Scheduled for test ride on a Victory next week

 Got an email from Victory MC's asking if I wanted to test ride a
Victory at my local dealer. I scheduled it for the Sat after this
coming Sat.

Contrast that to local dealers in my area for Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki,
Kawasaki... all you get to do is test-sit on a MC in the showroom. And
they'll never personally invite you to even do that, but if Victory
can reach out, why not the big boys like Honda?

I am a paying member of the HRCA; they know which bike I have and
which year it is, but I ve never received an invitation from Honda or
a local Honda delaer to come out and try the newest thing. To test
ride, you have to attend a major HRCA event, usually somewhere many
states away for me.

With Victory, I scheduled my test ride at my local dealer,

And you know all the makers know the demographics of their owners...
how often they keep an existing bike, how many upgrade to a larger
bike and how often. You'd think they'd proactively market. Then again,
maybe sales are so good, they don't have to???

As it turns out, I'm considering a new bike. I'm afraid if I ride a
Victory, I won't want a Honda :)-

Greg

 oasysco wrote:

Around here most dealerships have open house days.  I walked into
a local Honda dealer to buy a $1 washer for my GL1200 and they
asked me if I wanted to test ride a brand new GL1800.  No  waiting,
no appointment, nothing.  I didn't even know it was their open house
day.  I've test ridden two brand new (zero miles) BMWs (K1200GT and
an R1200GS) at another local dealer at their open house, at their
events you just walk in and sign up.  Same story at a Yamaha dealer
where I rode a brand new FZ6, etc.

It might help that I wear a full riding suit (with lots of bugs
and dirt on it), touring boots, gloves and helmet... my guess
is they aren't eager to let someone who looks to them like an
infrequent, inexperienced rider on a high-buck machine.

--
'01 SV650S  '99 EX250-F13  '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7

 

But, be sure to tidy up any road rash prior to that visit.
<g>

 

I'd be afraid of the Victory, that Polaris might stop building them.

On the other hand.

Funny thing about test rides. Honda of Hollywood wouldn't let me test ride a
2002 R1150RT. Brown BMW did. I bought it from Brown's that day. Honda of
Hollywood let me test ride a 2006 K1200GT. I traded in my RT and bought it
from them, that day. Later, a few weeks ago, they let me test ride a used
2007 R1200GS. I wasn't impressed by the bike or their so called "deal". Las
Vegas Harley wouldn't let me test ride the 2006 Buell Ulysees I was
interested in. Ernie, at Glendale Harley, let me test ride one with 4000
miles on it. I went with a rep. from the store. We hit speeds up to 100MPH
and had a ball in the twisties at Griffith Park. Glendale Harley sold me a
brand new, 2006 Ulysees, that very day.

Theres a lot to be said about a dealer that allows you to test ride their
product.


--


By it's very nature, my sig. makes this posting 100% on topic.

"Of course, you'll have the good taste not to mention that I posted this."

Thumper

"I don't want a pickle..."
 http://www.thumpers-roadhouse.ws

 2007 H-D FXSTD Deuce
 2006 Buell Ulysees
 2006 BMW K1200GT
 2004 H-D Road King Classic
 1978 Triumph T140V Bonneville
 1975 Triumph T160 Trident
 1974 Norton Commando Interstate
 1969 BSA R75 Red Rocket III
 1962 Triumph T20 Tiger Cub
 1958 BSA Super Bantam COCK
 1954 Velocette MAC

 
With your current 750cc cruiser you're probably used to revving it up
a bit before you start releasing the clutch.

Don't do that with the Victory (unless you have lots of room in front
of the bike).

If I ride the Z1000 for a few days, then get back on the Harley It
takes a couple of take-offs to *re-train myself.
--
Rayvan

*It happens the other way too; I nearly stall the Zed once or twice by
trying to take off like it's a large V-twin.