test rides at dealers

[leolion]

How does one go about it as ive never had one ( ive just brought the bike by looking at it).

Do i need my licence and a shed load of cash as a deposit to take one out?

[Ste]

License yes, shed load of cash as a deposit no.

The dealer will want you to take a test ride because they want you to buy the bike.

[MarJay]

Turn up and ask. Sometimes you have to give a swipe of a credit card, but it's for insurance excess so they don't normally take actual money. I've had dealers ask for a contribution to cover admin fees, but it's not happened recently.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[notbike]

Bahnstormer invited me to ride their new 2019 S1K. Booked me in over email.

I'm an existing customer, bought my S1K from them.

I show up.. They turn around and tell me I need to be 26.

Had a right rant at them. Should've told me before booking me in. I didn't even approach them, they approached me, otherwise I'd have checked and asked if there's any age restrictions for insurance.

Anyway I get a discount on my service next week but still.

Send a bunch of emails out, call a bunch of dealers, ask for the test ride, get booked in, show up with licence, ride.

They sometimes pre-authorise your card in case you have to pay the excess on the policy if you bin it.

[recman]

I remember ranting about test rides and what a pita they were to get years ago.
Now I roll up at a dealers (with the appropriate docs of course) and they throw the keys at me. No booking.

[1198]

[Easy-X]

Am I right in saying that bike sales have dipped in the last few years? Dealers will be keen to hand out test rides in a buyers' market.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Baffler186]

All the ones I visited were eager to let me test ride, but they all copied my license and I had to sign to say I'd owe them £1000 if I dropped the bike. I'm guessing it's the excess they'd have to pay on their insurance claim plus a bit in their pocket
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Polarbear]

The only ones who asked me for a fee were Ducati. Wanted £25 refundable if i buy their bike.

Others, they usually photocopy or note your driving licence and thats it.

Be aware though, the excess if you bin it is usually pretty horrendous. The Kawasaki GTR was £800. Tiger £500 and Ducati £2000.

I never asked when I test rode the 2017 Goldwing, I didn't want to know.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[vanderbale]

My local Honda took a photo of my driving license and made me sign stating I'd be liable for £1500 if I damaged it, was for a CB650R a few weeks back.

[linuxyeti]

[leolion]

bloody hell 1k!! the bike im looking at only costs 2899 new.

[RAYK47]

As most have said, no money should change hands. Only copies of license etc.

I phoned up triumph for a test of a triple R they had on the forecourt. Got there and they threw me the keys to a spanking new RS. I didn't argue and just took it out for an hour or so. I had to put a fiver of fuel in though as it was almost empty. Bear in mind I had only passed my MOD2 4 days earlier, didn't even have my license back, just the pass certificates (I am old though)

[Kentol750]

Go to dealer, ask to test ride. If they say no, go somewhere else.
Ask on here for dealers that do test rides in your area!
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Some bikes.

[1198]

[andyscooter]

[suburban myth]

[Polarbear]

[jayspeedy]

[leolion]

[Petemate]

Apologies for the hypothetical aspect of my reply, but here we go.

Recently I attended a dealer 'test ride' event, offered to our Oxford branch of the Honda Owners Club. I actually arrived more or less at the end of the event, but the visit highlighted a disturbing fact. One of my fellow members, aged 80, was astonished while going through the motions for a test ride (ie production of licence etc) to be told "Sorry, you can't ride today". Reason given was that the company's recently acquired group's insurance will not cover over-75s for test rides. Quite apart from the obvious age discrimination, how bleddy ridiculous. There are many old 'uns still riding, and a lot have much disposable income - do dealers really want to sell bikes? As I am a couple of months away from my 83rd birthday, I was also astonished and miffed. The Hypothetical element of my post is that I can't currently afford another bike, in any case enjoying my existing steed on which I have recaptured my youth after a 23 year gap. BUT - supposing I were to come into some money, and would love to replace my Honda 250 Custom with a very nice CB500F - what would I do for a test ride?
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82 not out....1983 Honda LA250 Custom
2008 Saab 9-3 1.9 Tid 150 Vector Sport estate
2005 Stirling Eccles Topaz 2-berth

[Fizzoid]

Insurance has always descriminated based on age hasn't it?
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Rogerborg wrote: It'd certainly make it easier to ego-find my own posts on pages, given the number of fags (gay like traps) who insist on putting my name in their .sig

[Easy-X]

Here's an idea:

Get a £50 note (given the state of pensions these days you may have to save up!) and then cut up some newspapers to the same size. Bundle them together with some elastic bands discarded by the postman with the real fifty on top.

Go down to the dealers and ask about a test ride. When the topic of "no over 75s" comes up take out the bundle from your inside pocket and mutter "oh well, I suppose I'm have to give this to Suzuki or Kawasaki instead."
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[suburban myth]

[Ste]

If you've over or under whatever the standard age range is for their test ride insurance then if they want, they can phone their insurance company to arrange the necessary cover.

Whichever Honda dealer that was in Oxford clearly doesn't want to sell the bike so the 80 year old guy should go to a different Honda dealership.