What's the longest time you've ever had a bike out on a test ride? And why? And who was the dealer? And what was the bike? And did you eventually buy the bike?
i've never had one. but will do next time i go for a new bike. i got invited to cobb & jaggers a few months ago for a test ride but never bothered going.
got a test on rsv4r factory dealer filled it with juice said go enjoy was away 3hrs think, mo tech Newcastle,
A long weekend, a Monster 1200, Snells - they let me take their brand new 1200 demo bike for the UKMOC weekender in May from the Friday morning to the Monday morning this year, while they were waiting for a part for my M696 which had been in for a service and the disintegrated belt tensioning bearings were discovered. No, I didn't buy one - too heavy - was glad to get my M696 back.
Daytona in ruislip for a test ride on a new out of the crate ZX1000 kwackie,it was given with a full tank,I refuelled a full tank too and they gave me the money! Test rode all am,let's just say when I returned it the tyres were fully scrubbed in,and nearly due it's first oil change. Then onto a test ride all pm at Metropolis in Barnet for a ride on new multistrada, I enjoyed the ride so much I returned 30 mins after their closing time and lots of missed calls on the mobile from them! I did buy one a couple of weeks later.
I have never bothered with long test rides, however, Ducati Aylesbury were very relaxed when I took their demo Pani out in 2012. I was out for approx an hour. The same when I test rode a Multistroodle. There was no mention of time nor any escort required.
Have to say mart In at Manchester is pretty good for ' giving you a bike to play on' either test ride or while getting service done....usually of a few hours if he can...have played on the 848, 899, monster 1200, and hyperstrada....only the latter being a test ride....all very good in their respective ways....except (and here is where I upset people) I didn't like the 848.... Sorry
To answer your specific questions in detail 1) Zero seconds, minutes, hours, days 2) I didn't have a reason so I never test rode one 3) There was no dealer involved in all of this 4) There wasn't any bike involved either 5) No, there wasn't one remember Can I just say, I'm the only one who read and understood what you were asking and answered each question specifically and, I must add, in the correct order too :Happy:
I reckon I answered adequately thank you very much Exige... I did however buy the hypermotard sp and not the softer version...hope that now qualifies as a complete answer....are there points awarded.
Hyperstrada for a week & only rode it twice, didn't like it, but there again I didn't like the 848 after an accompanied test ride from the same dealer & I still bought one a few months later. Local BMW dealer has offered me a 1200GS for the day, which I will take up at some point, just not ready to move on from my 848 yet.
CX500 from Ken Ives, Leicester, 1970 something or other. Never intended to buy it (couldn't afford one anyway.) Did get a secondhand one a bit later tho. Pig ugly but went ok.
My garage has frequently given me bikes to play on for a bit, despite knowing that I'm not going to buy any of them. I've definitely taken out Multistrada 600, Streetfighter, Hypermotard, Multi 1200, Diavel, MV Augusta 1000 and most recently the MV Rivale (which they lent me for the whole weekend). In the past they have sometimes just given me a bike to ride around on while they do a small service so that I can be kept amused while they're working. I normally take a bike up some mountain pass or other. Did the St. Bernard on the big Multi.
Normally about 2hrs. Make a point of riding the bike in the same conditions im going to need it in. For example when I bought my 954, I headed straight into Rush Hour Oxford traffic...then I had a rip along the A40
A few years ago I wanted to take a Multistrada for a test ride....but I could touch the bloody ground on it! So I took a new 2011 Speed Triple from Jack Lilley's in Ashford, near Staines for a spin. I took it for 70 miles on motorways, A's and B's. Loved the torque and easy forgiving ride - unlike my 998 at the time (torquey yes, but a comfortable ride NO!)...I rode the Speedy back to the showroom and they gave me a Street Triple to ride - I rode it about half a mile down to a roundabout and turned round and took it straight back to the shop and wrote out a cheque for a deposit on the Speed Triple (which I've still got three and a half years later). The Speed was everything my 998 wasn't - comfortable sitting up riding position, VERY forgiving. It was also very close with torque-i-ness to my 998. I managed to keep both bikes for about five months but couldn't justify keeping them both in a leaking rusty tin shed so I sold the 998.....as soon as I handed over the keys I regretted selling her!.... So last year I had a new brick garage built and the first thing I did after I sealed the floor was go out and get another 998! This time an S.... I bought her on eBay. No test ride, just the history and my conversations with the owner. He collected me from the train station in my leathers and a big wad of £50's! I gave him the cash then took the bike out for probably about five miles, no more, then drove back and told him he could keep the cash! I rode home about 140 miles in the pouring rain on Veronica (that's her name now!) in my leathers without my waterproofs with a huge grin on my face.... I seriously thinking of a new Monster 1200S....must talk to Croydon and see how long they'll lat me take one for...
What about the shortest / worst test rides you've ever had? There must be some fun stories out there... Mine would have to be the BMW F800GT that I tried a few years back. Soul crushingly dull to ride, and it broke down a couple of miles from the dealer, who had to send out a van to come and pick me up. "Would sir like to take out another one?" they asked. Erm... no.
Usually around a hour or two seems the norm. My shortest was a hyper 1100. Did about 3 miles and hated it. It did make my mind up to buy a 1100 monster though.
Took out an Aprillia RSV back in 2005. It was from bikersworld in East Grinstead, When I got back to the shop it was closed... Tail between the legs when I returned it the next morning...
