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(07-16-2014, 02:58 PM)ChipBeck_imp Wrote: Gentlemen,
Last weekend I bought a new Ducati 796 Monster for my 21 year old son Charley at RideNow Powersports in Chandler, AZ. The dealer told me that if my son had a motorcycle license that he could test ride any new Ducati. I told him that he was braver than me and we declined the test ride. After paying for the bike I had my son spend an hour riding around in the industrial park behind the dealership to get a feel for it before we rode home.
I know a lot of dealers are starting to do it but I don't blame the ones who don't. Cheers.
Chip
Chip, would you like to have a 49 year old son? I'm available for adoption...just sayin'. 
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(07-17-2014, 12:57 AM)shdwghst457_imp Wrote: I didn't test ride any of mine first for a few reasons; dealership not allowing it was a big one, but I also didn't know how to ride! When I got them home on the trailer I managed to take the little Rebel around the block decently, but I couldn't get that pig Shadow to move at all (just kept on stalling). Parked it with 0.0 miles (because the dealership doesn't test them either) until I took the course a few months later.
Didn't need to test drive the CB; I knew I wanted it. It was a good call!
The lack of test drives leaves the buyer pretty much dependent on magazine/online tests, which is obviously less than ideal. That being said, I read the Cycle World test last year, and knew right away the CB was the one for me. One look in person cemented it. If the thing rode anywhere near how great it looked, I would be overjoyed. And it turns out to have, for my purposes, perfect performance. Expectations exceeded! 
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My Honda dealer was super generous.
I told him honestly the last bike I rode 15 years ago was a 125 ccm enduro and I'm a bit intimidated by the size, weight and power of the CB1100, but it's still my dream bike and would like to take it for a spin.
He suggested to take a smaller bike for a test ride before CB1100. So He let me ride a BMW 600 and a BMW 800 for 30 minutes each. The CB1100 he let me drive for one hour. Really cool! After my return with a big grin on my face we went to setup the contract right away.
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Your dealer won't let you go for a test ride? I ordered my bike from my dealer when they had none on the floor, with no immediate plans to order one. I placed a $1,000.00 deposit and waited about eight weeks for it to arrive. When it was time to pick the bike up I informed the salesman that I wanted to take it for a test ride before paying the balance, and he told me this was not possible (the typical insurance song & dance story). After I got over my disbelief I spoke to the sales manager, who also refused to allow me to take the bike for a test ride before I paid my remaining balance and completed the paper work. I seriously considered asking for my $1,000.00 deposit back, but we reached a compromise: If, after paying off the balance and completing the paperwork I was dissatisfied with the bike in any way, the dealer would refund my entire purchase price. However - the catch was this! For a full refund to be made the bike had to be ridden less than three miles! I am withholding the dealer name because in spite of this, I continue to do business with them (I actually like their parts department team, and I'm sure the salesman were just following company rules).
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You know, I may never get a CB11 and that is ok. One way or the other I am riding one 15-30 miles before making an offer or putting out that much money. I am not flexible on the matter. Honda dealers think they are Harley dealers and they are not. Harley dealers think they are God and they are not.
I have a good motorcycle and dont have to have another. Maybe I should go ride a Victory because they beg you to ride them. Little bit fed up with this after checking a couple of other dealers in the area that either didnt have the CB11 or didnt allow test rides to anyone. LOL, are you kidding me? WTF?!!!
Any of us can go test drive a 50K truck make by Ford, Dodge, Chevy anytime we want with no big deal. But we cant test drive the golden CB1100 that cost 11,800. LOL Please explain.
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It's a very good question F7. May I call you that? It doesn't seem to be a Honda thing as they encouraged me to test drive a CB1100 long before I bought one. I was recently lent a demonstrator NC750 while the CB was being serviced. As I recall, I might have had to agree to pay a hefty excess (deductible) in the event I damaged the bike, but that seems reasonable to me.
My guess is that it has something to do with US insurance laws or companies and the level of risk they'd wear if a demo bike were crashed. Frankly, though, I'd have thought they'd have worked it out by now.
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(07-22-2014, 11:07 AM)Dave_imp Wrote: Your dealer won't let you go for a test ride? I ordered my bike from my dealer when they had none on the floor, with no immediate plans to order one. I placed a $1,000.00 deposit and waited about eight weeks for it to arrive. When it was time to pick the bike up I informed the salesman that I wanted to take it for a test ride before paying the balance, and he told me this was not possible (the typical insurance song & dance story). After I got over my disbelief I spoke to the sales manager, who also refused to allow me to take the bike for a test ride before I paid my remaining balance and completed the paper work. I seriously considered asking for my $1,000.00 deposit back, but we reached a compromise: If, after paying off the balance and completing the paperwork I was dissatisfied with the bike in any way, the dealer would refund my entire purchase price. However - the catch was this! For a full refund to be made the bike had to be ridden less than three miles! I am withholding the dealer name because in spite of this, I continue to do business with them (I actually like their parts department team, and I'm sure the salesman were just following company rules).
In OZ, those blokes now would be in another business, or sweeping floors.
Cheers
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(07-22-2014, 02:12 PM)Cormanus_imp Wrote: It's a very good question F7. May I call you that? It doesn't seem to be a Honda thing as they encouraged me to test drive a CB1100 long before I bought one. I was recently lent a demonstrator NC750 while the CB was being serviced. As I recall, I might have had to agree to pay a hefty excess (deductible) in the event I damaged the bike, but that seems reasonable to me.
My guess is that it has something to do with US insurance laws or companies and the level of risk they'd wear if a demo bike were crashed. Frankly, though, I'd have thought they'd have worked it out by now.
You may be on to something Cormanus but I am not aware of any such law in the states but that does not mean anything. Sounds like you have a good local dealer down in Aussie land. I would be willing to sign about anything saying if I wrecked it Ibought it if it were my fault.
I was a little giddy for a new one but now I am just going to hold out for the used 14 DLX to come up used. Bought my NH after carefully shopping and got a jewel and really need to have my head examined by a professional for wanted to get rid of it. I know its not near as good as an 1100 but it really does a good job for me overall and its doing it cheap. Insurance and taxes are dirt cheap and it gets me 50 mpg consistantly. It feels a little strained on the interestates here at 75 mph but it will do it all day long if asked. I think the rider is taking more of a beating than the motorcycle at those speeds with no wind sheild of any sort.
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Nothing wrong with a 750 Nighthawk, as a matter of fact there is a lot right with the 750 Nighthawk..hydraulic valves, easy to service air cleaner and brakes, no epa crap, and the tires are cheap comparatively speaking..plus typical Honda fit, finish and reliability. A man who owns one should consider himself lucky indeed.
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