Test rides...

[Phil1]

So what's everyone's general experience with test rides?

I'd love a test ride on a 1250gs before I commit (as I kind of have my heart set on one), but I've always wondered how most dealers (main or independent) are with this?

I'm guessing main dealers will have demo bikes for the newer models, but also presume they are much more hesitant when it comes to their second hand stock?

I'm also suspecting that places like superbike factory will just get a blatant "no we don't do that here" kind of response?

Will you be expected to leave some sort of collateral? How long do you normally get? What's the deal with insurance?

Just looking for peoples experiences etc?

 

[Gee-]

I might have been lucky, but growing up around bikes, I tended to stick to the same dealership for my new to me bike.

When a dealership gets to know your a genuine buyer and not just another joy rider out for a bit of a laugh at their expense, soon they will trust you with their trusted shiny steeds.

Sometimes I would get the whole weekend for a trial run or test, to see if it suited me, was the one for me. Did not matter if the bike was a demo or a secondhand trade-in that they had for sale.

Cannot vouch for every dealerships these days, as many scams must come their way, so like I mentioned, trust seems to be the key to opening up a free bike test on a model your really showing some interest in.

 

[GBClassic]

Hi
Last week I was asked £20 to pay for insurance and 100 quid bond before riding. That was for either a New Triumph 400 when they get a new demonstrator or for a secondhand BMW310.

I have in the past been offered a free test ride but £1000 excess by a BMW dealer.

There are different age limits for different dealers. 70 and 75 are 2 I have been told about.

George

 

[wessie]

There is no universal approach.
Insurance usually involves showing your licence which they photocopy and signing an agreement to pay the excess which can be £1000 or more. As a friend recently discovered since turning 75, he can no longer get a service loan or demo bike due to insurance restrictions on age.
If you are known to the dealer then you are more likely to get a test ride. When I lived in Cheltenham, Cotswold would give me any bike to test ride as I was getting two bikes serviced there. Same with the Triumph dealer as I was a customer. As long as nobody else had booked the bike I could have them all day.
The difficulty comes with used bikes not registered as a demo. With road tax now expiring as soon as the previous owner informs DVLA the bike is no longer owned, these bikes are not road legal without trade plates. Not every independent dealer will have trade plates/insurance that covers customers due to the cost.

 

[twizzle]

I’d also suggest that dealers do not want to stack miles on used bikes either….

 

[littleade]

I've only ever ridden demonstrators when looking to buy a new bike. Generally they allow you out on one for an hour after they've checked your driving licence and swiped your credit card in case you bin it and they ask you to replace the petrol you've used. If you find one you like just ring the dealer up and ask about a test ride and if you're travelling some distance see if you can put a refundable deposit down so they don't sell it to someone else before you get there.

 

[OnHellas]

As someone who used to buy and sell used bikes I’ll give you my views based on my experience, although it’s from 13 years ago.

I owned all of my stock outright. I had all of my stock insured under my traders policy. Road tax stayed with the bike back then so not an issue, unless it’d runout obviously.
My trade insurance gave cover for demo rides for riders between 25 and 70. I had to see the diving license (I also used to ask for another form of ID to support it and do an address cross check)
The excess was £1000.
If they had a PX I’d keep the keys whilst they were out so I could ‘appraise’ it.
We would have to sit down and discuss the deal and agree it in principle before the bike was ridden.
The test ride was mainly for the customer to be happy with the bike rather than choosing a particular model.
Occasionally someone would turn up wanting to ride half the stock.

Ultimately it was down to me if they were allowed to test ride the bikes.
If they didn’t like the terms then so be it.
I was asked a few times if I was happy to loose a deal?
My answer…it’s cheaper than loosing the whole bike.

There you go. Times have changed, dealers have different opinions.
The new market is very different to the used in some respects.

As has been said above, building a relationship with a dealer will quite often get you a lot more help and service. Maybe not always the lowest price as quality costs.

 

[Phil1]

So reading between the lines, someone like me who would like to have a run out on a 1250gs, just to simply try it out (and make a more informed decision) is probably unlikely to be able to do so unless there's some serious discussion around actually buying that particular bike I'd be looking to take out.
If I did manage to find such a dealer willing to do this, then it would probably mean leaving either a large-ish deposit, first born or some other form of collateral.

 

[wessie]

So reading between the lines, someone like me who would like to have a run out on a 1250gs, just to simply try it out (and make a more informed decision) is probably unlikely to be able to do so unless there's some serious discussion around actually buying that particular bike I'd be looking to take out.
If I did manage to find such a dealer willing to do this, then it would probably mean leaving either a large-ish deposit, first born or some other form of collateral.

you might find a BMW dealer still has a R1250GS running as a service loan bike or used by a member of staff as their company vehicle. They might be able to make this available as a demo ride. Get on the phone to nearby dealers.

 

[GBClassic]

Hi
BMW dealers are (? Were?) a different breed, they were often happy to allow test rides.

Last time I took one out it was for an hour or two. After 15 minutes I couldnt wait to take it back, new F650GS twin, wretched seat, a plank, on edge, with nails in it, rusty ones. How can they have the cheek to sell a comfort seat, not even an exchange

Last time I was offered a BMW test ride I got to the bike (used G310GS) and decided it was too tall for me before I even took it out.

George

 

[twizzle]

So reading between the lines, someone like me who would like to have a run out on a 1250gs, just to simply try it out (and make a more informed decision) is probably unlikely to be able to do so unless there's some serious discussion around actually buying that particular bike I'd be looking to take out.
If I did manage to find such a dealer willing to do this, then it would probably mean leaving either a large-ish deposit, first born or some other form of collateral.

Getting a ride on a 1300 will be easy…… as all dealers will have demo bikes… your challenge is getting a ride on a second hand bike…and will a dealer allow it … often been cleaned for sale, popping on the miles, road t@x etc…..

 

[Phil1]

It may be worth just bobbing over then and explaining the situation. If they've got a 1300 demo that could be do-able too just to see about the size/style of bike. I certainly can't afford to go to 1300 territory though!

 

[siddo]

Just go to the dealership and tell them loads of lies and get a test ride.
They'll lie through their teeth to get a sale so no need to feel guilty of playing them at their own game.

 

[Santa-2512]

Only test rides I've had were on demo bikes

Triumph 800 &1200 back to back

I had to give my cc card details for the

insurance excess £1000

I took my bike keys with me I think

Made no difference, both bike were bad,

 

[leadfarmer]

Just find a 1200/1250 in a dealership (bmw or otherwise) and ask for a test ride, there are 2 possible replies

I've always tried before buying (appart from my first Varadero in '99) and always 2 up since I've been with wifey

 

[adventuredon]

I went to Fins and test rode 2 2nd hand bikes back to back. No Issues. Bought 1 in the end

 

[Gee-]

I did mention my luck in being allowed a test ride for a weekend, remembering it was along time ago I had bought from any dealership, seems times have changed, owners have retired.

Yes even as a valued customer I still had to go through the show licence, sign a waiver, before being handed the keys to a very valuable machine for the allotted time.

Sometimes I might test 3-4 bikes, over a month before finally purchasing something that suited me and my wallet.

But never ever did I abuse that trust bestowed upon me from that dealership, still remaining friends to this day.