[hrzracr23]

ok so im going to try to keep this one shorter than the last lol. When looking for a new sport bike, what is proper etiquette when looking I did a prelim look at some sport bikes at the kawasaki dealer and when I sat on the zx-10 the salesman popped out from behind his desk like he was on fire. He ran up to me and yelled at me to "watch my belt buckle!" funny thing was I wasnt wearing a belt. So I quickly got off the bike and when I asked about rideing the ninja he gave me a brochure and not so subtly showed me the door. Did I violate some unwritten rule about not test driving bikes before buying? I feel like before I spend 9k + On a new bike and gear I want to ride it ya know?
I don't know fill me in before I go to the Yamaha dealer. But the kawi dealership expierience was enough for me to decide not to get a ninja.

 

[TFee3]

His actions were totally rediculous! Next time some clown pulls that on you, ask him if it's a dealership or a museum, and does he wish to sell a bike or have people just come and look at them. I asked my salesman if I could sit on the bike I bought, and he said just that, this is a dealership, not a museum, so have at it. At the same time, I'm sure lots of people come in and sit on them just to see how they look. The first clue you might have had was that nobody came to talk to you. When that happens to me, I walk up to the salesman who's ignoring me and tell him I came to buy a bike, but evidently, he's not interested, and I walk out the door. I walked into a Kawi shop with $20,000 in $100 bills in my pockets, and the guy was really snotty to me. His mouth dropped open when I showed him the cash, but his face fell when I told him I didn't tolerate that type of treatment from anyone and walked out. There are really great dealers out there, and you just happened to walk into the wrong one.

 

[hrzracr23]

ok so that takes car of crappy salesmen and sitting on the bikes but what is the norm for test drives? do they slap a plate on and let ya take it out ? it doesnt seem like they would, but then how do you know if shes the right bike for you without a test drive?

 

[CB750F]

ok so that takes car of crappy salesmen and sitting on the bikes but what is the norm for test drives? do they slap a plate on and let ya take it out ? it doesnt seem like they would, but then how do you know if shes the right bike for you without a test drive?

A good many shops won't let you test drive any sportbikes. A good many shops won't let you test drive anything if you don't have a licence. Doesn't hurt to ask for a test ride though.

 

[C50-Blvd.]

I've never experienced a problem with a salesman about sitting on the bikes. I wouldn't buy a bike without sitting on it. As far as test rides go, I don't know of any dealerships in my area that allow you to test ride. To me that's kind of frustrating, but then again I understand their predicament. I've asked a couple of salesman and they claim their insurance doesn't permit customers to test ride the bikes. They'll let you sit on them and start them up, but that's about it.

 

[HellFireX12]

Its too risky to let people test ride bikes, they go down they get damaged. In a car you would have to bassicly try to tip the thing over. But yeah Ive never heard of a dealership not letting you sit on the bike thats ridiculous. But if you know how big of a bike youre getting unless you are a pretty experienced rider I dont think you'll find much of a difference in performance, its ergonomics you want to worry about so just sitting on them should be enough.

 

[YamahaFan]

I haven't bought any new bikes so I'm not sure how it works. I only heard that "you scratch it you buy it" thing, and test riding a new bike that I'm not used to I'm just kinda afraid it comes to that. The local dealer where I'm at let people sit on (they used to have signs saying "ask a salesman if you want to sit on bikes" but not anymore). They don't normally go up to people when we just step in but in fact when I have a question they stick with me all the way till everything's answered. I'd say that's cool.

hrzracr23 - were you at a Harley dealer?

YF

 

[Alpha Male]

hrzracr23, it might have something to do with your age. I know it's not RIGHT, but there are lots of salespeople out there who won't take you seriously or treat you like a human being if you're a teen or a twenty-something. I have no idea how old you are, but it sounds to me like you were treated like dirt based on a young appearance?

 

[nvbirdman]

I was at a BMW dealer looking at the third most expensive bike on the floor. The salesman was on the phone. He laid down the phone, walked over and took the price list and specification sheet off the bike that I was looking at and went back to the phone. I was fully capable of handing him $100 to hold the bike and coming back the next day with the rest of the cash, but I guess the person on the phone is more important than the person in the showroom.

 

[TheTonUpSoldier]

Unfortunately thats what you're going to find in bike shops these days...A great deal of them do their business via internet...and stock very few models and selection of colour in the showroom. And yeah..they more or less might as well be a museum...and alot of the time the guy on the phone is more important to them than the guy on the floor...sad but true...

 

[TFee3]

NV, there might be another possibility. Maybe he thought he had someone just off the north 40 acres and took the price tag away so he could jack the price. Who knows! I just walked into a dealership and wanted to buy a $1,400 trailer and $300 hitch from him. He just sat and looked at me. I walked back out. I don't understand their attitude, because when I walked into the Harley dealer's in Osage Beach, MO, the guy was so friendly that I told him, even though my wife hates bikes, I'm sure he could have convinced her to let me buy a new Harley. Different people, I guess.

 

[Jethrol]

One of the reasons I bought a BMW was because of the salesman/dealership. They let me sit on it, they were patient with me and answered all my questions, they helped me customize it and when I was ready to buy, they let me test ride it. In fact, he said there's 1/2 a tank, don't feel like you have to come back anytime soon!

I couldn't believe they would let me take it cuz I didn't have an M endorsement on my license. They were very cool and I felt much more comfortable about buying it.

Funny thing is at my local honda dealership, it's like pulling teeth to get someone to talk to me and they usually run off at the slightest notion of something else going on. The Harley dealership is even worse.

 

[Urban Coyote]

I can't imagine how I dealer can sell bikes if a customer cannot get on a bike on the salesfloor and try it for size and comfort.
When I was looking, I was just polite and just first asked a salesguy if I could sit on a certain bike. Sometimes there are models that are sold or demo/look only, but they'll usually have a sign on them saying so. But I just want to make sure.

The most important thing is don't decide on not getting the bike you want because of a certain salesperson or dealer. It's not Kawasaki's fault on the stupid reaction of the salesperson. Don't blame the entire company. Just go to another Kawasaki dealer or another salesperson who are more polite and will work with you if you want a Ninja.

I understand where a dealer will not let you test ride, especially without a license, but many dealers want to make a sale and will sell even if you don't have a license and just offer to deliver it to your home.

 

[TFee3]

Coyote has a good point. The dealer I dealt with sold Suzukis AND Harleys. Every one of the guys, including the owner, were really nice to me. They knew I didn't think Harleys were worth the money, and one of them even agreed with me. In spite of that, they were calm and patient and stuck right with me. That's why I still go there to buy my assessories. When I went to the exclusive Suzuki dealer to check my wiring on my tail light, I told the person there it was a C90T, and he thought it was a 4-wheeler. I didn't go back. What's more, the Harley dealer had prices on all bikes for sale, and I had to ask the Suzuki dealer, and then he gave me a wrong price. So, in spite of riding a Suzuki, I stick with the Harley dealer. In case anyone's close, it's Yeager Harley in Sedalia, MO. They're really good people.

 

[rocksolid]

I guess I found a unusual dealer. I just bought a new (to me) 2003 Honda Sabre. I walked into the dealership looking like I always do when I ride in the summer. Cut off denim jacket over a long sleeve t-shirt and jeans. Not exactly lookin' rich. They were friendly but not pushy. I sat on the bikes that interested me. I test rode the bike I wanted and to be honest I had it out a half hour. They had a policy that permitted test drives to a licensed insured rider. I did buy the bike, and I felt that I was treated well. They will get my recommendation any day. (Tom Clark in Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Rocksolid

 

[Guy]

One good thing about this thread is that we'll all get a list of recommended dealers.

 

[hrzracr23]

wow thanks for all the responses, I thinki it might have been my age (21) as well Sometimes when im looking at vehicles that gets in the way, when I went to buy the car I own now (03 eclipse GTS) the salesman laughed at me and made some of color joke till he saw my pay stubs lol. anyway im not letting this bad expierience be the only factor in deciding my bike I was already on the edge about ninja's the look isnt my favorite and my ex 500 was horribly cold blooded almost didnt pass my cycle test because it was a cold rainy day and it kept stalling through the intersections. That was just enough to push me over the edge. but I appreciate all the feedback and feel free to check out my new post lol Im always asking questions lol

 

[TFee3]

I know what a cold blooded bike is. I had a 550 Suzuki that was that way. When I took my test, I made a short tight turn, and the darned thing stalled on me. I went down right at the feet of the examiner. I looked up and said, "I guess this means I flunked." He said, "Yep", and walked away. I went home very embarrassed.