Test riding more expensive bicycles: dangerous or hopeful?

[fastdogs]

my tactic is to not even test ride till I can afford it.
I have recently decided I want a gary fisher hi fi 29er. I don't know why; my skills are certainly not worthy of one, I have no business paying that much for a bike. But I will put money away and next year, around my birthday, maybe I'll upgrade. what I might do, between now and then, is rent one and ride it on some trails. I will not get on the light green bike I saw in the bike store and try it out, because it is for sale, and I have a credit card.
vickie