HD - The Power of the Test Ride

[bluedogok]

I have seen both types of HD riders at the same place, I was out riding in the Hill Country pretty close to Austin and stopped to get a coke at a roadhouse. I pulled in between two pretty new, loaded out HD's (Heritage Softails), a Honda Shadow and an older HD next to it that looked rather cobbled together. I definitely found out who owned what pretty quickly, the two RUBs started out making comments about my Jap Crap (I guess the British flags weren't a clue to them) and a Bandido starts into them about respecting all riders and griping about the "wannabes" who have driven Harley prices up to where "real riders" can't afford to buy them anymore. The RUBs kind of shuffled away and rode off, then the Bandido and the Shadow owner started asking me all about my Sprint. I left about 5 minutes later only to find the RUBs pulled over at a rest stop not more than two miles away.

I have had more than a few snide comments as well as compliments from HD riders, just like all other areas, there are idiots in every group. Many of the "pirate types" remind me of goths, we're so individualistic that we all look the same....

[gradus]

I've had favorable comments about the Street Triple from Harley riders.  Mostly, "this is what I'd get if I went the sport bike route."

[Hardware]

I don't know, I think that XR1200X is a stunner and seems to target riders outside of the normal brand demographic.  

You're right...the "Motor Company" will kill it in six months...

[Dan K]

I rode a Road King around Florida for a couple days last week and I had a couple people tell me 'nice bike.'  Didn't make me want to buy one.

For Florida, with very few twisties (I was in Bradenton and rode from Anna Maria island south, past Siesta Key, with some inland riding in between), the Harley was fine.  Only scraped the boards once, but I wasn't pushing it as I had a passenger most of the time.

Nice enough bikes, great cruise control for the highways, but far from my first choice of bike.  My body needs mid controls...forward controls are no good for my back.

I'd love an XR1200X by the way.

- Dan

[jhawk]

The HD test ride manual....

What's with "accompanying the customer" on the ride? and "keep it short, 8-10 miles"? and  "pre-determined route"? etc...  

The local BMW/Triumph dealer fills the gas tank, hands you the keys and just wants the bike back by closing time.  

[jeepinbanditrider]

I did a Buell test ride one time and the guy leading us was like "I'll wait for ya'll at the stop signs."  He wasn't kidding he was riding his personal Triumph and was smoking the corners in the area with me and my dad in chase on a Buell Lightning and Buell Thunderbolt.  Funnest test ride I'd ever had  

We were gone for about 20 minutes but that short ride almost made me drop the coin on the Thunderbolt (upright standard looking bike).

[dan88z]

The HD test ride manual....

What's with "accompanying the customer" on the ride? and "keep it short, 8-10 miles"? and  "pre-determined route"? etc...  

The local BMW/Triumph dealer fills the gas tank, hands you the keys and just wants the bike back by closing time.  

When I was buying my bike I tested an FJR1300 and the Connie. I went out for 45 mins. Got on the Connie. Only need 20 mins on that one to know it was what I wanted, but the point was, no limit on the ride. I think I put 40 miles on the FJR.

[rgbeard]

I'd love an XR1200X by the way.

- Dan

I don't disagree.  Would be fun to ride one for a tank of gas distance.

At 3.5 gallons it won't take long.

[Pitts2112]

My test-ride experience with HD was like Jhawk's with the dealer in Portsmouth UK, and they're located near some terrific riding/sightseeing territory, the New Forest.  The salesman asked me what I wanted to ride, handed me the keys and said "We close at 5.  The New Forest is that way."   Same thing when I took my bike in for some warranty work.  He gave me the keys to a brand new Fatboy, 12 miles on the clock.  I think I put another 100 miles on it that afternoon.  

The staff at that dealership was great.  There's one American working there who seemed a bit bonkers, but everyone else was really friendly and welcoming.

And, since no post about HD would be complete without a little bashing, the only time I've ever been snubbed by a rider was by a group of HOG riders.  And I was on a Harley.  So much for birds of a feather and all that.  The sport bike guys were always interested in the bikes and the rides (and that afternoon's cop locations), no matter what anyone rode.  The HD crowd, not so much.

[county]

Fucking Harleys weigh almost as much as an FJR....

[MichiganMan]

Fucking Harleys weigh almost as much as an FJR....

County FTW!!!  

[nferr]

I don't know. The local Harley dealer rolled out a brand new bike for me, threw me the keys, and told me take as long a ride as I wanted.

[Kootenanny]

I've also had the, "See you at closing time" as they hand you the keys, demo experience at a Harley place...that's a big part of the reason I own a Buell (although, I've had the same experience at another Harley place and also at a Yamaha place...).

[black hills]

Went for a short ride on the 990 after work last night. Stopped by the local biker bar for a couple drinks with the HD guys. I was sitting with the usual crowd ( I was the only one riding). Some guy I didn't know walked in, sat down and started to talk to the other guys. I was talking about riding to someone else and after a while he  asked the ineveitable "so, what do you ride" question:
"a KTM adventure"
"oh, the one outside"
"yea"
"those are awesome bikes! how do you like it?"
" I love it"
"yea, I've always liked those"

He didn't seem too bad to me??

[viffergyrl]

How long ago were those test rides offered at the Harley dealer? I remember in the early 2000s, the local Harley dealers did not offer test rides... but BMW did and that's why I have an RT.  

[ConPilot1]

I've done one test ride on a BMW K1300GT which was

Same thing, dealer said what are you riding now? I pointed out the window to the Connie. Dealer said "yeah then, you'll have no trouble handling this" and handed me the keys and said have fun.  

If I'm ever in a position to buy a brand new BMW, I'll give them my business.

That bike was the freaking cat's ass. First BMW I've ever ridden and it was the shit man. Hell of a motorcycle, I don't understand why
they scrapped that bike after only a year or so of production.

[bomber]

I've never heard of an HD dealer that DIDN'T offer test rides . . .that's most unusual . . . . .

It is SOP, and part of the Sales cycle for them . . . . which is smart.

[Jonathan]

Fucking Harleys weigh almost as much as an FJR....

Last time I checked the majority of Harleys weigh more than a FJR.  Just calling you out on your ignorance.

[ConPilot1]

Last time I checked the majority of Harleys weigh more than a FJR.  Just calling you out on your ignorance.

Oh F*k.  


 



You really need to hang around more.

That'll be a -1.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Last time I checked the majority of Harleys weigh more than a FJR.  Just calling you out on your ignorance.

You're new around here so as a fellow FJR owner I'm gonna pass the secret on to you for dealing with County.....our resident FJR hater troll.  Hit the ignore button on one of his posts and never look back.