[Closed] Would you buy a bike without testing it?

I pretty much always do. The last bike I bought after riding one was a Cube road bike - and that only because I'd had to take a customers bike for a post-service test ride and was gobsmacked at how comfortable it was.

Yes. Last 3 mtbs I've had were bought "blind" after a bit of consideration of geometry and reviews. All 3 were great and I don't regret buying them.

I always do.

Yes, can't remember the last time I did. And with shocks and set up being fairly individual a typical test is fairly pointless. I spent a day at BPW getting my suspension as I wanted it and by the end of it the bike felt hugely different.

Yup

It's not a problem if you know what you're looking for

*gallops off on high horse*

Hardtail - yes and have done

Full suss - I'd at least want to know what the suspension was like. I liked how santa cruz used the single pivot on the 2002 heckler but didn't like 5's of the same era. Likewise all of the minilink designs behave very differently to me.

You can make an informed guess but I wouldn't drop the amount of money required for a full suss without having some idea of what I was buying.

Yes.

Of the 5 bike/frame purchases I've made I only test rode 2. What I would say is that they where both the more expensive purchases, a full bike Reign and a Covert frame. My Cotic and Dialed frames where bought untried as was my fist mtb a basic Hardrock. I would always try and test something but not being able to would not prevent me buying

Yup pretty much always have. Demo days weren't a thing when I bought new and I don't buy new anymore so....

Yep, limited amounts of testrides available so that limits choice so much. And testrides aren't always that informative either, some bikes feel amazing instantly, some you grow with. I wasn't at all convinced with a couple of my bikes after a couple of rides but familiarity and setup sorted that.

I will say though I'm pretty happy to buy cheap, and resell if I don't like it.

Yep. I've never test ridden any bikes. Last two purchases I was a bit nervous about but they are spot on.
I would like to test ride if I was going for something wildly different like a 29'er, or something with a very long reach as in my head these are both all sorts of wrong (but may turn out to be right? probably not though 🙂 )

I've not tested any I've purchased.

I always did but lately I really lusted after a new Trek Stache 7. I kept going in the trek store to oogle and such and eventually ended up with a test ride. I took it out as soon as I got home and never gelled with it and knew I never would . I loved the concept but to me it was a halfway house execution so back it went and disappointed was I !!! ( but £1800 better off ).

Yes - I've bought HT,FS, CX, Road bikes without riding them. But, I've been lucky to test a lot of bikes that I know I've been interested in and ended up not liking or buying.

Usually, if I'm buying something it's based on geometry and ironing out the ones I think may work. Odd way to do it now that I write it...

Yep, every single time.

I once test rode a bike, they shop gave me a lower spec version which was the model from the year before as that's all they had and I rode it up and down the road for a bit - sadly it turned out that the older, lower spec bike was actually better than the one I bought..

There's a lot more opportunity to test ride bikes than there was 10 years ago I think, but even still it's hard work, my next bike will likely be a Capra, I did actually see a YT test day at FOD by total fluke and they let me sit on one, but the test bikes were all booked.

Never tested one yet although about to buy the 3rd one in a row from the same manucfacturer 🙂

I bought my nomad without riding one. I tested a large Bronson and a medium old nomad and guessed from that along with the sizes of my other bikes one of which is a large chameleon. I did manage to sit on one a few weeks before mine arrived and thankfully it felt right.

I've never tested a bike. Never had a major issue with any Size or geometry wise, only 2 have been FS'ers though and both were second hand.

Yep have done for the last 4 out of 5 bikes. Might have sat on one of those in the shop, but certainly didn't ride it. I even bought my 29er without ever having ridden any 29er let alone the specific brand and/or bike.

If you know what you are after and what size then no quick demo is going to tell you anymore IME.

usually my principle would be always to test ride what you are buying. However I splashed out £2k on a YT Capra AL1 back in March without even sitting on one and haven't regretted it.

YMMV

Only once I think.There's enough in the numbers to give you an idea of fit (there's certainly bikes I'd not touch based on printed geometry).
You're either not good enough to know the difference or good enough that it does'nt matter.
Or deluded enough to think there is a 'perfect' bike.

Ideally, no.

However I usually buy on special offer, and even then I'll give it a quick spin first.

However buying it is only the start of a long process of fettling and tuning it - most bikes if they are the right size can be sorted out, for me - I just adapt to what it gives me to get the best out of it - I'm a flexible guy.

Haven't done recently, or to be honest in the past.

When I bought my first "proper HT" it was a Cove Handjob and it's kinda tricky to test ride a frame only, much like when I bought my old Nicolai Helius CC.

Went of recommendation for my Anthem 29'er (and rode it round the car park), same applied to one road bike.

After that I've just bought either frames or bikes where i know the fit will be right and the Geo is pretty much what I wanted, either that or I liked the colour

Yes. I didn't test my most recent purchase (a Transition TrasAM). I saw a nice green one somewhere in the Highlands during June and after months of ultimately pointless rationalising to myself, and now that I think about it not even considering finding a test, finally got one a couple of weeks ago!! I'm glad I did because it's an outrageously fun bike to ride.
On the other hand I did take a full day test before buying my Spitfire, which was lucky as I tested a similarly specced Bronson at the same time which I had assumed I would end up buying.

Yup ,had a good read of the geo / size figures first .

yep...as long as I think it'll fit and geo looks ok. I'm far to rubbish to notice subtle differences in suspension design etc.

Only ever tested one bike before I bought it, and I bought the wrong bike.
I have always bought bikes based on frame geo and it has served me well.

I think one of the plus points about suspension these days is that there is so much you can do to the damping and the air springs to make it feel totally different. Take the RockShox tokens and air can spacers, 5 years ago it was he realm of suspension tuners to put an extra 5cc of oil in your air spring so it would ramp up more, now its actively encouraged.

FWIW I bought my road bike because I liked the colour.

When I bought my first full suss yes did quite a bit of testing. I hadn't used full suss before so didn't have clue about all the different platforms etc. I also didn't know what kind of bike I wanted, trail bike or something more burly.

It was useful to find out the characteristics of each bike brand, eg Transition bikes seemed fun and poppy to ride, Spec and Trek seemed very composed almost stuck to the ground.

Not sure if I'll do the same when it comes to replacing the bike. It's still good for a few years at least, so maybe everything will have changed by then and I need new reference points? I'll probably try out a couple bikes but won't stress so much if I can easily sort out a demo.

Yep, never tested a bike. Mainly as finding XL/21"/60cm test bikes is almost impossible.

I'll look at the spec, the geometry and reviews but ultimately it's a bit of a leap of faith.

Of the 3 MTBs I've bought in the last 3 years, only 1 got ridden

But of the 2 biggest bike purchases recently, buying new, both got ridden.

up to a certain price point then yes but only if unavoidable

Twice in 20+ years - both MTBs - out of the 20-odd bikes that have passed through my hands in that time

Everything else I've built from the frame-up. Quite a few of my bikes I've designed the frames myself and had them custom built abroad - last was a 5"-tyred fatbike having never ridden one previously! Luckily it was near perfect, only having to adjust the bar angle a touch.

Yes, always. When you get to a certain point in the market, test rides can be very hard to come by. Also, given variables in seatpost, saddle, stem, bars, tyres, suspension, I start to query the value of a test ride.

Nah
Like the Spitfire.... "If it looks right, it is right"

As a large bloke, can rarely find a bike to test ride in the right size anyway. So, no, always bought unseen.

Hits: chumba XL 29er, Cube XL CX race, XL mukluk, XL stumpjumper EVO, XL NP Mega

Misses (too small = stupidity): L Stumpy FSR (too small), L NP Mega (too small - bought the XL frame to replace)

Misses (just didn't like the ride): XL Krampus (hated!), Cotic Roadrat (bit flexy!!!)

So, aside from stupidity/wishful thinking on sizing, the only 2 bikes that I should have taken a test ride on were the Krampus and the Roadrat. Krampus was the only one that I really hated almost everything about.

Yep, I think I've bought all my mountain bikes without testing. GT something or other, Kona hardtail, custom Ti frame, Cotic.

Some worked out (Kona, Cotic); others less so (custom Ti). Weirdly it still feels easier than, y'know, arranging test rides...

Tested my road bike outside the shop. This test informed me that I was indeed riding....a bike

Yeah, s'only a bike innit - usually get mine secondhand/from the bargain bin after a fair bit of thought but generally no actual time on one. 0.003 degrees on head angle or 2mm on a chainstay wouldn't register with a philistine like me anyway

Never tested before buying. Been very happy with all (3) of them. First 2 each lasted 7 years with a few upgrades along the way. Last time I went for a 160mm travel bike having never even ridden any bike with that much travel. Love it. Haven't got the time to wander about demoing right left and centre!

i buy everything without testing, surfboards, windsurfs, hifi, bikes, everything. i look, i might read, if it interests me i'll buy it and then figure it out. thats half the fun for me.

Yep, I always do.

I know what sort of characteristics I might like, so can narrow it down to a few bikes, then read reviews (both professional and end user) and can usually work out which will suit me best. Havent bought a bike I didnt like.

I also feel that you cant get a bike (certainly a full suss anyway) set up right in just one ride, so a test ride is largely pointless apart from to confirm whether the bike fits you.

I've only ever tested 2 bikes - a Sunn in 1998 which confirmed that the forks were made of cheese - so I bought a Cannondale instead, and a classic Blur which was too small for me, but I bought the right size and it was fine. All my other bikes have either been on long delivery leads (ie frames measured and built for me, or just long lead times - Merlin, Intense). The Intense Spyder FRO was a frame that I never really go on with - still got it though, might have to use it sometime I suppose.
Everything else I've got on with.

I'm on Mtb number 4 and I've test ridden one around the carpark. 2 came as bits and I built them myself.

I've owned 3 road bikes. One I sat on in the shop the other 2 I borrowed someone else's bike from the same manufacturer (different models though) then bought without seeing them.

Cross bike and commuters, ever ridden, bought as bits.

I'd want to test ride a second hand bike just to make sure it worked!

I got my fatbike without testing it or even seeing one up close.......best bike ever!!

Bought a Camber evo. Slung a leg over in the shop but didn't turn a pedal. Lovely lovely bike.

I am an adapter. I learn to ride what I have unless it totally doesn't fit or until I become a lot better rider or buy a bso my bike is always going to be better than me anyway.

Yep, it's only a bike and most of them are pretty good these days. I do a bit of reading about stuff but that's about it.

I've usually tried bikes round a car park. The only bike I tested properly on trails was courtesy of a friend who had the next model down and groupset/wheels was the only difference.
The last bike I bought was a Boardman FS650 and only got to sling a leg over the next size up in the shop , I picked it up and before I even turned a pedal on it swapped out the shifters/mechs/bars/stem/brakes and cranks.Rode it maybe 5-6 times and it feels like a nice bike , built myself some new wheels a couple of weeks ago but haven't got round to fitting them yet.

I've only bought two bikes after riding them.

One was a road bike. The other was the same as what the missus has, but in SS guise, and rigid, so pretty different in reality. I reckon at my level of crapness, there are no bad modern bikes at a certain price point as long as they fit!

I've even bought two without trying them on for size!

I've only ever bought one on spec (Cotic Roadrat) and, coincidentally or not, it's the one bike I've owned that I've never quite gelled with.

Took a while to come to that conclusion though, so a quick spin round the block wouldn't necessarily have helped. I'd be hesitant to get one without a chance to ride one first now though.

yes, last two bikes were bought "blind" with no test

Specialized Stumpjumper 29'er hardtail

and

Cannondale Super Six Evo road bike

read really great reviews on both bikes, and from looking at the geometry and knowing my bike fit, I knew they would both work out well.

With the 29'er I really wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Very surprised with both bikes, in a good way.

My biggest hits have been spur of the moment 2nd hand purchases, I've had a few clangers as well but can live with losing a little bit of cash on scratching the itch.

My biggest bike buying mistake was the only time I had a wee test in a shop on a carbon GT Grade, I just never took to it all after buying it.
Biggest success a ss Karate Monkey off here.

A little from column A, a little from column B really.

S/H bikes, yeah. New from a shop then it's 50/50 (proper test rides, rather than round the car park)

Of course. Cars, motorbikes... Everything. It takes months to know if you like something.

Never tested a bike I have ever bought till the over day when I tested a Stache then ordered one.Been riding MTBs since 1988.Just make them work for me don't think there are crap bikes out there anymore from the main brands just what suits you or your riding.

Only tested one in 20-odd years, a Kona in the late-90s. Since then I've either gone for variations of what I've had, or something completely different.

I'm looking at a new full sus now, the last one I had was total dog poo so my views have been tainted a bit. When I've gone into some shops and asked for a test ride I've been looked at like I'm stupid. One shop said yeah no problem, that'll be April.......

I bought my Solaris without a test ride but I did plenty of research and knew exactly what I wanted in terms of geometry and spec.

Test!?

Spent that long gagging for it to turn up and taking it. I can always sell or give it away if i don't like it.

I'm sure even if people did test ride bikes, they wouldn't say so on here. Far too embarrassing to admit.

I haven't even bought a fully assembled bike since I was fifteen!!!

I'm now eighteen and a half.

Last time I was able to test ride was as a student buying a cheap "MTB" hack bike, and that was (mumble) decades ago. All my decent bikes have been mail order or custom built in some way. I've never seen any of them in bike shops, and wouldn't expect to.

I have to as very few demo bikes come in xl.

Last bling buy was a transition patrol, glad to say it was a justified purchase.

Only tried one all the rest bought on spec and liking the looks and geometry.

Never test ride any of the bikes I have bought. That goes from a Cotic Soul to a Colnago C60. Just kind of get a idea what geometry is right for you. Apart from having owned a new Mondraker Dune XR and now the others feel kind of wrong lol.

I never have, I can't see that a carpark spin would achieve much and I've never splurged enough to warrant a full-on lend or demo day....

it's just a bike FFS

Lucky to be of average height (175cm) so tend to be able to get the frame sizing right, also, where I live there are few chances to test ride bikes prior to buying.
Only ever sold a bike quickly after buying blind, and that was when the LBS insisted that it should be the size to go for.

Save for sitting on them to make sure they were the right size, I don't think I've tested any of my bikes before purchase.

No, these days bikes cost too much to get it wrong
Firstly size, I seem to be borderline in the traditional Med/Large sizes so I need to know if the cockpit can be made to fit without stupid stems or layback posts.
Last bike I got was an XC 29r so I really wanted to know if I got on with it, I did a 4 day demo on it and bought it when I got back.

Suspension etc. generally a ride witha shock pump helps to get an idea if it works or if the shock/fork will need replaced/work if you get your head round the frame.

Personally bikes that have good backup have good demo's available, it's the sort of thing that I like to have, but then again I'm one of those freaks that still shops in bike shops.

YT and Canyon's direct sale model relies entirely on people not trying bikes. I reckon in the next 5 years, you'll see more direct sales, and probably more online tools like Canyon provide for finding the right geometry for you.

If you're confident enough in what you like in a bike its pretty easy to get it right, and what seals it for me is long term reviews - not day 1 reviews where everyone thinks their new bike is amaze.

Always. First proper (and only new) bike was mail order.

Since then, it's always been second hand. Never got one I didn't love. Never got one that was perfect either...

I live in a strictly n=1*people house so currently anguishing over getting rid of a 170mm Norco FS for a Bfe.

In the dark is the very best way, you concentrate on the feel and not "oh shiny bits"

I've probably had 35 - 40 bikes over my lifetime and I haven't test ridden one of them. The only one that I didn't really get on with was a Trek Liquid.

Once you get to know roughly what fits, what geometry you like and can siphon the tosh from the genuine review comments, then getting a test ride never concerns me.

I've only test ridden two, the Trek 4500 that got me losing weight and back on the bike and the last one, my Arkose 4.

Scandal, Canyon Nerve Am and Felt Roadie all bought online.

I used to try and have a go on a demo at the local specialized dealer, but living in the Isle of Man, not much choice of other demos. Current bikes all bought on reviews and hearsay are intense carbine 29, YT Capra, and latest, a Kingdom Vendetta,

Yep, bought all my bikes over the years without a test ride, including my most recent purchase back in September, but it won't be here till late january so i'll have to be patient - going by the online reviews i've read it appears to be pretty decent 😀

[url= http://ebike-mtb.com/en/e-mountainbike-review-scott-e-genius-710-plus-2016/ ]This Scott E-Genuis 710 Plus[/url]

Last three were bought online without ever seeing one live... But all these were 26" bikes, newest is 5 years old and today the selection is so much wider these days that I have to test ride next bike to get it right.

Bought my Whyte T-130 Works blind and ordered it before they were officially announced - had been chatting to my LBS guy who had seen them pre-launch and ordered as many as Whyte would let and pre-sold them all! He's always on the mark so as i trust him, many years of knowing him, I went for it. Very happy as the bike is fantastic!

I pedalled my first FS bike around the shop car park. I felt crap and I hated it but bought it anyway (got used to it and loved it). I also rode my dirt jump bike outside a different shop. I sprinted, manualled, bunnyhopped and skidded to a stop then bought it. Not really testing or a test ride. All other bikes have been bought blind and they've all been great.

I only test ride bikes that I can't afford ,but pretend that I want to buy #tyrekicker 😉

Buy second hand so never test, I do read reviews though. Not perfect but it helps not to by a dud.