I took my mate to a well known Truimph dealer today and he test rode a street triple R which he found too small so he then took a 800 XC tiger out, and managed to ride it into a ditch!! Smashed the handlebars and all the fairing, tank, back wheel, sidepanels, front forks, rear rack, radiator, clocks and well....................... most of the bike really. As you can imagine he was rather peed off after having the rear end wash away probably due to the fresh salt on the road, he was ok which is the most important issue but having to send the dealers mechanics out to retrieve the bike from the ditch they were not to impressed.
I'm a bit behind with the times with test drives, last time I did have one I had to pay a non returnable £15 at the time I think it was for covering the insurance. Does it not work that way now?
I was at a triumph dealers today - was it Guildford by any chance? Roads are very frosty - i rode home from work at 1am this morning on the blade and it was proper scary! And so cold i though my thumbs were actually ice lollies.
That's bad news for your mate. A grand down with nothing but the kudos Of binning a demonstrator. Perhaps there are some clued up insurance folk on here? They could shed some light on the benefits of day insurance. Seems expensive for a couple of hours ride, but as this thread proves, well worth the money in the long run?
I've test rode a few recently, some you sign and some you don't. My pal totalled an rc8r last year in spectacular fashion, cost him a grand and any future test rides lol. But far better than doing your own... By the time you add up your excess and your Loss of ncb and increased premiums, your quids in. Not to mention the time to resolve the claim and you still have your bike in one piece to ride... The main thing is he's ok - could have been worse.
This deposit saga is a recent culture in the biking world which does'nt happen in the car fraternity. Had quotes of £1000 and £2000 from dealerships and gently replied in an Anglo Saxon term. Popped into Coulsdon and got my test ride no hassle whatsoever. The early years Honda UK lent several of their demo bikes to dealerships now its turned in a fooking racket. They claim on their Insurance and hump the customers arse as well. Sorry guys I'm seething
Also thinking aloud is that the dealer can repair it and it will not show as an insurance claim, so a person buying it will never know that it has had major repair work.
All insurance comes with a premium and excess? Not the dealers fault if someone goes writing off a bike? Don't see the problem, you either knowingly sign the paperwork and take it on the chin, or go elsewhere who don't make you put a deposit down... Modern bikes being so fast and powerful and anybody being able to test ride a 180bhp bike 5 mins after you passed you test, can't really blame the dealers for covering their arses... As these things are not uncommon. You say it don't happen in car world, Joe bloggs in porshe or Ferrari garage don't just roll off the forecourt with a high performance car withought putting up a deposit.
I agree! Most dealers ask you to show your licence and sign on the line if you dont read the small print then thats up to you! A lot of dealers will not tell you what it will cost you if you bin it thats something you will have to argue in court if you do crash! I dont think there are many dealers who will not ask for your licence and riding skill levels plus ask you to cover some of the cost if you crash if they dont then more fool them half the reason is most are not so keen to test ride when they know a grand or more is on the line should you have a miss hap, at least said person is not hurt or worse killed... Hope he can forget and move on... Gutted for him. One other thing is its not the dealers fault blame business insurance as its them that ask dealers for photocopy proof they checked licence etc and there is no other easy way for a customer to be insured on a bike that has no private owner. Private insurance only covers you third part only to ride another bike thats insured privately and reg in another name and not in anyway ass.... in business terms.. i.e repairs, sales, test rides etc.
I don't know what is worse.................................. telling the dealer you have just trashed the bike or telling your wife that your bike budget has just been slahed by a grand??? Also i said to him on the way home..... guess the wife is going to say..... TOLD YOU SO
I definitely think the wife would be the difficult challenge? There are plenty of dealers out there you only get one chance with the misus Saying that, going to be few awkward moments when the sales man say "have we had a test ride at all sir?"
