My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride?

I did - once, when I got my Fazer 600 (still have it 2.5 years later).

Big risk. Don't like taking that sort of risk. Never again. No test
ride = no sale, and I'll live without the bike, life's too short. There
are other bikes, and there are other dealers.

How are you so sure you want this particular bike if you haven't ridden
it properly? Are you suffering from reading too many glossy magazines?
It might be totally the wrong shape for you, seriously uncomfortable
after a few miles and so on. I mean, I'd love a Kwak ZX6R or a Suzuki
GSXR750 but neither would suit the 99% commuting I do, and I don't want
to ride with my arse higher than my head.

Dave.


Eman Mean wrote:
 > Hey
 >
 > I'm buying a new bike in July, but it turns out that the country I live in
 > only got 7 of the bikes I want in the first shipment. The next one is just
 > about booked out, so if I want one, I have to buy it without a test ride...
 > Now, I suppose thats not such a bad thing, the bike I have now, I only took
 > round the block once, and it's comfortable enough. I wouldn't have known if
 > it wasn't, on such a short ride.
 >
 > What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no choice
 > (And have your mind made up)?
 > EM
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

"Eman Mean" <emean.TakeThisOut@nzai.co.nz> wrote in message
news:c65of3$a3p$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...
 > Hey
 >
 > I'm buying a new bike in July, but it turns out that the country I live in
 > only got 7 of the bikes I want in the first shipment. The next one is just
 > about booked out, so if I want one, I have to buy it without a test
ride...
 > Now, I suppose thats not such a bad thing, the bike I have now, I only
took
 > round the block once, and it's comfortable enough. I wouldn't have known
if
 > it wasn't, on such a short ride.
 >
 > What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no choice
 > (And have your mind made up)?
 > EM
 >
I've purchase four new bikes with nothing more than a showroom sit-down and
haven't been dissapointed yet or felt I would have learned more in a five
minute test ride. You may do better telling the group what bike you are
looking at and what you would hope to find out about the bike in a quick
test ride IE ergos, acceleration, brakes, etc.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

 > What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no choice
 > (And have your mind made up)?
 > EM

Bikes purchased without a testride.

1983 KZ750N2
1985 ZL900
1986 ZL600
2 1989 ZX-10's
1994 900RR
1985 KLR600
1999 F4
2000 CBR929

Why do you desparately think you HAVE to test ride?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

"Eman Mean" <emean RemoveThis @nzai.co.nz> wrote in message
news:c65of3$a3p$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...
 > Hey
 >
 > I'm buying a new bike in July, but it turns out that the country I live in
 > only got 7 of the bikes I want in the first shipment. The next one is just
 > about booked out, so if I want one, I have to buy it without a test
ride...
 > Now, I suppose thats not such a bad thing, the bike I have now, I only
took
 > round the block once, and it's comfortable enough. I wouldn't have known
if
 > it wasn't, on such a short ride.
 >
 > What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no choice
 > (And have your mind made up)?
 > EM
 >
 >
Bought my bike without a test ride. The shop didn't allow test rides. A
friend of mine went to a different shop to do a test ride, and ended up
lowsiding the brand new bike (mile two on the odometer) just outside the
parking lot.
The Ducati shop I went to did test rides on their used bikes only.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

"Eman Mean" <emean.RemoveThis@nzai.co.nz> wrote in message
news:c65of3$a3p$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...
 > Hey
 >
 > I'm buying a new bike in July, but it turns out that the country I live in
 > only got 7 of the bikes I want in the first shipment. The next one is just
 > about booked out, so if I want one, I have to buy it without a test
ride...
 > Now, I suppose thats not such a bad thing, the bike I have now, I only
took
 > round the block once, and it's comfortable enough. I wouldn't have known
if
 > it wasn't, on such a short ride.
 >
 > What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no choice
 > (And have your mind made up)?
 > EM
 >
 >

I bought my very first bike with no test ride- mostly due to the fact that
nobody knew me. After that the dealers in town knew I was a "buyer" and not
just out to try every different bike. Now they are trying to hand me the
keys cause they know I will come back with a grin and a financial plan to
add the bike to my collection. I don't know about your town, but here in
Denver almost all the dealerships treat you like dirt because no matter
what, every year there's a new bunch of beginners buying up the 600's (I
will only do business with two local dealers, the rest can dry up). You may
have no choice in this situation, but here I prefer to be treated like a
customer, a customer that will be dropping $10,000- so hell yeah I want a
test ride.

DaveG
03 CBR 1100<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

Eman Mean wrote:
 >
 > What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no
 > choice (And have your mind made up)?

You're not going to learn more by a 2 minute around the block ride than you
will by reading, examining the bike and a showroom sit so why not? I only
bought one bike after a real test ride and the ride only confirmed what I
knew anyway.

-paul<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

"Eman Mean" <emean.RemoveThis@nzai.co.nz> wrote in message
news:c65of3$a3p$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...
 > Hey
 >
 > I'm buying a new bike in July, but it turns out that the country I live in
 > only got 7 of the bikes I want in the first shipment. The next one is just
 > about booked out, so if I want one, I have to buy it without a test
ride...
 > Now, I suppose thats not such a bad thing, the bike I have now, I only
took
 > round the block once, and it's comfortable enough. I wouldn't have known
if
 > it wasn't, on such a short ride.
 >
 > What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no choice
 > (And have your mind made up)?
 > EM

You usually end up with mods anyway..seat, peg and bar changes... so the
test ride imho is not relevant as I see it... you research the bike other
ways.

Phil Scott
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

"DaveG" <easyrhino.RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:c66jn7$d7g@dispatch.concentric.net...
 >
 > "Eman Mean" <emean.RemoveThis@nzai.co.nz> wrote in message
 > news:c65of3$a3p$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...
  > > Hey
  > >
  > > I'm buying a new bike in July, but it turns out that the country I live
in
  > > only got 7 of the bikes I want in the first shipment. The next one is
just
  > > about booked out, so if I want one, I have to buy it without a test
 > ride...
  > > Now, I suppose thats not such a bad thing, the bike I have now, I only
 > took
  > > round the block once, and it's comfortable enough. I wouldn't have known
 > if
  > > it wasn't, on such a short ride.
  > >
  > > What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no
choice
  > > (And have your mind made up)?
  > > EM
  > >
  > >
 >
 > I bought my very first bike with no test ride- mostly due to the fact that
 > nobody knew me. After that the dealers in town knew I was a "buyer" and
not
 > just out to try every different bike. Now they are trying to hand me the
 > keys cause they know I will come back with a grin and a financial plan to
 > add the bike to my collection. I don't know about your town, but here in
 > Denver almost all the dealerships treat you like dirt because no matter
 > what, every year there's a new bunch of beginners buying up the 600's (I
 > will only do business with two local dealers, the rest can dry up). You
may
 > have no choice in this situation, but here I prefer to be treated like a
 > customer, a customer that will be dropping $10,000- so hell yeah I want a
 > test ride.
 >
 > DaveG
 > 03 CBR 1100
 >
 >
I would have to agree with you. the shop I went to was a selling machine.
sell sell sell! they tried to remember my name and the bike I was trying to
buy, and it just didn't happen. Finally got my bike though, and have been
riding for a year on this one. Three years to go on the warranty, then I
will get a nice touring bike. With the amount of money I will be laying
down, I would like a test ride as well.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

On Wed, 21 Apr 2004 18:19:38 GMT, "Troy the Troll" <f4boy.DeleteThis@comcast.net>
wrote:

  >> What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no choice
  >> (And have your mind made up)?
  >> EM
 >
 >Bikes purchased without a testride.
 >
 >1983 KZ750N2
 >1985 ZL900
 >1986 ZL600
 >2 1989 ZX-10's
 >1994 900RR
 >1985 KLR600
 >1999 F4
 >2000 CBR929
 >
 >Why do you desparately think you HAVE to test ride?

Perhaps to find out whether he likes the bike or not? Obviously you
don't keep a bike long enough to justify a test ride. Also, you
forgot that CX 500. That was a great bike wasn't it Troy?



Regards
Mike<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

"Dave" <recneps.w.divad DeleteThis @elcaro.moc> wrote in message
news:bAxhc.21$2E2.122@news.oracle.com...
 > I did - once, when I got my Fazer 600 (still have it 2.5 years later).
 >
 > Big risk. Don't like taking that sort of risk. Never again. No test
 > ride = no sale, and I'll live without the bike, life's too short. There
 > are other bikes, and there are other dealers.
 >
 > How are you so sure you want this particular bike if you haven't ridden
 > it properly? Are you suffering from reading too many glossy magazines?
 > It might be totally the wrong shape for you, seriously uncomfortable
 > after a few miles and so on. I mean, I'd love a Kwak ZX6R or a Suzuki
 > GSXR750 but neither would suit the 99% commuting I do,

 > and I don't want
 > to ride with my arse higher than my head.

that can be dangerous in some parts of San Francisco

 >
 > Dave.
 >
 >
 > Eman Mean wrote:
  > > Hey
  > >
  > > I'm buying a new bike in July, but it turns out that the country I live
in
  > > only got 7 of the bikes I want in the first shipment. The next one is
just
  > > about booked out, so if I want one, I have to buy it without a test
ride...
  > > Now, I suppose thats not such a bad thing, the bike I have now, I only
took
  > > round the block once, and it's comfortable enough. I wouldn't have known
if
  > > it wasn't, on such a short ride.
  > >
  > > What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no
choice
  > > (And have your mind made up)?
  > > EM
  > >
  > ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

 >From: Dave

 >Big risk. Don't like taking that sort of risk. Never again. No test
 >ride = no sale, and I'll live without the bike, life's too short. There
 >are other bikes, and there are other dealers.

Around here you wouldn't be riding because they aren't letting every dickwad
with a license go out and tear up there new bikes and I can't say that I blame
them.
There is a glut of late model used bikes available for test riding and they
aren't all that different from the new ones, hyped up magazine articles
notwithstanding.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

On 21 Apr 2004 23:22:52 GMT, saddlebag RemoveThis @aol.com (Saddlebag) wrote:

  >>From: Dave
 >
  >>Big risk. Don't like taking that sort of risk. Never again. No test
  >>ride = no sale, and I'll live without the bike, life's too short. There
  >>are other bikes, and there are other dealers.
 >
 >Around here you wouldn't be riding because they aren't letting every dickwad
 >with a license go out and tear up there new bikes and I can't say that I blame
 >them.
 >There is a glut of late model used bikes available for test riding and they
 >aren't all that different from the new ones, hyped up magazine articles
 >notwithstanding.


Troy told me them ther magazine articles are the gospel.


Regards
Mike<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride? 

<mfell2112>; <nospam*@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:gftd8019pstq8eo659uomqn8h84qoppaer@4ax.com...
 > On Wed, 21 Apr 2004 18:19:38 GMT, "Troy the Troll" <f4boy.DeleteThis@comcast.net>
 > wrote:
 >
   > >> What are your thoughts on buying with no test ride, if you have no
choice
   > >> (And have your mind made up)?
   > >> EM
  > >
  > >Bikes purchased without a testride.
  > >
  > >1983 KZ750N2
  > >1985 ZL900
  > >1986 ZL600
  > >2 1989 ZX-10's
  > >1994 900RR
  > >1985 KLR600
  > >1999 F4
  > >2000 CBR929
  > >
  > >Why do you desparately think you HAVE to test ride?
 >
 > Perhaps to find out whether he likes the bike or not?

I liked all of the bikes I bought without a test ride. Whats wrong with a
little research now and then to determine what lots of other people say,
separate the wheat from the chaff and go for it.


 >Obviously you
 > don't keep a bike long enough to justify a test ride.

Really? Lets see...I put more miles on the KZ750 then you have street miles
in your lifetime, and thats when I was a college student and didn't ride
much. I put more miles on the ZL900 than you have in your streetbike
career...more miles on the ZL600 than in your streetbike career, only 4K or
so on the KLR600...but I only owned it one winter......I put about 1300
miles on 1 ZX-10 before I destroyed it ( in the winter no less ) and BUNCHES
on its replacement...over a span of time WAY beyond your experience on
streetbikes, I put probably more TRACK miles on the 900RR than you have
street miles....then the KLR and the F4 and the 929.....all of those I put
more miles individually than you have in your street career....are you
getting the point Mike? Do you have a clue yet or do you require me to hit
you with a bigger hammer?


 > Also, you
 > forgot that CX 500. That was a great bike wasn't it Troy?

HEY! You're right...forgot all about that one, and I definately bought it
without a test ride.Of course, it held its value better than anything YOU'VE
ever owned but I suppose value doesn't mean anything to someone who rides a
Buell....sometimes....occasionally....once a summer.....when its
warm......when its not too chilly......when the wife lets you......<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: My Dilemma - Buy with no test ride?