Buying a new bike

[clonmore1]

My resto is really taking way too long, I had a local indie BMW specialist take the bike to put everything back together and get the old girl tested ready to ride.

With one thing and another, it's not been finished yet.

So I am in the market for a bike to ride around on.

I have visited a fair few 'dealers' ranging from big mult-franchise to small businesss selling s/hand bikes. The variation in advice, friendliness and service levels has been an interesting experience.

Not sure what it is like over in the States, but many dealers here do not and will not offer test rides, how can they expect you to hand over ££/$$ without riding the bike first!

I know there are many 'test' pilots around, but surely, you need to try before you buy?

Anybody else experienced anything similar?

[Matt Chapter]

I have not yet bought a new from the dealer bike, and I might not ever.  Most personal sales are test rides only with cash in hand.  However, there are usually events you can find a test ride at.  Downside there is that you're test riding a test ride sled, with who knows what maintenance level.  I saw both Harley and BMW doing test rides at COTA during the MotoGP races this year, and the local Duc shop did a test ride event recently.

Nothing from the big 4 that I've heard of locally.

[wilcom]

The bikes of today will get you in trouble a lot faster than those of yesteryear and there are too many lawyers looking for a case.

Today you would have to fork over your license with proper endorsement, a copy of your insurance, have and use ATGATT, sign a waiver that you would not hold the dealer liable of anything...........and some little twit would find a way to still sue you for everything you have anyway

I remember when I took a test ride on the "NEW" Honda 450 with the torsion bar valves and when the Honda 750 came out,  the dealer tossed me the keys and let me go off on a 15 minute test ride. Naturally, no helmet no jacket, we were all invincible back then LOL

Those were the days.....................

[Bob_Roller]

I got an email form the BMW that I do business with two weeks ago, they had an ' Oktoberfest '  gathering this last Saturday, it said that test rides were available for the bikes they sell, BMW, Victory, Indian and Vespa .

So I guess they still do have test rides, at least on occasion .

I'll be at  the dealer in the next week, need to get coolant for my BMW cage, about 60% the BMW car dealership .

I'll ask if you can just  walk in and ask for a test ride .

[clonmore1]

Got my eye on an 84 R80st, anybody got any experience with one of these?

[Bob_Roller]

A coworker had one and was quite pleased with it .

A lot of parts are compatible with the R65 bikes .

[Tony Smith]

Got my eye on an 84 R80st, anybody got any experience with one of these?

In a word bulletproof. Has the same monolever as the G/S but with a shorter shock so it doesn't articulate it anywhere as much as the G/S - the instruments should look familar to you :-) The forks are an improved version of the R65 forks and not a shortened version of the G/S forks.

The high exhaust means that you need period G/s luggage (if that is your thing) with the smaller LHS pannier.

The R80 engine is the pick of the airheads for smoothness and the extra power (over say the R65) is nice to have whilst getting pretty much the same mileage as an R65.

Engine wise the first model ST came out in 1982 so it has the potential to be caught up in BMW's unleaded fuel debacle - although to be honest those problems should be long sorted by now.  The model year-span also can include the dread gearbox circlip problem - but again there are circlip free boxes out there that have done hundreds of thousands of kilometers  trouble free (it is just that if that one bites you the new input shaft is an eye-watering price.

All in all a good solid model - albeit that as a "bitzer" things ca get awkward if you need to replace things like say the rear mudguard, side covers etc (and you already know what an R65 instrument surround costs).

I could have bought one of these a couple of years ago with a blown gearbox and an obviously tired engine. At the time I didn't want another project as project to stand the R65 back up was busy costing me more than twice my original estimate. I passed but have regretted it ever since - the rareity of the model will mean that eventually they will command a slightly higher price than the "cooking model" R80, but you will probably have to wait a while.

[clonmore1]

Thanks for the input Tony, appreciated.

It's an 84 model, all fixtures/fittings are present, 54k miles and the paintwork has just been professionally done.

It's a solid bike to fettle, but allows me a machine to ride whilst I get the 65 completed over the winter.

Interesting comments re future value, the early G/S models are showing very strong ££ as the collectors pick them up (I have seen one for £16k), so it could be a good longer term purchase as well as a lot of fun.

[Barry]

I've been trying to think back about this test ride thing. I've only ever bought 3 new bikes in 45 years and in no case was I offered a test ride.

On several used bikes it's usually been you have to pay up front on the understanding that you if you don't like it on the test ride the money is returned. I only ever asked for my money back on a Suzuki 2 stroke which I couldn't come to terms with.  

New bikes bought without a test drive were:

1st one a 1975 T140V bought from London for the give away price  of £749 because being right foot gear change they were a failed US export order. I wasn't about to travel 200 miles and not bring the bike home.

2nd one was a 76 Z900 for £1300 - not as if they are going to give test rides to just anyone on a bike like that and in any case I remember being terrified of the thing so I wouldn't have asked.  The first ride home was fine though.

3rd one (post wedlock) was a step down to an 82 Suzuki GN400 single for £749. Being kick start only that was a slow seller and another give away price as 125's cost the same and all of the 250 twins at the time were £900 or more. I loved it and kept it 14 years.


I don't think I would buy a new bike now without a test ride. How else would I know if it was better than an airhead !

[nhmaf]

Most places I have been to allowed test rides, though you do have to have full gear, sign a waiver, show your insurance and drivers license card.. and it helps greatly if you ride in on a bike that is clearly not a 'learner' type of bike.   The only bike I have ever bought new from a dealer (Kawi Concours) I did get to test ride that very bike for ~20 minutes.   I got back to the shop and told them I'd take it.   But some dealers are alot more "coy" - particularly Harley dealers, if you don't show up on a high dollar Harley that they previously sold to you.

[clonmore1]

I have been threatening the dealers I visit with upcoming attendance at Motorcycle 'live', what is probably the biggest motorcycle show in the U.K.

They know that all the major manufacturers are there showing the latest kit and interesting this year, the show is offering test rides! So, all being well, I will be able to throw my leg over a few different models

[clonmore1]

Attended Motorcycle Live last week, visited all the major manufacturers and complained of the dealers attitude to test rides.

Have now been called by ALL the dealers representing the big brands, have so far ridden the Triumph Street Triple (very nice) and the Z800. Next week is Suzuki and Yamaha.

Hmm, I wonder what's changed with the attitude...

[Bob_Roller]

Slow motorcycle sales worldwide

[clonmore1]

101,000k new units this year far, up 8.7% on last year.

The manufacturers were concerned with dealer response to test rides, I spoke to Kawasaki and complained about my local dealer who are useless, no stock, no interest, they are moving into the 'push iron' market.

Got called my one of the other dealers about 20 miles away and offered a test ride that day!

Seems to be a bigger problem than first realised!