Took out a 2000 W reg 1150GS with nearly 11,000 on the clock.
It felt like a new bike.

Took it from Reading out through Caversham towards Wallingford.
Then towards Didcot, Pangbourne, Reading, out on the M4 for a quick blast then back to Reading. All in all about 50 miles of twisties, urban and motorway.

Mike

 

[iaintook]

5) Err - anything else?
Had to take passport as well as driving license - they had a test bike nicked a few months ago.
Demonstrator GS was written off the day after my test ride - bloke was filtering past a traffic queue and someone turned right. I don't know if they've got another demonstrator yet.

Steve. [/B]

I have a confession to make

That was me that wrote that off, wasnt filtering though. was doing about 50 mph along nice straight bit with a junction, 4 cars infront two at rear pull out and overtake with oncoming traffic and just miss... then the first car turns right and the one behind remembers that she has to go right also so just stamps on brakes and turns right... I was still shittin it from the near miss so grab a handfull of brake too late and go over the top of said car and have a couple of meetings with the road.. one broken collar bone and black n blue all down one side..


Iain..

 

[MacDram]

I have a confession to make


Iain..

Bad enough, but could obviously have been a whole lot worse. Have you recovered yet?

As for your signature, after that confession, I think it needs changing.

 

[Simon Eassom]

Took it from Reading out through Caversham towards Wallingford.
Then towards Didcot, Pangbourne, Reading, out on the M4 for a quick blast then back to Reading. All in all about 50 miles of twisties, urban and motorway.

Mike

50 miles of gatso dodging last time I was down that way!

 

[waterhouse]

Sawbridgeworth

I took a ride from there but they require an insurance excess of £1000 and they'd just recovered an RT that somebody had dropped.

This seems deeply stupid to me, but then these guys work only 5 days a week so must be making all they money they want.

Anyway I'm not going back!

 

[Hairnet600]

rides

1) Which dealer = williams in manchester
2) Did you have to book much in advance? = went in expecting them to say tomorrow or next week but they said later on that afternoon
3) How long did they give you? i was expecting an hour or so but i was there for 1pm and they said the bike was going out at 4 so that cant be bad
4) What was the insurance excess? = £500 but then i wasnt gonna drop a new bike
5) Err - anything else? yeah im gonna buy one just off that test ride they also paid £5 for petrol - IS THIS COMMON OR WAS IT JUST THEM

thanks