Test Riding

[MahatmaAndhi]

Hi guys,

I'll be in the market for a new bike soon. But one thing that's always bothered me is how do you do a test ride if you haven't got insurance yet?
This will be my first big bike and second overall. I currently don't own anything. Is there insurance you can get which covers you temporarily? I have no friends that ride bikes so I will likely be on my own. Also because I've spooged all my money on the license, I am going to likely end up with a tatty old thing from a private seller. Any advice on this please? I'm in the UK.

Thanks.

[recman]

Go to dealers.

[MCN]

It will be difficult to test ride a private seller's machine due to insurance and security. If you have your own insurance it's easier as some policies provide a limited 3rd party cover to ride other bikes.
Dealers might offer test rides. You'll need to sign a disclaimer and provide some I.D. bank statements/utilities bills etc. your driver licence showing entitlement to ride the class of bike etc.
(That may be modified due to DVLA licencing record changes.)

Don't just rack up with your gear. You will have to arrange a day or so in advance to give them time to prep a bike for you. Some 2nd hand bikes need a battery fitted, tyre pressures checked and maybe fuel added.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[grr666]

[Taught2BCauti...]

In your situation, the best you could hope for, is to get the owner to test ride the bike as you observe from the kerb, or if the owner has the right licence and insurance, take you as a pillion.

There are lots of checks you can do without riding the bike, and there are several threads on here that will tell you the key things to look for.

If you (or the bike you are looking at) live anywhere near B64, I would be happy to go with you, if not, post the first part of your postcode and see if any other members would be willing to help you check the bike over.

If you have already spoken to an insurance company, you should be able to arrange cover quickly over the phone if you decide to purchase - so at least you could ride home on it.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[recman]

[grr666]

I tried that, I was 40, umpteen years no claims on my car so in good standing there. Holder of a variety of licences
including PCV, was willing to pay a full cash deposit matching the value of the bike, still no dice. It worked out
great for me in the end as I bought my ER privately at a year old (13 plate) almost to the day with 1500 miles on the
clock for 2 hundred quid more than I would have paid Fowlers for the 2009 model with 18k (iirc) miles they
had in for £3800. My advice is to be patient, I was like a dog with two tails and 4k of surplus money to burn.
If any of the dealers I visited had actually noticed that then they could have sold me a cardboard
cut out with a picture of a bike on it and I'd have bought it.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[davebike]

Don't blame the dealers for the restrictions on how long a licence has been held fro "test rides" or for that mater Loan bikes it is normally their insurers
Mine said :- over 25 years old 2 years full UK licence less than 8 points no bans within 5 years

OK small workshop cheapest option on Lone / demo cover
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
[email protected]

[Rockhopper]

There will be something like a £1k excess on the insurance as well which you'll have to pay if you bin it.

[Val]

There are two questions here:

1. How to test ride particular bike model - dealer test rides and book half a day refresh ride with a school that have it.
Even you can ask test school to give you to test few bike models any decent school will agree

2. How to test ride bike you want to buy - tricky you need insurance
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Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[MahatmaAndhi]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the responses. I'm really low on funds once I past my test (lower if I fail), so it's going to be a right bucket to begin with. I'm fine with that. Around £500. I only have a few dealers around here and they're all priced out of what I will have, so private really is the only option.
I'm not looking for a specific bike. Something small (length) and around 400cc give or take a few hundred. That's about it. I'm going to need to rely on the honesty of the seller, watching him ride etc, and cut my losses if it goes pear shaped.

[Wonko The Sane]

there are some dealers who buy crashed bikes and repair them, up where I live they reside in old mills / industrial units and are generally happy for you to have a pootle on them within the grounds of the yard.

tend to advertise on ebay / auto trader

at that value it's not really worth insuring fully comp as, if it's had a write off registered against it they'll pay you in peanuts.

if it's not had a mark against it then they'll still pay peanuts!

insurance companies are bastards but there's some nice people work for them.
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Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[MCN]