Paying for a test ride?

[charlie_a]

Hi

I've booked a S1000 test ride for next week with a BMW dealer, should be an interesting step up from the Transalp!

They're asking for 20 quid none refundable payment for the insurance.

Is this legit? First I've heard of a dealing asking for that.

[Smash]

[Polarbear]

onyerbike do the same, £25 I think it is, you get it back if you buy the bike.

George Whites don't charge.

I can sort of understand why they do charge but I don't like it.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[HD]

[Martay]

I was going to take a 24hour test drive of the new hilux (I needed a big car / truck to collect a bike, didnt want to hire!!)

They asked for the insurance excess upfront, refunded if the car was returned i one piece. I didnt dare ask what the excess for me would have been (20year old, clean 3year old license) Im thinking a couple of g's!!
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Eat well, poo hard
Drives: Cavalier 2.0 16v
Rides: Slightly ratted Honda City Express

[Pete.]

I think it's a pretty reasonable charge.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Frost]

If you're in any way serious about buying a brand new bike, £20 is sod all to find out what it's like.

[charlie_a]

Heh, yeah it's not too painful. Tried this years Blade a few weeks back for free but was only an hour which isn't really long enough for a proper test.

btw he mentioned going to a rival, Metropolis vauxhall, you can pay upto 50 quid. Didn't know they had a Ducati desmosedici there!

Thanks all.

[Sham]

[Rogerborg]

Never heard of it myself, but I imagine they need a way of weeding out test pilots or fantasists just wanting to have a jolly. Personally I wouldn't let anyone on it without a credit reference check, a DNA sample, and the deeds to their house.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Frog]

How long do you get? £20 sounds ok if you get petrol thrown in and get a couple of hours for a decent play.. I mean test.

I suspect it's not that friendly a dealer tho
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CBT 23/09/10 - Theory 19/03/11 - Mod1 19/04/11 - Mod2 06/05/11
Bikes: CBF125 (sold 30/10/10-25/09/12) - CB400 24/06/11 (broken) - ER6-f 25/09/2012

[The View Askew]

[charlie_a]

[Polarbear]

Good reason never to buy an ex demonstrator, I might have ridden it
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Frost]

When driving a hire car rag the shit out of it, but pray that the guy who had it before you didn't do the same.
A guy i knew bought an ex hire car that had been used on the isle of man. "It's low mileage" he said. I laughed in his face

[thx1138]

[SonicTheHedge...]

I think most BMW dealerships do it - they've the same condition on their loaner bikes whilst servicing, if you don't have BMW-brand insurance.
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Previous: '00 G2 Bandit 600 Naked. Now: '08 BMW GS Adventure.

[thx1138]

[Blue_SV650S]

[multijoy]

I don't mind sticking down a deposit, but when you compare the general stingyness of bike test rides compared with the sort of deal you can get when you try out cars, it does seem to be a bit mean.

Really, its for the manufacturers to sort out. If BMW (say) are going to make me hand over cash for the privilege of considering one of their products, it's going to be the one I try last, if at all.

Whilst they may whinge about test pilots, there is no real way to know if you're going to find a bike comfortable without going out and trying a few; I'd suggest that maintaining a demo bike stock is one of the costs of doing business, and I've no doubt there is some manufacturer assistance in doing so.

That said, Bahnstormer down Alton way quite cheerfully let me take an f800 out for nowt, and would have let the missus 'ave away with an s1000rr if it wasn't for the fact it was out. Park Lane BMW wanted to charge me £20, so I didn't go back there again.
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[Blue_SV650S]

[multijoy]

If I'm going to spend a few grand on a bike, I'm not particularly interested in being nickle n' dimed to death at the same time.

It's the dealer's choice, but I'm not going to hand over money for them to try to sell me something!
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'11 CBF1000A, '99 C90, '98 CB500
silky666: He rode amazingly well considering his bike is the weight of a small van and had slicks on.

[angryjonny]

The Motorbike Shop happily sent me on my way on their demo FZ1 for free... even gave me some cash to put some fuel in. I stuck a fiver in myself and returned their cash. And bought an FZ1 off them.

[Walloper]

I was out on a S1000RR on Tuesday.
Cost me about thirty quid.

Two tanks of aviation fuel.

Insurance on Dealer

Cost me Hee Haw.

Loved the bike BTW

Do they give you the petrol free?

You WILL get £20++ worth of grin out of the bastirt though.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[charlie_a]

I doubt it Walloper. Will be happy to get to the nearest petrol pump.