I’ve had my current bike for a number of years now, so am thinking it’s time for a new toy.
Being that my current bike is 7 years old and that bike tech/geo has probably changed a bit, I was keen to do a couple of proper (off road) demo rides to make sure I make the right decision. However, I’ve found it tricky to find many places that offer anything more than a quick spin round their car park as way of a demo. Even manufacturer own brand stores (ie Specialized Concept Stores) looked at me like I was slightly potty for asking for an off-road demo (which is a shame as I quite liked the look of their new ‘Status’!).
It may be that I’ll have to take a leap of faith and buy without trying it properly (which obviously opens up the direct sale options) - but it’s a shame that considering bikes are such a high ticket purchase more shops don’t seem to have any proper demo bikes.
Starling bikes and Bird bikes seem to be exceptions, but it would be nice to think the ‘big name’ brands would have the odd demo bike kicking around.
I think YT will do it if you’re anywhere near their place in Surrey.
Specialized have a fleet, so do YT from their place in Woking.
Cotic and Alpkit/Sonder do.
I feel like these days its mostly the small brands that offer it Cotic do loops from their main office and outside of Cotic, Bird and Starling I would struggle to name more. Agree though what does riding a bike in a car park tell you about how it will ride. I think the steel is real demos are back up and running so maybe give that a shot if you want a steel bike.
Interesting that Specialized have a fleet. I tried contacting them via their website and they couldn’t tell me where I could demo!
Do you know how to track down their demos?
YT isn’t a bad shout. Although actually being able to buy the bike you want seems difficult, as they always seem to be out of stock.
Specialized i contacted their Concept Store and they came back to me quickly.
A few brands have a demo fleet which visits dealers on specific dates.
I did a good demo with Orange from Biketreks Ambleside a few years ago.
https://www.orangebikes.com/demo-day
Nukeproof run a similar programme: https://nukeproof.com/pages/demo-events
I'd deffo want to try before I bought a Status, they look great value but the short rear end won't be for everyone.
Stif run demo days, and/or will lend you a bike for a fee (refundable against purchase).
Cotic do demo days too iirc. I think Deviate still do too.
Send emails to the brands/shops you want to try in advance, turning up to a shop and asking for a ride there and then is unlikely to be fruitful.
Where are you based and what size Status would you like ? I've got an S3 (medium) 160 here in West Berks that you could try for an hour or 3...
Often at Rogate, BPW, FoD, can even do Swinley at a push 🙂
Fly to US and go to outerbike.
Can give everything a proper demo.
weeksy: yeah, I tried emailing and calling my local concept store - but no luck on a proper demo.
Their exact words were:
“We can’t let you test ride bikes as they need to be sold as new”
And that was the end of that.
I’ll try again!
If you phone the Alpkit shop in Betws y Coed they have one of almost every bike they sell for demo, in every size.
weeksy: that’s very kind of you! I ride a bit a Swinley, but wouldn’t want to put you out (or fall off your bike and break it!!).
LOL it's not putting me out fella... it's fun... i ride bikes, lots... if it makes you feel better you can buy me a latte to soften me up 🙂
I'm away Sat ay BPW, but could do fairly early doors on Sunday if you'd like. If not, you could come over to near Goring way any day or evening, although the terrain isn't quite as exciting lol.
Although branded, Specialized concept stores are franchised LBS’ so may differ from shop to shop re demo policy. I know the Harrogate store has a demo fleet, and Specialized UK have one if that’s too far, may be worth emailing them?
For specialized, try:
Pearce Cycles
Ace Cycles
Geometron are by far the best for demos, they accompany you for a ride and make sure the bike is working as it should.
A lot of brands saw their supplies dry up completely during Covid and obviously there were no test days anyway so they sold everything.
Restocking a comprehensive fleet now is proving difficult which is why the smaller manufacturers are better placed to offer it as they control more of their supply/demand/manufacturing cycle.
I believe Tweed Valley Bikes can sort you a demo on a Santa Cruz. I am told that the Geometron / Mojo demo days are superb as well. As someone else said, the YT Mill is also really good.
Just have a ring around local shops, our local independent shops have a pretty good range of demo bikes. Some places may charge but its often refunded if you purchase.
Geometron are by far the best for demos, they accompany you for a ride and [s]make sure the bike is working as it should[/s] stop you from nicking it.
ftfy 😉
Cotic are fantastic for demos. I demoed my Rocket on a day at Hopton with Sam the demo man and had a great day trying different sizes etc.
They also have a cool demo loop from their base.
Perfect.
Start Fitness/Cycles used to have a few demo days a year for various brands at Hamsterley forest, book in advance and you could try a few different bikes over the day but not sure if they still do them
I've demo'd loads of bikes, either via a big demo day covering multiple manufacturers (MBR demo day), or a specific manufacturer day (YT rolling circus) or via a small brands own demo program (Geometron bikes).
For interest, I just called Specialized and got through to a very helpful chap at their HQ.
As it stands, they have a grand total of 0 demo bikes available! The chap told that it’s currently down to individual shops to invest in demo bikes, but as it stands they have no plans as a company to restart their‘demo days’ or supply demo bikes.
Try Certini (Spec Concept Store) Birmingham never had an issue with testing although I don't bother anymore no point in a car park.
Sonder do, I demoed a Transmitter a few years ago from Hathersage.
There was a bit of confusion over whether I'd need to pay anything (they do bike hire as well) but when I showed up they just held my driving license, gave me a bike and said have fun (I did).
Off to the hills for a couple of hours, no problem.
I think the steel is real demos are back up and running so maybe give that a shot if you want a steel bike.
Not sure they are yet but I seem to remember then saying they were ramping stuff back up with takeovers and hopefully demo days. That would be my go to regardless of what type of bike you need (or if you're even in the market!).
Oh yes forgot I did a demo of a bike with Alpkit/Sonder from one of the shops too.
Bird give me a demo before I bought my aeris
I think this is a real issue and whilst I accept some of it will be down to events of the last couple of years I suspect there may be some using it as an excuse.
The point is though if you cant demo a bike before purchase then there is even less incentive to buy from a real shop and not from a direct sales brand. It’s potentially another nail in the coffin of the LBS
It’s potentially another nail in the coffin of the LBS's that can't be bothered
FTFY
Pedal and Spoke will help you out with a Santa Cruz demo if in the Surrey area.
Pedal and Spoke will help you out with a Santa Cruz demo if in the Surrey area.
Yeah, SC seem to be the exception to the rule as far as the 'big names' are concerned.
Sonder do, I demoed a Transmitter a few years ago from Hathersage.
There was a bit of confusion over whether I’d need to pay anything (they do bike hire as well) but when I showed up they just held my driving license, gave me a bike and said have fun (I did).
Alpkit Edinburgh let me demo one of their "display only" bikes and just held my driving licence, they didn't have a proper demo one in the the right size. I think their demo policy is pretty relaxed though if they do have the right bike available.
Studio Velo were very good a few years ago for a demo before I bought my Whyte from them, bit far from you though by the sounds of it.
The point is though if you cant demo a bike before purchase then there is even less incentive to buy from a real shop and not from a direct sales brand
Couldn't agree more.
It's also ironic that I've just discovered that Canyon have a hire centre they've partnered with near Dorking, and YT have a test centre in Surrey too - which means it's actually easier to demo a direct sales bike, than it is a 'mainstream' company's bikes.
Also look at hire bikes - yes you'll be spending money but at least you'll be able to ride it 'properly', as you said it's a risk to you if you buy the wrong one.
Or just go and demo a Cotic, and you'll buy one - I did 🙂
JE James used to do massive demo days of all the brands they sold.
Seconding Geometron. It's free, they take you out for a few hours and chop and change the setup as you go to suit you. They also give advice and coaching to really get the most out of the bike too!
Only problem with it is that you'll leave the demo a few grand lighter than when you arrived 😉
Race Co Cycles have some demo Spech bikes.
As above though the ultimate demos are from Geometron.
They'll change frame/wheel/shock/fork/travel sizes as well as chainstay/seatstay length to see what you like best.
They'll even take you on some fantastic trails and tweak the suspension to suit your style on the ride.
Yeah but then you end up with a farm gate on wheels
Leisure lakes demo day regardless of buying a bike is a top day out
When I was looking for a new bike Airdrop let me take an edit out for a day with no charge. Bought one after a day out on it!
farm gate
The term gate refers to something that's overly tall.
Quite the opposite of a Geometron.
Like them or hate them a test day will give you a great opportunity to see how geometry/wheel size changes feel in real life rather than just regurgitating some stuff you read a few years ago.
whether they're a brilliant or awful bike doesn't come into it for me, you have to like bikes aesthetically to buy them i think and Geometron are a bloody ugly bike to me. That said, i don't like Cotic FS's either....
whether they’re a brilliant or awful bike doesn’t come into it for me, you have to like bikes aesthetically to buy them i think and Geometron are a bloody ugly bike to me. That said, i don’t like Cotic FS’s either….
And remind us how many 'wonderfully looking' bikes you've gone through in the last few years that you hated riding?
whether they’re a brilliant or awful bike doesn’t come into it for me
Speaks volumes.
whether they’re a brilliant or awful bike doesn’t come into it for me, you have to like bikes aesthetically to buy them i think and Geometron are a bloody ugly bike to me.
Plus, you wouldn’t get through all the tuning options in a demo month day.
another recommendation for the Cotic demo loop. proved to be an expensive trip. 4 years later the bike is still going strong
And remind us how many ‘wonderfully looking’ bikes you’ve gone through in the last few years that you hated riding?
None... 🙂
The only bike i've not liked was the Bird Aether7 as a bike to ride... but i didn't think it was particularly lovely or not to look at... it was just a bike.
Not keeping a bike doesn't mean you hated it 🙂 Things move on, time moves on otherwise we'd all still be riding the same bike from 1980.
I’ve done a couple of cotic demos. Still don’t own one though🤷🏼♂️
It helps living near the loop and once I knew it I was able to ride it the day before the demo on my old 26 bike, then the next day on a modern geo flaremax I was completely blown away by the difference. It did confirm that lls was the way to go even if I didn’t order a Cotic. Helped me understand the numbers that might work for me and how they make a bike ride. Maybe a Solarismax is next though. They are great fun short going out in a group with some of the staff. Loop takes about half an hour so it’s hardly extensive. They used to offer longer demos I believe.
I’ve also had paid “demos” of Santa Cruz and orange at llandegla and a hope hb160 at the shop at Cannock. Alpkit offer the same with a refund if you buy as stated above. Thought about taking their tandem out for a spin round hathersage a few times…
This was all back in the pre covid era though… things have obviously changed.
Mountain Trax, 48 hour demo, near to Swinley, https://www.mountain-trax.com/pages/hire/