[JamesInCorona]

Hi Everyone,
I have been researching and comparing the Burgman 400, 650, and Honda Silverwing for about 6 months. I tend to think I would be pleased with the Burgman 650 from all that I have read.
My dilemma is I can't find any dealer in Southern California that will let me demo/test ride any of these. I'm 37 with great credit, never been in an accident, haven't had a ticket for 15 years, have great auto insurance, and I'm going to pay cash for which ever cycle I do purchase...and still I'm treated as though I have the plague.
One salesman told me "Oh everyone says the Burgman is better than the Silverwing" ...I replied how would you or anyone else know unless they could ride both and test them...he didn't know what to say to that. You just have to love those salesman. I then pointed out to him, I bought a $50,000 car just a year ago...and they let me test drive 3 of them before I bought it, but he wouldn't let me test drive an $7000 Scooter. There is no way I will ever buy a car, motorcycle or scooter without first driving one...therein lies my dilemma.
Can anyone help me with a dealer or dealers that will let a person do a 10 minute demo/test drive on the Burgmans, and/or Silver Wing in Southern California? I pretty much have my mind made up on buying the Burgman 650...but I would like to be sure.
I admit I'm a newbie I've only had my license 6 months, permit for 6 months before that...been driving a Yamaha Riva 200 that was my fathers before he passed away, and I just wanted to move up to something I could ride safely on the freeways ever so often with my wife as passenger.
Thank you all for your advice and help in advance,

James in Corona Calif.

Oh yeah and all my friends think I'm crazy for even considering spending $7000 on a scooter :lol:

 

[JamesInCorona]

Thanks

Hi Everyone,
Thank you for all of your suggestions...but just to let you know I took a MSF course before I even got my license. I wanted to start out what I think is the right way...and after the course it even made me more favorable in thinking that is should be mandatory by law that everyone must take a MSF course. Its a great experience.
Also I was never going to go buy a Burgman or Silver Wing and start driving the next day two up...I thought probably after 6 months or so of driving almost everday I would start driving 2 up just around town.
Again thank you for you advice, but it still didn't help me find a demo ride. I called multiple times to Honda and Suziki, no demo events or they were on the east coast...living in So Calif that was a little too much.
I then emailed around 20 Suzuki dealers, of that about 5 replied back. Only 1 dealer in Northern Calif allowed demo rides and had a Burgman in stock. It was just too far away, never made it up there.
No one needs to further make any posts here, I've given up buying a scooter (Burgman or Silver Wing)...no one gives demo rides on anything and as I said before I'll never buy anything without first driving it, and I'm sick of going out of my way to try and find a dealer who will work with me. It's been 6 months, and a big waste of time. What I found most upsetting is that 95% of all the dealers I called and visited just laughed at me for wanting a Burgman...thats if they even knew anything about them. Remarks like "We don't really ever have those in stock" "They aren't big sellers"...leaves me thinking 'Maybe if you keep them in stock and give postive feedback to riders wanting to buy one' more people would purchase Burgmans.
For now, I'll just keep driving around town on my Riva 200 and dreaming of a Burgman someday.
Good/Safe riding to all of you, and thanks for your advice...

James In Corona