Test Riding Bikes....nobody Will Let Me!!

[SinCityMotoVlogs]

Sorry to hear that lol good luck

 

[Ride_NZ]

Got a test ride story of my own now. A couple of days ago I was shopping for a new bike. Went in to my dealer that I have been going to for servicing on this bike here for 10 years now and they let me out on a bike for a test ride. I said to the guy, how long can I have it for, and he said 'take it for as long as you like'. I had it for an hour so I could try riding it in the city, out in some twisties etc. Filled it up for them as a thankyou and brought it back. I apologized to the sales guy for having it so long and he was like 'fine, no problem' but then I went inside and the boss, well she just went off at me.. It was most uncomfortable. I apologized to her too and said I did ask the sales guy first and she was still going off at me so I left. I felt terrible but I won't go back. They need to get their story straight instead of going off on a customer. I felt horrible and won't go back, it doesn't help the other partner in the business does the hard sell on me whenever he sees me. Yuck.

Am I wrong here? What you all think? I will remember this experience for a long time, and probably never darken their door again if I can avoid it, especially since I bought from someone else...

 

[BluePixel]

I take it the guy knew you were a regular so probably trusted you with it whereas the manager just thought you were another customer passing by so went off on one. If it was me, I'd avoid using them again as well. You asked and did what you thought was right. You did nothing wrong based on that so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[lupin]

Think it helps a lot if you have a relationship with the people in the dealership.

I recently parked out the front of my local one just to grab some chain lube. Came out found the sales people looking at my bike, after a brief conversation the asked me if I wanted to test ride the R1 they had there. I declined but said as soon as they get the MT10 in give me a call.

It also helps that I'm in my 40's and know a fair few people around the area.

If your set on wanting to ride a few different things just for the volg sake then maybe have a got at a few private sales. If they think your going to buy then they might just let you ride.

 

[Ride_NZ]

Thanks for your replies, appreciated

Ok so a little more info. I have only dealt with that lady a couple of times but she was having a crack at me while looking at my file on their computer which clearly shows I have been dealing with them since 2005. Also I was not test riding for vlog content and even offered each time I took a bike out to leave my camera behind. I was test riding because I need a new bike, totally genuine reason. I have now today purchased a new bike from a different dealer, not because of what happened although I would certainly think twice if I had been unsure which to buy, it would not be from them. I know I probably sound really petty but its really offputting when they treat me that way. I am no delicate little flower, I'm annoyed

 

[lupin]

Well your not going to invest with someone that wont service you.

I've done it with cars don't want to help me out I'll just go elsewhere.

 

[BbqRider]

Thanks for your replies, appreciated

Ok so a little more info. I have only dealt with that lady a couple of times but she was having a crack at me while looking at my file on their computer which clearly shows I have been dealing with them since 2005. Also I was not test riding for vlog content and even offered each time I took a bike out to leave my camera behind. I was test riding because I need a new bike, totally genuine reason. I have now today purchased a new bike from a different dealer, not because of what happened although I would certainly think twice if I had been unsure which to buy, it would not be from them. I know I probably sound really petty but its really offputting when they treat me that way. I am no delicate little flower, I'm annoyed

No way, treating a customer badly is a mortal sin in my book. Depending on what exactly "going off" entails, never doing business with them again would be the least that I would do

 

[Ride_NZ]

No way, treating a customer badly is a mortal sin in my book. Depending on what exactly "going off" entails, never doing business with them again would be the least that I would do

OK so this lady is older middle aged, and comes across as a humourless school ma'am, if you know what I mean. So I go inside after chatting to the sales guy to pay my inspection bill on my bike and she's behind the workshop counter. She just glares at me and says in a stern voice "he DID tell you that a test ride is TWENTY MINUTES, NOT a hour." so I replied that I had checked with him first and also filled up with gas before I came back and she said something like "he should have told you" etc etc. I then noticed my key on the counter with the rude key tag from Chris and Al ("MY KEY C#NT"), and I was thinking "oh shit that will piss her off, better grab it" so I grabbed the key, bearing in mind I am holding my wallet I thought it would be ok, and she glares at me again and says "You get that AFTER YOU PAY THE BILL, NOT BEFORE!"

I got the hell out of there, I just can't stand people who feel they have to talk down to you. Screw you lady.

Oh, and I should mention the week before, I took my bike in for a new chain and they told me to take the Triumph Scrambler for the day as a loaner and I should also go for a ride at lunchtime if I could, so I figured if a whole day is OK then an hour should be. Never felt so humiliated by a bike shop employee in my life!

 

[BbqRider]

OK so this lady is older middle aged, and comes across as a humourless school ma'am, if you know what I mean. So I go inside after chatting to the sales guy to pay my inspection bill on my bike and she's behind the workshop counter. She just glares at me and says in a stern voice "he DID tell you that a test ride is TWENTY MINUTES, NOT a hour." so I replied that I had checked with him first and also filled up with gas before I came back and she said something like "he should have told you" etc etc. I then noticed my key on the counter with the rude key tag from Chris and Al ("MY KEY C#NT"), and I was thinking "oh shit that will piss her off, better grab it" so I grabbed the key, bearing in mind I am holding my wallet I thought it would be ok, and she glares at me again and says "You get that AFTER YOU PAY THE BILL, NOT BEFORE!"

I got the hell out of there, I just can't stand people who feel they have to talk down to you. Screw you lady.

Oh, and I should mention the week before, I took my bike in for a new chain and they told me to take the Triumph Scrambler for the day as a loaner and I should also go for a ride at lunchtime if I could, so I figured if a whole day is OK then an hour should be. Never felt so humiliated by a bike shop employee in my life!

Mate, I can't stand that school teacher shit. Would probably have called her quite a few unpleasantries on my way out! It's not the best way to deal with it, but then again I'm not a smart man

 

[Marbro_za]

she wont last very long there man

Tell the sales guy, you unfortunately wont be buying a bike from them and will be taking your business elsewhere, Due to her attitude.
Is it a chain? or a private store?

 

[Ride_NZ]

she wont last very long there man

Tell the sales guy, you unfortunately wont be buying a bike from them and will be taking your business elsewhere, Due to her attitude.
Is it a chain? or a private store?

I have already bought elsewhere. It's a private shop, in this city of 150,000 people there are four large bike shops, bizarrely enough all right next door to each other. The place I am talking about is the local Kawasaki / Triumph / Ducati dealer so they should be fairly well off but I get the feeling that the place got run into the ground by the last owners who just sold the business recently.

 

[TriumfAnt]

That's why we have Yelp. Get on there and let everyone know what a bitch she is, but don't forget to mention how the other guys are fine.

 

[SighBored]

Wow, what a bitch. I wouldn't bother apologizing, and wouldn't have dragged the sales person into the mix saying "he said I could" (although he did), because it will get him in trouble later too. I would just brush it off in front of her face as a simple misunderstanding, probably right around that time think about ticking her off about her shitty attitude, and also if I should be speaking to the manager instead about her poor behavior.

Keeping true to topic, went for an open to public test ride, no need to cozy up to any shop people and free range to try any (or all) of the test bikes lined up. I wish I could've tested them all but the wait/queue for turn was long. Ended up just trying two, the S1000RR and S1000XR. Nice test route & decent sized group, marshals were cool and allow you to ride hard (not having to stay in the group all the time).

As mentioned before, for these type of occasions, they need you to sign indemnity forms, so that they are off the hook should you get hurt, and you are off the hook should the bike gets damaged (shop insurance will handle that), during the course of the test ride.

Pretty fun stuff as long as the test route is adequate. Some of the test rides are just a slow ride in the parking lot, those are crap in my opinion, you can't really feel the bike at all.

 

[40Yrold]

I think in the USA, best thing to do is go to the websites for the metric bikes, and look for all the demo days
and sign up for them.
If you sign up for their emails when it asks when are you planning to purchase your next bike enter in the next 6 to 12 months.

Most local dealers around me won't let sport bikes out on test rides at all for anyone.

 

[Raven]

Sign up at every dealership you can find in your area and watch for demo days. Attend large motorcycle events (AMA VMD or AMA MotoGP, for instance) and look for the demo tents. Last year I was able to get on some KTM at AMA VMD. Had I know more at the time, I would have also signed up for the BMW demos as well. Both manufactures had their full lineup for demo, and it cost nothing.