Test Ride Procedures

[SirSkankin DBA]

I just had some guys come look at my bike, and we got to talking... The guy that was going to test ride the bike (not the guy buying), wanted a stretch of road that he could get it up 100 mph or so to see if there was any shake in the bars...which he claimed would be a sign if the bike had any fork damage...

Now, I don't know everything about bike maintenance or troubleshooting, but this sounded like a bunch a hooey to me. But, it got me to thinking....are there any go to tests that you do when test riding a bike? (more about discussion and curiosity than going out to do it, myself)

 

[injun]

Money in your hand before any rides, the rider is an idiot and just looking to have some fun at you're expense.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Since I don't even take my own bikes up to 100 mph, that would be a big red flag that would cause me to refuse to let them take a test ride on it. I don't see how that helps you determine fork damage. If the bike has never been down, I would just reassure them that there is no fork damage and I would buy it back if somehow they find that there is (which they won't). At 100, they might be able to find an improperly balanced front tire, though.

When I take a bike for a test ride - which I'm sure I've done more than 100 times - I want to make sure that it shifts up and down smoothly, that the throttle doesn't have any dead spots, that it generally handles well, and that the brakes work like I would expect them to. I can learn all I need to in about five minutes, unless I'm trying to figure out whether or not I like that particular bike because I've never ridden one before.

After I wrecked my 1997 Ducati Monster and bought the ST2, I was still looking at Monsters and took at least 8 of them for test rides. Most of them were just missing something that mine had - engine powerband, brakes, other general behavior. One, which was a salvage bike, was actually dangerous. I felt lucky to make it around the block on that thing without crashing it. I probably wouldn't have taken that one for free. It was after riding one in Livermore that only had corrosion damage from being left outside too much, but was otherwise excellent, that I decided that I really didn't want another Monster and stopped looking.

I've done some looking at various XR650L's too and even bought a second one a couple of years ago. Several of them had some sort of "miss" in the engine that might have been due to improper carburetion or something. If the bike doesn't feel quite right AND the seller wants top dollar, I usually pass. The one that I bought had the jetting/miss issue, but the price was right and rejetting fixed most of it. Selling it to OaklandF4i got it to the "running perfect" point. He rejected my offer to buy it back. :laughing

 

[russ69]

I went to the dealer once to complain about the handing of my Mach III. I told him something like the bike gets a little unsettled at 80 or 90. He says, we can tested it up to 55mph (the speed limit) after that you are on your own, we can't have our mechanics breaking the speed laws.

 

[SirSkankin DBA]

Money in your hand before any rides, the rider is an idiot and just looking to have some fun at you're expense.

The guy with the money was with me. Apparently, he needed his friend to test ride it. I sent him up a road that there was no way he could screw around, just because the road is too inconsistent. He only road it for about 4 miles.

Since I don't even take my own bikes up to 100 mph, that would be a big red flag that would cause me to refuse to let them take a test ride on it. I don't see how that helps you determine fork damage. If the bike has never been down, I would just reassure them that there is no fork damage and I would buy it back if somehow they find that there is (which they won't). At 100, they might be able to find an improperly balanced front tire, though.

When I take a bike for a test ride - which I'm sure I've done more than 100 times - I want to make sure that it shifts up and down smoothly, that the throttle doesn't have any dead spots, that it generally handles well, and that the brakes work like I would expect them to. I can learn all I need to in about five minutes, unless I'm trying to figure out whether or not I like that particular bike because I've never ridden one before.

After I wrecked my 1997 Ducati Monster and bought the ST2, I was still looking at Monsters and took at least 8 of them for test rides. Most of them were just missing something that mine had - engine powerband, brakes, other general behavior. One, which was a salvage bike, was actually dangerous. I felt lucky to make it around the block on that thing without crashing it. I probably wouldn't have taken that one for free. It was after riding one in Livermore that only had corrosion damage from being left outside too much, but was otherwise excellent, that I decided that I really didn't want another Monster and stopped looking.

I've done some looking at various XR650L's too and even bought a second one a couple of years ago. Several of them had some sort of "miss" in the engine that might have been due to improper carburetion or something. If the bike doesn't feel quite right AND the seller wants top dollar, I usually pass. The one that I bought had the jetting/miss issue, but the price was right and rejetting fixed most of it. Selling it to OaklandF4i got it to the "running perfect" point. He rejected my offer to buy it back. :laughing

I almost refused...He seemed like he thought he was a hot shot, know it all. But, I couldn't help but laugh when he asked me why the oil light was blinking when I had turned the ignition on but had not started it. Then to boot, after telling them I was firm on price (because I was being nice and honoring the already lowered price that I said I would), the guy responds with "why don't you just give us a deal?" and offers $400 less without any reason as to why I should lower the price.... Oh well, I guess this is the fun an adventure of selling stuff.

Thanks for the input. Sounds like you could write a book of test ride stories.

 

[Stormdragon]

Suppose one does take a bike up to 100, and suppose one does find a wobble in the front end. One is now doing 100MPH on an unstable bike. Sounds like a great idea to me! :rofl


One thing I do like to do on a used bike test ride, is to get up to a whopping 30MPH, and let go of the bars. That way I can see if the bike likes to go in a direction other than straight, and I can see whether the bars are in line with the front end or not.

 

[ScottRNelson]

...the guy responds with "why don't you just give us a deal?" and offers $400 less without any reason as to why I should lower the price.... Oh well, I guess this is the fun an adventure of selling stuff.

Assuming the bike hadn't been on the market for weeks already, my response to that would be: "I have several other people who want to look at the bike. IF I still haven't sold it in a week, I can get back to you and we can discuss lowering the price."

Usually the idea of losing out on a good deal puts an end to trying to knock the price down a bit more. (That's assuming you aren't over priced to begin with.)

 

[HeatXfer]

Scott's answer covers the bases for you.

lol - Sounds like a rookie brought his idiot friend to help.

 

[SirSkankin DBA]

Suppose one does take a bike up to 100, and suppose one does find a wobble in the front end. One is now doing 100MPH on an unstable bike. Sounds like a great idea to me! :rofl


One thing I do like to do on a used bike test ride, is to get up to a whopping 30MPH, and let go of the bars. That way I can see if the bike likes to go in a direction other than straight, and I can see whether the bars are in line with the front end or not.

I completely agree with the 30 MPH standard. But, I agree with your 100mph assessment too. It was all just a big joke to me at this point. All I could do last night was shake my head.

Assuming the bike hadn't been on the market for weeks already, my response to that would be: "I have several other people who want to look at the bike. IF I still haven't sold it in a week, I can get back to you and we can discuss lowering the price."

Usually the idea of losing out on a good deal puts an end to trying to knock the price down a bit more. (That's assuming you aren't over priced to begin with.)

I had said something similar, but all of his himhawing, I would have expected him to at least point something out to get a better deal instead of just blurting out a number. I, honestly, don't think the bike is overpriced, and the deal that I was going to honor for them, I think was way more than reasonable.

Scott's answer covers the bases for you.

lol - Sounds like a rookie brought his idiot friend to help.

Yeah, it definitely was that scenario, and I swear, if I hear "fo sho" one more time...I am going to punch myself in the face because it would be less painful. (every other word out of the guys mouth was "fo sho")

 

[Map8]

- Triple digit stability test
- Several wheelies to stress the oil pump works at different angles
- Burnout to test the strength of the front brake
- Back it into a few turns to make sure clutch basket isn't worn
- Some full lean cornering to evaluate handling with the suspension compressed
- 200 mile test ride to determine fuel mileage

All sounds reasonable to me. When can I come by for a test ride?

 

[mototireguy]

All the $$$$ in my hand.

Photocopy of DL/ID.

Phone pic of the rookie and idiot friend for added ID/security.

Ok test ride away.

 

[ScottRNelson]

- 200 mile test ride to determine fuel mileage

I've taken more than one test ride that went way longer than the seller would have liked - on bikes that I didn't buy. :teeth

Nearly all of them before I moved to California.

• The Honda MR-250 Elsinore that I took on several dirt trails in the area to see if I liked the engine and suspension. Even though it had a two-stroke engine, it was just too weak for what I thought I needed and had no low-end power. The seller accused me of taking it for a joy ride, which was actually pretty close to the truth.
• The Honda Reflex (street legal "trials" bike) that I took out from a dealer to see if it would meet my needs. The dealer was located close to my home and I knew quite a few trails in the area, so I tried it out on several of those. It didn't excite me at all, so I ended up buying another Yamaha DT-175 instead, which I found to be a lot more fun to ride. While I was out on the ride the dealer called my wife at home to ask where I was. I hadn't told her that I was going to go out test riding bikes. I had some explaining to do when I got back.
• A Co-worker's new 1983 V45 Intercepter that I was so curious about. I let him test out my Yamaha DT-175... I thought I would just go up into the hills a little ways then come back, since we worked about a mile from a good canyon road. There was a "road closes ahead" sign on that road, so I decided to go a bit further until the sign, then turn around. I never did get to a road closed sign and ended up doing a 25 mile loop, including some freeway at faster than I ever ride now. He wasn't too friendly toward me after that. I probably made it worse by not letting him test ride my RZ-350 that I bought a year later.

 

[thenewwazoo]

are there any go to tests that you do when test riding a bike?

My test ride procedure:
* Start cold bike, let it idle until reasonably warm
* Put envelope full of cash in owner's hand
* Pull away gently, testing clutch feel
* Ease on each brake to make sure I won't die immediately
* Ease through throttle positions in high gear, from coasting to WOT
* Shift up and down through the gears at low RPM
* One redline pull in a straight line in low-ish gear
* Firmly test brakes at moderate-to-high speed
* Coast down from to low speed w/ hands off the bars
* Moderate right-left/left-right transition

You can do all of this in a 1-2 mile ride without leaving the neighborhood.

 

[corndog67]

I've taken more than one test ride that went way longer than the seller would have liked - on bikes that I didn't buy. :teeth

Nearly all of them before I moved to California.

• The Honda MR-250 Elsinore that I took on several dirt trails in the area to see if I liked the engine and suspension. Even though it had a two-stroke engine, it was just too weak for what I thought I needed and had no low-end power. The seller accused me of taking it for a joy ride, which was actually pretty close to the truth.
• The Honda Reflex (street legal "trials" bike) that I took out from a dealer to see if it would meet my needs. The dealer was located close to my home and I knew quite a few trails in the area, so I tried it out on several of those. It didn't excite me at all, so I ended up buying another Yamaha DT-175 instead, which I found to be a lot more fun to ride. While I was out on the ride the dealer called my wife at home to ask where I was. I hadn't told her that I was going to go out test riding bikes. I had some explaining to do when I got back.
• A Co-worker's new 1983 V45 Intercepter that I was so curious about. I let him test out my Yamaha DT-175... I thought I would just go up into the hills a little ways then come back, since we worked about a mile from a good canyon road. There was a "road closes ahead" sign on that road, so I decided to go a bit further until the sign, then turn around. I never did get to a road closed sign and ended up doing a 25 mile loop, including some freeway at faster than I ever ride now. He wasn't too friendly toward me after that. I probably made it worse by not letting him test ride my RZ-350 that I bought a year later.

What do you do to people you don't know? Taking someone's new bike out and beating on it, without telling him where you are going, is an asshole move. I'll beat on my own stuff. I don't beat on other people's shit "...faster than I ever ride now....".

SirSkankinDBA, I would say with about an 88.885% certainty, that if you had lowered the price to the "good guy" deal, he wouldn't have bought it anyway. I've met more than a few guys coming to see my shit, that I was absolute sure they couldn't/wouldn't/had no intention of buying whatever I was selling. It seems like a diversion or something for them, something entertaining to do, go look at shit, test ride or drive it, make an extremely low offer, and weren't going to buy anything, anyway.

 

[berth]

- Triple digit stability test
- Several wheelies to stress the oil pump works at different angles
- Burnout to test the strength of the front brake
- Back it into a few turns to make sure clutch basket isn't worn
- Some full lean cornering to evaluate handling with the suspension compressed
- 200 mile test ride to determine fuel mileage

All sounds reasonable to me. When can I come by for a test ride?

We had trouble, again, at the car rental agency. After signing all the papers, I got in the car and almost lost control of it while backing across the lot to the gas pump. The rental-man was obviously shaken.

"Say there ... uh ... you fellas are going to be careful with this car, aren't you?"

"Of course."

"Well, good god!" he said. "You just backed over that two-foot concrete abutment and you didn't even slow down! Forty-five in reverse! And you barely missed the pump!"

"No harm done," I said. "I always test a transmission that way. The rear end. For stress factors."

-- R. Duke

 

[russ69]

* Coast down from to low speed w/ hands off the bars...

I have owned a few bikes that would immediately start to wobble if you did that. I'm talking a factory fresh bike with new rubber. You would be surprised how many bikes do this.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I have owned a few bikes that would immediately start to wobble if you did that. I'm talking a factory fresh bike with new rubber. You would be surprised how many bikes do this.

My KTM 990 Adv will get a front end oscillation at somewhere around 35 mph when coasting in 2nd gear. I haven't tried it too many times to find out exactly when it happens, but I know for sure that it does it with three different brands of tires and can do it with a new tire, but is more likely with a worn front tire.

If I ever sell that bike, I'll warn the buyer about that particular issue so that they don't find out the hard way. It was discovered when coasting up to a light and trying to adjust a glove or something.

 

[aminalmutha]

I just had some guys come look at my bike, and we got to talking... The guy that was going to test ride the bike (not the guy buying), wanted a stretch of road that he could get it up 100 mph or so to see if there was any shake in the bars...which he claimed would be a sign if the bike had any fork damage...

Now, I don't know everything about bike maintenance or troubleshooting, but this sounded like a bunch a hooey to me. But, it got me to thinking....are there any go to tests that you do when test riding a bike? (more about discussion and curiosity than going out to do it, myself)

HAHA! You didn't let him do it, did you? I'd have laff'd in his face and told him to fuck off. :laughing

 

[aminalmutha]

I have owned a few bikes that would immediately start to wobble if you did that. I'm talking a factory fresh bike with new rubber. You would be surprised how many bikes do this.

Probably weren't set up right. Probably need steering head bearings adjusted, assuming the suspension isn't completely out of whack and the tires are properly inflated.

 

[SirSkankin DBA]

- Triple digit stability test
- Several wheelies to stress the oil pump works at different angles
- Burnout to test the strength of the front brake
- Back it into a few turns to make sure clutch basket isn't worn
- Some full lean cornering to evaluate handling with the suspension compressed
- 200 mile test ride to determine fuel mileage

All sounds reasonable to me. When can I come by for a test ride?

Whenever you are ready. hahahahaha.....oh yeah, there will be cash in hand plus security deposit, though. :rofl

All the $$$$ in my hand.

Photocopy of DL/ID.

Phone pic of the rookie and idiot friend for added ID/security.

Ok test ride away.

They were all on camera...so had them covered.

SirSkankinDBA, I would say with about an 88.885% certainty, that if you had lowered the price to the "good guy" deal, he wouldn't have bought it anyway. I've met more than a few guys coming to see my shit, that I was absolute sure they couldn't/wouldn't/had no intention of buying whatever I was selling. It seems like a diversion or something for them, something entertaining to do, go look at shit, test ride or drive it, make an extremely low offer, and weren't going to buy anything, anyway.

Yeah...It became pretty apparent in about 3 seconds of introductions... it was just one of those situations where too many things didn't add up....I, kinda, got the last laugh since it took them like 2 hours to get here from SJ, because of traffic, and then they left in the middle of traffic.

HAHA! You didn't let him do it, did you? I'd have laff'd in his face and told him to fuck off. :laughing

I did...but sent him up a road that at max, he may have gotten to 50...