Like a lot of motorcylists, I get a lot of MC magazines...they are generally cheap, often less than a buck an issue for subscriptions. I have to agree that UK's BIKE is a fun read. They make me totally envious everytime they run an article about hopping the Chunnel train and going for a ride in the Alps or lunch in Germany. In fact, they printed my letter saying so a couple years ago, but alas, no free sub for this American. I also agree they emphasize bikes that make good commuters/tourers, as you said.
I like MC Consumer News (the new color format looks great) but they do tend to be rather repititious. They riding skills articles seem to have a pool of abou 20 scenarious that rotate. I never saw the point of running long articles criticizing the MSF every other month for about a year, but that seems to have abated for a while.
Motorcyclist and Cycle World can be counted on to review almost every new model. Like a lot of mags, the line between editorial content and advertising can be really thin...they never dislike anything. Both mags attempted to launch travel mags a few years ago, and both failed, leaving RoadRunner the only travel mag in this country. I think it could be improved by more detailed articles about routes and sites. They articles can be a little vague at times.
If I had to get only ONE MC magazine, it would be RIDER. It seems to be the most no-nonsense, real-world mag in the US.
The AMA mag usually has a good cover story, often in the form of a list, but half the mag is motocross listings...yawn. Roadbike has some new-rider freidnly content, but too many articles about customized bikes...yawn.
I am getting Motorcycle Mojo, a mag from Canadia, but it's not been as interesting as I hoped, and I doubt I will renew when it comes due. I canse you've looked at it in the past, it used to be a digest-sized mag, but is now standard US-sized.
If you want to subscribe ot overseas mags at reasonable (if not cheap) prices, check out zinio.com. I am getting a good UK mag there called Motorcycle Sport & Liesure which is good, and not one of the UK mags you typically see at Borders/Barnes & Noble. I am converting a lot of my subscriptions to digital through Zinio so I can retain them/copy articles from them more easily. And issues never fail to show up in the mail. (They have a sister site called undercovermags.com in case you want to get your stroke mags digitally.) You can also search either service for a topic, and they will bring up a list of issues that you can buy individually. Looking for a review of a particular bike? You can pick up individual issues from magazines that aren't even in English if you want.
And in case you're wondering, I get about 20 other mags on non-motorcycle topics. I don't feel compelled to read every article in every magazine...magazines to me are more of a buffet...consume only what looks good.
Topic: Motorcycle Magazines (Read 6545 times)