Test rides are sometime hard to come by on motorcycles. Some dealers flat out refuse test rides (which means they also flat out refuse my business). These demo events can be a great way for manufacturers to get people on the bikes even if the local dealers aren’t accommodating. Another benefit is the lack of sales pressure, it’s really just about the bikes.
Read my reviews of the Ninja 1000 and KLR 650.
This event was really well organized and well run. Going with the “Ticket” theme you would receive a “ticket” for the bike of your choice at a given time. This was quite a blessing as my compatriots and I were able to take refuge from the 100+ degree heat index weather at a local diner while waiting for our ride time.
Speaking of the weather, Kawasaki did provide an awning for shade, a big fan, chairs and an immensely popular water cooler.
Kawasaki picked a good, curvy route.
The bikes were organized in to 3 lines. One for the sport bikes: ZX-6R, ZX-10R, ZX-14, Ninja 1000, and Z1000. Line two was kind of a mix and match: Concours 14, Z1000, Ninja 1000, Ninja 650R, Versys and KLR 650. The third line was the cruisers of which I simply had no interest. It was interesting to see the trends of gear worn based on the line of bikes. The riders of sportier bikes tended to have mesh jackets, full face helmets, and substantial gloves. Moving towards the tourers and on to the cruisers the amount of safety gear worn was decreased. However, full face helmets remained the most popular configuration throughout the day. I only remember seeing one of the non-legal “skid-lid” that is popular with many cruiser riders.
Kawasaki did a good job picking a route. These are some of the more interesting roads within a close ride of the events center.
Demo events like this are a great chance to ride some new bikes in a low sales pressure environment. I recommend every motorcyclist take advantage of these events.
2 Responses to Kawasaki Demo Truck