Buying without a test ride

[Drax]

As the above says:

Would you ever buy a bike without a test ride?

I've found my dream bike. . @ £7K

One year old. Low mileage(1500) One years manufacturers warranty left: One owner. FSH. Some very desirable extras fitted. Sold from the original Yamaha dealers that it was bought from.

But.... I cant get down to test ride it as its too far. They will deliver for a very good price though.

I cant tell you what it is in case one of you beats me to it - although I will say its got R1 in it.

Opinions ? Thoughts?

Positive replies preferred even though it is the BCF!

[Sako]

Not a fucking chance!

Test ride is a must.

[J.M.]

As Sako says. Get your arse down there and ride it!

If you're that sure you're going to buy it, you can get down there. My guess is delivery is costing you £99 or slightly more. You can get a train ticket there and ride it back for that much.

I can get from Leicester/Birmingham to Maidstone via London for £15. Your only excuse is laziness
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Nb]

I would say not without a test ride, but seeing as i bought both my bikes and everyone of my cars without a test drive feel free to ignore me.
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Cbr1100xx blackbird gone, mk4 golf gt tdi chav now
Colin1 wrote 'Im grateful for what i can get, which isnt all that much.'
Columbus travel insurance are crap!! Do not use!

[Seb]

Oddly, I've had more luck when I haven't had a test ride tbh. In my case it has just literally been luck though
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[RhynoCZ]

I've just sold the bike to a lad and he had no test ride. I actually ridden the bike to his place, he had no licence. I bought my first bike with out a test ride, it was a '88 GPz550 and -15°C and I've never had been on a bike alone before. My mate tested the bike and ran on it back home, about 20 miles and it got even colder.

Q:An unusual request for you, people of the UK. Can you tell me, if the grammar is alright, please? I'm still not sure about have/had when I'm trying to express past tense.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Minty]

[Nexus Icon]

[RhynoCZ]

[James83]

[Musketeer]

I would defo want to test ride before I parted with my £7k. With that kind of money I would test ride lots of bikes to make the right choice.

[reed]

I have owned 5 bikes, and have only test ridden one.

My current bike, I went to the guys house, walked round it once, walked into his house and gave him the money.

In fact my old 50cc bike I had, I didn't even look at at all, it turned up in a van and I gave him some money. (had some fucked bits as I later found out.)

Guess I'm just lucky to get ones that aren't broken, mostly.
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Generic XOR 50, Gilera SMT 50, GSXR 400 GK73A, Ducati Monster 600, Honda Hornet 600.
Sold. Stolen. Written off. Sold. Current.

[RhynoCZ]

Well James, thank you
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Ammoman]

Just purchased a 09reg ER6F in as new condition for 2.5k
Didn't test ride it as I thought he may put the price up while I was out Bargin
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2013 ZZR1400 & Honda CG125 1986..

[TheSmiler]

My current bike I didn't test ride I just purchased it on a whim and it worked out, very risky though.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[Wonko The Sane]

my first bike was bought 'blind' from a dealer 200 miles away via auto trader.

I figured that the "fit for purpose" clause in consumer rights would allow for most major issues that could go wrong with it.

they lied about it having been dropped and repaired however....

New bike had deposit put on having only seen photos, took my instructor to test ride it and get it home for me as it didn't have restrictors in at the time.

would buy again from a dealer but would check the bike more thoroughly when it arrives.

wouldn't buy privately unseen.

[Dave70]

Depends tbh.

From a dealership I'd possibly chance it and would certainly do so from my local dealers, as I know I can trust them amd if a problem was found they'd sort it.

From a private seller....not a chance in hell, not even if it was only a grand, never mind seven.

As has been suggested, why not travel down there and ride it back? It shouldn't cost much in train fare and at least you'd have more peace of mind when handing over all that cash.

[Rogerborg]

[Fifteen15]

What about those people that say "I want the full value of the bike in cash in my hand before you test ride it". Would that put you off? Because they could then do a runner while you're off on the bike, then claim you stole the bike.
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"Pain is weakness leaving the body, and blood makes the grass grow faster...but I'll wear my gear anyway"

[The Tot]

Bought numerous bikes privately without test riding. The first test ride was when i parted with my cash.

I always have a pragmatic approach whenever I buy a bike that

a) it's most certainly been down the road
b) it'll probably need new consumables
c) it'll need a service
d) if i can't get along with the tyres, then I'm off to put some dunlop roadsmarts on!

I always feel content in haggling, or putting a very late cheeky snipe (all my bikes have been ebay'd).

I show them the cash, but am very prepared to walk away if i'm not satisfied!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[henry hoover]

I paid 6k for my current bike without a test drive i bought it on the back of various reviews. Plus it was first bike so i had fuck all to compare it to!

If it's an R1 for that dough,must be of the Big Bang variety. Have you ridden a sports bike before? If you have and like it i say pull the trigger dude!
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Cbr600rr 2010 Sold
Zx6r 636 2006 sold
Gsxr 750 L1 current

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[MG]

What's going to be wrong with a one year old, 1500 miler that needs a test ride to notice? If you want to work out if the bike suits you then go and ride another nearer to home. My Dad bought an 11 plate GSXR750 recently for exactly that money, didnt even consider test riding it. It was mint, what's the point?
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'03 Honda Cityfly 125 > '02 Honda CB500S > '98 Honda CBR600F

[scorps]

Only bike I test rode is the one I have now, every other one was bought before I then had to start cutting seats down etc.
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Do not presume that I am male.

[Tungtvann]

My first (current) bike had a dealer warranty on it, bought it without riding it knowing I'd be straight back to them if anything went wrong. Now I have a baseline, I'll aways test ride in future.