Test riding!

[CrypticCrud]

I thought it was a hassle when I was on a CBT but passing my test hasn’t really improved the situation.

My local dealer want a grand on my credit card but no restrictions on me being a new rider but literally everywhere else want me to hold a full licence for 2 years..

(Superbike Factory give a 14 day money back guarantee if you buy online.. that would give me enough to have a ride & get it checked out but would cost £179 fee for the privilege!)

How the fuck are you supposed to get a feel for a bike before buying one if you can’t ride it?

Can someone enlighten me please!?
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CBT - Aug24, Theory - Jun25, Mod 1 - Jul25, Mod 2 - Sep25
Kawasaki Z125 > Honda Z125

[Easy-X]

Maybe pootle about on a bog standard second-hand bike. Something like an MT07 is very easy going, 350 Enfields are pretty cheap if you want something tamer. You're never going to find your ideal bike on the first attempt anyway. I'm on my 4th or 5th I think... I have a good feeling about my GT though
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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

[CrypticCrud]

You’re kind of missing the point.. I can’t try any of these bikes because they won’t let me ride them… before I buy one.
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CBT - Aug24, Theory - Jun25, Mod 1 - Jul25, Mod 2 - Sep25
Kawasaki Z125 > Honda Z125

[to v or not to v]

[panrider_uk]

The £1k on the credit card is just a deposit.

Don't crash the bike and you'll get it back.
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[rpsmith79]

I'm only on my 3rd bike (in 7 years of riding), the last 2 bought from dealers, never once had a test ride

You should get a decent enough feel for the ergonomics by simply sitting on it in the dealers

What sort of bike are you after anyway?
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Current Bike: Honda CG125 ES4 // Honda CB600FS Hornet // Triumph Street Triple R

[CrypticCrud]

[Ste]

If they think you're a serious buyer then they'll make it happen rather than putting barriers between you and their commission.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[Easy-X]

Sit on 'em, that's all I usually do.

For the GT I purposely didn't test ride it when offered. I thought it likely after one ride I'd fall in love with it; I wanted some clinical detachment so I could haggle down the price without a giddy feeling of anticipation in the back of my mind
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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

[CrypticCrud]

[jeffyjeff]

[andys675]

its dealers insurance, just like us they have to shop around for cover

so the better quotes come back with restrictions on demo ride cover which is a lot cheaper, thousands of ££s cheaper its any easy choice

when I started out there was no such thing as a demo bike/ride, we bought what our hearts desired and enjoyed that we had what we wanted
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[Ste]

[CrypticCrud]

[Ste]

[to v or not to v]

where abouts in the country are you?
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current bike Yamaha Thunderace.
Moto Guzzi V7.

[CrypticCrud]

[P.]

Just buy an R1. A used older one. Comfiest thing i have ridden sports bike wise, closely followed by K5/6 GSXR1000.

They are however not built for comfort, turning up on a monkey would instantly make me think you were testing for fun, not serious etc.

Find some change down the back of the sofa. Grab a 2001 R1 and have a laugh.

[Ste]

You don't have to, there's no shortage of other dealers to choose from.

The place that let you test ride a GSX-8R, why not have a look at other bikes they've got?

Go to other places as well, being able to talk with them about the GSX-8R you looked at and tried at [insert name of that dealer] is a good starting point, they'll ask what you liked about it and you can ask what they've got which which might be a good first big bike. That's a much easier conversation than if you're walking in having never ridden any big bikes.

Some of them will play ball and be interested in you becoming a customer of theirs. They'll know that if they help you at this point then there's a good chance of you returning to them in the future.

[Feasty]

I've mostly bought my bikes privately over the years and always found the sellers to be reasonable and let me go for a short ride to test them out - I just leave my own keys with them, or my daughter if she's with me .
I did try out some Multistrada's a few years ago and the first test ride I went a few blocks and did a u-turn, spun the rear wheel and almost dropped it. If I had I would have just bought it, but it's the risk a lot of us take with buying and selling.

I've found dealerships are hit and miss, no way am I paying to test ride a bike or buying with that 14 day return thing. You really think they're just going to hand the money back and go 'Sure, ok'!
I've had dealerships refuse me a test ride before because they didn't want the bike getting dirty. It's just a case of searching around, have a phone call beforehand if they're further away and being willing to travel to find the right places.
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Previous: Aprilia Habana Retro 50cc (beauty), Yamaha SR125 (fell apart), Honda XR125 (nippy little commuter), Honda SLR650 (Geewhizz), Yamaha Diversion 900S (Smoooooth) written off courtesy of a stupid escaped horse.
(7 year gap), BMW F650 (Relaxing ride). Aprilia Caponord ETV1000 (Big and bold). Yamaha FZS600 (got me in trouble too quick!).
Current: Yamaha TDM 900 (Comfy, light but big, power when needed).

[CrypticCrud]

[CrypticCrud]

[CrypticCrud]

Btw thank you to everyone who has replied!
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CBT - Aug24, Theory - Jun25, Mod 1 - Jul25, Mod 2 - Sep25
Kawasaki Z125 > Honda Z125

[A100man]

I rarely feel 'at one' with a new/different bike so I'm not sure what a test ride will do.

You get to check out the brakes and acceleration and vibrations but the handling is nealy always something that I have to 'aclimatise' to.

This is espcially true if you're moving from a lighweight to a bike with some heft that requires some physical man-handling.. (thinking back to my first rides on teh FZ750).
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600