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- Joined
- Feb 16, 2013
- Messages
- 323
- Location
- Rochester, MI
At least some dealers let you test ride panigales... When i bought it i was comparing it to the rsv4 factory and F4, and no dealer would even let me test ride one of those. You're just expected to buy them without ever riding them
Does a test ride really tell you you what you need to know about a prospective new bike??? I am not sure it really does....
Your talking about long term issues a test drive will not address.
I didnt even test drive one. I didnt need too.
I do think you have a point that research before any purchase is mandatory, but that really goes without saying.
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2013
- Messages
- 3,348
- Location
- Los Angeles
Since I've purchased all 4 of my bikes I've ever owned based on looks alone, a test ride wasn't necessary. Realistically speaking, I'm not tracking it to its limits on any bike so therefore there's no need for a test ride. Fact is, I'll never reach the limits of any sportbike. Supersport or superbike.....none of them will have ...... handling. Some better than others but most average riders won't be able to tell the difference on a test ride, especially since majority of test rides just consist of riding in the streets or on a freeway. Hard to put the suspension to any kinda test.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2011
- Messages
- 199
- Location
- LaGrange, KY
As I sit down and contemplate this, I can honestly say that In the over 40 bikes I have owned I only test road two. The very first bike I bought, which was used and my second Ducati, only becuase I bought a demo. It doesn't matter what manufacturer it was, No test rides. All sportbikes, everyone.
I guess things are changing, but that was just the way it had always been.
I guess things are changing, but that was just the way it had always been.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2013
- Messages
- 1,069
- Location
- Lawrenceville, GA
heh.
Was offered a test ride on a Pani by a dealer but I declined. Primarily because I knew I'd be hooked and would want to take one home (I was only there that day to have some service done on my 748)
Turns out that was no defense. I ended up bringing one home anyways. Told the wife "It followed me home! Can we keep it?"
Was offered a test ride on a Pani by a dealer but I declined. Primarily because I knew I'd be hooked and would want to take one home (I was only there that day to have some service done on my 748)
Turns out that was no defense. I ended up bringing one home anyways. Told the wife "It followed me home! Can we keep it?"
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2012
- Messages
- 309
- Location
- south florida
I test rode this bike twice and hated it. Riding city streets with stop and go is exactly what this bike was NOT designed for. I bought it a month later anyway(S) versus the base which I demoed.
The first REAL ride on the S and I knew I made the right decision
The first REAL ride on the S and I knew I made the right decision
- Joined
- May 4, 2013
- Messages
- 199
- Location
- Texas
Out of about 15 bikes I have only test rode one and I almost killed myself. It was in the 90s and it was a 1985 CR500 punched out to 580 or 600 or something. I didn't buy it. Every other purchase except one has been new.
- Joined
- May 31, 2012
- Messages
- 5,510
- Location
- South Florida
funny you should say that i was at an aprillia stealership this weekend. they let me sit on the rsv4 aprc factory but said no test rides because the stealership has to buy the bike. i was like you expect me to plunk down 20k without a test ride i said sorry i did that once never again. he said what do you mean i said i have a panigale s. he asked you dont like it? i said i love it just some growing pains then he claimed that the aprilla was the ferrari of bikes .
- Joined
- May 15, 2012
- Messages
- 97
- Location
- Gilbert, AZ
Depends where your test ride is. I've bought several bikes from Pro Italia when I didn't really intend to at the time because of the test ride. They're in the foot hills of Southern California so you can really get a feel of how a 1198 vs. a MV vs a RSV4 feels on tight mountain roads, side streets and freeways.
You bet!
You bet!
I hate to say it, but it crushed at least 99.9% of the garbage...er, um, I mean, information, posted on the forums....Not our forum, of course,...You know, those other forums.
Seriously, though, I went in there thinking,
1. can I get over the heat issue?
2. can I deal with the herky-jerky engine?
3. can I put anywhere close to 70,000 miles on this bike, like on my 954RR?
4. can I accept that the bike will fall apart, leak itself dry, and refuse to start?
Guess what? I left there thinking...
I gotta get my hands on one o' these!!!
So, yes, after more than a year of researching the bike and scouring the forums, the test ride minimized the negatives, dispelled the myths, and squelched the exaggerations.
May not be perfect, but I got no regrets.
Does a test ride really tell you you what you need to know about a prospective new bike??? I am not sure it really does....
You bet!
I hate to say it, but it crushed at least 99.9% of the garbage...er, um, I mean, information, posted on the forums
....Not our forum, of course,...You know, those other forums.Seriously, though, I went in there thinking,
1. can I get over the heat issue?
2. can I deal with the herky-jerky engine?
3. can I put anywhere close to 70,000 miles on this bike, like on my 954RR?
4. can I accept that the bike will fall apart, leak itself dry, and refuse to start?
Guess what? I left there thinking...
I gotta get my hands on one o' these!!!
So, yes, after more than a year of researching the bike and scouring the forums, the test ride minimized the negatives, dispelled the myths, and squelched the exaggerations.
May not be perfect, but I got no regrets.
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