[imzkid]

Putting a $500 deposit on a bike without riding it is a very valid point. Have you talked to your dealer(s) about a refund after ride? I worked at two different dealerships that would consider the $500 deposit as simply a hold; to get your name on one if you like, and was certainly not a binding contract. If you didn't like the product, you could get your money back. Most dealerships, I would guess, are having enough demand that if one name drops from the list, it would be easy enough to replace the lost revenue.