Anyone bought a bike without a test ride

[Steve398]

I was out on a coffee meet with some friends yesterday and discovered one of them had just bought a brand new model Moto Morini without a test ride, or even actually seeing it in the flesh.
I would add at this point that he’s had the marque before and been pleased with them, however, he’s also had more different bikes than years that he’s been riding thus indicating some rapid changes of mind!

My personal point of view is that I’d never buy any bike without a test ride… how about you?

[Doctor T]

I bought my Himalayan without a test ride. Without seeing the bike is odd. I like to know what my pennies are buying

[emlevy]

I’ve bought a lot of new bikes from dealerships and have never asked for or requested a test ride. I’ve also bought a lot of used bikes (and cars) online, sight-unseen, and never had an issue.

[Nick Evans]

Went from 2009 RT to 2018 RT without ever having ridden one, and all online.

[Elkinell]

I bought my current RT without test riding the actual bike itself because I'd been lent the demo RT when my K1600 was in for service in December. Then it was just waiting for the right RT to show up with the top box and without all the radio gubbins.

[7vwh]

I’ve bought a Kawasaki GT550 (sold after 3 years), Suzuki bandit600 (9years), Yamaha Fazer 1000 (9years) and BMW R1200RT LC (8 1/2 years and current bike) brand new from dealers without riding any of them, the decision based purely on reviews in magazines. Haven’t regretted any of them.

[Casbar]

Bought 1 RT and a £28k Harley previously without a test ride or seeing the bikes. Also bought my latest car the same way

[simbo]

I bought my RT without a test ride. I remember quite well riding it away from the guys house and thinking "Feck me! wtf have a bought here?" After about 6 Months I'd bonded with the bike and realised what a good machine it was. I bought my first GS after seeing it on Williams website and doing the deal over the Phone and having it delivered, I bought me second GS in the same way, and I've just bought my Third GS after visiting Williams and not managing to strike a deal on the day but got the deal I wanted on the phone over the course of a few days later. So in a few days I'll have a 23 plate GS Rallye in my garage

Ps. I've never really even thought about riding anything else since owning a GS, There's nothing that even comes close

My Xmax300 Scooter puts a smile on my face everytime I ride though

[Stu]

Ps. I've never really even thought about riding anything else since owning a GS, There's nothing that even comes close

Not even an RT..............

[simbo]

Not even an RT..............

The RT came a close 2nd. It's a brilliant bike without doubt! I just don't think it has the excitement/lightness/nimbleness/roominess or fun factor of the GS. Yes, it has great weather protection, but going on holiday and Sunday rides in late 20's degrees, who needs weather protection?

[Stu]

The RT came a close 2nd. It's a brilliant bike without doubt! I just don't think it has the excitement/lightness/nimbleness/roominess or fun factor of the GS. Yes, it has great weather protection, but going on holiday and Sunday rides in late 20's degrees, who needs weather protection?

Never ridden a GS so can't compare the two but the GS is what I wanted but the short arse who climbs on the back with me claims she couldn't get on one

I have to say though the RT is the best handling bike I have owned and feels light and nimble compared to some I have had.

As for the weather protection you can regulate that with the screen but my hands do get hot in summer! There is times I ride with my hands out to cool them down

[Doctor T]

The only time i don't like my RT is when the weather is baking and i look at all the naked bikes. Riding in France a couple of years back i had to remove the screen just to stop me from overheating.

[Steve398]

I’ve found that the BMW sports screen gives me plenty of breeze in the hot temps, but fully raised also gives me some wind protection as well.
Fortunately I bought it 2nd hand and so didn’t have to bear the brunt of the full price!

[Marvin2Shoes]

I bought my RT after a very comprehensive test ride. Hundreds of kilometres later the ABS fault surfaces. Then a second time after about 1200kms. At this point I purchased a motoscan and discovered that a pressure sensor fault in ABS unit means buying a new ABS unit + installation. With the benefit of hindsight I wish I had never bought it.

[Steve398]

I bought my RT after a very comprehensive test ride. Hundreds of kilometres later the ABS fault surfaces. Then a second time after about 1200kms. At this point I purchased a motoscan and discovered that a pressure sensor fault in ABS unit means buying a new ABS unit + installation. With the benefit of hindsight I wish I had never bought it.

That’s bad luck, but nothing that a test ride/blind purchase would have revealed.
My point in starting the thread was my surprise that someone would spend almost £7000 on a completely new bike that he’d never seen in the flesh, sat on in a showroom, or seen reviewed.
I’ve ridden many bikes in my motorcycling life, some I’ve loved and others not so much.
In my search for a successor to the Pan 1300, I needed a long distance tourer that had to achieve a combination of comfort for the two of us, reliability(?), be fun to ride, and functional. I test rode about 12 bikes over 3 years before I settled on the RT LC as it was the only one that ticked all the boxes. There was nothing particularly wrong with any of the others (including a GS Simbo ) but not right for us. I honestly believe I couldn’t have achieved that without test rides, particularly as my wife also had to like the seating position/comfort levels of the pillion seat.
I accept that my friend Gerry swaps his bikes every year and rarely does any great mileage on them, so it’s perhaps not a big thing if he picks one he doesn’t like. I had the ST1300 eleven years and don’t plan to change the RT unless circumstances force me.