Kawasaki ZX6R Test Ride

[rojoracing53]

Originally Posted by rasta

Having a break it-buy it policy is a no brainer. But couldn't they only let licensed riders test?

This is the U.S. There's lawyers to get around that ****.

As for the licensed deal it sounds good in theory but what about those people that take the MSF to avoide failing the stricked DMV cone test and probably should have failed the MSF as well. But..... since they payed $250 they got a passing grade anyways. Now that persons license is just as good as anyone's but they don't belong on a motorcycle.

It's called taking responsibility for ones actions that just doesn't happen unless someone is forced to do so, and even then some will fight you on it.

It you've ever wondered based on my forum post wether or not this Jason character even supports people riding motorcycles in the street. The answer is NO for around the same percentage of riders as you probably think drivers don't deserve to drive.

[tfkrocks]

I wouldn't trust a rider who got a license fresh out of the MSF course to test ride a bike...

[Alex]

A salesman at a nearby dealership lays out the test ride issue pretty well in that linked BARF thread. He works where I picked up the Ninja 300, FWIW.

Originally Posted by a salesman on BARF

The second part to the problem is not trusting the rider won't bin it, it's just straight inventory control. Import dealers are mildy handcuffed compared to the American and Euro brands..... Will you pay me the same for a Versys on the floor that has 125 miles on it from test rides? Probably not...hahaha. While mfg's like H-D and BMW have stout demo programs where they send bikes to dealers specifically for demo use....we don't have such a clear cut program here. Plus, the other kicker is the profit margin. When you are making $5k on a bike...you can demo it, give a nice discount and still be a profitable business. When you average $1k profit per deal.....not as much room to know you will be clean when you end up having to turn that bike that now has miles on it.

Here is what I have always offered when I was dealing with a customer that wants a bike that we can't allow a demo on due to inventory/risk....whatever. I call it the 5/10.....you sign docs, legally own the bike and ride it out of the lot. If you are back with less than 5 miles on the bike inside of 10 minutes and don't like it, I'll tear up the contracts:thumbup.

Some say 5 miles is not enough....I do believe that most people know if they like a bike in about 10 seconds...but we are all different. It has worked well for me over the years, that may be because I do try ask important questions and ensure that we are putting the customer on the bike they truly want....who knows, maybe I'm just lucky. I've offered it to everyone that has had any apprehension about a purchase without a test ride and I **** you not, after 15 years, nobody has ever walked back in and said "I don't want it".

Every dealer is a bit different. We do try to offer demos on non-sportbikes that are in the upper price ranges and used bikes....but it is not possible everytime. Believe me, every dealer would love for it to be easy to sign a waiver and let you have at it on any bike you desire.....unfortunately reality gets in the way.

If it is TRULY the last step before purchasing (credit approved or cash in hand & price agreed upon)........we will probably let you test ride almost anything...given the proper M1, riding experience and we have a bike set up to try (we don't put gas or batteries in a bike until it is sold)....but you didn't hear that from me.uttahere


...when it comes to the three bikes you mentioned above......I can probably ask you 3 or 4 questions and figure out which one is best for you. While similar.....they are VERY different and a few simple questions seperates the bunch. :teeth

[rasta]

Oook that's some good perspective @Alex. I was under the misconception that dealerships were able to have some kind of demo program.

While mfg's like H-D and BMW have stout demo programs where they send bikes to dealers specifically for demo use....we don't have such a clear cut program here.

[CycleCam303]

Originally Posted by rasta

Having a break it-buy it policy is a no brainer. But couldn't they only let licensed riders test?

Insurance purposes. Also The European manufacturers provide demo bikes. They have plates in them and the dealer has to pay for them. It's still a business and on top of selling inventory and bikes could you imagine paying insurance on demo bikes, buying demo bikes, and then the insurance to cover your ass? It just isn't worth the expense to most Japanese oriented dealers.

Demo days like what anacron went to are really the best way to test ride something.

Damn Alex beat me to it.

[backinthesaddleagain]

We have one track day a year where Yamaha brings bikes. You get 20 minutes on track but you do have to follow their control rider. Rode R1 and R6. The R1 I ride was good but theR6 seemed to have been softened way up. Maybe it had just been on a street demo. Great way to test ride the bikes anyway.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

lol. I want a fun bike that's capable of being a hooligan, but i'm too much of a goodie two shoes for that

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[choneofakind]

I wish Chris, don't think that's in the cards right now. I like my ninja too much for that.

[fast1075]

I rode with my buds last Sunday. The smallest bike besides my 250 was a new 600 ninja . In the tight stuff I ran mid pack with them. On straights of course. I got passed. But they didn't have to wait long at traffic lights for me to catch up.

It is much more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. And the 250 makes my Buell feel like a wallowing wildebeest in the corners since I did the front end work. You don't steer it, you think the direction change.