iaskyoutel
I'm 20 and just gotten my motorcycle license, I took the MSF course and passed today (YAY!!)
I have bought a few cars and test driving is no big deal, but what is the protocol for bikes? will dealers let me test drive? will private sellers?
is it normal or test drive a bike?
I am stuck between a ninja 250 and a GS500e/f
I was hoping to take each for a boot on the highway to see if the ninja has enough balls for my commute (40 minutes highway)
thanks in advance for your explanations of the rules of buying a bike and test driving, I welcome and comments/wisdom
Cheers.
Answer
It's a two-way street. As a seller, I rarely let a prospective buyer ride a bike. When I do, It is because I know the buyer and have seen him/her ride. A 20-year-old new rider would not get a test ride on one of my bikes. I did let a Harley rider try out my KLR once, and he ended up buying one for him and one for his wife, but I wasn't selling, and gained nothing except the satisfaction of making a convert.
OTOH, I expect a test ride of a used bike, and usually get it. However, if a seller were hesitant about letting a stranger ride his bike, it would not offend me, and would not stop me from buying a bike I wanted. If I can hear it run, that is usually enough to learn what I need to know. There are other ways to tell about the condition of a bike without riding it. But if the seller offers the ride, as most do, I am glad to take it. For a lot of people, the test ride is part of the ritual.
Although I have never had a test ride on any of the new or used bikes I bought from a dealer, I have test-ridden a lot of new bikes. Dealers and manufacturers know that test rides are a good way to sell bikes, and often bring a truckload to large rallies. Sometimes a manufacturer will bring a bunch of bikes to a dealership and sponsor an afternoon of test rides.
Sometimes a dealer will throw me the keys of a bike he thinks I might be interested in, hoping that a two- or three-hour ride will hook me. Like a crack dealer outside the school yard "the first taste is free" I do happen to be an addict, and have been sorely tempted, but have yet to buy one that way. The same dealers will not necessarily offer a test ride to anyone who comes in off the street. There are too many stories about the guy who got on a test bike, lost his mind as he turned the key, pinned the throttle in the parking lot, rocketed across the street into car lot and T-boned a new Escalade.
While a test ride might be fun, it is not essential in buying a bike. You can gather enough information from reading the magazine road tests, and from following the marque forums and other sources on the internet. If you spend a little time there, you will learn whose opinions you can rely on and who is blowing smoke.
As to your quest, I can't give you a first-hand opinion of the Ninja 250, because I have never ridden one. I know a few who have, however, and have read enough to be pretty sure it will haul you at freeway speeds. I have ridden the GS500 as well as a number of its predecessors, and can tell you it is a nice little bike, one that I would own.
It's a two-way street. As a seller, I rarely let a prospective buyer ride a bike. When I do, It is because I know the buyer and have seen him/her ride. A 20-year-old new rider would not get a test ride on one of my bikes. I did let a Harley rider try out my KLR once, and he ended up buying one for him and one for his wife, but I wasn't selling, and gained nothing except the satisfaction of making a convert.
OTOH, I expect a test ride of a used bike, and usually get it. However, if a seller were hesitant about letting a stranger ride his bike, it would not offend me, and would not stop me from buying a bike I wanted. If I can hear it run, that is usually enough to learn what I need to know. There are other ways to tell about the condition of a bike without riding it. But if the seller offers the ride, as most do, I am glad to take it. For a lot of people, the test ride is part of the ritual.
Although I have never had a test ride on any of the new or used bikes I bought from a dealer, I have test-ridden a lot of new bikes. Dealers and manufacturers know that test rides are a good way to sell bikes, and often bring a truckload to large rallies. Sometimes a manufacturer will bring a bunch of bikes to a dealership and sponsor an afternoon of test rides.
Sometimes a dealer will throw me the keys of a bike he thinks I might be interested in, hoping that a two- or three-hour ride will hook me. Like a crack dealer outside the school yard "the first taste is free" I do happen to be an addict, and have been sorely tempted, but have yet to buy one that way. The same dealers will not necessarily offer a test ride to anyone who comes in off the street. There are too many stories about the guy who got on a test bike, lost his mind as he turned the key, pinned the throttle in the parking lot, rocketed across the street into car lot and T-boned a new Escalade.
While a test ride might be fun, it is not essential in buying a bike. You can gather enough information from reading the magazine road tests, and from following the marque forums and other sources on the internet. If you spend a little time there, you will learn whose opinions you can rely on and who is blowing smoke.
As to your quest, I can't give you a first-hand opinion of the Ninja 250, because I have never ridden one. I know a few who have, however, and have read enough to be pretty sure it will haul you at freeway speeds. I have ridden the GS500 as well as a number of its predecessors, and can tell you it is a nice little bike, one that I would own.
Hey New Yorkers! Why do you ride your Bike instead of driving?
Celtic
Hey everybody! I'm doing a little personal study. I've recently moved to Brooklyn and have noticed a lot of Bike lanes and people riding bikes to get from A to B! Why do you guys choose to ride your bike instead of taking a taxi or hopping on the subway/bus lines?
Those of you who choose to take the bus/ subway/ drive/ taxi, why do you choose to do that?
I'm thinking of joining the brigade on bikes because it looks like it's more enjoyable but i'm kinda nervous about getting hit by a car, bus. Could some of you help me out, what are the true benefits of it?
Thanks a lot!
-Mike
Answer
Lots of people love to ride bike, so it's easier than waiting for bus/subway, or getting stuck in traffic.
On bicycle, you can easily maneuver through traffic.
Bicycle are green.
Even thought it's law that all bicycles and pedicabs must obey the rule of the roads just like motor vehicles, but all these cyclists and pedicabs do not obey the rule of road, so it's very dangerous when cyclist rides bike on sidewalk, going the wrong way.
All the cyclists who obey the traffic law are Transportation Alternative, or other good cyclists.
NYCDOT was suppose to launce new program called CitiBike, where people could go to bike station, and return at any bike station, however this got postpone.
There are lots of bike lanes, however ignorant people on bike choose to ride with traffic other than bike lane.
In Manhattan, if you yield "going the wrong way", "red light", they just say "shut up."
They also cursed.
Also delivery people on bike is also dangerous and properly want to get their order quick as possible.
There was article on some newspaper, they want to introduce bill to deliveryman/woman on bike to follow the rule of road. If they do not, it allowes NYCDOT to give fine or ticket to owner of restraunt, including safety requirment.
Lots of people love to ride bike, so it's easier than waiting for bus/subway, or getting stuck in traffic.
On bicycle, you can easily maneuver through traffic.
Bicycle are green.
Even thought it's law that all bicycles and pedicabs must obey the rule of the roads just like motor vehicles, but all these cyclists and pedicabs do not obey the rule of road, so it's very dangerous when cyclist rides bike on sidewalk, going the wrong way.
All the cyclists who obey the traffic law are Transportation Alternative, or other good cyclists.
NYCDOT was suppose to launce new program called CitiBike, where people could go to bike station, and return at any bike station, however this got postpone.
There are lots of bike lanes, however ignorant people on bike choose to ride with traffic other than bike lane.
In Manhattan, if you yield "going the wrong way", "red light", they just say "shut up."
They also cursed.
Also delivery people on bike is also dangerous and properly want to get their order quick as possible.
There was article on some newspaper, they want to introduce bill to deliveryman/woman on bike to follow the rule of road. If they do not, it allowes NYCDOT to give fine or ticket to owner of restraunt, including safety requirment.
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