Buying a demo versus a new-new bike

[Uncle Hud]

Seems like there's a bunch of left-over 2014a's out there. Check cycletrader. I found 6 FJR's for less then 12,500 new!! I love a good deal, in fact I'm a sucker for it. Too good to pass up, I'll buy it. Honestly, I'm pretty excited about the deal I struck. New 14 with a 5 year warranty for 11,990. I think that's just awesome.

I, too, think it's awesome. Congratulations, blassoff!

 

[Lowcountry Joe]

Seems like there's a bunch of left-over 2014a's out there.

It must be that color!

 

[Bill Lumberg]

I actually think it contributed. I don't think metallic red is as universally well recieved as other colors. I couldn't stomach it for a while, but I got over it. Didn't see as many 13's sitting at the end of 13 as I found 14's at the end of 14. But many other factors could have come into play.

 

[blassoff]

Interesting, I'd have never considered the 13 save for an amazing discount. My fav's have always been 2005-06, and 2012. Love the blues. Although to be fair the black cherry was a nice color. I think the 14's red will be great.

NOW BACK TO THE SUBJECT AT HAND..

Having never owned a "new" bike (never thought I would either), I think the demo works for me psychologically. It's new, but not quite completely new. It's like TS Garp, let's buy the house after the airplane crashes into it, It's been pre-disastered. Every couple of years I like to drop a bike. I don't want to, but I'm tired or I'm not looking where I should, or.......whatever. Would you rather drop a brand spanking new really expensive motorcycle or a very slightly used cost a lot less bike. It's embarrassing either way, the used bike just doesn't elicit the same anxiety or remorse. Sheit happens, I'm cool with that. Demo +1

 

[JimNtexas]

I would not have bought my FJR had I not been able to Demo ride one at the IMS Dallas four or five years ago.

Two weeks ago at the Austin MotoGP Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha (plus some of those companies that make big ugly slow bikes) had their demo trucks there. Because Circuit of Americas is out in the country the demo route included a nice variety of road types, and was long enough to get a good feel for the bikes.

Yamaha had an FJR demo bike there, but they were not actually letting people ride it. I was looking for a younger , slimmer sibling for my FJR , I road an FJ-07, which was OK. I also rode a Honda CB500X, which I fell in love with.

All the demo rides were closely supervised, with Honda being the most strict. Honda kicked a guy off a bike for passing the bike in front of him during that demo ride.

 

[blassoff]

Yes, Honda is Persnickety. During the financial crisis they parked their demo fleet. They came back in 2012 but with a completely different vibe. If you wanna test ride a honda, sign up early. They only take out 48 riders a day. It tends to weed out the joyrider and focus on someone who really wants to see the options available.

 

[Uncle Hud]

<snip> Would you rather drop a brand spanking new really expensive motorcycle or a very slightly used cost a lot less bike.

Drop a new bike? Been there done that. You get over it once the bike gets another 100 miles down the road and the inevitable smile returns.

Seems to me the two are almost equal. Buy whichever makes you happier, and ride the hell out of it.

 

[hppants]

As a risk manager, I remember during my demo rides last year wondering why Yamaha would even entertain the liability associated with this endeavor? Half way through the first ride, it hit me.

This sells motorcycles.

I took a hard look around and between rides even met and chatted with others. Everyone I met was an experienced rider. Some (like me) had no intention of buying a motorcycle. ALL made efforts to pick a type of motorcycle that interest them, but they didn't own. IOW - Yamaha knows that it may be able to get a first timer to buy the motorcycle just by looking at it in the showroom. But if they want the repeat business or the competitor's business, they have to let these potential customers try the merchandise. There was no hard sale after the ride. The salesman approached me, but it seemed he really just wanted a Gen I FJR riders' opinion of the '14 ES. I gave him some perspective that came from somebody that has ridden 75,000 miles (40K on an FJR). For kicks and giggles, I let him appraise my bike for trade in, but I made it clear even before the demo ride that I wasn't buying anything that day.

They mitigate the risk as much as they can (waivers, must have m/c endorsement, pre-ride safety meeting, ride leader to control the route and pace, etc), but otherwise, it is a win-win scenario.

BTW - for my BMW demo ride, the paperwork I signed effectively treated it as a "no-cost lease" of the bike. Under Louisiana law, my personal insurance would have been primary for general liability and property damage in the event of an accident. This is why BMW required me to provide proof of insurance for a personally owned motorcycle, in addition to my driver license. This was not the way it was set up for the Yamaha demo ride.

 

[ApexGT]

The demo would have to be much cheaper for me to buy it !