Test ride? In Los Angeles?

[the Ferret]

OldF7guy... I'd like to tell you the reason I can ride any bike in the shop at any time is because I am personal friends with the owner ( which I am) and that they know I am a good and competent rider (which they do) but the fact is the dealer puts people out on test rides all the time. I have been down there and watched people wobble out of the parking lot on test rides, with the owner, and salesman standing there holding their breath hoping against hope that the customer doesn't crash. He knows that's a test ride is the easiest way to seal a deal.

[emptysea]

^ditto regarding my dealer. I test rode a cb1100 months before I closed the deal on one and I know it wasn't because of my relationship with my dealer. It was because they had a demo available.

[CIP57_imp]

There are 2 dealers i have created relationships with in my area, i sometimes get a call from them asking if i want to demo a new model which was the case with the CB. I have bought a lot of bikes from both, i guess when there slow the figure I'll buy one

[Motogeezer1949_imp]

V7 is an excellent bike. Ridden it. I'm a Guzzi fan from way back. Down on power though. If you don't ride briskly, it'll be just fine. The CB, even restricted is stronger, a lot more fun. Re-flashed even better.

[NightRider_imp]

reflashed? How do you know if she needs an update?

[gossman_imp]

I watched a guy flip a bike at a dealership on a test ride. While the shop guys and the salesman ran to look at the condition of the Honda, the test rider limped off to his truck to never be seen again.

The dealership where I have purchased several bikes only allows test rides after the bike is purchased. If the purchaser doesn't like the bike they can back out of the deal then, and people often do.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

V7 is an excellent bike. Ridden it. I'm a Guzzi fan from way back. Down on power though. If you don't ride briskly, it'll be just fine. The CB, even restricted is stronger, a lot more fun. Re-flashed even better.

Yes, nice bike. I have a mate who has one. Down on power maybe but he sure can get through the corners quickly. I pick him up on the exit but it's hard work to stay with him in the tight bits.

Cheers.

[OldF7Guy_imp]

OldF7guy... I'd like to tell you the reason I can ride any bike in the shop at any time is because I am personal friends with the owner ( which I am) and that they know I am a good and competent rider (which they do) but the fact is the dealer puts people out on test rides all the time. I have been down there and watched people wobble out of the parking lot on test rides, with the owner, and salesman standing there holding their breath hoping against hope that the customer doesn't crash. He knows that's a test ride is the easiest way to seal a deal.

I understand that I do. I understand liability issues as well. But big motorcycle manufactures like HD have ride days and pretty much let anybody on anything. I can tell real quick if I like something or not.

There is a whole lot to be said for having a good relationship with a local dealer and I will never have that. Its just not going to happen. So I turn to the internet for information and deals. Over the years, it has cost them thousands not counting the rip off sales tax we have here in Ky. But, its cost me a lot of time searching this out but it was worth it.

Everybody in this age is profiled to some degree and if you cannot profile a older guy on a 750 Nighthawk inquiring about a CB1100 then you know zero about the market.

Its a great bike but you cant ride it. We dont allow test rides. Heck, sign me up. I want 3 of them. How stupid is that????

It took me a deposit to get a short test ride of about 2 miles and that is all that I needed. I knew this is what I wanted. These foolish dealers would not give up 2 miles on the odometer for my approval. How foolish.

[nhawk7504_imp]

I get test rides at one local Honda dealership but I am an old guy who bought his first bike from them in 1974...er...my father bought it for my brother and I. Test rides sell more bikes for sure. But not everyone SHOULD test ride a bike. Most young guys will just flog the thing, not even broken in. I watched my brother in law take a friend's Harley to the end of the street and dump it when he had to stop and turn it around.