Dealers who do 'test rides'??

[njsrikar]

So, I am in the market looking to get a new ride. I want something suitable for city commute as well as long rides (on interstates or backroads). So i am looking at a naked bike or a "semi-naked". I am trying to avoid a fully faired coz the plastics tend to crack and rattle because of the boston roads. besides, i hv always wanted a naked .

Bikes in my list are - speed triple, street triple, z1000, ninja1000, monster, cb1000r and maybe ktm superduke, ER-6n. if i end up not liking any of these, then will fix to zx10.

The problem is, i didnt ride any of these bikes so far and obviously, I want to test-ride them before i pick one.

So, I have been calling dealers around the town(50-60miles), only a couple agreed for test-rides. I tried a hypermotard 796 and decided against it. Will go try the triumphs tomo.

Does any one of you know of a kawasaki and honda dealer who gives bikes for a test-ride? I called 3-4 kaw dealers and all said no. I live in quincy and work in boston, so anything within a 50-60mile radius should be fine.

I guess no KTM dealer holds a stock of super dukes in MA, so thats out of question.

[klp]

Go to Laconia and you can ride whatever you want if you have a license.

[schleppy]

Another option is to ask nicely around here. So long as you're well behaved and offer up your bike to ride, I think some folks on here may let you ride their bikes.

[slammp]

Dude you missed one by two days. Great bay in NH was doing Triph demos on Saturday. Give them a call the sales guy told us he would be willing to arrange a ride on a ducati if we wanted any day of the week.

[eboos]

Precision Triumph does demos any day you want except Sundays.

[slammp]

The speed triple is the shiz. That bike rocked on my test ride.

[drinkingmymilk]

Precision Triumph does demos any day you want except Sundays.

Any triumph dealer does. It's a manufacture thing.

[KawiSmurf]

If you can wait another month...
Kawasaki "Ticket To Ride" - Boston
7/9/11-7/10/11

[njsrikar]

Another option is to ask nicely around here. So long as you're well behaved and offer up your bike to ride, I think some folks on here may let you ride their bikes.

I dont doubt the members here, many of you have helped me in many different ways in the past. But I think giving a bike for a ride without knowing the person is a bit complicated. oh, there are exceptions to this, Degsy for instance . I guess I will go the dealer route.

Dude you missed one by two days. Great bay in NH was doing Triph demos on Saturday. Give them a call the sales guy told us he would be willing to arrange a ride on a ducati if we wanted any day of the week.

How are you Sean? been a long time!
I registered for triumph and kawasaki demo days here in MA. they are sometime in july, cant wait till then . Will try euro sports in south MA for ducati this saturday. they had asked me call on friday to make sure they have the bike ready.

Precision Triumph does demos any day you want except Sundays.

yeah, thats where am going to try out the triples. called them up today morning and confirmed. I would hv asked you, but didnt coz I know you are not working there anymore.

The speed triple is the shiz. That bike rocked on my test ride.

Well, I really hope so. I have been wanting it for a while now. Going tomorrow to precision triumph after work. just curious, why did you choose the brut instead of SIII?

Any triumph dealer does. It's a manufacture thing.

as far as my experience goes, not really. Riverside in somervill doesnt do for instance.

[njsrikar]

If you can wait another month...
Kawasaki "Ticket To Ride" - Boston
7/9/11-7/10/11

yeah....cant wait because of the financials, lets see.

Every time I go to kawasaki.com I open up the link to register, then i realize I already did. I registered twice so far that way .

[DuncanMoto]

MOM's south is closest to you. They let you test any used bike in stock.
Email them your list and they'll tell you what they have.
Tell them what you want to test ride and they'll have them ready for you when you get there.

[Nazo]

Seacoast Sport Cycle in Derry N.H does demo rides. They sell Ducati, Aprillia, Moto Guzzi and whatever used bikes they have. Great dealership with good people too!

[danny86]

Naults Honda in Windham NH lets you test ride bikes ( well in 2008 they did)

I'll be there tomorrow buying a $50.00 bottle of effin air filter oil

[Kenn157]

Great Bay in North Hampton does do test rides. Ask for Adam Kells or Billy.

[slammp]

just curious, why did you choose the brut instead of SIII?

Great deal on a used bike from another member! I was actually looking for a Ducati S4RS but could not resist the possibility of having a Brutale as I had always loved the looks.

[njsrikar]

MOM's south is closest to you. They let you test any used bike in stock.
Email them your list and they'll tell you what they have.
Tell them what you want to test ride and they'll have them ready for you when you get there.

Thanks Ted.
But, they dont seem to hold new kawasakis or hondas. I am planning to get a new 2011 model.

Seacoast Sport Cycle in Derry N.H does demo rides. They sell Ducati, Aprillia, Moto Guzzi and whatever used bikes they have. Great dealership with good people too!

Naults Honda in Windham NH lets you test ride bikes ( well in 2008 they did)
I'll be there tomorrow buying a $50.00 bottle of effin air filter oil

SeaCoast? Isnt it DucDave's? Yeah, I have been there for one of the rides. But again, I am looking for something closer to Boston.

Great Bay in North Hampton does do test rides. Ask for Adam Kells or Billy.

Thank's Ken, Will go there this weekend if Precision doesnt work out.

[njsrikar]

so it looks like there are no kawasaki or honda dealers in MA who do test/demo rides.

will an NH dealer give a test ride knowing that I am not going to buy it from them? I dont think so, thats the reason am looking for something closer to Boston.

[wesvailco]

The speed triple is the shiz. That bike rocked on my test ride.

-I rode the red demo 2011 bike, found it "fair to good". Enjoy mine much more, I have more power, better brakes. Again, it's my bike and I'm pretty comfortable with it.

-Highly recommend buying one of Triumphs' boucing 'round for-sale-section here or they have 2 previous model years at Precision, brand new.

-not really a fan of trying before buying. make a decision and make it work for you. Done it with last 2 bikes and just live with it. make it fit you. a "box" bike from any of those listed would make for a good bike....right out of the box.
Just man up and pick one, then make it how you want it to feel. People make such a huge fuss over something simple as a retail purchase. I couldn't work at a dealer and try to "sell" something to someone with such insecurities. I'd be the worst saleman ever.

[FirstDuc-1098]

sit on them, see how they fit, hopefully ones that can be run to 'feel' that, and pull the trigger

[SRTie4k]

I'd be willing to be if you attended one of the many group rides that the NESR crew does, you'd find more than enough people willing to let you ride their naked.

Let me ask you, what exactly are you looking for in a naked anyways? If your aim is more towards comfort, I'd say you might want to stay away from a Trip. They still have a pretty aggressive seating position compared to other nakeds out there. I say this from my own experience of sitting on a Trip after owning an 08 Z1000...they're pretty significantly different, the Trip being more aggressive than the Z and more uncomfortable on your wrists.

That said, I'd really look into the current Z1000. It's got a pretty neutral seating position (excellent for road comfort), more than enough power, and has gotten rave reviews.

[dankatz]

I am out at Americade right now. I demoed a street triple R, ktm adventure, and the ninja 1000 yesterday. The street triple had the gel seat and arrow pipe. It was the one I liked most. The ninja is fine, but characterless - I take it the z1000 is the same. Tomorrow, I'll try the speed triple.

[njsrikar]

I'd be willing to be if you attended one of the many group rides that the NESR crew does, you'd find more than enough people willing to let you ride their naked.

Let me ask you, what exactly are you looking for in a naked anyways? If your aim is more towards comfort, I'd say you might want to stay away from a Trip. They still have a pretty aggressive seating position compared to other nakeds out there. I say this from my own experience of sitting on a Trip after owning an 08 Z1000...they're pretty significantly different, the Trip being more aggressive than the Z and more uncomfortable on your wrists.

That said, I'd really look into the current Z1000. It's got a pretty neutral seating position (excellent for road comfort), more than enough power, and has gotten rave reviews.

Thanks SRTie4k. I have gone on quite a few group rides with the NESR members. Infact, all the group rides I have even been to has been with NESR folk. I dont know any other motorcyclists here in US .

Anyways, I rode a 2011 Speed Triple yesterday, thanks to Precision Triumph. I kinda liked the bike, except I am a little concerned with the handlebar (and also the RVMs). After a short 7-8mile ride, the palm area of my hands started aching. not sure if its because I am used to my CBR's riding position. I will test ride the kawasaki's naked and honda's cb1000r, hopefully this weekend, and then decide.


As for what I am looking for in a bike.....I want a zx10 sort of bike in a naked form factor, plus ...an aggressive sitting position, but should be comfortable for long rides. Right now, my shoulders start aching after about 150miles of riding my '97 CBR600.

[njsrikar]

I am out at Americade right now. I demoed a street triple R, ktm adventure, and the ninja 1000 yesterday. The street triple had the gel seat and arrow pipe. It was the one I liked most. The ninja is fine, but characterless - I take it the z1000 is the same. Tomorrow, I'll try the speed triple.

wow. Where is this happening?

What exactly do you mean by 'characterless'? I read a lot of good things about ninja1000 and am sort of looking at it too.

[wesvailco]

What exactly do you mean by 'characterless'?

-it lacks a soul.

[keeena]

I think you should add a Tuono to your search list; is there a reason its not on there? If interested, call Wagner Motorsports. They should let you demo one of the 2 used Tuono's in stock (same exact bike as a new one).