[curly]

My local dealer has a 2009 B650 with 36,000 miles which they are asking $6999 (crazy I know). I went in to ask if I could take a test ride as I want one but have never ridden one. Salesman says I need to sit down and agree on a price before I can test drive. I'm a very honest person so I tell him up front that I'm not committing to buying it because I want a 2013. He says well we don't allow "joy" rides unless you are going to purchase. I say how can I know if I want to purchase without riding it? Long story short, I would have bought a 2013 from them if and when they ever get one but not now. I will look elsewhere. By the way I have bought two new motorcycles from this dealer and had them serviced there as well.

So I ride down the street to the BMW shop to try my luck there. They have a 650gt. The showroom had no customers in it and finally after 10 minutes a salesman acknowledges me. I ask if I can take the gt out for a ride? No he says, we don't have a demonstrator in that model. I say ok and tell him I'm not buying any bike unless I can ride it first. He says he doesn't know of any dealers who have a demonstrator. I say thanks and start to leave. He says I can talk to my manager and if you are willing to put down a deposit we will let you ride it. I ask how much? He says $500. I say no thanks and leave.

Am I unreasonable? I would think in this economy dealerships would be eager to do anything to boost sales, I guess not. Sorry for the rant. Needed to vent.

 

[MJR]

I don't beleive its unreasonable on the new bike with no mileage but the used one there should be no reason not to let you ride it as its already got miles on it. I can't think I've ever test ridden any of my new bikes before I have bought them but I have been offered to ride some locally when I've been looking. I have ridden a Piaggio at the motorcycle show and a Can Am at a local dealer when they had factory demos.

 

[Daboo]

I believe the reason is that some dealerships get enough turn over on their inventory to allow demo models. No one wants to buy a "new" bike with a couple hundred miles on it. They get some kind of arrangement with the manufacturer to keep them from taking a big loss on having those demo models. The local Honda dealer has demo models, and clearly they are interested in selling you a motorcycle, not in allowing "joy" rides.

As for the used model, there's always the question of what happens if it is wrecked. If the bike is on consignment, who pays for the damages? The rider? The dealership? Or the owner? I sold my 2007 400 a couple years ago and ran into that situation on my own as a private seller. I was very picky about having anyone ride the bike, because all they had to do was to drop it in the parking lot and say, "Wow, that's a really unstable bike. I'm not interested any more. Bye."

So I guess I'm trying to say there's more factors involved sometimes than meets the eye.

Chris

 

[Desert Rat]

Doubt if are going to find any dealer that will allow a test ride. $6,999 for a 09 650 is way too much even if it was brand new. :wink:

 

[Chérie]

No it not unreasonable, it even very reasonable to do so, you try a demo model car before you buy new car, you try used car before by it, you try out boy friend or girl friend before you buy, you try new shoe on as well before you buy.

In Europe many dealer offer test ride before you buy or have demo days couple time per season.

In NA the stealership want your money but willing to do little for it.

 

[Sharkey]

I wouldn't buy a cycle without riding the model before I buy one. On my first Burgman purchase, a Zuki dealer wouldn't let me ride one so I went somewhere else.

I was at a dealer this past weekend and they wanted to give me below KBB trade in and charge me above KBB retail for theirs.
I said no.

 

[TwoWheelTim]

Falcone Triumph in Indy will let you test ride.

I test road a Yamaha 360 once (a long time ago) before buying it. I have to say I almost dropped it when I let off the clutch and it accelerated faster than I expected. I was not prepared, I suspect most dealers have seen their share of squids wreck bikes on a test ride.

 

[Mike337]

The dealer tried and tried to get me to ride a Burgman, then I caved and rode it, 2 hours later I rode it home! :thumbup:
My buddy is a Yamaha dealer, and every time I walk in, just to say hi, he says "Did ya being your helmet"? He knows, from past purchases, if I like it, I'm going to buy it.

 

[R1200]

You're going to the wrong dealership :x

I go to Honda of Hollywood and to take a test drive, they just ask that you sign a liability waiver and that you are responsible if you damage or wreck the motorcycle.

I was curious about the B650ex 2009 so I tested a used B650 2002. I liked the B650 2002 so much that I had bought a new B650 2009 back in 2011. I sold my B650ex in Feb 2013 exchange for a Honda Metropolitan 50cc, thinking I could save on gas with easier parking. After a few months I got the B650 withdrawal pains and bought back my own B650ex that I sold to Honda of Hollywood. I asked if I could test ride my B650ex to make sure it was as trouble free as when I previously sold it. I signed the liability paper and test drove the B650 2009 and bought it back again

I can see how some motorcycle shops can feel uncomfortable about having you test drive a brand new motorcycle/scooter. I don't see any reason why you can't test drive a used motorcycle as what you mentioned above.

 

[curly]

I totally understand not allowing a test ride on a new bike. But if you are BMW and you are entering a new market segment with a clean slate bike wouldn't you ensure that each dealer has a demonstrator to entice new buyers? It's a proven fact that test rides sell more bikes.

What irked me about the Suzuki dealership not allowing a test ride on the used Burgman was the fact that I hinted that I was willing to put down a deposit on a 2013 provided I liked the test ride on the '09. Again I got the we don't allow "joy" rides. Ok see ya. Won't be back.

 

[Houndguy]

I was told that, in Florida at least, it's a matter of liability. They will let you ride the bike in the parking lot, but the second you take it out on the street your opening up all types of legal issues for the dealership.

I'm not sure why you can take a car out then, other than a car is of course safer. I would have put down the $500 if I was sure I would get it back or have it applied toward the purchase. That to me sounds fair.

Of course at this point in my life I'm not a fan of dealerships. http://www.2smallerwheels.blogspot.com/ ... ative.html

 

[lloyd123]

Unlike a car, the warranty clock starts ticking on a Suzuki bike as soon as a dealer uses a it as a demonstrator.

It's in the warranty booklet - page 2

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format ... 0289427996

 

[JustPassinThru]

I understand their problem; but bikes handle so differently one from another, it's not reasonable to expect someone to buy one without a test-ride.

Since a lot of buyers buy, and then don't use, and wind up selling; since a lot of bikes come back second-hand with low miles...you'd think a dealer that wanted to sell, would keep a couple of representative models around - to give prospects a feel for the product.

 

[Mike337]

Unlike a car, the warranty clock starts ticking on a Suzuki bike as soon as a dealer uses a it as a demonstrator.

It's in the warranty booklet - page 2

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format ... 0289427996

False. They send the numbers in when they feel like it basically. And they can warranty pretty much any unit at any time, they just use numbers from a unit that is still under warranty. (I'm not suppose to know that, lol.)
(I had a 2-1/2 yr old 4 wheeler warranteed already)

 

[MJR]

Warranty fraud aside if it is registered or sold it starts from the date of sale and if its over XXX miles it has to be sold as used.

 

[Mike337]

How does Suzuki know if "Bill" had a warrantee problem on his 2013, or if the part was going on "Eds" 2008 on the other side of the shop?
Another reason prices are so high. No different then bad insurance claims.

 

[lloyd123]

How does Suzuki know if "Bill" had a warrantee problem on his 2013, or if the part was going on "Eds" 2008 on the other side of the shop?
Another reason prices are so high. No different then bad insurance claims.

Wouldn't Suzuki want the defective part that was replaced send back to them for analysis? It then would be simple to determine if a part was from a 2013 or a 2008.

Unlike a car, the warranty clock starts ticking on a Suzuki bike as soon as a dealer uses a it as a demonstrator.

It's in the warranty booklet - page 2

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format ... 0289427996

False. They send the numbers in when they feel like it basically. And they can warranty pretty much any unit at any time, they just use numbers from a unit that is still under warranty. (I'm not suppose to know that, lol.)
(I had a 2-1/2 yr old 4 wheeler warranteed already)

That's a pretty broad statement that all dealers cheat on the information they send to Suzuki - probably are some - but that doesn't change the fact that's it's Suzuki's policy that the warranty starts as soon as a new bike is either sold or used a demonstrator.