Test Rides!! - Page 2

Saleenguy · 10-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musgofasa

I don't know about everyone else, but around here it's all about insurance. The only dealer who pays enough insurance to allow test rides is the Harley dealership. I don't understand that personally, but that's how it works. I worked for a car dealership for a while and the insurance would cover all the employees. The way that worked was the employee drove the car off the lot, then handed the keys to the customer later. Evidently the "loophole" in the insurance meant it could be done this way.

Insurance to cover any test rides on a motorcycle is astronomical.

Pretty smart of harley though....if a customer cannot test ride, they are not too likely to buy IMO.

So they go over to a Harley dealer, are offered a test ride, and a happy customer is a lot more likely to buy.

Sometimes in business you have to spend money, to make money.

Its a bit like a mechanic thinking he can save money by not buying tools.....sure you had no cash expense, but sure limits your income to.

TEMAN62 · 10-03-2008

I thought Kawi was starting test rides in general.
If you go to there website I think you can see who and where the Dealers are that let customers test ride the bikes.

Saleenguy · 10-04-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEMAN62

I thought Kawi was starting test rides in general.
If you go to there website I think you can see who and where the Dealers are that let customers test ride the bikes.

Here I know I can test ride any kawi on the floor....just ask, and they grab a demo plate, and I am riding in about 4 minutes from the time I first asked.

bretsk2500 · 10-04-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

They just let the manufacturers handle it at the bike shows.

We have 2 or 3 big shows a year where demos are available.

That's pretty much how it is here, The big chance to demo is at Laconia, The Ducati dealer features a model to demo one day a year (though they'll let you try other models if you're truly interested in that). There's Harley "demo days" about once a month spread through all the dealers in the area. But to just walk into a dealer and demo a bike off the floor... not gonna happen....

CTRider · 10-05-2008

You pretty much won't many dealerships that offer test rides aside from the HD places around here - and most of those won't let you take it out of their parking lot. The insurance is too high.

On the other hand, some car dealers I've shopped at will hand you the keys and let you take the car for the entire weekend.

Gank · 10-05-2008

When I was test-riding bikes before buying the connie, the dealers who would not allow a test ride all told the same story: the manufacturer does not provide test vehicles, so the dealer has to absorb the cost. Then, when a customer wants to buy a bike and sees that it has 10 miles on it, the buyers want a $1K discount. Whether this is the whole of the matter, I don't know; it's simply what I was told by the owner of Sport Honda Powerhouse.

Compare that to Harley or BMW, who are more than happy to let you ride whatever you like for as long as you like, because their test vehicle fleet is provided by the manufacturer at no cost to the dealer.

dannyg · 10-05-2008

Started looking at new bikes a year ago. The big hold off for me was not being able to test ride a bike. Im in Chicago and the problem was the new bikes in the showroom are sitting there "dry" with no fluids in them. Cant blame them for not filling them up and then who knows how long they will sit there. All dealers I spoke with said they allow test rides on a used bike to give you an idea of what the new one would be like. The problem was... most all dealers had used sport bikes and no cruisers that I was interested in that I could ride. Nobody had a used 1500 for me to ride.

CTRider · 10-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyg

Started looking at new bikes a year ago. The big hold off for me was not being able to test ride a bike. Im in Chicago and the problem was the new bikes in the showroom are sitting there "dry" with no fluids in them. Cant blame them for not filling them up and then who knows how long they will sit there. All dealers I spoke with said they allow test rides on a used bike to give you an idea of what the new one would be like. The problem was... most all dealers had used sport bikes and no cruisers that I was interested in that I could ride. Nobody had a used 1500 for me to ride.

Come visit Connecticut. It seems like the dealers are always stocked up on cruisers of various types with less than 3000 miles on the ticker. Of course, they want way too much money for them.

The new bike showrooms, on the other hand, have been nearly empty this season.

Of course, I'm not sure the dealers around here would even let you test a used bike, either.

Hacker · 10-05-2008

No test rides around here, either. BUT.....while talking with my dealer last week (Kaw/Yam), I was told that he would be getting in a demo of the new Yamaha 950 that I could take out for a test run. He also said that the metrics were going to start loostening up on things like demo days and that he was applying to have them come into this area. I'll let you know if anything happens in that line.

RichLockyer · 10-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTRider

On the other hand, some car dealers I've shopped at will hand you the keys and let you take the car for the entire weekend.

I've done a 48 hour car rental as an extended test drive on a car that has a few miles on it.

Of course, doing that assumes that you are actually planning to buy, rather than settle for, a car that a rental car company would buy.

Bloodbag · 10-05-2008

msh1156, go check out this dealership located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It is within 20-30 minutes of Carowinds. They let me test a used (very well used--8000 miles on a 2 year old bike!) Vulcan 500. I even drove there in my car. I didn't end up buying the bike because they wouldn't budge on the price, but it was still nice to be able to ride it.

South Carolina, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Polaris, Ridley, Suzuki, Ural, Motorcycle, Scooter, ATV, Utility Vehicle, Watercraft, Jet Ski, dealer, Hager Cycle World

bretsk2500 · 10-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodbag

(very well used--8000 miles on a 2 year old bike!)

I don't know if I'd call that very well used..... I have owned my current bike 1 year and 3 days and I've got over 6,000 miles on it. I feel like I've hardly gotten to ride it this season.... (put 991 miles on it last year and 5k+ this year)

RichLockyer · 10-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretsk2500

I don't know if I'd call that very well used..... I have owned my current bike 1 year and 3 days and I've got over 6,000 miles on it. I feel like I've hardly gotten to ride it this season.... (put 991 miles on it last year and 5k+ this year)

Git that garage queen out on the road!!!!!!!!

I've got 30k on my '06 (bought it in May of '06) and I'm a weekend-warrior!
Stuck in the company cage during the week.

Bloodbag · 10-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Git that garage queen out on the road!!!!!!!!

I've got 30k on my '06 (bought it in May of '06) and I'm a weekend-warrior!
Stuck in the company cage during the week.

Your bike's engine is 3 times the size of the Vulcan 500!

What do you think people consider average miles per year for a bike would be(ridden mostly on the weekends)???

Saleenguy · 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bloodbag

Your bike's engine is 3 times the size of the Vulcan 500!

What do you think people consider average miles per year for a bike would be(ridden mostly on the weekends)???

With a few trips thrown in as well....about 40,000 per year.

RichLockyer · 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

With a few trips thrown in as well....about 40,000 per year.

LOL!

I've averaged right around 1k/month.
It would be closer to 2k if I didn't have the company car for my commute.

Average? KBB and lease companies assume 12k-15k/year, so if a bike is a person's sole transportation, or allowing for a cage for bad weather....

6k-12k/year?

Saleenguy · 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

LOL!

I've averaged right around 1k/month.
It would be closer to 2k if I didn't have the company car for my commute.

Average? KBB and lease companies assume 12k-15k/year, so if a bike is a person's sole transportation, or allowing for a cage for bad weather....

6k-12k/year?

Really...guess I like to ride more.....got my new wing in 2005, and when it was maybe 4 days old left on a trip that logged 14,800 kms....thats about 9,200 miles....that was just 1 trip.

I thought most people did that.

RichLockyer · 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

I thought most people did that.

Take a look at the numbers from the odometer race last year.
This year's will be ending in a week or two.

bretsk2500 · 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Git that garage queen out on the road!!!!!!!!

I've got 30k on my '06 (bought it in May of '06) and I'm a weekend-warrior!
Stuck in the company cage during the week.

Well I have my kids on the weekend, and I can't carry what I need to commute with it... I ride when I can....

RichLockyer · 10-06-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretsk2500

Well I have my kids on the weekend, and I can't carry what I need to commute with it... I ride when I can....

Just givin' ya crap

10-05-2008	#25 (permalink)
CTRider TV Guru BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 8,398	You pretty much won't many dealerships that offer test rides aside from the HD places around here - and most of those won't let you take it out of their parking lot. The insurance is too high. On the other hand, some car dealers I've shopped at will hand you the keys and let you take the car for the entire weekend. __________________ 1983 Honda CB550 About Me Answers to your Gadget Questions Gadget Forum

10-05-2008	#26 (permalink)
Gank -> Witty Comment Here <- Forum Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ, USA Posts: 197	When I was test-riding bikes before buying the connie, the dealers who would not allow a test ride all told the same story: the manufacturer does not provide test vehicles, so the dealer has to absorb the cost. Then, when a customer wants to buy a bike and sees that it has 10 miles on it, the buyers want a $1K discount. Whether this is the whole of the matter, I don't know; it's simply what I was told by the owner of Sport Honda Powerhouse. Compare that to Harley or BMW, who are more than happy to let you ride whatever you like for as long as you like, because their test vehicle fleet is provided by the manufacturer at no cost to the dealer. __________________ Drew -- 2008 Concours 14 ABS Murphy is alive and well, living in my hard bags, and waiting for an opportunity to kill me.

10-05-2008	#31 (permalink)
Bloodbag Turtle Wax Taster BTK Intermediate Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte. NC Posts: 151	msh1156, go check out this dealership located in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It is within 20-30 minutes of Carowinds. They let me test a used (very well used--8000 miles on a 2 year old bike!) Vulcan 500. I even drove there in my car. I didn't end up buying the bike because they wouldn't budge on the price, but it was still nice to be able to ride it. South Carolina, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Polaris, Ridley, Suzuki, Ural, Motorcycle, Scooter, ATV, Utility Vehicle, Watercraft, Jet Ski, dealer, Hager Cycle World __________________ 2007 Z1000

10-03-2008	#22 (permalink)
TEMAN62 Cruising In Fourth Gear BTK Intermediate Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: L.I, New York Posts: 230	I thought Kawi was starting test rides in general. If you go to there website I think you can see who and where the Dealers are that let customers test ride the bikes.

10-05-2008	#27 (permalink)
dannyg Newbie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 18	Started looking at new bikes a year ago. The big hold off for me was not being able to test ride a bike. Im in Chicago and the problem was the new bikes in the showroom are sitting there "dry" with no fluids in them. Cant blame them for not filling them up and then who knows how long they will sit there. All dealers I spoke with said they allow test rides on a used bike to give you an idea of what the new one would be like. The problem was... most all dealers had used sport bikes and no cruisers that I was interested in that I could ride. Nobody had a used 1500 for me to ride.

10-05-2008	#29 (permalink)
Hacker Can't find time to ride BTK Expert Join Date: May 2008 Location: Paris, Tn Posts: 587	No test rides around here, either. BUT.....while talking with my dealer last week (Kaw/Yam), I was told that he would be getting in a demo of the new Yamaha 950 that I could take out for a test run. He also said that the metrics were going to start loostening up on things like demo days and that he was applying to have them come into this area. I'll let you know if anything happens in that line.