Do you window-shop for bikes?

[yambabe]

How often do you visit local (or not so local!) bike shops just for a bit of a browse or a sit?

It's something that me and Himself do regularly, we'll often plan our weekend rides to take in several dealer shops as stopping points, or ride to one a bit further away as a destination.

We don't usually have any intention to buy (although you never know ), just to see what's available, what stuff is going for, etc etc.

From a couple of posts made in the North section it appears that this might not be considered "normal" behaviour! It's something we've always done, even before I had my licence.

Are we weird? Or is this a habit that many of you share?
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Will regularly pop into dealers for a poke around. Even D&K.

Don't buy things often, but have been known to.

Charlotte first saw her Thunderbird when we popped in for some tyres for the ZZR600.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[mr.z]

I do the same but really am not the person to comment on normality/lack thereof..

I like to look but more out of curiosity, not many bikes that i'd spend the otr asking price for.. "interesting" ones are few and far between

edit: am a class A gear(bike gear, not the other kind) whore though, i do like to browse through all manner of gloves/boots/accessorys
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[TheShaggyDA]

Every chance I get
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Wooly R6]

i like doing it - i will see a bike at the right price - and the bug will hit me - gotta get it - some how!!!

impulse buying

its what i did with my R6

did some searches on the net, saw they did a yellow one, popped into the dealer and there was a yellow one sitting there - thought thats the one and the deposit was down!!!!
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R6 has been sold - 2004 Honda VFR VTEC now sold too - no bike at the moment

[Blackrhythms]

Yep! Myself and himself often pop into bike shops to have a good nosey around! More often than not it's just to imagine what it'd be like to own a sparkly new bike but it's fun and I like rooting around for accessories too!
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[Rookie]

Whenever I'm in the local mechanics (for a multitude of reasons ) I normally have a poke about the showroom. It's mostly scooters and he can only fit 15 or so bikes in there, but they've got a wicked 98 CBR and a big boys Varadero. It's mostly just for poops and giggles, I can't justify the expense of buying from a dealer when I'm a student. But it's fun to browse.

[andrea]

I love window shopping for bikes, think i've sat on nearly every type there is Never gone as far as to take any on a test ride though, but thats more because my local (CMC) want you to have a full license for a year first

I'm actually going to try some on for size today to see which one i want next

[Ichy]

In 24 years of riding I've only brought a bike from a dealer once, and that was when I was 16.
Only two places I been to more than once are BS Bikes and D&K, both around Stoke. BS isn't a very big place but he definately has some nice bikes in for a good price, for a dealer. D&K might have a bad reputation for some people but its the best place I know of to look at a wide variety of bikes, including some nice exotics and classics.

[kawashima]

I often go to large shop which sells various makers, and compare bikes and check riding position. It was shocking that I found most cruiser position was nothing but pain(hip pain) for me. I also found that Ducati ST3 and VFR didn't have comfy position for me. I could prevent buying wrong bike for my liking.
But I always buy from specialized shops(kawasaki only or honda only)shops. Large shop are usually like department store, good at sales talk, but not good at aftercare.
Bike department store is a place to compare bikes, not buying bikes for me.
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own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[Nb]

Cant tick either. I dont go to bike shops to look at new bikes, but i dont think those that do are weird either. Im happy with my bike at the moment and dont think another could do a better job. Well maybe a dl1000.
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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!

[king kong]

I'm always window shopping, I should imagine that 90% of browsers at bike shops are just the same, with 5% of the remaining actually buy a bike.

[extreme3d]

hmmm, you know i think you've caught onto an idea here....

The roads are no longer so good for blasting along pushing the bike to it's limits at this time of the year, so ride outs organised/numbers attending start to dwindle. So this to me sounds like a good theme for organised winter ride-outs instead - a get together then go out on mass and ride to one of the larger dealers for a browse!!

Somewhere warm to visit, a coffee break when we get there and loads of bikes and winter prices to drool over

[MattEMulsion]

I never really bother window shopping for bikes. Only if I am actually looking to buy will I go to specifically have a look whats about.

If I happen to go into a dealers for parts/accessories I will casually cast my eye across the stock when I walk past but thats about all.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

[palmer]

I used to go pretty much every week end. mainly for a meet with a few BCFers, but i also looked at all the bikes

[yambabe]

Thanks guys it's good to know that I'm not alone!

Wondering who thinks I'm a weirdo though, you might've said.........
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[thefallenange...]

When i had my CG before i got my license i'd go for a wander about. Now i've got my license i found i can't afford insurance for a GS500 (£800 per year aint good) but i spent all yesterday driving round south wales looking.

Gotta wait until June by the looks of things when i should recieve a van and i'll be 19 which drops the insurance by a couple of hundred notes.

[craigs23]

I'm a window shopper that doesn't actually buy anything.

Like to oggle at all the new machinery, there are a few bikes that I like though, but I doubt I'd ever buy new - however, those new MT03s would carry me nicely to work everyday....

Same with the parts areas - not that the local dealers to me are any specialist - but far too many of the items look like the stuff which fills the M&P catalogue - and things that I can find even cheaper online.

Same with gear - nice to pop into a shop and try things on, but there's always a better price to be found elsewhere.

I guess that means I go window shopping to let me decide on the things that I don't want to buy.

I guess that also makes me a git.

[sickpup]

I've been to a shop twice in the last 2 or 3 years.

[mr_pete]

I'll ogle if I happen upon a shop and have enough time to look, but generally I'm quite picky. I've only ever really wanted (in no order) a Blackbird or CB500S. The 'busa just "happened" and I don't want to change now!
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Sans bike

[phk6]

no i just tell my self that i realy realy like my bike

which i do, i just think its a slow pice of shit lol
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Current .. 2008 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure ..
Before .. 2003 Yamaha Fazer 1000 .. 2004 Kawazaki Z1000 .. 2003 Suzuki Sv1000s .. 1999 zx6r Track Bike .. 1999 CB 500 Cup ..
/Phil

[PsychoHippy]

[Mark312]

[m99dws]

When I was in Darlo I'd spend time between HG and White Bros on a Saturday afternoon. Always good for a coffee and natter.

[BIKELESS STEVE]

I find it too painful seeing the bikes I've always wanted and the four figure price tag.. damn you money monching house