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A Guide to Test Riding a Motorcycle

Dec. 30 2021 Buying Guide By Biggs Harley-Davidson®

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If you are searching for ways to smooth out your motorcycle buying process, you have arrived at the right place. As your local motorcycle dealer, we at Biggs Harley-Davidson know a thing or two about the things you will need to consider when purchasing a bike. That’s why we have created this guide to highlight the process for test riding a two-wheeler successfully.

Read on to learn more, and then visit our dealership to look at our latest collection of motorcycles for sale. We are in San Marcos, CA, and we are happy to welcome our patrons from San Diego and Oceanside.

Schedule The Motorcycle Test Ride

The first thing you’ll need to do is schedule your test ride at the motorcycle dealership. This will ensure your given model is ready upon your arrival, and you have someone from the dealership to address your concerns.

Bring The Essential Items

When visiting a dealership, you’ll want to bring with you a few essential items for a successful motorcycle test ride. This includes your driver's license with motorcycle endorsement and your insurance card. You'll also want to make sure you wear your riding suit, helmet, closed-toed shoes, goggles, and gloves.

Make Sure the Motorcycle Fits Your Body

When test riding your bike, make sure that the given model is perfect for your height, weight, and arm span. Sit on the motorcycle to see if you can see out of the mirrors. You'll also want to find out if you can put both feet on the ground and get on and off your bike easily. Ensure you are comfortable riding the bike before you make your final decision.

Usually, you can fix some issues. For example, you can get different footpegs or handlebars if the standard ones on your model aren't comfortable. However, you will want to include the cost of customization into your budget.

Make Sure the Bike Suits Your Riding Experience Level

Motorcycle riding is thrilling. However, you will want to avoid buying a machine that’s too much for you to handle or one that underperforms. Make sure that the model you are test riding perfectly matches your riding experience.

To determine whether the motorcycle suits your skill set, you’ll want to:

  • Ride at a low speed in high gear to see how it responds to the throttle.
  • Engage the brakes to check the stopping distance.
  • Change gears to examine the gear shift quality.
  • Notice any odd sounds or vibrations and see how the bike feels when idling.

Make Sure the Model Fits Your Needs

Finally, you will want to ensure that the given model perfectly suits your purpose. This means that if you are looking for a bike for commuting to work, you will want to go with a model you will be comfortable riding daily. On the other hand, if you intend to go on long-distance trips with your buddy, you will want to opt for a motorcycle with a larger fuel tank and sufficient storage space for your gear.

Now that you are more familiar with what you need to do when test riding a bike, you are ready to explore a few models in person. Come down to Biggs Harley-Davidson, where we have an impressive collection of motorcycles for sale. Our friendly staff can give you a complete tour of the available options and help you select a model that suits your riding style. To peruse our latest inventory, swing by our dealership in San Marcos, CA. We are proud to serve those from San Diego and Oceanside, so stop in today.