I guess I really need to find a demo. It's a big investment to take a chance on.
Somewhat off topic............I really wish dealers of Japanese brands were open to demos the way the European manufacturers are. I've never had a problem walking into a BMW, Ducati, Aprilia, etc., dealer and getting a demo. In fact they have often encouraged me to take a spin on something without even me asking. With bike prices rising higher and higher it seems ludicris for a manufacturer to expect a buyer to plop down 14-15k for a bike without a test drive. I've never bought a car, truck, SUV, without taking a thorough test drive down the freeway, through traffic, and up some grades. Once we started passing $10,000 for a new motorcycle we moved pass them being "toys". It's time motorcyclist enthusiasts were taken more seriously and treated accordingly.
Not sure what chance you feel you're taking? Do you ride? Or do you just own motorcycles now and then?
I bought a Yamaha FZ-1 w/o a test ride in 2002. I bought it while waiting for my FJR1300 that I ordered and was 6 months out. Never test road the FJR either. 160k miles later when it was time to move on, shaft drive, ADV Touring bikes were limited. Yamaha was coming out with the Super Tenere. That pretty much sorted that out for me. The local dealer had two or order in March, (IIRC), one already sold, with expected June delivery. He couldn't remember what color was still available, only that he ordered one in each color. I went to the dealer and sat down with them. He was clear that "several serious buyers were waiting to see the Super Tenere". I just laughed at him. I told him: I don't need to see the bike, sit on it, make vroom, vroom noises or know what color it is. I'm here to buy the bike. And I did. It came in several months later in July. The hurricane that year delayed delivery, which at one point was projected to October, but ended up being July.
Ask yourself what you are going to do with the bike? That will tell you what tool you need for the riding you want to do. If the Super Ten isn't the right tool for the job, figure out what is and learn about the choices there. You speak of motorcycles not being toys, yet for many that is exactly what they are. Albeit expensive ones. That's why you don't get test rides as easily. Not to mention the simple fact that far too many riders that have endorsements can't ride for beans and crashes often occur on new to the rider bikes. I once saw a rider total a Ducati in the parking lot of the dealer, the day he bought it, before he even made it to the street.
I hope you can get a demo ride. For the money, the Super Tenere is in a class of it's own. If you're prepared to spend $25-30k and live with a higher maintenance bike, BMW and Ducati are waiting for you. I demo'd a Ducati Multstrada Enduro 1200 at Harrison Eurosports in Sandy when I was getting ready to sell my 2012 Super Ten. I ended up buying a Gen II Super Ten instead. Less power, more bike with more reliability and less BS features I wouldn't be using. A lot less to go wrong and a FACTORY extended warranty that cost around $100 a year. Other brands don't even offer factory extended warranties. They would lose money.
