General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

No test rides?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 17, 2011 | 03:59 PM
  #41  
toocruisin''s Avatar
toocruisin'
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 184
Likes: 2
From: Long Island, NY
Default It's funny...

..but I've bought and sold seven bikes without getting or giving a test ride; to be honest no-one ever asked to test ride my bikes before purchase. Ironically before I purchased my current bike, the owner offered a test ride (which really surprised me, and I declined). Paul
 
Old Jan 17, 2011 | 04:18 PM
  #42  
oct1949's Avatar
oct1949
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Default

Have thought about this... How to handle it....
We all have different abilities of riding...

Thinking I'd also prob have anyone put the cash in hand before riding off on mine.

I had a cousin buy a brand new UC this past summer, having ridden a Su-Zoo-key for 4yrs.. He test rode it fine,, then after paying cash for it He dropped it in the HD lot before he got to the street on the way home...

Thank god the for the guards, they worked as supposed too as he was stopped and it fell over on him. The guards didn't let his bike go over very far.

He got his left foot caught in the lowers and didn't get his foot down. Again thank god, no damage, not even a scratch in the chrome guards.

Butttt.... I'd for sure want something if someone took off on my bike....
 
Old Jan 17, 2011 | 06:43 PM
  #43  
ogh11756's Avatar
ogh11756
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: NW Pennsylvania
Default

It is a big gamble for a seller whether a dealer or private. You get alot of noobs shopping for a bike, they can say they have been riding for years, take it for a spin and lay it down or worse.
To be honest, the two bikes i have bought were without a test ride. I didn't feel comfortable asking the seller to let me take an $8000 bike for a spin. At least it was a dealer i trusted and the bike looked clean, ran smooth at a stand still, and i got an agreement to take it back if i discovered mechanical issues after buying it. Not sure but there might be a insurance liability with test rides also.
 
Old Jan 17, 2011 | 06:58 PM
  #44  
daltrey's Avatar
daltrey
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 2
From: Corinth, MS
Default

Originally Posted by jeffreydsilver
I would never buy a used bike, car or boat without a test ride or inspection of some kind. It only takes a short ride, on a bike or in a car, to get a "feel" for how tight/well taken car of the vehicle is. On the other hand I can understand the sellers point of view. Alot of a-holes out there looking to have a good time on your nickel.
BUT - that being said - NO TEST RIDE/NO SALE!!!
Not interested in buying someone elses pile of crap.
I've offered to meet the buyer at his mechanics and let his mechanic look it over on his dime. That way at least I know he is serious and not wasting my time. I've also had seller's meet me at my mechanics shop. There will always be buyers and sellers and it's never taken me over a week to sell anything on craigslist.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mcgee10
General Harley Davidson Chat
140
Sep 8, 2023 04:58 PM
Dan D.
General Harley Davidson Chat
10
Jun 21, 2019 06:18 PM
crawdad
General Harley Davidson Chat
39
Apr 16, 2015 03:02 PM
charloo
General Harley Davidson Chat
28
Mar 12, 2014 10:29 PM
mike56
General Harley Davidson Chat
18
Apr 18, 2012 10:15 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:24 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE