"atfsgeoff" (atfsgeoff)
09/13/2016 at 17:18 • Filed to: None
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"atfsgeoff" (atfsgeoff)
09/13/2016 at 17:18 • Filed to: None | 0
| 12 |
I want to buy a 5-10 year old sport touring bike sometime in the next 6 months, my eye is on an FJR1300 but will test ride a Honda ST 1300 and Kawi Concours if available. Anyway, I’ve only test ridden a bike at a dealer once, and that was at an Indian dealer in mid February who practically begged me to take a new Scout 60 for a spin (which I did). My question is, before asking to take a test ride, I figure the dealer wants to weed out joy riders from actual interested purchasers. I can understand wanting to run a credit check, but if I want to test ride bikes from multiple dealers, I don’t want a bunch of hard credit pulls dinging my score. I do plan on putting at least $2k down on this bike, which would be probably about 1/3 of the cost for the kind I’m looking for.
What does a reasonable salesperson look for before handing over the keys to a ~$6,000 motorcycle to a near-stranger? What can I do to ease the process without dinging my credit score? Thanks.
Jarrett - [BRZ Boi]
> atfsgeoff
09/13/2016 at 17:37 |
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*disclaimer - I’m not a reasonable salesman.
Wear something nice. Be pleasant, yet confident. And walk away insulted if they want to credit check you.
If you’re young, even bringing a parent may help. I know several people who bring their intimidating-as-hell dads to the negotiating table.
Shane MacGowan's Teeth
> atfsgeoff
09/13/2016 at 17:38 |
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If they won’t give you test ride on a 6k bike without a credit check, run- don’t walk- away. My local harley dealer would give me keys and half an hour for anything on the floor when I was A) 26 and B) completely clear I was just in looking for parts and definitely wouldn’t buy a bike. Local metric dealer: exactly the same for anything but a supersport- that one they sent a follower. Local triumph dealer wanted to schedule ahead, with a follower. None of them ran a credit check. Someone looking at an older touring bike isn’t out to run DANK WHEELIES BRO on their machine. I can’t imagine you run into much trouble getting an easy test ride.
Pickup_man
> atfsgeoff
09/13/2016 at 17:43 |
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I’ve test ridden two bikes at two different dealerships lately and both times it was as simple as showing interest in the bike and asking if I could take it for a ride. Both times they just scanned my drivers license and had me sign a liability form before they let me hop on the bike. The one bike I rode, a used Victory Hammer (about $7000), I was actually interested in talking numbers so I went in and got some hard numbers, trade value, out the door price etc. I didn’t even mention financing so I don’t remember if I gave a SSN for a credit check. The second bike, a brand new HD Dyna Lowrider S, ($17,500), I made it very clear that I wasn’t interested in buying that day, or even buying that bike because it was way outside of my budget. They encouraged me to ride it anyway, so I did. No numbers, no credit check at all.
In general, I’d say go in, make sure they know you’re interested in the bike, and ask to ride it. Most dealers should be happy to oblige if they know you’re not just kicking tires. Tell them that you’ve just started looking and that you’re getting a feel for what you want and are trying out a few different bikes. Take it for a spin and when you get back, they’re going to ask if you liked it and if you want to talk numbers. If you’re ready to do that go ahead. If not, tell them so, get their card, and tell them you’ll think about it and get back to them.
bob and john
> atfsgeoff
09/13/2016 at 17:47 |
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bring gear to begin with.
Both times I rode one it was pretty simple. walk in, ask for someone, say you are interested, you want to take it out. they will have you sign a liability waiver and maybe take down a CC number (incase you drop it)
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Pickup_man
> Shane MacGowan's Teeth
09/13/2016 at 17:49 |
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I’ve had the same experience, I went to the Harley dealer once, just to kill some time and got talking to a salesman. I told him I was thinking up sizing up from my Sportster, but was looking at used bikes due to budget. He was still extremely helpful in showing me newer bikes of the same model fully knowing that I wasn’t buying a new bike. After that I was wandering around ogling over the new Lowrider S and he asks if I want to take one for a spin, again knowing full well that a base Street Bob was way out of budget, let alone a Lowrider S. Obviously I took it for a short ride, and when I got back I was trying to find a way to sell a kidney to come up with the $17,500. I loved that bike.
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atfsgeoff
> Jarrett - [BRZ Boi]
09/13/2016 at 17:50 |
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I’m 31, turning 32 in december, and my dad lives 500 miles away :D
I guess I just have to get over the “I hope I’m not bothering you too much” attitude I usually have.
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atfsgeoff
> Pickup_man
09/13/2016 at 17:52 |
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Thank you, I appreciate the input!
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atfsgeoff
> Shane MacGowan's Teeth
09/13/2016 at 17:53 |
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Yeah the supersport liter bikes appear to be the ones that joyriders are interested in, because they also have DO NOT SIT signs on them in the showrooms around here.
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atfsgeoff
> bob and john
09/13/2016 at 17:56 |
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Ah I didn’t think of the CC number, I did just recently get a credit card to improve my score in pursuit of getting a loan down the road for the bike I get. $3k limit should be enough to cover any cosmetic damage if I drop it.
The Compromiser
> atfsgeoff
09/13/2016 at 19:13 |
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Wait until they close. Smash the window. Ride whatever you want. Don’t go back.
Profit?
Gerry197
> atfsgeoff
09/23/2016 at 19:58 |
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Multiple hard credit checks within a few days or week of each other is usually counted as 1 check by the credit companies.
Though even that 1 check will ding your score slightly, say from 720 to 715 or 710. It will usually go back up in a few months.
jimz
> Pickup_man
09/24/2016 at 06:27 |
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If the Low Rider S had been out last year, I probably would have chosen it over the Switchback I bought.