[Noobacycle]

The most frustrating part about shopping for a motorcycle is not being able to test drive one like as you would a car. I understand the reason for this since the dealer isn’t able to go along, insurance, etc. There are a half dozen bikes out there that I would love to give a quick test ride to see if they are for me or not and if I can get comfortable riding said model.

Its a shame that you have to actually own the bike before you ride it for the first time. I’m sure that might be some dealers out there that have demo days, but they are way few and far in between.

Sorry, I just had to get it off my chest.

Anyone ever been to a dealership where they let you test ride a bike?

[briderdt]

Occasionally the local dealers will have demo days on certain brands and models (most recent ones around here were Triumph and Honda). Sign up for your local dealer’s email lists and you’ll be informed of them well ahead of time.

[eon]

BMW let you test ride bikes, or at least my local dealer does. Went in to buy some gear and they practically begged me to take a test ride. I managed to summon some will power and decline or else I would likely have done something silly, like buy one!

[plastic]

Also allowed for test rides, after signing wavers, etc. They have aprilia, ducati, moto-guzzi, mv augusta. Nice guys if you’re in LA.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Bike week at Daytona, Florida in the spring has a lot of bike companies there letting people do test rides. Check out the big bike events near you for test rides. Most of us go by the magazine reviews, and sitting on the stationary new bikes awhile to see what feels comfortable.

I think motorcycle test rides will become more common in the future, if the economy continues to suck. The dealership closest to me for Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki recently closed, because of slow sales and the owner was at retirement age.

I can still drive within 50 miles to dealers with all of the most popular brands, including the Japanese big four, BMW, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Triumph and Kymco. I get ads in the mail for the closest BMW dealer, saying I can test ride their expensive bikes and get special financing. I have to go farther to see a new Aprilia, Hyosung, Fischer, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, Royal Enfield or Vespa.

[madjak30]

The Suzuki/Honda dealer in town here lets you take bikes for a test ride, provided they have a demo model…I’ve test rode a couple of bikes, but there are a couple that I want to test, but they don’t have a demo…I just had to sign a waiver “you break it, you buy it” basically…just don’t break it…lol

I just had to set it up with the salesman ahead of time and show up with my riding gear (obviously you need to have your bike license)…

Talk to your salesman and see if your dealer has some demo’s…otherwise you will probably have to wait for the manufacturers to put on the demo days in early spring…

Later.

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