I never test drove any of the five bikes I've bought. As far as a bike with 53 miles on it hell I'd buy it but if it's a concern doesn't the dealer have another identical bike, color etc with zero miles on it?

 

Maybe it came from another dealership and the only way to deliver it on time was to ride it over. Any other dealerships within 50 miles?

 

Or it could have been a factory test bike of the week for that model.[/quote]

So true the good ones that the factory tests come in with about 35 miles on them. Ask the dealer how many when it was delivered. You might have a factory inspected awesome bike!

 

When going through a factory tour at the KC plant, they said that a select few bike get pulled off the line, and checked over more precisely, like an audit. They take them on a special, course, usually about 35 miles. So this "may" be one of those special bike directly from the factory.


EDIT: I guess Woodman beat me too it! ^ :-)

 

Before I bought my bike I test drove the same bike in a different color to see how it handled I must have put 20 miles on that demo bike, nothing wrong with that just ask for money off for wear and tear, but it it's still under warranty.

 

Why don't you ask the dealer why it has that many miles? I bought a truck with 78 miles. The sticker had a different dealer on it, so I assume they did a dealer trade. That is common with cars, not sure about bikes.

 

Edit: Yep,, the York plant told us the same thing last year. A tech sits on the bike and runs it through the gears, tests the brakes, all electrical functions, etc. I saw two bikes get taken up to 95 mph. They will pull random bikes and actually test ride them on a loop around York. These bikes are then crated and loaded for delivery. The tour guide told us to be wary of any new bikes with less than 7-10 miles on them as every bike goes on a dyno for a full work out, and they could have as much as 35-40 miles on the odometer.

 

In most cases when you test ride a demo bike .You must follow someone from the dealer to do the ride. Now knowing the differents between a one owner use bike and a beat to death rental with 2500 mile on it is a little harder. So I would trust a demo bike any day.

 

someone mentioned break in, you'll never know
ask for extended warranty? or another bike/dealer

 

I purchased a "used" bike with 12 miles. SJ Ron