Adventure Bike Rider Forum

Hello All

I recently came across something I've not seen before.

When choosing my new bike, and looking at test rides, I found that some dealers now charge a fee for a test ride - fair enough some of them give it you back if you buy the bike, but what if you decide on another bike?

I just wondered is this now common practice?

I rang around until I found a dealer that didn't charge, travelled a bit further and then bought the bike off them out of principle but I'm interested on how widespread this is for when we change the Wife's bike

Bigfoot

Never heard of this! I also wouldnt pay to test ride, good on you for going elsewhere

What price range were they quoting?

I like what you did Bigfoot, I hope you told the dealer who wanted to charge.

I once wanted a test ride on a used fjr 1300 at strathstones in Leicester , they wanted to charge me apparently because it was a trade sale bike ! When I said no thanks the sales manager said to the salesman we'll take it out of your comission but I didn't bother I didn't like the sales managers attitude.

Ian.

I've heard of it but never personally come across it. I'm sure there are plenty of serial weekend testers but every bike I've ever tested I have been considering buying, if not there & then, certainly the near future.

I demo'd a Zero the other month, it had only 1 mirror & a shagged rear shock, what kind of discount should I have negotiated?

Some dealers suffer badly from 'test pilots'...particularly those budding 'Cathcarts' with youtube channels to fill.

But, as a serious customer, I've never had a problem being offered test rides...the key is not to ask for one.

Yes I can understand some people taking the piss with test rides but Webb's of Peterborough will always lend me a demo when my bike is serviced even before I bought one from them, didn't sell me a Tiger 1200 for £17,000 after borrowing it! but recently bought Tracer GT from them after having a Tracer as a loan, so a good way to do business.

ive had 2 test rides, about 2 years ago, .
I ended up buying both bikes, but had to put down a £100 on both, and agree to paying £1000 each if damaged.
you can imagine I was very very careful on my demo rides, both of which had a time limit of less than an hour.
I also had to provide a photo ID showing NO POINTS on my licence.


later, I realised that the £100 was actually a deposit on an agreement to purchase the bikes
which, once the demo was over, I could claim back if I backed out of the purchase.

garyboy wrote:ive had 2 test rides, about 2 years ago, .
I ended up buying both bikes, but had to put down a £100 on both, and agree to paying £1000 each if damaged.
you can imagine I was very very careful on my demo rides, both of which had a time limit of less than an hour.
I also had to provide a photo ID showing NO POINTS on my licence.


later, I realised that the £100 was actually a deposit on an agreement to purchase the bikes
which, once the demo was over, I could claim back if I backed out of the purchase.

That is shocking practice