The test non-ride

Well, the Norge blew me away at the motor show enough to make me decide
to test ride it.

Big decision for someone who hasn't bought a new bike since 1982. But I'm
making good money, the insurance quote was good, the credit union will
come to the party with a cheap loan, let's start the ball rolling. Is it
10 grand better than the 750, and 20 grand better than the current mount?

So I filled in the form at the Guzzi website, and waited.

A gentleman from Guzzi emailed me and said someone would contact me.

Someone did, being a Reza Vatandoust who apparently runs this new scooter
shop at Homebush called Motorino.

He emails me and says "please contact me". So I ring them and ask for
a test ride.

He asks when, and I say "well, I'll want at least an hour, and ride
it at various speeds and on various roads".

Silence at the other end.

"We don't normally do that" he says.

"How else can I evaluate a very expensive touring bike? I need to know
what it is like at speed, and how it feels on a long ride."

He said he had to talk to someone and would get back to me.

Well, 2 days pass, no contact.

I call again, he's "not available" and will contact me.

Another 2 days pass and I get an email. (Note, he has my mobile, it
was on the form, the other shop I arranged a testride at could use a
phone....)

They only allow a 15 min ride and require a 5 grand credit card
deposit![1]

Well, I can tell when someone doesn't want to sell a motorcycle. I can
also tell when someone knows three fifths of bugger all about what they
are selling. I had a suspicion of that when I talked to him briefly at
the show (not to mention he sort of left me feeling like I wanted to
wash my hands), and now I'm sure of it.

So I won't be dealing with that shop for anything. Not for anything
Guzzi related, not for anything to do with my current scooter or
anything to do with any replacement for it, not for anything at all.

There are good shops in Sydney who know what customer service is, can
use a phone, and have some vague idea about motorcycles after all.
Why give patronage to one that has trouble with all the above?

I have to contrast this to the JSG rep from Melbourne who was at the
motor show and tells his dealers to tell the test riders "Go on, don't
want to see you for at least 4 hours".

I will be on the blower to JSG on Monday, be interesting to hear what
they say. I somehow think that they won't sell many Norges through
that shop unless the owner wises up.

But then what do I know, not as if I know much about people who buy
Guzzis.

I suspect a call to Aitkens is in order. The few times I've spoken to
bods from there they seemed to have some idea.

I want to see lots of people on Guzzis. Can't see this shower helping
that to happen.

Zebee

[1] Not sign an insurance excess. Now, do they figure I don't have the
money? Do they think if I don't want to give them 5 grand on a credit
card that they can tie up for a week or two (as those liens can take
ages to come off) that I don't have the money? Do they think they'll
get many test rides happening with that? Or didn't they have the guts
to say "piss off you are obviously only a tyre kicker" even in email?

Is this common in test rides?

 

Not in my experience, but then I've never asked for test ride on a
low-volume bike.

 

I have come across it once, the shop wanted not only a photo copy of my
licence and me to sign an agreement to meet the insurance excess (of
about $3000 from memory), but a credit card imprint so that if I dropped
the bike they could straight away deduct the excess from my credit card.

I asked "what if the damage doesn't come to $3000?" and "will you return
the credit card imprint afterwards?" and "why are you the first shop
I've gone for a test ride at that requires a credit card imprint?"

After a few minutes I started walking out (without having had a test
ride) and the sales droid calls out "you aren't a genuine buyer anyway
if you won't sign this!". I turned around and said "how about I ride
back here tommorow on the new bike and show you the sale you missed!"

By this time I was rather peeved and left.

It wasn't tommorow it was next week, but I made a point of riding the
bike (which I'd bought in Melbourne) up to the shop, parked out the
front and walked in... where I got much (admittedly petty) satisfaction
in pointing out my new bike to the sales droid (who looked rather
gobsmacked). I strongly believe he thought he'd never see me again.

That shop (the former, not current) Kawasaki dealer in Bendigo
eventually lost their dealership and ended up closing down.

I can't say I (or many other people) miss them much


G-S

 

boy... are you going to rot in hell!!!

Johno

ber mate?

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:40:35 +1100

Heh. My suspicion is they wouldn't know what two wheels was.

On the other hand, think of all the magazine inches Clem gets...

Zebee

 

It total about a tenth of what you got in your TW feature-article Zebee!

 

One photo centre fold of Santa Clem would get you back in front Clem!


G-S

 

I remember when I brought my first Triumph. I was looking around and at the
Sprint and the owner said " take it for the weekend"

Well many years later and I am on my 4th bike from Citycoast Motorcycles

 

I once had an MV Augusta for a weekend test ride, picked it up on Friday
afternoon and brought it back on the Monday morning.

Did not buy the bike but found a really good Chiropractor as a result.

Boxer

 

Oh my poor back


One thing I wont do is buy a demo bike.

 

Yes, Probably not $5000, $2000 is more common. Maybe their insurance
company imposes this restriction. Maybe they use it to deter wankers.

The only experience I have had with a bike shop taking such a step was
when I hired a bike from Garner Motorcycles in Melbourne. They
requested authorisation for $2000 on my credit card when I collected the
bike, then rang the cr card people back and cancelled the authorisation
when I returned the bike, so the money wasn't tied up for an
unreasonable amount of time.

Nev..
'04 CBR1100XX

 

*snip*

Seems to vary over here too, although what varies it seems a little
imprecise.
I've had test rides on a variety of bikes with the "leave your licence
or photocopy" clause, twice been asked to sign a disclaimer on
insurance and on a few occasions been told "you've only got it for an
hour".
On other occasions it's been a point blank "no" at which point I just
said I'd go elsewhere (and did) I was also once told that I could have
a test ride on a Monster (sorry, Mmmmmmonster - just in case she's
still reading aus.moto...) provided I brought proof that I had the
cash to actually buy one. Mind you that was when they were first
launched.
Once, notably, on arriving back at the dealers after the basic hour
test was told "bugger off back out - you've not ridden it long enough
yet"
So I did.
I have to say that buying my Guzzi was an instance where a brief
testride would have actually persuaded me not to buy it! It took about
a fortnight to get the feel of it and develop "the grin".

Mates of mine who get to know the dealership salesmen get long
testrides (weekenders) with little or no formality, although
sometimes this will depend on the bike in question.
It's also the norm for them to get nice shiny demo's while their bikes
are in for service or repair.

I suppose it's very much a case of individual salesmen/dealers
procedures, also whether they like the look of you; there's always
going to be the little hitlers and the good guys.
Seeing as there are only a finite number of dealerships in each state
and many folks will have experience of some of them, why not have a
scoring system for them based on their approach to the buyer, could
post it up somewhere as a reference, of course with the proviso that
YMMV.

Jeffles

 

should've sued the bike shop

 

When you start being logical like that, it seems quite difficult to
upgrade to a new bike. ;-)

regards,
CrazyCam

who really liked the Triumph Speed Triple, but couldn't see it 15 grand
better than the Hornet.

 

Its bullshit really!

Not only should they offer a long test ride, weekend effort at least,
they should refund your money after 7 days if your not satisfied with
your purchase.

The sooner Piaggio set up a factory run effort in australia [with all
its many brands] the better,. back that up with complete-line factory
owned and run dealerships, they can then sell without 2 margins in the
selling food_chain, offer out of the world service at the best price
possible

Its time to turn the heat up on the Jappers

My nonno is 94YO he goes on and on about MotoGuzzi [they had them in
the war] a legend of a brand and glad its 100% Italian again [looking
foward to them racing again too]

 

I have never had any trouble getting extended test rides, but this is mainly
due to the dealers knowing me. I can understand a dealers reluctance to
allow extended test rides on new models to customers they do not know.
Additionally I understand that the dealers insuracne company may have a lot
of say in the dealers test ride policy.

Boxer

 

I've bought four new Guzzis for me, two for Helen. Never had a testride.

Theo

 

Are you now SensibleCam? I've only test ridden one of my bikes before
purchase. That was the XS650.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 08:21:01 +0800

yeah, but you are a) utterly one-eyed and b) not short.

I have two serious reservations besides the money, which are fairing
fit and seat comfort.

I have found that fairing fit isn't a quick thing to determine,I've
been OK for 20 mins then the buffetting or whatever wears me down.

On a $3k bike it doesn't matter and I can mess with it anyway. On a
27k bike it does.

Zebee

 

I totally agree, a touring bike can be great for a 30 minute ride or really
disappointing, that is not its natural environment. My 1994 K1100LT BMW is a
bike that many would hate after a short test ride, it requires a full day in
the saddle to fully appreciate its qualities and shortcomings.

When you are going to spend nearly $30,000 on any bike you must get the
decision right as the cost of buying one and having to unload it within 6
months is very high (perhaps $10,000 depreciation). I would love a new bike
that fills the role of comfortable long distance tourer (450 kilometre
range) that is capable on some dirt roads and rally entrances, can handle
the occasional mountain run for morning coffee, has great brakes (and ABS)
good handling is under 230 kg fully fuelled and does not cost an arm and a
leg to service (rule out Ducatis).

Considering BMW R1200GS Adventure, any other suggestions?

Boxer