Who is allowed to ride your motorcycle?

[User26]

Just out of curiosity.
Who do you trust with your motorcycle?
(Wife/girlfriend, other friends, anyone, nobody, family, children (when old enough),...)

For me it's pretty simple.
Nobody rides it except myself, or my mechanic if he needs to do a test ride.
I just don't trust anyone with te bike I guess..
And I don't want to be in a situation were I would have to ask a friend to buy me a new bike because he crashed mine..

Interested to hear if I'm the only one that doesn't like to share .

 

[baugustine]

Any friend with an actual M1 and already owns their own bike. It’s not a priceless piece of art. If they crash it ill buy another one (with their $). 😉

 

[miweber929]

I’m not a huge sharer, especially with people I don’t know. But if I know you, and trust you, and trust if something happens you’ll pay for the damage, I’m ok with it. As @baugustine said it’s not priceless art and can be repaired or replaced (or even upgraded) if the need arises. There are a few people I have complete faith in and they always ride my bikes, my dad and my good friend John are two, without question. In the past it’s been no one but I’ve changed my tune over the years.

If I’m selling a bike, no test rides without cash in hand. If I can trade in a bike without loosing my ass I do that to avoid the selling drama and that awkward conversation about test rides, it’s worth the $500 or so less I’d get on trade to not have to deal with that.

Had a guy on a local forum PM me to swap bikes for a day between his beat to hell ex-track bike RC51 and my then under 300 mile, 2 week old Supersport. I sort-of not so kindly said no chance in hell and was floored he even considered it. If I don’t feel comfortable, then not going to happen, end of story.

 

[Devilsfan]

If any one of my friends wanted to ride my bike I'd have no problem with giving them the keys! They all ride anyway, most have better skills than I do!

Other than that, unless I'm selling, no one else. I have younger cousin that wants to learn how to ride. He's been on dirt bikes but just up and down the road. He knows how to work a clutch so MAYBE I'd let him take my CB on some straight roads and assess how he does.

If I met up with any one of you peeps from this forum I'd trust you...unless you turn out to be a total jerk! I'd still trust you to ride it...but I just wouldn't let you because you're a jerk! 😎

 

[MrFritz86]

I let ride only people that I know, and that I know they ride motorcycles. So not many combining those 3 together.
otherwise it’s me and myself alone.

 

[Goblin]

Only good friends can ride my bikes and my mechanic if the bike needs a test ride. I know they are super careful and will pay for any damage they make. I also ride sometimes a friend’s bike although I’m not a real fan of riding on a bike that’s not mine, but sometimes a friend ask me for my opinion because they think there is something wrong with there bike

 

[Itchytoe]

I'm not too picky, but you need a legitimate reason. If you're a mechanic and need to ride it to make verify a problem or repair, that's fine. If you're another rider who is considering an inline 4 instead of the v-twins, and you're fine exchanging bikes with me for a brief test ride, I'm also okay with it. That is assuming I have some connection with you, not just some random person on a bike. I.E. a fellow member of this website, or another IBA rider, or a long time friend of the family.

 

[User26]

If I’m selling a bike, no test rides without cash in hand.

I'm completely with u on this. When I sold my last bike, I had the buyer sign a document in wich he declared he would buy the bike for the asking price if he damaged it during the test ride.
I didn't know the guy because I sold it online.
He had no problem signing the document and left his car keys with me. Eventually he bought the bike so it wasn't really neccessary, but better safe than sorry .

 

[Jerry]

I let my brother-in-law do a 5 min ride around the block just to feel the ergonomics but other than that I never let anyone else ride my bike (except for the required test ride by a mechanic).

I'd let my brother ride my bike if he asked nicely. Other than that, I wouldn't be keen on just letting someone take it for a full fledged ride.

 

[Uncle Meat]

No one except me.

 

[sdmichael]

No one really. If something goes wrong, I'm on the hook for it regardless and I'd potentially be out of a vehicle.

 

[JH09]

slightly different question, and i dont want to hijack, but have you all had experience with a dealer not allowing test rides? i had one here in WA state not allow me to take a CB out, even with a waiver, full endorsement, and gear. needless to say, i looked elsewhere...

but to answer your question: people i know, people i trust, and people i know ride. they need to check all 3 boxes. its a toy for me at the end of the day. you break it, buy me a better one!

 

[Devilsfan]

slightly different question, and i dont want to hijack, but have you all had experience with a dealer not allowing test rides? i had one here in WA state not allow me to take a CB out, even with a waiver, full endorsement, and gear. needless to say, i looked elsewhere...

but to answer your question: people i know, people i trust, and people i know ride. they need to check all 3 boxes. its a toy for me at the end of the day. you break it, buy me a better one!

Most dealerships I know don't allow test rides. I have some friends in other states that are friends with shop owners who get to test ride. But unless it's a Harley dealership, or they are used bikes, not around my area.

 

[baloo2650]

I don't mind letting my brother ride my bike. That's about it though. We used to both race/trackday together.

 

[miweber929]

Most dealerships I know don't allow test rides. I have some friends in other states that are friends with shop owners who get to test ride. But unless it's a Harley dealership, or they are used bikes, not around my area.

My area dealers are the same way for the most part but Ducati dealerships have specific bikes they designate as demos and encourage it. More are getting better at letting you go, however.

 

[User26]

Here most dealers have demo bikes, but most will require you to pay a small amount (like 20 or 30 euros) for the test ride. However, some let you test for free.

My dealer asks 30 euros for a test ride of +- 1.5 hours.
If you buy a bike from him (within a year I think it was) you will get a refund for the test ride.
Seemed fair enough. I can understand they are a bit reluctant. But in my opinion a test ride should always be possible, how else can you be sure of your purchase?

 

[koofdome]

Just out of curiosity.
Who do you trust with your motorcycle?
(Wife/girlfriend, other friends, anyone, nobody, family, children (when old enough),...)

For me it's pretty simple.
Nobody rides it except myself, or my mechanic if he needs to do a test ride.
I just don't trust anyone with te bike I guess..
And I don't want to be in a situation were I would have to ask a friend to buy me a new bike because he crashed mine..

Interested to hear if I'm the only one that doesn't like to share .

Nobody unless they can pay cash right then and there if it gets crashed. I do not let anyone ride my bikes.

 

[Hornet76]

In one word...
nobody
of course might be some exceptions

 

[ray]

No one! but... my uncle and maybe just maybe one of my friends how i trust other then that no one not even my dad been there never again haha.

 

[OkiCB]

I got two co workers I let use mine if they want. I just trade them their bikes. One with a Triumph Speed Twin (that I have a spare key for and he has one from mine, Just in case) and one with a CRF1100 Africa Twin for the occasional "I want something different" since it feels like a barge, with a remarkably small turning radius. In total, theres about 6 people I'd just toss my keys to if they wanted to go for a ride and I wasn't using it or they'd trade bikes.