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[Snafuperman]

Zero MC starts the warranty period for demos (motorcycles purchased by the dealer for demo purposes) from the date the dealer purchases the bike -- not the date that a customer would take possession of a purchased demo.  This is different than a "new" bike.  Is this how all MC dealerships operate with their demo fleet?  Or is this unique to Zero MC?

[Fran K]

This has been covered pretty thouroughly before.  I am not so sure it really matters what other manufacturers offer if they offer a way to bump the warranty out to four years for something on the order of $300.  I have bought new left over bikes not demo bikes.

Never (except  on here) heard of advice to call manufacturer to make sure a virtually zero mileage bike is actually a new bike not a demo.  I went to a demo day and the bikes came in a van from out of state.

[TheRan]

It should be noted that according to https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/en-gb/warranty Zero defines demo bikes as "Zero Motorcycles that have been driven by or used by Zero’s or an authorized dealership’s customers or prospective customers, staff, managers or executives, or members of the press, but have never been registered within a European member state or country."

I don't know how it works in other countries but here in the UK a bike must be registered to be ridden on the road, as my ex-demo bike was. Thus it would seem to me that my bike technically isn't a demo bike, and because Zero also say that "Non-demonstrators are those Zero Motorcycles that are not demonstrators." the non-demo terms should apply to my bike. That would mean that although my bike was registered and ridden on the road for something like 3 or 4 months before I bought it the warranty shouldn't have actually started until it was delivered to me. At least that's my understanding of it, not sure how it would hold up in court.

[JaimeC]

Yeah, I was shocked by those demo terms too when I read the fine print.  For every other vehicle (two or more wheels), if you buy a demonstrator, the warranty begins when you take delivery just as if you bought a non-demonstrator.  With a Zero, your warranty probably started several months BEFORE you take delivery.  This is especially important to consider, as I *KNOW* how some people ride demonstrators!!  I used to work at a BMW motorcycle dealership, and I used to assist Yamaha up at the Lake George Americade on their demo ride program for several years.

Hence, I would NEVER buy a Zero demo bike, no matter how sweet the deal.

[Snafuperman]

This is especially important to consider, as I *KNOW* how some people ride demonstrators!! 

Yeah, the demo-rider's creed is "ride it like you stole it."

[NEW2elec]

I don't love how they do it either but years ago mainly in the mid west there were dealers that wouldn't drop the bike's price at the end of the riding season so they sat and sat.
I want to say even in 2016 or 17 you could buy a "new" 2013 DS in Iowa.  Of course letting a battery just sit for years isn't good so issues were very likely.   

If you can save thousands buying a demo bike and still get a little over a year in warranty that's the cheap way to go.

[caza]

Well known and documented, essentially buying a demo bike is similar to buying a used bike. You get a cheaper price, some miles on the ODO and a shorter warranty. Up to you if the discount is worth the sacrifice/risk.

[TheRan]

Is that actually how it works though? Can anyone comment on my interpretation of the T+Cs? Are demo bikes not registered in America, and what about the rest of Europe?

[NEW2elec]

In the US (at least in GA) a dealer vehicle just uses a dealer test ride tag.

They only have a few tags and swap them out for test rides/drives.

I think the wording about unregistered in the EU might be more about the EV grant than warranty.

Basically if someone wants the full 2 year full coverage warranty, order a new bike and when you pick it up the warranty clock starts.

If the bike is on the showroom floor it can be demoed.  As Zero says "put butts on bikes" to sale them.

[Fran K]

Is that actually how it works though? Can anyone comment on my interpretation of the T+Cs? Are demo bikes not registered in America, and what about the rest of Europe?

I will leave the terms and conditions without comment.  Places that sell vehicles have dealer plates.  The idea is to put on a test drive or ride I suppose but it is kind of abused in my estimation.  My gripe is that guys that work at bike shops show up at enduros with dealer plates and normal folks have to somehow get a plate.  When you get into something like a used diesel pick up often checking the history said dealer must have taken it on many vacations and the thing might not even be on the lot though it is in various little advertising brochures free to pick up in many places.  The employees take such things (zero in particular here) on recreational rides on lunch break.  There was one thing in the newspaper the auto dealer had an employee with a hot auto and dealer plate pick up someone at the airport but had a chash somewhere that would have been a detour.