johngwheeler

I bought my first two bikes with very little comparison testing with other shops, which I slightly regret now. I'm happy enough with my bikes, but I now have a far better idea of the available models and the sort of features that I would look out for.

Realistically, I'm not going to buy another bike for a minimum of 6 months, possibly 12, but I'd like to have a really good idea of how the competition stacks up, by trying as many bikes as I can.

I am a bit hesitant about getting a reputation as a "tire kicker" or "tourist" with my local shops, and would like to know how asking for test rides is generally viewed (preferably by store owners or employees), if I know that I won't be making a purchase decision in the near future.

My next bike would probably in the $3000+ price bracket, so I really want get my choice right, so I also need time to study the options, and save some cash!

Any thoughts on how to approach this, being fair to both myself and the bike shops?

How many test rides at a single store do you think is reasonable, considering you may not buy anything from them?

AlmostTrick

I believe most shops WANT you to test bikes, even if you are not "ready to buy now" serious. They always hope a good ride will convince you to pull the trigger.


If you are concerned about how they will perceive you, just be honest with them. Tell them your intentions up front and go from there. My guess is they'll still be plenty happy to accommodate you.

f4rrest

A test ride is a "prospect" for the shop.

The more prospects they have, the more chances they have to sell something.

You're doing them a favor.

Be honest about your timeframe for purchase, and try to go in at a time when they're not overwhelmed.

Take the card of the salesperson who helped you, and if you liked how they treated you, then ask for them again when you go back. They will perceive this favorably, as they are cultivating a prospect into a potential sale.

msquared22

I guess I don't really see it as a problem. Just tell the bike stores that you're very early in your search and you imagine it will take you a while to find the perfect bike.

pdlamb

If you go in and honestly tell them what you posted here (not buying for 6-12 months, expect to spend $3k), I can't see anything wrong with that. You're doing a market survey, so to speak. And with what you expect to spend, I'd expect 9 out of 10 shops would bend over backwards to help you.


The only thing I'd suggest is to try to avoid peak times at the shops. Most places that's April or May on a Saturday morning; some college towns it's the week before and after registration.

Ballenxj

The last two bike shops I visited offered to let me ride bikes I had specifically shown interest in. Having said that, I am much more likely to buy from a shop that is helpful in that way. They know this as well, so really, it's a win win situation.

WizardOfBoz

I'd never give hard figure information like that to a vendor. Instead, I'd find a couple of bikes I'm interested in and tell them that. This gives them some incentive to make sure that there prices are not completely skee-whacked. In fact, I'd probably give them one example that they carry, and one that they don't.

BrazAd

Yes, it is acceptable.


I'm a long time car salesman. The saying in the car biz is "The feel of the wheel seals the deal!" How are you going to know whether you want to buy a bike or car if you don't drive it first?

I can't tell you the number of times a customer has said to me, "I'm just looking" - and then they drive their new car home that day.


If your LBS is serious about selling bikes, they'll be happy for you to test drive that bike. Who knows, you might fall in love with THAT bike RIGHT then and want to take it home TODAY! That's a win-win for them AND for you!

Gary

rgconner

Do them a favor and post on their social media site about how great the test ride was, how they were helpful, etc. That will make up for any inconvenience and give you a good rep with the store.

FBinNY 

Be up front about your intentions, and let them decide.

ksryder

+1

This. Most of us wouldn't think twice about test driving 10 cars or looking at 20 houses before making a purchase.

That said, there are 2 LBS's in my town. One is run by a cranky old guy who would def get an attitude about this (and pretty much everything). The other shop is friendly & accommodating. Guess which one gets my business?

winston63 

In my experience most bike shops jump at the chance to get you on a bike! As others have said, be honest about your time frame and what you think you are looking for, and be open to other suggestions from the shop, too.

I've been testing bikes for months now, looking for a road bike. Virtually every bike shop I checked out was eager get me out on a test ride, and I'm sure I've ridden more than 15 bikes over the last 6 months or so.

Recently I tested six bikes at one shop alone! Their service and attitude was fantastic, though I wound up finding my perfect ride at a different shop. Even though I didn't buy my bike from that one shop, I gave them a glowing review and will absolutely put them on top of my list the next time n+1 strikes.

vol

Pick a slow day when there are no other customers. Even if the bike you are interested in is still in the box, they may be willing to have it assembled on the spot while you wait. I had that experience twice, once I didn't buy, the other time I bought the bike right away. One morning during a huge snow storm, I went to a bike shop, the manager took the time to give me a full measurement and advised me what bike size I should choose.

mstateglfr 

But he isnt pretending. He clearly states he is interested, itll just take time before he can buy.
Best to know what you are saving for.

Wildwood 

It's probably not a good idea to walk into a shop on a Sat AM, migrate to the most expensive ones in the store and ask to ride all the electronic shifters and disc brake models 'because i want to compare them all for a possible future purchase'.

But since you aren't doing that = have at it.

1nterceptor

Don't waste time; yours and the shops'. One year from now; you might win the lottery and will want to buy a $10,000 bike.
Or you might get hit by a bus, and Dr. might say no riding for 18 months. Test ride when you have the money and close to
really buying; say 1 month before.

General Geoff

Like a new car purchase, a new bike purchase can very much be an impulse decision, made out of passion and not always logical or economic sense. Even if you didn't plan on buying a $3000 bike when you walk in the door, a wonderfully joyous test ride on a bike that fits perfectly is often enough to persuade a reasonable bike enthusiast to walk out $3000 poorer, but one sweet bike wealthier.

corrado33

Here's the deal.

Typically I'd say "This isn't a problem, go ahead and ride as many bikes as you want."

But for a $3000 bike? I'd imagine most bike shops are going to be a little more protective of those bikes and not want them to be ridden all of the time, especially a year out from purchase.

I mean, it's a risk every time they let you out there on one of those bikes. What if you crash? On a $1000 bike, no real problem, replace the part for $50. On a $3000 bike? It's a bit more of a problem. Think about it. If you were purchasing a $3000 bike, would you buy one that had been wrecked by someone test riding it?

If I were you, I would shop around, but not specifically ask to test ride the bikes. If (when) someone approaches you, say "I'm just looking right now, but I'd like to buy something like "insert bike here" at the beginning of next season."

If they offer to let you ride it, then go ahead, but if they don't, I wouldn't push it. A season out for a bike purchase is a REALLY long time.

Lazyass

Just don't go into a shop, have a salesman take the time to help you, then go home and buy the exact same thing online.

vol

I've read some bad stories on yelp about someone "test riding" a bike by looping in the Central Park for some 40 minutes without buying the bike, hope it's not true.

canklecat

This.

I sold cars years ago. While working for a Mazda dealership that was teaching us a new sales program the manager sent us all out to pretend we were customers and test drive cars at other dealerships. The idea was to evaluate their sales techniques compared with ours.

I went to a Toyota dealership and test drove a MR2.

Suddenly I wanted to work for a Toyota dealership and own an MR2.

It took a lot of willpower not to buy that car on the spot. It was sweet, much more fun than the RX7. And the sales guy was very laid back, just a bro, no hard sell. He could read customers. For all I know they had the same sales program we did.

That said, when I test rode a new Trek entry level road bike at the LBS last year I didn't take it out of the parking lot. I only needed to know whether I could handle a drop bar bike again without pain (old C2 vertebrae injury from a car wreck). I couldn't at that time. I needed another year of working on neck strength and flexibility.

I did take a flat bar road bike for a longer test ride, but it was a used bike and they encouraged me to take a longer ride. It was still a bit uncomfortable.

I thought about renting a road bike a few times and maybe buying the rental later. But for the price of a few rentals I bought an '89 Centurion Ironman a few weeks ago. That's my test ride. If drop bars and I get along I may revisit the Trek LBS again next year and see about buying from them. They're good folks.

Milton Keynes

Who knows, you might fall in love with one of the bikes you test ride to the point you end up buying one. That's why they're called test rides. And that's why LBS's allow you to take test rides.

genec

And so often just about any new ride can feel so good as to cause you to "fall into love" and just buy it on the spot.

Wildwood 

I rode my old steel bike to the Calfee factory in Santa Cruz just to talk about their CF bikes (this was a few years ago). I never had to ask, they put me on their top of the line bike with Campy Record, put my pedals on, adjusted the saddle & stem, gave me 2 full water bottles and said, "We leave about 5:30, so be back before then." It was over a year before I bought a Calfee, they aren't cheap.

Point is, if they know you are a rider and will be buying a bike they should encourage you to ride - if they believe they have what you want (and what LBS salesman doesn't think he stocks something you want?!?).

winston63 

Indeed. I wound up falling in love like that just recently and bought a Scott Solace!

Seriously, the bike shops I've been in were eager to put me on test rides even when I clearly communicated that I wasn't buying anything for some time. And these were not beaters, I was encouraged to ride some pretty high end bikes priced well north of the OP's $3K budget. What was surprising, though shouldn't have been, is how uniquely we respond to different bikes.

Several of the models that I thought I was going to love based on reviews, etc didn't feel 'right' to me at all and I had no interest in buying after a test ride. But when something speaks to you, well, it's game over