Let my neighbor ride my Heritage once, just so I could see how it sounded. Cant really tell when you are sitting on it.

He wants me to break in his new EVO motor because I ride in colder weather than he does. Told him not a chance, especially a brand new motor.

 

Seems like pretty much a mixed bag on this one. I have never had the issue come up but my answer would still be no.

 

All the dealers have demo bikes that they would let him take on a putt. If they think that he's gonna drop $15000 to $20000 on a bike they will gladly let him take one out for a test cruise. I don't lend my vehicles to no one, I would never even ask someone to ride their sled at all. I have a buddy that has a nice custom and he offered to switch with me one day while we were out riding and I declined. I turned him down just because I didn't want to take a chance of something happening to his bike, because I for sure trust his riding ability.

 

Me and my buddies swap out take them for the day and its no big deal to us but we've been riding together for years. Anyone else I'd probably be hesitant about.

 

My Sportster, yeah. Its basically my mud bike and a good friend and short of doing a Knightriders into a semi there isn't much someone could break that I couldn't fix fairly fast. I've let "tire kickers and ricegrinders" give it a shot around the block or two and loaned it to a buddy for a day -- he was trying to talk his old lady into letting him get a bike again.

My Road King once its done --- don't even frikkin think about it. You put a hand on the grip and I'll have words for you. Look like you are going to throw a leg over and I will bypass the words and go straight to general mayhem.

Been like that all my life. Some bikes, maybe. Some, no way.

 

I will let my son ride my three Harleys becuz I sold him my 07 Wide Glide a while back...He is a good rider, had the Safety Course and rides more than I do...I would not let any other person ride my bike that I did not know who was not a Harley Rider....

 

Within my M/C Brotherhood, not an issue. Hell they have the alarm codes to my shop. Come get the bike if you need it. Outside of that....very rare.

 

Too much time and money is invested in my bike. If something is going to happen it will be because of me. Relationships are destroyed over stuff like this.

 

Feel bad for people that haven't been able to develop friendships tight enough where you can trust them with your bike. My friends (small group) can borrow my things (yeah, sorry, motorcycles are just things, expensive and with time, money and love invested in them, but still things).

The feeling of a friend having your back is way better than "freedom of the open road" or whatever you get from your bike.

I also don't wash my bike very often, ride the hell out of it and don't really worry too much about scratches on the paint.

 

I have to second the idea of having him get a rental and take it for a long ride. It would give him the chance to ride the model of bike he wants and can afford and he might enjoy having another rider along. In the end, it's about what you are most comfortable with.