When did riders stop saying "You can take if for a spin if you want!"

[SIR REAL ED]

I remember when you were looking at someone's bike, and the owner often offered you the opportunity to "take it for a spin!" 

Going all the waaaaay back to the olden days when the first reply was almost always: "Cool.  OK.  What's the shift pattern?"

It used to be great fun to go on a group ride an swap bikes!

Now if you offer to let someone ride your bike, they look at you like you offered them the opportunity to sleep with your daughter!  And of course the shocked person will never return the offer.

Was it due to:  A change in humanity?  Insurance regulations?  Hyper performance bikes?  Expensive bikes? Or people just worshipping their motorcycles as "personal shrines of perfection" and fearing the other rider might violate their bike's virginity/perfection?

In my experience this practice became uncommon in the late 1990's.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I still do it, especially with the Convert.

[Shorty]

Nobody's exactly keen to ride my 400 pound 20 horsepower beast. 

[michaell32]

Between all my neighbors and coworkers, there are only two other riders. One of them is too immature to trust. The other did get a chance to ride my dr650 and I've offered him my guzzi when his bike was broke. He declined.

[PilotJet]

I swap bikes with my buddies

[Moparnut72]

I will let another rider I know to ride my bike. I won't ride theirs when it is offered. I don't want to screw up and be obligated to fix whatever I broke or damaged. I don't worry about mine though, everything is fixable.
kk

[Perazzimx14]

For me its just never really comes up. My friends usually don't ask to ride my bikes and I don't ask to ride theirs for reason Moparnut72 stated. I guess we just don't want to put anybody in a bad situation.

[MikeP996]

I was shocked last year when an another rider wanted to ride my V7 Special and offered to let me ride his Ducati V4 Panigali.  So we instantly swapped.  After riding he commented that the Guzzi was "interesting."  I ran into him (not literally) a few months later.  He told me he sold the Panigali.   To buy a Guzzi?  Nope, he bought a new Panigali because the current version has 220+HP and his ONLY had 207 HP (!!!).  Young guy?  Nope, mid 70's.   

[Tkelly]

I still do it with riders I know.

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

I offer my mini motos (<125cc) up for almost anyone to ride. They're approachable, light, slow, and cheap. Low risk. For bigger bikes I offer to let folks ride them if they've ridden something similar enough and I think they won't drop it lol. I've been leant other bikes and unless they were something I've ridden before it's been a nice but slightly uncomfortable situation with the discomfort being me worrying more than taking a brand or dealership's demo bike out. I've declined offers to ride bikes that had vastly different controls (antiques) or were pricey bikes beyond $30k in value. Other than the mini motos, it doesn't come up often.

[mhershon]

I'm a big exponent of motorcycling community, but I don't see the percentage of loaning my bike. What's to be gained? When I first rode a Guzzi, it felt nothing but strange: the gear lever traveled too far, the damn thing rocked at a light, the clutch felt sudden... Riding an unfamiliar bike around the block or for two miles isn't getting to know it. It's just discovering how different it is from what you're used to. And if you are focusing on those differences and get surprised in traffic or misjudge a corner, you've fallen off someone's darling motorcycle. The risk is far greater than the benefit.
And lending a guy who rides a 50-hp motorcycle your Panigale? Criminal negligence.
All that said, Dr Toma can ride my V7 whenever he has time. I'm in Lakewood, doc...

[yrunvs]

I remember when you were looking at someone's bike, and the owner often offered you the opportunity to "take it for a spin!" 

Going all the waaaaay back to the olden days when the first reply was almost always: "Cool.  OK.  What's the shift pattern?"

It used to be great fun to go on a group ride an swap bikes!

Now if you offer to let someone ride your bike, they look at you like you offered them the opportunity to sleep with your daughter!  And of course the shocked person will never return the offer.

Was it due to:  A change in humanity?  Insurance regulations?  Hyper performance bikes?  Expensive bikes? Or people just worshipping their motorcycles as "personal shrines of perfection" and fearing the other rider might violate their bike's virginity/perfection?

In my experience this practice became uncommon in the late 1990's.

So you're saying you offer everybody that checks out your Guzzi to "take it for a spin"?

[Bulldog9]

I've always been picky about this...... I will never let one of my long time riding buddies ride any of my bikes. He is a safe/great rider, but prone to drops, especially if nervous. Many of the guys I ride with now (with a few exceptions) I will readily switch off if we have something different or want to compare, but it happens rarely. Used to switch off all the time when I was younger.

Usually when offered on a completely new platform (modern Yamaha, Ducati, Moto Morini, Indian) I will say NO because I want to remain happy in my ignorance and don't need any more temptation than I already have 

[Huzo]

I find that the decision usually makes itself..
I think it’s a good way to tell someone that you respect and like them, without looking like you’re kissing their ass…
I don’t offer my Norge to anyone..
The risk/reward equation just doesn’t balance. Anyone on this forum could borrow my V85.

[faffi]

The people l ride with, we are never shy to swap bikes.

[MikeP996]

"And lending a guy who rides a 50-hp motorcycle your Panigale? Criminal negligence."

LOL!  Yeah, I essentially agree but he knew I had owned several Ducati Sportbikes (851, 916, 999) and had a good bit of track time on all three.  Of course his Panigali had as much more power than my 999 as my 850 special has total power!!  :) 

[kballowe]

Back in the day, we rode beaters.  No issues swapping.  If we got hurt, our Moms would make us walk it off.

 

[faffi]

  If we got hurt, our Moms would make us walk it off.

Useless info: Moms is the Norwegian expression for VAT.

[SIR REAL ED]

The people l ride with, we are never shy to swap bikes.

Yep.  We still do the same.

One of the best riding days ever was 400 miles thru the Blue Ridge Mountains in VA & WV (about 25 years ago), swapping between a 1994 Kawasaki Ninja 500 & and 1993 Suzuki DR650. 

Totally different ergonomics, engine vibration, handling, power delivery, suspension, etc.  Every 80-100 miles when you swapped bikes, you felt fresh as a daisy.

[SIR REAL ED]

So you're saying you offer everybody that checks out your Guzzi to "take it for a spin"?

I don't have a Guzzi anymore, but if they put off a good vibe, I offer them whatever bike I am riding at the time.

If is only a collection of metal parts.  Nothing more.

[SIR REAL ED]

Nobody's exactly keen to ride my 400 pound 20 horsepower beast. 

they don't know the joy they are missing!

[SIR REAL ED]

Back in the day, we rode beaters.  No issues swapping.  If we got hurt, our Moms would make us walk it off.

 

First came the peer pressure of "Grow up you big baby!  Everybody crashes!"  Followed by the group telling of greatly exaggerated stories of death surviving motorcycle crashes. 
Excellent bonding activities.

Telling your parents you got hurt riding a dangerous motorcycle?  Unthinkable!

"How did you get that black eye and the abrasion on your arm son?" 
"Timmy and I were wrestling and we smacked into that big tree in his yard!  I'm gonna get him back tomorrow!"

Yep!  Everyone had dents in the gas tank, bent handlebars, broken levers, and missing parts.

You could lend out your bike, someone could ride it out of sight & crash three times, and by looking at the bike, you would never know they crashed.

I think the bikes have gotten better, but maybe some of us have not!!!!

[SIR REAL ED]

I've always been picky about this...... I will never let one of my long time riding buddies ride any of my bikes. He is a safe/great rider, but prone to drops, especially if nervous. Many of the guys I ride with now (with a few exceptions) I will readily switch off if we have something different or want to compare, but it happens rarely. Used to switch off all the time when I was younger.

Usually when offered on a completely new platform (modern Yamaha, Ducati, Moto Morini, Indian) I will say NO because I want to remain happy in my ignorance and don't need any more temptation than I already have 

good point.  Ignorance is bliss.  Never ride a bike you are not willing to buy!

Back in 1975, I remember thinking my Yamaha R5C was fast.  Then I went for a ride with a friend who owned a Kawasaki Z1....

[rocker59]

1983

one friend got stopped by the cops.

one friend wrecked it.

Since then, it's been a rare occasion that I've offered my bike to a friend, and it's been someone I ride with, and we swap bikes while out on a ride.  So maybe two or three times since 1983.

[Moparnut72]

The two guys who I lent my Audace to both rode Stelvios, no worries.  They offered their bikes, no way. I would probably drop one.
kk

[larrys]

First came the peer pressure of "Grow up you big baby!  Everybody crashes!"  Followed by the group telling of greatly exaggerated stories of death surviving motorcycle crashes. 
Excellent bonding activities.

Telling your parents you got hurt riding a dangerous motorcycle?  Unthinkable!

"How did you get that black eye and the abrasion on your arm son?" 
"Timmy and I were wrestling and we smacked into that big tree in his yard!  I'm gonna get him back tomorrow!"

Yep!  Everyone had dents in the gas tank, bent handlebars, broken levers, and missing parts.

You could lend out your bike, someone could ride it out of sight & crash three times, and by looking at the bike, you would never know they crashed.

I think the bikes have gotten better, but maybe some of us have not!!!!

Yeah I have nicer bikes now, and I only know one guy that I'd let ride my Cal.
Larry

[Chuck in Indiana]

Several have ridden the AeroLario. (shrug)

[Gliderjohn]

I was very surprised as still a college student a boyfriend of a female friend of mine let me take out his warmed over Plymouth Superbird for about 40 miles. That car was a beast in about every way!
GliderJohn

[Moparnut72]

Back in the day Plymouth and Dodge with the Daytona couldn't give those things away. Now they bring 6 figures if in good original condition.
kk

[TN Mark]

There’s no universal rule. What each individual seller is comfortable with is what should be applied in that particular situation.

It will likely change by the prospective buyers attitude and presentation etc.