Test rides, Pissed off!

[TFG600]

Went to look at this zx6r 1999 g2 at a bike shop, its a nice bike clean for its age low miles etc (The bike shop is selling it for somebody aparently, so its not one of their bikes)

I wanted to take it for a test run, but the shop said Not unless you put the full asking price on the table (1500) fuck that I thought , they clearly dont have a test ride insurance policy, And i dont want to get pinched by the law for no insurance, or lose my 1500 if an accident occurs and its not my fault.

I didnt want to do that so i asked if somebody would take me on it pillion, still no; and apparently they can get hold of the owner.

No warrenty supplied with the bike.

I feel a bit pissed off because its a nice bike, but before parting with the cash i want to know it runs ok out on the road OR be supplied with a warrenty.

Iam quite pissed off!

[Sako]

i think it's only because its a customers bikr that they are being akward - might be worth trying to find out who owns it and cut out the middle man.

[TFG600]

Trying to do that now haha. I Understand exactly were the shop are coming from; But it seems like a lose:lose situation for me and them.

[Sako]

I agree with you there fella, good luck

[Dean-J]

If you were coming to buy a bike from me, you wouldnt get a test ride without the full price in cash in my hand. If i put my bike into a dealer to sell for me, the same rules would apply.

Its perfectly fair, its so people who just fancy a quick blast on a ninja( or whatever) cant take the piss. If you genuinely want to buy the bike, then put the cash on the table. If you dont want it, you'll get the cash back, if you do want it, job done.

I dont think they are being unreasonable at all, if your genuine, you have the cash to put on the table anyway....so whats the problem?

[TFG600]

I dont see why I should break the law and ride uninsured just for a test ride. Risking my Money and licence.

[T0MMY]

This had better be a VERY mint ZX6R G2 to even consider paying £1500 for it. They're pretty worthless these days...I should know as I have one
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[hornetmike]

If they are a shop with a motortrade poicy you will b covered.
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[kestrel]

[Polarbear]

I had a bit of an arguement with a bloke who wanted to by my 1800 Wing. He wanted to test ride it, fair enough, it was a £10000 bike. I wanted fully comp insurance and he had third party because he was riding on his FC insurance on my insured bike (makes sense )

An impasse that we never resolved. I didn't sell my bike and he didn't get the bike he wanted.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[Dean-J]

[supZ]

its such an awkward situation.

id never buy a bike without test riding it first but at the same time i can appreciate peoples reluctance with their bikes to let johnny off the street 'ave a go'

i've heard the 'full cash price in hand first' but in reality no one has ever asked me that. always had a chat, looked over the bits and pieces and asked. the only one that was a bit funny was when i bought the blade. in the end he agreed if he came with me on his other bike. no problem there, i just want to make sure everything works not go for a joy ride.

but with a bike shop id expect them to have a rider policy.. if not id probably walk away right there
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CBR954RR - Daily toy
CBR600RR - Trackbike

[robbieguy2003]

A shop worth their salt, should have the bike available for a test ride, simple as that really. The logistics of who owns it/how it's setup in the back is neither here nor there to the guy wanting to ride it and potentially buy it. Business is about making things easier, people pay a premium at a dealer because it's easier, doing what the dealer has done to the OP hasn't made it easier.

Quite a few smaller dealers have done this 'sell your bike for you' service, and it's not a bad idea, it gets stock in their showroom without them having to pay out prior to it selling, and gets your bike shifted minus a % or set fee off the price of the sale.

When ran properly, it works, when it's not ran properly it doesn't. Ran properly, the shop should agree with the original owner that they'll conduct test rides with likely sales prospects, and the shop will cover it on their trade policy. If it's done that way, then it works - the sales guy/shop dont want a claim against their trade insurance for letting an idiot out, but he wants to make a sale, so he weighs the risk based on the customer.

It's more complex, and does cost a bit more, but I believe trade insurance policies are starting to cover this kind of thing now.

Having to arrange insurance and pay 100% of the bike price to get a test ride at a dealer is utter shite to be quite frank.

OP - I'd look around to be honest, as others have said £1500 is not that cheap for the bike. Get on biketrader or other sites, find another dealer and go there and get a test ride. If the bike is supplied with no warranty, you've got to organise insurance for a test ride (and leave 100% of the money with them while you're out) then whats the point of getting it from them? They dont seem to be doing much at all for their money, at best they might have cleaned the bike!
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[Walloper]

[garth]

I didn't pay £1500 for my 14,000 miler 1998 C1 ZX9R...
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Polarbear]

Some of the excess's on shop test ride insurances are horrendous though. I have seen £1000 excess on moderate bikes (ER6-N & Gladius) that my missus test rode and I was told a Ducati shop had a £5000 excess on its test bikes.

Might as well buy the damn thing if you drop it.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[johnsmith222]

[Tenko]

I have to take my hat off to Padgets (Batley for those that don't know...). A mate wanted to try a used Mille Factory so we went over last weekend. He had primed the salesman with a phonecall beforehand so we were expected. Good man, he gave my mate a testride despite the muppet having forgotten his licence.

What really impressed me however was that after finding the steering lock too limited, he asked for a go on a 750 Shiver. Half an hour later he returned all smiles and all but thinking it was a bit too 'upright'. He then tried a ZZR1200, found that a bit too fast, then spent another 20 mins on a 1250 Bandit. By this point I could tell the salesman was getting hacked off but to his credit he didn't show it. I was getting mighty hacked off too as I had promised to make a start on a wall that afternoon and knew 'er indoors wouldn't be impressed.

Did he buy the Bandit? Did he chuff. He said he loved it and proceeded to start asking questions about an XR1200 in the showroom.

My point here is that Padgets need to be congratulated for their patience and their test-ride policy. It will pay dividends because my mate won't dare buy a bike from anybody else now...

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Just adding my 2p, tried to book a test ride yesterday only to be told "Our bikes are too good to be let out on the road. You buy the bike and if you have a problem you bring it back." Lovely.

Second place I tried let me have a test ride, on the proviso I leave a £250 deposit, after which £230 would be refunded - the £20 deducted for admin, fuel and cleaning the bike afterwards. Fair, except when I got there (an hour's drive away, taking me 2 hours away from home) the bike was a shed with had an on/off throttle. Took it for a ride anyway and brought it back after 5 minutes, seeing as the bike would either stick at 1000rpm or redline, regardless of throttle position. They did not get to keep the £20.

Three other places that had potential bikes on my list turned out to be all shut on Mondays.

Arse.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
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