demo rides

2338 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by DonRich90, Nov 21, 2004

Mera

Discussion Starter · Oct 29, 2004

I own an Aprilia Atlantic and wish to test ride a 650. Does anyone know when and where the Burgman might be avail. for a test ride in central Pennsylvania. I tested my Atlantic at a dealer demo. wish to do the same with the 650, as most of you know dealers generally don't let people ride the bikes.

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wilder days

· #2 · Oct 29, 2004

I'd say it all depends on the dealer. I have a large dealer just down the street, and he's gotten so he doesn't allow test rides.
Now, the small dealer that I bought my intruder 1400 from two years ago, when I went to look at a burgman this summer, he told me to go get my helmet form my bike, by the time I came back, he had the burgman out and ready for me to ride. I hadn't even asked him if I could ride. I told him I was just looking at that point. But, again, he is a small country dealership.

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billmeek

· #3 · Oct 29, 2004

Mera,

I'd suggest using the Suzuki Dealer locator to find all the local dealers in range and start calling them. You may find one that allows test rides and has a Burgman in stock.

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Analytical

· #4 · Oct 29, 2004

Good news. CycleMax in Honey Brook (which isn't too far away) allows test rides for experienced riders. Of course, you have to convince them that you're experienced.

Bad news. When I was last there in August, they had sold their last 650 and had only one 450 left. So I don't know what they have now.

Their website is at http://www.cyclemax.net/

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DonRich90

· #5 · Oct 29, 2004

Hi Mera! You might try Trans-Am Cycles in Litiz. They're located on Rte 501 (Litiz Pike) a few miles noth of Rte 30 (just past Lancaster Airport). They are a great dealership and sell Suzuki, Kawasaki and BMW.
They knew me, even thought I had never bought a bike there, and took a brand new '04 650 off the showroom floor and let me take it for a test ride. After the ride I bought the bike. I don't what they may have in stock right now but give them a call. It's only about a half hour from East York.
Here's a link to their website: http://www.trans-amcycles.com/

Don

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ted clement

· #6 · Oct 29, 2004

Or maybe some nice person in PA will offer to let you ride theirs???

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Mera

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 1, 2004

Thanks for the posts, I looked at the Transam-cylce's website. They have an 03 650 with 19K for $4999. Which I thought is a high price for 19,000 miles, but I'm sure they will let me ride it. 19K seems alot of miles, what kind of max. miles can a 650 get?

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billmeek

· #8 · Nov 1, 2004

Mera said:
19K seems alot of miles, what kind of max. miles can a 650 get?

Mera,

With the reliabilty of todays motorcycles, I'd say the 650 should easily be capable of 100k+ miles with regular maintenance.

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pauljo

· #9 · Nov 1, 2004

With 12k+ miles on it my AN650 runs great - even better than when new. My last Japanese motorcycle saw 66,000 miles before I sold it - and ran perfectly at that point. That is very typical of Japanese bikes that have been properly maintained. If they owner can show proof of maintenance, I would not hesitate to buy it. Without proof of maintenance, I'd pass. Be aware that the AN650 should have the valves checked at 14,500 miles. If that was not done, but oil was changed, air filter & spark plugs replaced, etc - I would get the cost for that valve adjustment deducted from the price (figure 6 hours labor at the going rate in your area), and have it done right away.

It is actually much better for a motorcycle to be used regularly, than to be ridden sporadically and sit idle for long periods in between rides. And a 3 mile ride is harder on a bike than a 300 mile ride. With proof of maintenance, I'd buy a bike that has been ridden 10,000 miles a year before I'd buy one that has been ridden 1,000 miles per year.

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DonRich90

· #10 · Nov 1, 2004

Mera, if you call TransAm, ask for Dan Flosser or Joe (the owner but I don't know his last name). I'm sure they will give you a test ride if they know you are a serious potential buyer.
Over the years I've been visiting their shop, they only sell extra clean used bikes. No junk! As Paul and Bill stated, if the bike has had regular maintenance and the bike appears to have been taken care of with little or no wear and tear, I don't think I'd be afraid of buying it from them.
I've talked to a number of their customers and they all like the service and the way they treat customers. They sell a lot of BMWs, and those people are PICKY. Keep us posted.

Don

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GMJ04

· #11 · Nov 21, 2004

my dealer or should I say stealer will not allow test rides!! I am going to buy a burgman w/out ever having riden one.

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pauljo

· #12 · Nov 21, 2004

GMJ04 said:
my dealer or should I say stealer will not allow test rides!! I am going to buy a burgman w/out ever having riden one.

I bought mine without riding one first. Happily, it has exceeded my expectations. I've test ridden other bikes at this dealership. They put you on a 2 mile urban test route. You honestly can't get a real feel for the bike on that kind of ride.

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DonRich90

· #13 · Nov 21, 2004

pauljo said:
I've test ridden other bikes at this dealership. They put you on a 2 mile urban test route. You honestly can't get a real feel for the bike on that kind of ride.

Quite honestly, I'm not sure if any dealer's "test ride" is long enough to give a true evaluation of the Burgman. I know it took me at least a 100 miles or so just to adjust to the hand lever for the rear brake and the "sudden" freewheeling at 10 MPH as well as floorboards instead of pegs. Once I got used to it's differences, then I was able to begin to appreciate how much fun the 650 is and how well it handles and rides.

Don

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