So I'm finally readyto buymy first Harley. I have my financing in order and if I find what I want, will probably buy a bike this weekend.

So I go into the dealership after work today. The saleswoman was helpful. I'll admit I'm not the easiest customer since I'm not totally sure what I want. I'm kind of up in the air about what I want. I'm leaning towards the RKC, but am also interested in the EGC, and the Street Glide. But there was also a Softail Deluxe in the purple which was sweet.

I have ridden an '08 RKC for a weekend a few months ago and I really liked the ride. But I've never ridden a bike with a faring and I'm interested what the feel will be like.

The sales lady answered a lot of my questions and asked a lot of questions, which again, is helpful. But when I asked her if it would be possible for me to take a EGC, or a SG for a quick ride, she said that the only touring bike I could take out was a Road Glide.

Now I know from reading around here that the RG rides different from other touring bikes due to the placement of the faring. So here are my questions:

Is the difference in the ride between the RG that different from a EGC/SG?

Is this normal for dealers to limit the models you can take for a demo ride? She told me they had one bike from each family.

It just seems weird to me that I wouldn't be able to test ride the bike I would eventually buy.

Is this normal?

 

Yep, allot of people actually rent bikes to compare them. I personally have never ridden a RoadGlide so I can't help you.

 

yep

 

Yup. Here in Cal they have a 'demo display' that makes its rounds to different dealers. Also, most big bike shows have demo rides.

I've had softails, dynas, and now an 08 E-Glide. All rode 'different', not more difficult, harder, better, or worse, just different. I don't care for the fairing staying straight when I turn, but others say it is better, that wind doesn't "help you steer". Seating position and ride are about the same on all touring bikes, unless you count a Heritage Softail as a touring. Almost all new Harleys have the 96" engine and 6 speed standard so they are all about as fast as another. For long rides you can't beat a touring, for week-end runs with the boys, softails or dynas are great. In any case, ENJOY!

 

I rented every Touring or Touring like model that Harley makes before I bought my Road Glide. IMHO it is the best riding 2up Harley there is.

 

Most dealers do not even have a bike from each family available. There is too little profit in a bike for them to have a bunch of demos that they have to discount later on and Harley is not overly generous to the dealers when it comes to sharing the cost of demo bikes. I appreciate that you want to ride a bike before you buy it, but then again, if I tried to sell you a bike that had miles on it and scratches, etc., as a new bike, you'd look at me likeI was crazy. Then there is the fact that if you let people ride the bikes, then you would have a lot of inexperienced riders lining up at the door and you can imagine the problems with that.

Again, the real blame belongs toHD, not the dealers. HD just won't offer anyrealdiscount for dealers to have demo bikes. In Cali. there are enough dealers that a program has been put in place to have a set of demo bikes for each area. Most of us don't have that kind of dealer network in our area. As mentioned above, if possible rent one ( although, alot of dealersare not part of therental program either).

 

Look at my post here:

https://www.hdforums.com/m_2697982/m...tm.htm#2703640

#42. Maybe it'll help. Just my opinion anyhow. They're all good in my book.

They only have 2 factory sponsored demo rides here. One at each dealership in my city. There are no test rides or rentals available. When I ordered my new RG, I had to put $1000 down for the build sheet. They told me if I changed my mind, I could have the money back because someone else would buy it anyhow.

Last couple of years it's been weird walking into a dealership and only seeing 3 bikes on the floor. This year is even worse with the Canadian dollar being worth more than the American dollar. I had to pull the trigger.

It still kills me to see what the price of my Heritage is worth today vs. when I bought it in 02.

 

Lager,
FYI, you can buy an aftermarket fairing for the RK if you so choose. Cheapest is about $700 and they run up to $1800.

You can see the Quadzilla after market bat fairing on my 03 RK in my sig pic.

 

I'm actually surprised they would even offer a RoadGlide for you to ride. Most dealers won't offer a test ride to people that are looking to buy their first bike! If they are willing to let you demo a Road Glide, maybe you should see if they have any late model used models (RK's or EGC's) on hand, you can probably take one of those out I would think. Since they are already used, they might be more willing to accomodate.

Keep in mind that most metric dealers won't let you ride one of their bikes also. It's not like car dealerships in that aspect. My father in law wasn't allowed to test ride his (then new) Goldwing, and it was his 3rd GW!

 

I think it all depends on your dealership you look at for a test drive, when I was looking here in MN my local dealership told me i could try out any bike on the floor, they knew I was also very interested in buying but i think thats why since then i buy all my bikes from them. All it took is was going above and beyond and they get a lot of return customers. So If it was me and going to spend 20,000 plus with no test drive I would find another dealer. It's just like buying a new car don't you want to test drive it before you buy and spend 30,000-50,000 dollars I know i do and my dealer says take it for the night and see what you think treat you customers right and you'll have them for life.