[Closed] How many bikes did you test ride?

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(grrr can't post a 1 char post, so this bit is here to make the post long enough)

none, but the price was very right

I rode a trek fuel, and bought a Tracer 2!!

0, never bought new so 'test ride' is to make sure wheels go round etc

I like to think that every bike I have is on an extended test ride......

.....ready for when the next one comes along

0, I bought blind and its the best bike I have ever ridden.

Quite agree - everybody says try loads of bikes but it's not always that easy. I'm a short arse and everybody I ride with's bikes are too big (that's if they'd even let me have a go on their pride and joys), and bike shops also rarely have smalls and are funny about ordering them in unless you place an order

None. Read the reviews, taken them with a pinch of salt and then bought what I liked the look of.

There are very few bad bikes around nowadays and I know what frame size will fit in general. Frames are fairly easy to sell and get one that you do like, if its no good for you personally.

And other than getting the right size, I'm sceptical how much you can tell from a short test ride.

0,

I've been very lucky buying blind. Not blind, got recommendations and did research, but didn't ride. Plus top bike on my list last Meta AM, no stockist in 100 mile radius.

4, got badly bitten a few years ago.

i.e. bought a bike that was a piece of s**t and really didn't suit me, hated it, cost me a fortune, not prepared to take a chance again

I'm sceptical how much you can tell from a short test ride.

each of the bikes I tested for at least 10 miles, several for whole weekends. 😀

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I bought my last new bike cheap, stripped it, sold the stuff I didn't want and rebuilt it with lots of bits off my old bike.
I always keep the old frame for a little while until I'm happy that the new one is staying.

1 - same bike to make sure I knew what size I needed - and then bought s/h.

never, but then i ride hardtails, they're easier to get an idea about from the numbers

Just the one, had a quick ride round the car park and bought it.

only bike I ever test-rode was the 1st mtb I ever bought. 5 min up the road and back, hopped a kerb and that was it

oh, and boooo to

hamishthecat - Member
1 - same bike to make sure I knew what size I needed - and then bought s/h

Bought a steel 456m blind, then bought a same size 456Ti.

Test ride on a tallboy Ltc last weekend, was everything and wanted and more, ordered one through BW cycling that evening

First mtb, no test ride just took advice from LBS, and it was fine
Second test rode in town for 10 mins, worked out fine
Third, test rode two back to back from same LBS as first, an hour on each. Worked out fine
Fourth, bought frame of classifieds without even seeing one in the flesh as it were, worked out fine...
Etc. etc.

To cut a very long story a bit shorter, only had one disapointing bike so far, I hadn't ridden in advance, but three others bought blind second hand have been great, two bought new after test rides have been great, so either way can work

0.

Haven't done many test rides- bought my Soul because of one, probably wouldn't have bought one otherwise. Was put off the Mojo HD and Five because of test rides though, that was good, saved me a fortune.

I've never seen a demo for any of my current crop of bikes.

None, though I had a demo on a very expensive road bike, with a view to buying it, I didn't in the end. Not cos it wasn't ace, it really was, I just enjoyed riding it exactly the same amount as the (must less expensive) one I already have.

This doesn't mean n+1 won't force me to buy it at a later date....

last 3, 0 tests, but two of them have the same geometry just different materials

3, then bought something else. 🙂

MTB: Zero, just bought a Kona Unit 29er off here on the strength of reviews - I knew nothing about off-road and it was my first MTB. Then when that went, I ordered a Genesis io id, as I knew a bit more about bikes, and the sort of riding I do - and how I can convert it to several bikes in one.

Road: 4-5, and will order one of the ones I tested. Spend a lot longer sitting on the road bike. I also spent ages pouring over geometry tables from the brochures. Settled on a high end carbon comfort bike to complement my alloy out and out race bike.

1. Took an Orange 5 for a 24 mile ride in the Dales, took it back to the shop & said, 'I'll have one' Didn't buy a specce'd bike from Orange though, bought the frame & custom oredered the bits.

Still got it, still love it.

2 - didn't buy either of them

Zero.

I know what I like in a frame, so if the geometry and suspension are good then the chances are, I will get on with it.

none - impulse buyer to the bone

0.

All my bikes have been frame only then custom built. Back in my part-sponsored days, we got given a frame anyway so there was no opportunity to test ride and even if you didn't like it there wasn't much you could do about it!

However it taught me a lot about bike fit and as mentioned above, there are very few truly bad bikes these days anyway. And even if you do end up with a total dog, it's easier than ever to shift things on, just stick it on ebay or classifieds and take the loss on it.

None. Bought a meta as they seemed liked and looked nice.
I like mine. And it looks nice.

DrP

8.

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Very few bad bikes around as others have said.

I looked for a frame which offered the practicalities I was looking for (simplicity, mud clearance, low weight, reasonably priced, etc) and then checked the geometry looked ok. Very happy.

A bike test can be very misleading. Chances are the saddle/ controls will be set up very differently between bikes, tyres vary, suspension set up can take a few rides, might have some shonky/ amazing components which change the feel of the bike... basically too many variables to really nail down if you like the feel of the frame and more often than not you will not have the time on a bike test to ensure it is set up 100% correctly to judge bike fit.

Well that is my cynical view anyway 😀

I've never test ridden a bike before buying it. The more bikes I've owned, the more I know what I like though. I've bought too big, too small, too slack, too racey, too heavy and too light, but all have been fun in their own way. I've almost always bought used, so haven't lost too much along the way. The thing is, I've got them all to fit one way or another, and only one was awful.

Most of my bikes are assembled by me which sort of forces you to understand the parts layout and geometry of the bike/frame I kind of tend to assume an off the peg build won't quite be what I require so then I'd start changing stuff and it wouldn't be the same thing I test rode anyway plus I don't buy big budget bikes so trying stuff out, and flogging it on if it's not right is easier.

Having said all that, a mate of mine is in the market for a new MTB, he's very much taken with specialized and rather than encouraging him to look at other brands I told him to sign up for his local concept stores next demo day and whatever he chooses to have fitted by the shop. He's not too sure what he really wants/needs and he's got a circa 2k budget a brand he likes and a posh shop that does test rides and fitting TBH he'd be nuts not to really.

I'm on my second mtb, the first I rode round a car park and it seemed to fit, so bought it. The Soul I currently ride was based on sizing recommendation from Paul at Cotic and a sit on test at 18bikes. Once I had seen it in the flesh I bought it there and then and love it.

I'm currently trying to decide on my first full sus, so far I've demoed an ASR5 (didn't like), Bandit (not bad), Banshee Spitfire (quite liked) and TRc. The TRc is winning, but I can't afford one but will hopefully be having a ride on the alu one at the weekend, along with a Tallboy LT (to see what all the fuss with 29ers is).

None for me. I really don't think it really matters, are you really going to thoroughly get to know a bike on the strength of a test ride? It takes me a good few rides with some tinkering as I go to get used to a bike. I've just bought an expensive bike, the most expensive bike I've ever had and tried to do the 'right thing' and arrange a test ride, but it was just too much of a faff as it is a bike that is not widely stocked. In the end I just pushed the button. Did my first ride on it today and guess what - it's chuffing brilliant! Shame the conditions were not great so I couldn't really give it some beans, but that's just as well as I'd have been gutted if I'd got carried away and took a tumble.

Two.

Tried an early Hemlock demo but didn't get on with it at all.

Then arranged an extended test ride on a secondhand frame & fork (yeti 575), which I was allowed to take home, build up with my parts, then decide I wasn't happy with the forks so gave them back and just bought the frame. The seller was a friend of friends so didn't really know me either 🙂

Both my previous bikes (early i-drive and a Litespeed Niota) I was never entirely happy with the ride/fit, and didn't get the chance to test ride.

5 (including the bike I bought)

The old "just buy one they're all good" strap line is so off mark as to be hilarious. If you know your bikes (geometry, equipment etc) then this is feasible, but IME bikes with similar spec can feel very different on the trail. If you're going to off load some heard earned then a demo is essential.

Just make sure each is properly setup for your size and weight and in good running order.

No test rides for me, last complete mtb i bought was back in 93/94 (indian fire trail), every other bike since then i've bought the frame i want and built it to my analy retentive/OCD specifications with regard to parts.

I know exactly what i want with a bike build and there is an element of bike snobbery if i'm perfectly honest, been building my own bikes since i was 16 in the mid 80's and bought a DP Freestyler frame then built it up with what i wanted, my marin ^ there lasted 2 weeks before i had swapped out the drivetrain for middleburn and Hope Ti hubs with mavic 717 rims built by myself along with a set of magura HS33's and a Manitou 3 fork.

FWIW every single person who's had a test ride on the mojo's we have in the shop has bought one, so the test ride element obviously works for some folk.

None. I'm not in a position to be spending a grand plus on a frame or even a whole bike, so what ever is avail;able in the classifieds when i'm looking is what i go for. I seem to be fortunate though in that i seem to be able to get on with nearly anything, never had a bike i hated.

currently up to 10/15 but it's been a while since I got a new bike....

I'm not happy I know what I don't want

I'm not sure how a bike can be wrong assuming the sizing is right. No two bikes will ever feel the same, are some people trying to get a bike hat feels like their last? (What's the point in that?), and there is always an element of getting used to different bikes and just adapting. The two MTB's I've got are completely different, completely different geometries and intended purposes, riding positions, weights, handling characteristics, and I'll choose the bike best suited to the ride I'm about to do. I guess I'm just easy!

I'm not sure how a bike can be wrong assuming the sizing is right.

It's not wrong just not right (sometimes for the money). I have had blasts round on lots of bikes, I preferred VPP to single pivot designs, I find some linkage driven stuff OK. There were a couple of sets of forks I really didn't like. Some bikes were the wrong size despite looking right on paper.

The way something climbs/descends and rides is completely different. I know how I like a bike to feel, and I found several that were just not as good as the competition at certain things, yes they functionally did the job but not in the same way as some others.

These tests were not car park bounces but proper rides out.

Had a car park 'test' on my minidh. Rode it round in a circle and down some steps. It was my first ever go on a fs bike and it felt horrible. Bought it. When i purchased my dj bike (my plan was to buy a different bike than the one I came home with - but it wasn't built up in the shop) I had a another car park test. A quick sprint, a bunnyhop and a skid. SOLD!

A degree here and an inch there doesn't make that much difference to me, as long as it's roughly* the right size, it'll do.

* At 6'4"+ all my bikes should be XL. The biggest I have is a large 😆

Test rode a Demo 7 before I brought one and I tested 3 road bikes before I got the current one.

But latest mtb I just looked at the onine reviews, e-mailed the company a couple of questions, geometery and what it was I wanted it for and have been very happy with it so far.

Only 1, my Commencal Super 4.3

I'm not sure how a bike can be wrong assuming the sizing is right. No two bikes will ever feel the same, are some people trying to get a bike hat feels like their last? (What's the point in that?), and there is always an element of getting used to different bikes and just adapting. The two MTB's I've got are completely different, completely different geometries and intended purposes, riding positions, weights, handling characteristics, and I'll choose the bike best suited to the ride I'm about to do. I guess I'm just easy!

Nicely put.

I think you only need to demo if you haven't got a clue what kind of bike you want, to decide what category of bike you actually need.

Demoing may help if you have a short bike history list, where what's down on paper can't be related to real life, and you dont have a capable sales person to make clear what is down on paper says out on the trail.

I really dont think you need to demo to get the correct geometry/size. If you're trying out something new and different, it's always going to feel different and not like home.

I believe everyone needs to live with a bike to actually find out what it's like, buying, testing, learning, moving on, buying, testing learning etc is just part of bikes to me. Plus your riding style changes and grows, what you want/need is constantly shifting.

Not blowing my own trumpet, i get to try out a lot of bikes, i haven't ridden anything for years that hasn't ridden exactly how i thought it would. I've learnt that by taking the plunge and living with bikes.

You also get those serial demoers that never find anything, usually because they're looking for the moon on a stick. I think the sooner that you grasp, no matter what bike it is, designed for whatever purpose, there's things it's going to be good and bad at, there isn't a bike that exists that has zero bad traits, it's just impossible.

Nope - I buy frames suited to the intended purpose, then buy finishing kit to make if feel how I want it to. I may buy 3 stems, and sell on the 2 I don't use.

Never managed more than a quick ride up and down the street, trying to get hold of the right bike in the right size and not too far from home is what makes test riding impractical for me.

So, I guess we're not too good at taking our own advice then 🙂

Clearly not all bikes are the same, but I admire anybody who can decide that a bike is (or is not) for them in a single ride, or even a few days. I spent 8 months doing back to back rides on a Trance and a Five and I'd still struggle to say that one is better than the other. The fact that they were different was obvious from the first pedal strokes, but that just means that they each have different sections of trail where they are better.

Then I have the problem of working out what I mean by better. Strava can tell me which is faster over various segments, but not which is more fun. Do you want the bike that's fastest, that's most fun (whatever than means) or the one that lets you get up or down that one tricky section.

To make things even more complicated I found that I could easily swing the balance in favour of one bike or the other with simple changes to the setup and that's before even considering changing forks, wheels etc.

Personally I enjoy doing test rides and comparing bikes. An appreciation of the bike itself is part of the reason why I love cycling but have no interest in running. But even I sometimes think that I go too far and a part of me thinks that any half decent bike would do the job and there is a lot to be said for just buying one that you like the look of and riding it until it breaks.

Of course, that's precisely what most people do. They just don't bother with cycling forums either.

Tried three different approaches and been happy with the outcomes of all.

1. Bought first proper MTB after just a carpark test. It is a "Trigger's Broom" of a bike. I have literally changed every component over time. It's still a rockhopper though. It was good to start with but has got progressively better.

2. Bought a bike blind, bought another bike later and ran both both over a period of a few months, sold the Meta & still got the Five.

3. Demo'd a Patriot, wasn't 100% sure, didn't seem as capable as Five on slow-tech. Assumed that this was set-up issues but I hadn't really gained much from the demo. Bought a frame 2nd hand anyway and built it to my liking. Love it but it bares very little similarity to what I'd demo'd.

3. LBS had a demo day that I took advantage of and I bought one I rode, the key benefit of the demo was I knew it fitted, it wasn't pants, and there was a local dealer for warranty etc who also seemed knowledgeable and had history with the brand.

I would have bought blind based on sizing chart and reviews had I not done the demo.

In practice getting a demo of just the bike you want to try can be a real pain, and the more bikes you've owned or built the less necessary it becomes unless you're a pro looking for exactly the right suspension set up.

10 for me, decision now made!

None - I knew what i wanted and bought it, it was just which version I couldnt decide on - Now have a nice shiny new Anthem X 29er, well maybe not quite so shiny after my last ride on it 🙂

only bike I ever test-rode was the 1st mtb I ever bought. 5 min up the road and back, hopped a kerb and that was it

oh, and boooo to

hamishthecat - Member
1 - same bike to make sure I knew what size I needed - and then bought s/h

🙂 I asked how much the test bike would be and the importer quoted an (IMO) ludicrous price so I found a s/h frame. The importer subsequently sold the test bike for a lost less than they quoted me.