Would you buy a bike without riding it?

[RBX QB]

Bought my Monster new without ever riding it.
...

Same here... only I hadn't even learned to ride when I ordered my Monster.

But, back to topic... Used, I'd WANT to test ride, but wouldn't expect to be able to. At that point, asking the seller to make a couple passes while riding, plus my own (limited) technical experience to go over the bike. I'd be more comfortable if it were a known dealer, or inspected by one.

Possibly selling my Monster this spring, and I don't want to allow test rides... but I'd also try to be VERY clear on what's "wrong" with the bike when posting the sale... like that it needs at 24k service soon... and possibly clutch adjustment... stuff like that.

[lethe]

I bought my Monster and the KTM without even hearing them run. The Monster was brand new but the KTM I just signed the paper work, bought it and rode off.

[cutter]

I bought my first monster used but with only 87 miles on it, based on condition and hearing it run - I didn't ask to take it for a test ride. My wife had a monster that I had ridden so I knew I would like it. Funny enough on my first ride something was wrong at higher speeds. The factory had crimped a fuel line under the air box, an easy fix.  In that case I am glad I didn't test ride it because that minor issue would have probably kept me from buying the bike because I wouldn't have felt comfortable trying to diagnose it. Maybe thats why it only had 87 miles...

I think it comes down to earning the trust of the seller to get a ride.  I looked at a bmw a guy was selling and we talked for a while just to get to know each other. After taking that time, he offered a test ride but told me the day before he refused some people because he didn't know if he could trust them. Having my monster there helped as well since I suppose it could have been collateral if I decided to cut and run. 

[SDkid]

+1 to getting a sense about the seller. 

A used bike will have something wearing out, but most people aren't out to pass off a lemon without seeming evasive or sneaky about something when you're asking.

Good luck with the weather.

[justinrhenry]

I've bought several bikes off ebay without a test ride. 

[lazylightnin717]

I drove 7 hours to pick up the Monster but only after I made it perfectly clear to the dealer that I wanted absolutely no surprises

[ute]

Yes ...because this is the bike I want........ no matter what is wrong with it i can fix it

As someone else said you buy the seller , how he took care of the bike , you know as soon as you get there if its going to be a POS

[sofadriver]

I saw my bike on CraigsList early on Monday morning. Called the guy at 7:30am. Chatted and found out he's a charter jet pilot (flies a private 767! No shit! I saw pics! ). Can you think of anybody likely to be more anal? He sent more pics and I sent a deposit thru Paypal. He picked me up at LAX and by 9:00pm Monday night I was looking at her thru the window of my hotel room. She was (and still is) absolutely pristine!  I had the week off and spent 5 days blissfully riding the coastline back to Tacoma.
So, yes, it was the seller that counted. If I knew somebody in LA I would have had them check it out though. I also made it clear that if the bike wasn't as he said it was there was going to be Hell to pay when I got there. He sounded totally confident which made me confident.

Just a suggestion to anyone selling their bike. If you are allowing a test drive be sure to get their car keys. Most people's entire lives are hanging on that keyring.

[NorDog]

A used bike that is to be my primary daily rider as soon as I buy it?  Must test ride.

[Grampa]

Boobies

[duccarlos]

Boobies

Big 10-4

[Autostrada Pilot]

Just a suggestion to anyone selling their bike. If you are allowing a test drive be sure to get their car keys. Most people's entire lives are hanging on that keyring.

I do this when selling a car.  Sold my bike after I let the guy test ride it, but I talked with him a bit first and felt ok with him riding it after talking bikes with him first (he had 3 other bikes).  I also held the keys to his brand new WRX STI while he was on a test ride.  He rode to the bank and brought back cash.  If he wreck my bike and wouldn't pay, it was still insured so I would have been made (mostly) whole.

[Howellerman]

I attended the International Motorcycle Show way back in 1982, and the new Honda Interceptor 750 was on a revolving stand. Could not even *sit* on it. But I was a goner - I was hypnotized and stood next to the revolving stand for an hour, just studying this really cool, ground breaking cycle. Put a deposit on one at a motorcycle shop over 50 miles away the next day - every local shop had their early deliveries pre-sold.

First time riding it (took it home in a pickup truck) was exciting yet slightly weird: it was the first bike I ever rode with a fixed fairing that did not rotate with the forks. But the engine was smooth, and after I had the cams warrantied, revved like a sewing machine. Ultimately, though, it did not have enough torque and I sold it to buy a Ninja 900 which I also could not test ride!

Looking back at it, the only bikes that I rode before purchase was my current Monster and a friends CB900F, where I liked it so much I went and bought my own. Got a thing for new bikes...

[Speedbag]

I actually bought my '94 M900 off eBay, and didn't ride it until I got it home.

Went to the seller's house to pick it up, but for insurance/liability concerns he would only allow it to be fired up and checked over. Of course, the bike only had a tad over 3000 miles (this was 2004, mind you) so I wasn't worried about much other than tires and timing belts.

[RC Fan]

You don't really have a chance to try new bikes around here as it is generally not permitted.  I am awaiting the arrival of my fourth bike--the dealership did not have one in stock to try.