Test riding bikes?

EPONOTENOUGH

Last week I went to test a few bikes i was there to buy not time waste i just wanted to make right choice, now if I buy a new car I don't just drive it around the car park,

The bike i decided on was cervelo S3 I'd cash in 50s in my pocket no time waster , so I say I want to give a 10/15 min ride just to be certain of fit as you would, i won't name the shop but the guy literally said I could ride it in the car park with him almost holding on to me! I'd left my driving licence and a cash deposit of 10% just in case I damaged it, is this normal these days? Neendless to say I told him keep it and no I don't look like a scumbag or junkie just a normal beautifully handsome man lol

My current bike is a tarmac s works bought few years back lad in shop said take it for good spin wouldn't take a deposit of any type and I bought

Is bikes being stolen on test rides a thing? I never heard of ithe!

robyntmorton

When I bought my Giant hybrid last year, I did test ride a couple of bikes, and I was asked to leave something of value behind, just to ensure my return. I had no problem with this, and left my bag with my phone with them for the 10 minutes.

I can understand them looking for some surety, but it is unfortunate that it has come to it, where someone can't try to find a decent bike for them without being suspected of being ready to ride off into the sunset without paying for it.

EPONOTENOUGH

Of course i understand the importance of a security i left my driving licence and a deposit guy was just unbearable, last year I bought a new car and guy told me take it for weekend and give it good drive no id no deposit maybe it's a city thing but to day I was shocked is putting it mildly

stecleary

I'd say you done right walking away from the shop. I get they need security and you left that with them. You are never going to get a feel for a bike in a car park. I have to laugh when I hear the adds for css and they mention a test area out the back of the shop. If it ain't a decent climb how are you going to know how you feel on a bike you are about to drop 2 grand on

robyntmorton

Some people are just difficult to deal with. In a small community like this though, being difficult to deal with can easily lead word of mouth and business going elsewhere quite rapidly.

alexinkildare

I bought my LaPierre from CSS in June and was only let cycle it in the crappy pot holed car park. Bought the bike but they set it up wrong. Anyway...don't start me off about them...

dragratchet

when i was buying my last bike the lads in the shop urged me to take it for a 15/20 minute spin before putting any money down, tbh i went about 2km up the road and came right back afraid id crash the thing before i even bought it. they were surprised i was back as soon as i was.

EPONOTENOUGH

I wouldn't even buy a gel off this guy again a right asshole

EPONOTENOUGH

Do you mind me asking the shope? I'd still leave a deposit just in case I did damage or else I'd have to keep going lol

C3PO

The problem for most bike shops is that they are not given "Demo" bikes by the manufacturers so any bikes that they have are actually "in stock" and are there to be sold as new bikes to customers. I personally wouldn't be happy buying a "new" bike that had been test ridden by other people! This probably wouldn't be the case for the Giant Store or CSS but it definitely is for smaller shops. They are also not covered by insurance so if you just ride off on the bike or crash it - they will be out of pocket!
The comparison to buying a new car is not really valid because car showrooms have Demo models, are covered by insurance and would nearly always send a salesman to accompany you on a test drive!

sin_26

C3PO wrote: »

The problem for most bike shops is that they are not given "Demo" bikes by the manufacturers so any bikes that they have are actually "in stock" and are there to be sold as new bikes to customers. I personally wouldn't be happy buying a "new" bike that had been test ridden by other people! This probably wouldn't be the case for the Giant Store or CSS but it definitely is for smaller shops. They are also not covered by insurance so if you just ride off on the bike or crash it - they will be out of pocket!
The comparison to buying a new car is not really valid because car showrooms have Demo models, are covered by insurance and would nearly always send a salesman to accompany you on a test drive!

Its pretty clear but... Sometimes is just a matter of person who you deal with. Friend of mine tried to buy lowest spec Giant Defy. Needless to say that seller sold her bike 2-3 sizes to big literally. Luckily ive seen this minutes after she came back from shop.Let alone for test drive.
Never ever Garys cycles.

nak

Bought loads of bikes over the years, have never test ridden one and still managed to get the right size. The last few bikes I've purchased were ordered in for me. There are occasionally demo days here run by the bike manufacturer.

You cannot compare a car dealership to a bike shop.

magicbastarder

dragratchet wrote: »

when i was buying my last bike the lads in the shop urged me to take it for a 15/20 minute spin before putting any money down, tbh i went about 2km up the road and came right back afraid id crash the thing before i even bought it. they were surprised i was back as soon as i was.

i don't think there'd be any issue naming the shop, this is good publicity!

magicbastarder

anyway, this is one reason i avoid buying online as much as possible, and shop in bricks and mortar shops (not just for cycling gear).

if the staff know you, they will be much more willing to let you test kit.
e.g. i was once dithering over buying a secondhand medium format camera from the (now defunct) dublin camera exchange, and they let me borrow it for a week to decide if i wanted it.

quozl

ThinkBike in Rathmines will let you try a bike out for a couple of days. At least they do with many models, I'm not sure if it's across the whole range. I didn't take them up on that long of a test but I did wander off on my own for a while on the bike unsupervised.

They also lent me a nice Trek mountain bike to commute on for a couple of days after a car drove over my front wheel and my bike (that I'd bought from them) was therefore in for repair. That was pretty nice as I was clearly showing up with a track record of wrecked bikes

They also let my sister try a road-bike out for a couple of days because she was new to cycling and wasn't sure that she'd be able for a road-bike - she was of course.

You don't have to put up with ****e service, you can get word-of-mouth recommendations. I'm sure there's plenty of other really good bike shops around, I just have personal experience with ThinkBike.

phil

was choosing between two models of bike in Fitzcycles in Stillorgan and the lads just let me out with both of them for a "proper" ride, even encouraged me to take them up a couple of inclines to get a feel for them. Think this is pretty short sighted not letting you out on it, I woulda walked away.

magicbastarder

phil wrote: »

Think this is pretty short sighted not letting you out on it, I woulda walked away.

very much depends on how well they knew the OP. as Weepsie mentioned, the insurance company would laugh at them if they reported a stolen bike, which they'd waved the thief out the front door with.

greened

Was buying a 3K bike a couple of years ago. The bike had been riden by the shop owner for a few week so I suppose it is a little differnt. I asked could I take it for a spin and he gave me the bike for the weekend. I did a charity sprotive on it and brought it back on the Monday.Bought it from the shop.
I upgraded the wheels about a year later and was unsure if I wanted a deep section carbon. He put my cassestte on the wheels and gave me the wheels to take home (and carbon pads) and try them out. I came back a few days later and bought the wheels. I suppose it all comes down to what the shop owner is willing to do to secure a sale.

aFlabbyPanda

magicbastarder wrote: »

anyway, this is one reason i avoid buying online as much as possible, and shop in bricks and mortar shops (not just for cycling gear).

if the staff know you, they will be much more willing to let you test kit.
e.g. i was once dithering over buying a secondhand medium format camera from the (now defunct) dublin camera exchange, and they let me borrow it for a week to decide if i wanted it.

But don't most online retailers offer a return/exchange service? How many brick & mortar shops offer the same?

magicbastarder

a return/exchange service clearly implies the bike has already been bought. we're talking about test rides here, which online retailers don't offer. well, maybe they have and i've not heard of it.

aFlabbyPanda

yes but I know of no bricks & mortar shop that will let me take a bike for a proper test ride (and in my opinion that's at least 20 mins, not up & down the road).

If I've narrowed down my list to one or two bikes I can purchase online, ride for a number of days and exchange for another if not satisfied (subject to their T&Cs).

robyntmorton

I guess this shows just how important a good relationship with your LBS can be. If you know they're serious about bikes, and they know you're serious, you will get on well.

A randomer walking in and saying they want to test an expensive piece of kit will of course be viewed suspiciously.

Atlantic dream

Did the op not say they left a good deposit and driving permit? Here in USA even mom and pop stores let you test a bike properly, as for the buying car thing it's the exact same all bike stores selling off demo bikes at year end! I think anyone who'd pay $3500 for a bike they rode around a parking lot needs to get their heads checked or else more money than brains, when I lived in ireland i could even get wheels to try out, the problem is sheeple will just say ok take my money and buy a bike they discover they don't like. Vote with your feet or wallet in this case.

nak

Atlantic dream wrote: »

Did the op not say they left a good deposit and driving permit? Here in USA even mom and pop stores let you test a bike properly, as for the buying car thing it's the exact same all bike stores selling off demo bikes at year end! I think anyone who'd pay $3500 for a bike they rode around a parking lot needs to get their heads checked or else more money than brains, when I lived in ireland i could even get wheels to try out, the problem is sheeple will just say ok take my money and buy a bike they discover they don't like. Vote with your feet or wallet in this case.

Most of the shops here don't have demo bikes. Bike theft has increased massively here, plus bike shops seem to be struggling financially despite the success of bike to work.

Atlantic dream

I'm not surprised they struggle if you can't test the goods beforehand! Would you buy a car without test drive? Even used one? If they expect people to lay out alot of cash the need to allow tests and not parking lot 5mph rides, and I don't believe for one second they do not have demonstration bikes maybe not top spec but enough to give you the feeling of the bike. If I do quick Google of irish stores I'll see ex demo bikes on discount

magicbastarder

it may be partly down to an expectation of how willing the gardai are to assist in dealing with the theft. especially if they get the 'you let them cycle it away?' reaction i expect a lot of gardai would give.

Atlantic dream

I understand that but is it a thing test ride theift?

check_six

robyntmorton wrote: »

I guess this shows just how important a good relationship with your LBS can be. If you know they're serious about bikes, and they know you're serious, you will get on well.

A randomer walking in and saying they want to test an expensive piece of kit will of course be viewed suspiciously.

My own experience in my LBS down the years is being more or less pushed out the door with the potential new bikes for a test spin whether I wanted to or not! However, I've always been too nervous of something happening to a bike that I didn't own to do anything more than a few minutes worth of a spin. A good relationship with the LBS helps a lot.

Atlantic dream

But lest just say your usual store don't sell the bike you want and you got to town over where they sell the brand but don't know you, is a drivers permit and large cash deposit not enough to prove identity and intention to buy?

I sold a bike last year trough a donedeal type thing met the guy and he rode the bike for 20/25 min which I was happy with all he left was his phone and car which could have been stolen but all was legit he bought with $100 bills i never thought he'd ride off , a big thing here is fake money in private sales so I'd always carry a fake check pen just in case but yet to be caught out, I think the cycling types are not as dodgey as some but sure there's some bad apples

darkvalley

Have bought bikes from 2 different shops in Sligo and both of them let me off on the bike, one for the whole day. Told me to be back by 6pm, shop closing time. That bike I bought and it was a 3k plus bike, but they had no issue with me having it for the day.
In fairness that is in a regional town and they would have known me from getting bit and pieces from the shop over the previous year or so. Can imagine it might be different in a city but would have thought proper ID and a deposit should be enough to let someone have a decent test spin on it.

brownian

Would people have an issue dropping 3K on a bike that had been test ridden for (say) 10km by half a dozen other people beforehand?

Won't the bike get whatever marks/dirt/wear the very first time you ride it...or is the virginal perfection, the new-bike smell, a critical issue?

Atlantic dream

brownian wrote: »

Would people have an issue dropping 3K on a bike that had been test ridden for (say) 10km by half a dozen other people beforehand?

Won't the bike get whatever marks/dirt/wear the very first time you ride it...or is the virginal perfection, the new-bike smell, a critical issue?

I certainly would have issues spending a lot of money without test riding properly, it's something shops surely account for a demo models

Would you buy a new car you could only site in?

Seems alot of people are happy to buy and let salesman fob them off no demo bikes no test rides , no problem buddy I'll go to store down Street

magicbastarder

Atlantic dream wrote: »

I certainly would have issues spending a lot of money without test riding properly, it's something shops surely account for a demo models

Would you buy a new car you could only site in?

the problem with that comparison is that the mercedes garage doesn't need 4 different E220 cars, each in a different size, as a demo model.

Atlantic dream

magicbastarder wrote: »

the problem with that comparison is that the mercedes garage doesn't need 4 different E220 cars, each in a different size, as a demo model.

We'll a fool and his money is easily parted if your happy buy a bike on reviews and sales blurb fair play i want to ride a bike form my own view use the thing God gave us called a brain,

I think I'll come home and start selling high end bikes easy money judging by this thread

All I'm hearing is excuses to not let a customer test goods and i acutely sell cars for a high end brand and we have atm 9 demo's in different specs so please don't tell me no such thing as demo model in any thing from cars to tvs

nak

brownian wrote: »

Would people have an issue dropping 3K on a bike that had been test ridden for (say) 10km by half a dozen other people beforehand?

Won't the bike get whatever marks/dirt/wear the very first time you ride it...or is the virginal perfection, the new-bike smell, a critical issue?

Yep, I wouldn't be happy buying a bike at full price that had been used as a demo bike. It would need to be discounted. None of the shops ever have higher end bikes in my size in stock (and I wouldn't expect them to) as buying it would be a risk.

The difference in bigger markets to Ireland is that the manufacturers have a fleet of demo bikes for concept shops to use or demo days. That is not the case here sadly.

Atlantic dream

nak wrote: »

Yep, I wouldn't be happy buying a bike at full price that had been used as a demo bike. It would need to be discounted. None of the shops ever have higher end bikes in my size in stock (and I wouldn't expect them to) as buying it would be a risk.

The difference in bigger markets to Ireland is that the manufacturers have a fleet of demo bikes for concept shops to use or demo days. That is not the case here sadly.

That's why they are called demo's and discounted no one expects you to pay full tag for a demo and honestly some great bargains can be had in demo's, buy buying without trying your playing right into dealers hands you can be dam sure and busy shop gets big discounts on models to use as demo's but you'll pay full given the shop and extra 20/25% profit you guys need to come to America to see how to bargain nothing is bought for tag price

How do you lads sell used bikes sit on crossbar on test ride ? Hold his wife and kids as security? It's funny to me that anyone who has any bit of copyright on would buy off peg at full retail price, but I'll leave it there it's your money to spend on a bike you realise that you don't like but will do.

magicbastarder

Atlantic dream wrote: »

I think I'll come home and start selling high end bikes easy money judging by this thread

go for it so.

generally speaking, when i'm in a bike shop, i'd expect to see one of each model on display. say though you've two models from the one line in stock, so two giant gravel bikes, which share the same geometry. if you want a demo model for this line, you'll probably need four sizes of one of the models, so you're carrying twice as many demo models as you actually have bikes on the shop floor.
maybe the economies of scale are not there anymore for bike dealers, unless they're the large warehouse style outlets.

it'd be interesting to hear from a bike shop owner about what a typical stock variation is, and see if there's a back of the envelope calculation you can perform on the models they'd need for demos.

C3PO

Atlantic dream wrote: »

We'll a fool and his money is easily parted if your happy buy a bike on reviews and sales blurb fair play i want to ride a bike form my own view use the thing God gave us called a brain,

I think I'll come home and start selling high end bikes easy money judging by this thread

All I'm hearing is excuses to not let a customer test goods and i acutely sell cars for a high end brand and we have atm 9 demo's in different specs so please don't tell me no such thing as demo model in any thing from cars to tvs

I don't know whether you are deliberately not getting it but the fact is that most bike shops here in Ireland are not given demo bikes by the distributors so if a shop lets you try a bike it is from their sale stock! I wouldn't buy a "new" high-end bike that had been ridden by other people before I purchased it!

Atlantic dream

Look just because you got your pants pulled down and paid full price for a bike you never rode don't take it out on me! Lol if your innocent enough to think retailers don't get demo's at big discounts your dreaming and of course you will come in pay full price nice little extra for Shop! You haven't much idea how retail works do you think that nice BMW demo cost the dealer same as a none demo? The idea is to sell to sell you give people the experience of the machine they want ! Not just say I'll have that in 54 and hope I like it but sure you're the expert probably a shop owner who dosent like the facts being aired

Atlantic dream

C3PO wrote: »

I don't know whether you are deliberately not getting it but the fact is that most bike shops here in Ireland are not given demo bikes by the distributors so if a shop lets you try a bike it is from their sale stock! I wouldn't buy a "new" high-end bike that had been ridden by other people before I purchased it!

You are dreaming they don't get them for free but at a good discount which is made up when sold as a demo! Which part is that hard to grasp?

magicbastarder

you said yourself you have nine demo models - what if you'd to quadruple that to account for different sizes?

Atlantic dream

magicbastarder wrote: »

go for it so.

generally speaking, when i'm in a bike shop, i'd expect to see one of each model on display. say though you've two models from the one line in stock, so two giant gravel bikes, which share the same geometry. if you want a demo model for this line, you'll probably need four sizes of one of the models, so you're carrying twice as many demo models as you actually have bikes on the shop floor.
maybe the economies of scale are not there anymore for bike dealers, unless they're the large warehouse style outlets.

it'd be interesting to hear from a bike shop owner about what a typical stock variation is, and see if there's a back of the envelope calculation you can perform on the models they'd need for demos.

Btw your maths is so far off there it's ridiculous, typically irish thing a be grand the nice man said it's best bike ever lol, I'm done with this thread because you haven't got a bull**** notion what your talking about, we won't fall out over it just different points of view on spending quite a bit of cash

C3PO

Atlantic dream wrote: »

Look just because you got your pants pulled down and paid full price for a bike you never rode don't take it out on me! Lol if your innocent enough to think retailers don't get demo's at big discounts your dreaming and of course you will come in pay full price nice little extra for Shop! You haven't much idea how retail works do you think that nice BMW demo cost the dealer same as a none demo? The idea is to sell to sell you give people the experience of the machine they want ! Not just say I'll have that in 54 and hope I like it but sure you're the expert probably a shop owner who dosent like the facts being aired

Wow ... how long did you say that you've been in the USofA?

magicbastarder

that's me told so.

magicbastarder

selling cars in america is a lot like... selling bikes in ireland.

Beasty

Don't worry guys, that Atlantic dream has been shattered....

nak

Atlantic dream wrote: »

You are dreaming they don't get them for free but at a good discount which is made up when sold as a demo! Which part is that hard to grasp?

My friend owns a bike shop and they don't get demo bikes - they have to buy in every bike they have on the shop floor at full trade price.

magicbastarder

Beasty wrote: »

Don't worry guys, that Atlantic dream has been shattered....

but he had so much to teach us!

nak

magicbastarder wrote: »

but he had so much to teach us!

I know! Sounds like he could teach me plenty about my own country (the US).

dusty207

magicbastarder wrote: »

selling cars in america is a lot like... selling bikes in ireland.

They sell English cars in America?

dusty207

Beasty wrote: »

Don't worry guys, that Atlantic dream has been shattered....

Did you ban him?