Brick wall

[recman]

I've been searching some local dealer websites and I've seen some very nice bikes at reasonable prices but now I've come up against a brick wall.
I've contacted two dealers so far about a test rides and explained that I've just passed and my licence has been sent off for the update.

'Sorry mate, our insurance will only cover you if you've been riding on a full licence for a year', came the replies.

WTF? Do they think I'm trying to pull a fast one?
How am I supposed to find out what bike is right for me if I can't get even get a test ride?

[Cuchulain]

I'm in the same boat. I'm just trying to read up on plenty of reviews and generally find other peoples experiences.

Going and sitting on the bikes at least gives you an idea of height, weight, comfort etc.
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CBT 15/6/2011 Theory Test Passed 6/2/2012 Module 1 Passed 11/6/2012
Module 2 Passed!!! 19/6/2012

[arry]

[Musketeer]

This is what all dealers do as far as I know. I'm not sure whether it's up to them. As they mentioned insurance companies cover riders who have full licence for at least a year.
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Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke

[MCW]

You can't blame the dealers, it's their livelihood and they can't afford to take chances. I had a very experienced friend take my potential purchase for a test drive. He know a lot more about bikes anyway, so was more aware of what to look for. Then I did the sitting on it and looking gorgeous bit...

[recman]

[janner_10]

Fazer, Hornet, SV, & Bandit

All brilliant first bikes, plenty of bargains to be had on the 2nd hand private market. <1250 to £1500

Look for condition, servicing history and general upkeep, view with cash in pocket, test ride & buy.

Excellent bikes to cut your teeth on and you wont go wrong with any of them.

Its that simple, don't let some twatty dealer stop you buying a bike, plenty to be had elsewhere.
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[arry]

[recman]

[arry]

[covent.gardens]

Hardly their fault if the insurance doesn't cover new riders, with a car you can organise fully comprehensive day insurance, maybe you can offer to do the same if your really serious about the bike, with the price of it to be knocked off if you buy.

[kestrel]

[recman]

I haven't actually given the dealers any grief over it yet, it's just that for me it's very frustrating because I had the idea I'd be able to visit a few dealers and really discover what the right bike was gonna be.

[Tomzo47]

I had to get a mate to ride it with me pillion, was very weird having two fat blokes on the Bandit
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Ybr 125 > Bandit 650SA > GSXR 600 > Triumph Sprint St1050 > CB1300 > Z1000SX + FJ1200 (written off) > VFR750 >FJ1200

[Rogerborg]

Did I opine in a previous thread that you should ask them what on earth you're paying a dealer premium for then?

And go on to suggest that you'd be better off putting (less) cash into some private sellers' hands instead?

If not, consider it opined and suggested forthwith.
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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

[recman]

Roger, I'm gonna wander in to these dealers with my licence when it returns. See what happens.
I wonder if they'll even notice I'm a new biker.
If not, I'll point it out after I've been for a spin.

[Noxious89123]

How old are you out of curiosity? I've been refused test rides due to lack of insurance cover, because I'm under the age of 25 so their insurance won't cover me. Have been riding over 5 years, 4 years on a (non restricted) 600cc.

Didn't stop me taking the chance and buying my current machine.

Have you tried getting insurance yourself to test ride it?
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[Robby]

Your first big bike? Any bike will be the right bike. Even the most knackered old GS500 will feel like a rocket with the stability of a continent after riding a 125.

Why buy from a dealer? You're unlikely to keep it that long, you don't need to get it right first time. On average people seem to change bikes about once a year in the early days of riding, settling down to once every 3 years eventually.

Everyone says that they'll keep their 125 for 2 years, few succeed. Then everyone says that they'll keep their first big bike for the rest of time, and are lucky to manage a year before crashing it or just wanting something else.

Don't buy new for your first big bike. If you're worried about the condition of a used bike, budget a chunk of money to put it through a workshop and get everything fixed. Still cheaper than buying new.

[Shaft]

Frankly, I'm amazed at the number of people I read on here that have had test rides, when I started out, you had no chance at all.

Dealers didn't run demonstrators (with the possible exception of BMW, but then they only had a couple of models on sale) so you had to find a dealer that had a used one and hope they would let you ride it; if you could find someone who would let you do more than sit on it, it was common practice to ask for a substantial deposit up front, quite often only refundable if you bought it.

I can't remember test riding any bike I've bought and I've bought a few!
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[DaveB]

I couldn't get a test ride at a Honda or Suzuki dealer shortly after passing test. No problem with Triumph so after a test ride I bought a STriple (not new) Took a 675r out for a test ride a couple of months ago too (still not had full licence a year). It can be done.
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Mod 2 passed 26/10/2011
Current ride: 2014 Triumph Street Triple R. Previous, 2007 Triumph Daytona 675, 2007 Triumph Street Triple, 2011 Derbi GPR125r.

[recman]

[recman]

Well I managed to get a test ride on a Hornet for this Saturday, albeit at a dealer 50 odd miles away, hoo bloody ray!

Its a start.

[Dave70]

I'm in a slightly different position to you, as I'm still on a provisional licence, though not for too much longer I hope.

Anyway, when buying my second 125, the local dealer I went to let me take any 125 out for a test ride that I fancied and was more than happy to let me do this. In fact he offered it to me, so I didn't need to even ask.

When I asked him what was the deal on insurance, he simply told me the shops insurance would cover me. So I don't really see what difference it would make if you had a full licence.

In fact, I would have thought it would have made it easier to do this.

[tahrey]

Can you find someone on the "Ticket to Ride" scheme, they might have better insurance cover perhaps?

Or even see if an insurer will do day-cover for you to try them out?

[RichieZX6R]