The Vertu Motorcycles Test Ride Guide
You’ve done the research, checked your budget, you think you’re ready to buy... you’d just like to try the bike to be sure it’s as good as you hope.
Here’s everything you need to know, in seven steps.
1. What are the motorcycle test ride requirements?
You need to have held a full UK license for 12 months and have no more than 9 points on your license.
Legally we cannot let you test a 125 “around the car park”.
If you are a learner, get in touch about the Honda School of Motorcycling and Ride Free events, or BMW's Rookie to Rider scheme.
2. Book your test ride
It sounds obvious but you do need to book a test ride. This is so we have someone available to welcome you and make sure everything is organised, including the right bike.
You can book in person at any dealership, on the phone or on our website.
Remember to give us your email address and phone number so that we can send you confirmation details.
Also remember to allow enough time on the day. From arriving to leaving will take around 90 minutes.
There is no cost to you when you book a test ride but it does need your time commitment - and ours.
3. Get ready on the day
Don’t forget to bring your driving license.
You’ll need to arrive half an hour before the ride to sort out the paperwork and pre-test handover.
You will need to bring all your riding gear. We don’t loan helmets or kit, so bring everything you would normally ride in.
If you want to part exchange your current bike, it’s best to ride over on it and we can give you a valuation for it.
And don’t forget to bring your driving license.
4. When you arrive
Say hello to our friendly team, have a cuppa, go to the loo.
We’ll need to check your license, take a few details and make sure that the insurance is correctly set up.
If you did bring a bike you want to part exchange, now’s the time to have a look at it.
We’ll be able to value your bike so you can be sure that the test bike is within your budget. Who knows, today might be the day.
5. Meet the bike
Before you head off we will take you through all the controls and make sure that the bike is set up for you.
We’ll check that you can reach the levers, that the mirrors are adjusted and that you understand the functioning of the bike.
If you are new to any technology, from DCT to CarPlay or Android Auto, we’ll show you how that works, too.
6. The route
Each dealership has devised a test ride route that will give you a bit of everything - from twisting B roads to town traffic with a bit of A road cruising thrown in.
The routes take around 40 mins.
If you do get lost, all our bikes have a tracker fitted, so we will know where you are, even if you have no idea.
Any endorsements or fines that you get during the test ride are your responsibility.
7. After the test ride
How was it for you?
Was the bike everything you hoped or more?
.Assuming it was, now might be the time to talk about how you can buy your own.
If it wasn’t, let’s see if something else might be better suited to your needs.