Why You Should Demo Ride a Motorcycle

by Rocky Marks

Motorcycles are a beautiful thing.  I've been riding for more than 25 years now and to this day throwing my leg over a bike never gets old. Motorcycling is fun, invigorating, and gives you a sense of freedom.

As we all know freedom isn't free.  Motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidson motorcycles come with a solid price tag, and for good reason.  They are manufactured in the USA, they are built well, have been around since 1903 and typically hold their value compared to metric motorcycles.

That being said, how do you know which bike is right for you?  A bike that looks good in a magazine or on a showroom floor may not be the right 'fit' for you.  I thought I'd always like a FatBoy because of the look.  I found after riding one that even though it looks great, the ride wasn't quite right for my needs.  My wife and I like to ride together, and I enjoy listening to music while I ride, so I found that the Ultra was perfect for us, and more comfortable too.

That's not to say that the FatBoy isn't comfortable... it is VERY comfortable, but it just didn't fit my specific needs.  How did I find out?  I took a FatBoy for a demo ride solo and with my wife.  It felt okay by myself, but was more awkward when my wife was on the back.

If I didn't take that demo ride, I would have made a purchase that wasn't quite right for me and my needs.  Buying a motorcycle is much different then buying a car.  There are so many more factors that go into the feel of the ride and how comfortable you are operating a two-wheeled machine as opposed to a four-wheeled vehicle.

Some dealers allow you to take demo rides as long as the weather is nice.  Others do not.  My advice is to go to a dealership that allows demo rides and ask a sales person to pick out two or three models that interest you.   Make sure you discuss with the sales person what type of riding you plan on doing, how far you plan on traveling, and if you will be riding solo or with a passenger.  Listen to their feedback, suggestions, and experiences.

Once you take a ride on the model(s) that fit you perfectly, then you can make an informed decision on the bike that best suits your needs and feels the most comfortable.