Test ride? In Los Angeles?

[rboe]

Most non-Japanese dealers do not allow test rides. When I worked at a dealership we did not allow test rides, could not afford the insurance. Low volume dealer, razer thin margins. Most dealerships that sold only machines went out of business after a few years because of the lack of money flow.

I've ridden the Bonnie, one was meh, the other was pretty good (after market pipe, gave it more character) and the V7. I preferred the V7 to the first Bonnie, but it lost by ever so little of margins to the second Bonnie - not sure which one I would have bought. But the CB is better than either. But I'm a tall lanky guy with a long inseam so the physically larger frame of the CB had a lot going for it. Plus I think the build quality of the CB is far ahead of the Bonnie. But if you are into British twins it is a very very good bike and that is one to get. If the V7 fits you pretty good (I had two complaints on the V7, I didn't fit it all that well and I felt the CB was a better value) there is a lot to like about the V7. Or even a Griso for not much more than the CB (as well as more power, more character and its' Italian!).

I bought the Griso first, then the CB (I made a bet, not expecting the CB to be imported and bought the Griso, darn, had to get the CB when she arrived - I fully expected to sell the Griso thinking the two bikes would be too similar; that has not been the case and don't quite follow the shoot offs in the press involving the CB and Griso). Very much like apples and oranges.