In my experience, most of these "unusual" aeroplanes aren't at-all dangerous, just different. They can all be flown safely, what's important is to have enough knowledge of what you are flying.
There are ways and means to do this, they are taught to test pilots, they were also taught to the ATA delivery pilots during WW2. It is a subject I'm also trying to write a book on which I hope you'll all buy if it gets published (shameless plug, but what the heck).
If you go to a syndicate with such an odd type, asking lots of questions along the lines of "where's the manual", "how does this work then" and particularly "how much time will somebody else spend flying with me so that I can come to terms with it" then you'll find that you don't get put out on your ear.
A few points..
- If there aren't pilots notes, ask lots of questions and formulate your own.
- Get all the really key points on your kneeboard.
- Spend as much time as you can going through where controls are, procedures, limits, dials, etc. sat on the ground.
- Obviously not viable in a single seater, but if possible fly first with somebody experienced who knows the type. Don't let them do anything if possible, just get them to talk through doing everything.
For the record, I've 80 types in the logbook. Least favourite were Hunter T7 and C152, favourites are Hawk and Southdown Raven. Unusually, I also quite like the PA38.
G