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

Anyone else NOT test ride their bike before buying it?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 05:09 PM
  #21  
mpr3369's Avatar
mpr3369
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 19
From: Central Florida
Default

I didn't test ride my street glide. It was exactly what I wanted though so I bought it. Now I'm looking at the road glide. I test rode the special twice and the ultra twice while at bike week. I'm going to rent one for a weekend and take it everywhere I would typically ride and test it before I buy one. But the rides at bike week pretty much have me sold!
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 05:14 PM
  #22  
shredder22's Avatar
shredder22
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 590
Likes: 3
From: NH
Default

Never been on a Haley before, walked into the dealer sat on my Kinger the salesman asked me if I wanted to test ride I said no then proceeded pay cash. Where I picked up the bike at the dealer they have a driveway that is one way going around the building from the showroom to the street exit. Ya that's right I drove of in the opposite direction with all the salesmen looking out just scratching their heads and laughing.......
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 05:23 PM
  #23  
HarleyBob52's Avatar
HarleyBob52
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,440
Likes: 1,124
From: Highlandville, MO.
Default

no ride for me either,,, I had a sporty and was looking for a new to me bike, found my Wide Glide on ebay 4 years ago. it was 700 miles away. A garage queen with only 5000 miles on it. Didn't ride it till the transport company brought it to me.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 05:44 PM
  #24  
6 gun's Avatar
6 gun
Seasoned HDF Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,377
Likes: 1,774
From: Central Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Eyeball Kid
My arm was in a cast when I bought mine, so, no.
Well how about that, my arm was busted also I had to sign the papers left handed.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 05:58 PM
  #25  
Tailsfrommycrib's Avatar
Tailsfrommycrib
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,177
Likes: 62
From: Michigan
Default

I didn't use to but I test drive everything I even think I might want. I plan to do some test rides this upcoming weekend at a motorcycle dealership. Even though I know what I want I am going to test ride everything that is similar to the bike I intend to buy. I'm not an impulse buyer. I prefer to take my time and weigh my options.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 06:03 PM
  #26  
Ikelove's Avatar
Ikelove
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 15,434
Likes: 14,310
From: Illinois
Default

I did not test drive the actual 2015 Low Rider that I bought last May. However, I did hit two Demo Day events in May 2014 and ended up taking at least two or three demo rides on the LR.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 06:17 PM
  #27  
13RKC's Avatar
13RKC
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 204
Likes: 26
From: Northern Illinois
Default

Nope...I bought my RK sight unseen actually. I did it from Afghanistan through military sales. They put my name on it at the factory, crated it and sent it to my local dealership.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 06:18 PM
  #28  
Clammy's Avatar
Clammy
Seasoned HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
Default

No test ride here. I ordered Reaper brand new from the factory in the summer of 2004, and took delivery of her in April 2005.

Cheers!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 06:18 PM
  #29  
clackavosticus's Avatar
clackavosticus
Road Master
Photoriffic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 374
From: Queanbeyan, Australia
Cool No test ride

When I bought my used 07 Road King in 2010 I asked the owner for a test ride but he refused, saying the insurance wouldn't cover it. I bought it anyway and was very happy.
When I traded the Road King in for my current 2014 Ultra I didn't test ride that either - I just bought it going off the spec sheet. Couldn't be happier with my purchase.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2016 | 06:23 PM
  #30  
JustDave13's Avatar
JustDave13
Extreme HDF Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 16,271
Likes: 15,108
From: Somewhere SW
Default

Originally Posted by gle0211
I bought my 2014 Switchback at the end of February. After riding a bunch of different models (except the Switchback), I had decided on a 2015 Heritage Softail with 100 miles on it. But just so I could make sure I wasn't making a bad decision, I took my wife out to lunch and after a few beers decided to go back to the dealership and buy the Softail. In the two hours that I was gone the Softail was sold. As we were leaving to go, I spotted the Switchback. I sat on it and was sold, but I couldn't test ride it because it was raining by then. I looked at my wife and said, "this is the one." She looked at me and laughed and asked, "why didn't you ride this bike two weeks ago when I first pointed it out to you?"
Nope, no test ride with the Heritage.

Originally Posted by 0maha
I bought my FXR long distance, so no test ride.
Same here, I bought mine when I was in Japan and had it waiting for me in the states when I got back.

Come to think of it I didn't test ride my Sportster either
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:59 AM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE