I've only ever bought two new bikes (both Japanese) in my life - both back in the 70's, and neither time could I get a test ride from any dealer. Whether it was policy passed down from the manufacturers or a "couldn't care less, we can sell everything we have, test free, to other starry eyed punters" attitude from the trade I don't know but back then you bought it "off plan" or not at all.

Things did change - eventually and slowly - pushed by falling sales I'd guess, but even now there's a test ride reluctance in many dealers. About three years ago I was looking to buy something half decent - whether new or newish we hadn't decided, and I did want to try them on the road first. When I compare the attitude in both my local Triumph and BMW dealers with the expensive dentition smile we get when my wife buys a new car it really showed.

The bike dealers don't say no but they put so many obstacles in the way they might as well. I've had: come back on an open day, where's both halves of your licence, you'll have to arrange your own insurance and we'll need a comprehensive riding history, whereas the car dealers are thrusting the keys into your hands almost as soon as you walk through the door.

Of course the car risk is lower - they go with you to start with and a middle aged woman is less likely to turn out to be a test pilot than a bloke swinging his leg over a Fireblade but I get the feeling there's more too it than that. "Enthusiasts" (a lot of bikers fall into that category) will put up with a lot more sh*t than people just looking for transport. If the Ford dealer doesn't come up with the goods the Renault / Nissan / VW guy down the road probably will and to many people the cars are almost interchangeable. If the bike dealer refuses you a test ride the next bloke wearing a Triumph T shirt probably won't even ask for one and he's an easier sell. That's been my experience anyway.

On the other hand, on the few occasions (mainly private purchases) where I have got a test ride I've wondered what it is I'm supposed to be checking that I can't do stationary. Most of the time I wobble away trying to get used to a strange seating position, unfamiliar controls and engine noises where I can't tell what's right or not. Add in an area where I don't know the local roads and the first half an hour is almost pointless. Only once (an early Vstrom) did the riding experience change my mind and that happened in the first 100m.

There's not many private sellers (or dealers come to that) that'll let you clear off on their pride and joy (even with my wife as a hostage) for an hour and they're even less pleased when you come back and say no. All of the four bikes I use regularly atm were bought without test rides (three privately and one from a dealer) and all four have turned out to be exactly what I thought they would be.