Is it bad form to test ride several used bikes, at a dealer, if you don't intend to buy that day?

[Doc_V]

I'm in the market for a used bike but haven't decided which. There are at least 4 I have in mind, several no longer in production, with 3 others in the "worth consideration" column. Problem is, a) I've never ridden any of therm, b) all these bikes are hard to find in NorCal, and c) I'm not ready to pull the trigger just yet; I still need to sell my bike and gather all my funds, etc. That said, there's a dealership near Sac that currently has almost all of them in stock, including the worth consideration bikes. I'd love to take a day trip up there and test ride all of them, but I suspect that might be pushing my luck to test ride 5-7 different bikes without purchasing. [...Or is it?] But to that end, even if I only test road a few, without intended to buy that day, is that normal or really bad form? i.e. Would that just really piss off the dealership and they send me packing after the second bike? If I do this, should I be up front about what my intentions are, i.e. how many bikes I want to ride and that I'm only looking? Or should I BS them and say I plan to buy that day, then after the test rides, tell them I'm still not certain and leave? [I'd rather not]

The whole point of this exercise is to help me choose which bike to get, and depending on which bike I settle on will determine how long it takes to get the funds together, which will determine when I buy. So there you have it. What are you thoughts and experiences?

Thanks.

 

[CocoLoco]

Why not call the dealership and ask them? Doesn't matter if you are ready to pull the trigger yet and you are under no obligation to tell them where you are in the purchasing process or decision making.

 

[dravnx]

Consider that the sale person is trying to make a living by selling motorcycles. How much of their time are you going to waste if you never intend to buy a motorcycle from them? Being interested in a particular bike or two and wanting to test ride them is one thing. Wasting their time to do your research is another.

 

[Doc_V]

Consider that the sale person is trying to make a living by selling motorcycles. How much of their time are you going to waste if you never intend to buy a motorcycle from them? Being interested in a particular bike or two and wanting to test ride them is one thing. Wasting their time to do your research is another.

I very well may buy from them when the time comes, if they have the bike I want and at the right price. I'm actually thinking I'll probably have to buy out of state and have it shipped; getting one in Sac would be much easier and possibly cheaper. I just don't know which one yet. Which is why I want to do the test rides.

 

[berth]

Well, if it's bad form, the dealer won't let you do it, right? It's kind of up to them. They're the ones handing over the keys.

What is bad form is telling them falsehoods or using deception in order to facilitate the test rides. Like "Yea, I'll buy today".

Show up, talk to them, see what they say.

 

[davidji]

Dealers are the most convenient place to shop, for several reasons. One stop, many bikes. They accept checks, you don't have to carry thousands of $ cash to visit strangers, and so on. But they have staff to pay & shop space to pay for. If they're just a showroom to decide what to purchase elsewhere at the lowest possible price, they won't last.

Hard for me to tell your intentions from your posts.

When a price at a dealer has been compelling enough to get my attention, I went there and paid it. In this case I guess it's their strong inventory that drew you in, rather than the prices. It's OK to negotiate if they're willing. But visiting to spend much of their time & do much test riding if you wouldn't spend close to asking price seems questionable.

 

[HadesOmega]

I don't think it's bad, if you break it you buy it right? Or least fix it.

 

[NorCalBusa]

Yes, it is.

 

[Butch]

Yes, it is.

That. If they support you, you should support them.

 

[ejv]

I would just tell the dealer what you want to do and see how they feel about it. I have been to dealerships where I went to ride a demo bike and they asked me to ride other bikes they had (demos and used trade ins and consignments) in addition to the bike I was there to demo. I've also been to dealerships where they talked me out of demoing the bike I was there to ride but instead put me on a few others.

Some feel like they will give you all the time in the world and others can be very short with you. Probably a lot depends on how slow it has been for them.

 

[Hank Wong]

yes

Yes, it is bad form, very bad form. As you said, you don't even have the money. Why waste their time. Just turn the table around, say if you are selling a used car, would you want someone with no money and no intention to buy to test drive your car just in case they would ever want to buy that model of car someday?

 

[Dubermun]

I’ve never heard of dealerships offering test rides on used bikes. And yes it’s bad form

 

[Blankpage]

Last two bikes I bought were impulsive buys based on test rides. Offering test rides works to sell bikes.

 

[davidji]

I’ve never heard of dealerships offering test rides on used bikes.

I only remember one that didn't. I'm talking about bikes the dealer owns, not consignments. Maybe I don't get out enough.

 

[ejv]

I've only asked once to test ride a used bike. They said yes. I've done rides on maybe half a dozen others because the dealer wanted me to check it out thinking I would like it.

 

[WWWobble]

Well, if it's bad form, the dealer won't let you do it, right? It's kind of up to them. They're the ones handing over the keys.

What is bad form is telling them falsehoods or using deception in order to facilitate the test rides. Like "Yea, I'll buy today".

Show up, talk to them, see what they say.

+1.

You have a short list of used bikes you're interested in. Tell them. The bikes already have mileage on them. If you are honest and tell the dealer what you are trying to do, then let them decide if it's worth it. If they don't want to let you ride a candidate bike because of insurance reasons or whatever, fine. It *is* a risk for them. Just don't deceive them about your interests and intentions.

 

[Marcoose]

Not an iota bad. It’s how business is done. You go to any store and try products and services. Including vehicles. If they don’t want for you to test ride, they’ll say no. If they piss you off, you’ll go elsewhere.

 

[budman]

This is what I would do.

Test ride when I am ready to buy.
Give those that gave me the test rides 95% likely going to purchase consideration (assuming it was a shop/dealer).

I can’t ever remember doing a test ride at a shop to buy a bike.
Some up and down the street from a private party sure.

Good luck.

 

[Slow Goat]

What dealer does test rides? Thought that was a thing of the past.

Can’t tell much from an around-the-block ride anyway.

 

[superhypered]

I used to sell motorcycles at a dealership, and if you don't have any intention of buying, and lie to me to get a free test ride, you have now taken me off the sales floor causing me to lose any sales I would miss out on while you are joy riding, as I always went out with the customer on a specific route which was covered under our insurance.

Beyond that, if any of these bikes are under consignment with the shop then you won't be able to get any kind of test ride. The only exception (at least at our shop) is if you agreed on price, paid, and signed papers, then we could take you out on the test ride if that was your very last need to ensure the bike is the bike for you. This covers our ass in case you crash a bike we don't even own, it's all liability. And four test rides is four times the liability, and that's not cool on your part. However if you did not like the bike after the test ride, you'd be refunded and papers would be voided, easy.

Since you seem to be on the fence for all four bikes, you just need to talk to a sales person there to help qualify you further and possibly eliminate some of the bikes from your current thinking. If they are as hard to find as you are describing, at least a sales person can keep you informed as they get bought in case you are in a purchasing position.

Not an iota bad. It’s how business is done. You go to any store and try products and services. Including vehicles. If they don’t want for you to test ride, they’ll say no. If they piss you off, you’ll go elsewhere.

Please explain how this is how business is done? Is every dealership entitled to give a test drive, or should it be the responsibility of the manufacturer to offer a demo day for popular models? And what about special edition bikes, cars, etc... Should customers deserve a test ride just to try it in case they might buy it?

Many people do not realize this, but the test ride is a closing tool. It is the very last step in the sales process after we go through qualifying, determining finances, and agreeing on a price. Once all of that is complete, and the customer still needs a test ride just to make sure it's the right bike, then we are good to go.


Please be more considerate of people's time.

No Sale = No Paycheck
No Profit = Out of Business