I'm quite surprised at the difficulties that you guys in the US have to test drive a bike, being such a (at least in my mind) dynamic economy in which consumism plays a huge roll. I live in Germany (which as far as I know is, together with Japan and the US, one of the most consumist societies in the world), and having a test ride is as simple as filling a form (name, address, and....errrr.... that's it) and leaving your driving license at the dealer for the hour or two that you're out. Every now and then they ask for a fee (about 10 euros = 13 US dollars) for ensurance or fuel, depending if you ever did business with them or not. Before getting my 1400GTR I tried everything out there, from a Bandit 1250S to a Yamaha FJR, but funnily enough, I couldn't get my hands on a K1300GT (sales guy at the BMW dealer was a ยง"$%&)
NEXT CLOSEST DEALER IS IN CAPE GIRADO.
This is only my 2nd beemer and the R was not for me. I had a 2004 K1200GT and got rid of it for my 14 Ninja. I did not care for the new K1200GT but when the 13 came out it was a whole different bike.
I took my grandson into the local BMW shop (Morton's) here in Fredericksburg, VA a few weeks ago to look at police bikes as they usually have one or two in the lineup. One salesman that's been there for years saw my interest in the big boy there and asked did I want to ride it. Told him it was a plot to get me to buy it and we had a few laughs but then asked if I had any questions and went on to the next customer (no shortage there). Nice people and if I were to buy a BMW it would be from them. They will let you test ride just about anything where the other dealers will hardly let you sit on one, let alone test ride it.