Bandit Alley
MODEL SPECIFIC => BIG BANDIT BANTER => Topic started by: solman on March 02, 2008, 02:03:38 AM
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Both myself and Ricky(another member here) have found that the U.K. bike magazines seem to be better. I have noticed that they seem to run better articles that pertain to everyday riders. In the U.S. magazines, they seem to be more worried about the advertisement customers and bike makers. I also see them run articles on used bikes. What I mean is that pick a bike and list the current prices for that used bike and what things to look for. They just seem to be more rounded in their magazines.
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I like both, in particular the Motorcycle Consumer News (US) and BIKE (UK). I agree that for example Motorcyclist seems to be advertizer sensitive. On the other hand some of the UK magazines contain a lot of rough language and naked women. It's not that I'm against cussing & nudity, but I just don't think that's the place for it, and wouldn't have a magazine like that lying around the house.
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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.
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Can't say I read many magazines, but it seems that when people say "miriam you have to check out this in..." it's inevitably a UK mag I'm borrowing. This is partially due to my interest in classic bikes.
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people say "miriam you have to check out this in..."
What's even wierder is your name is Tim! :bomb:
That Zinio servia thet it appears I'm shilling for has Mecanics Motorcycle monthly as a digital sub for only $20.
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Most U.S. mags totally ignore bandits. Long live streetfighters -- every second bike has a 1200 lump. There's even been 400's featured in it. Not to mention the comentary is second to none.
(the topless ladies with fake boobs don't hurt either...)
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I subscribe to Cycle World, Motorcyclist and Motorcycle Consumer News. While the first two are certainly driven to an extent by their advertisers, I think if you know what it is you're looking for in a bike, they can be helpful in making a decision. The first two also seem to be focused on either track performance, or poser value of a cruiser and neglect real world riders. A couple of my beefs with all three are the relative lack of reporting on 2-up riding and that most of the time all three are testing the same bikes in the same month's issue.
I liked how Motorcyclist stepped out of their box and ripped on Snell in their helmet evaluation - and that article certainly didn't win them bonus points with their premium helmet advertisers!
I liked MCN's articles on the MSF and thought it was good they're bringing to light how the m/c manufacturers are trying to take over state licensing programs and bullying states that don't choose a MSF program. Having MSF run licensing programs with their latest dumbed down program that's designed more to sell bikes than train folks to ride safely is an eye-opener that more folks should be aware of, IMHO.
As for the Brit rags, they're OK, but not worth the premium to get them here in the States except on rare occassions when there's something in there I want to save.
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I subscribe to Motorcyclist and Cycle Canada.
I used to think Cycle Canada was the best mag available, when Bruce Reeve was the editor. It's seems I agreed with most of the things he said, and they used to have great tests and reviews. The new version is still pretty good, but it is a little more generic now.
Since we still get the odd model that the US doesn't, but not all the European models, it's helpful to have the Canadian perspective.
I purchase the odd British rag, but not often...
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I purchase the odd British rag, but not often...
WHich one, and how odd is it? I hope it's not like the one I saw on Graham Norton where girls sit on cakes and wallow in beans.
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I purchase the odd British rag, but not often...
WHich one, and how odd is it? I hope it's not like the one I saw on Graham Norton where girls sit on cakes and wallow in beans.
Something wrong with that?
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The 2 biggest selling bike mags in OZ, Two Wheels and AMCN (Australian Motorcycle News), concentrate almost exclusively on sports bikes and exotica. Don't get me wrong I enjoy reading about MV Agustas, Bimota's etc and latest sports offerings from Ducati, Honda etc, but they rarely, if ever, do a reasonable write up on 'normal' bikes. Mind you that is also simply a reflection on what we buy here. The biggest selling road bikes (excluding CT110 postie bikes) are sports bikes. Which, if you know what our roads are like is pretty weird, most of our roads are more suited to things like BMW GS's, VStroms etel.
There are other bike mags that concentrate on niche markets like, Dirt Rider, Custom Bikes. There is one mag called Road Rider which is more about touring but seems to be aimed at the Ullysses Club members (Bike club for over 40's).
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Yea Road Rider isn't a bad read, doe's seem to cater for ulysses and Bmw riders mainly but.. :grin: :grin:
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http://www.rapidbikes.com.au/ (http://www.rapidbikes.com.au/)
There is only one bike mag in Aus and that is Rapid. They cover pretty much everything with a bit of emphasis on modified bikes.
Look out for a certain B12 in the May issue...
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http://www.rapidbikes.com.au/ (http://www.rapidbikes.com.au/)
There is only one bike mag in Aus and that is Rapid. They cover pretty much everything with a bit of emphasis on modified bikes.
Look out for a certain B12 in the May issue...
I'll make sure I get that issue - I also just noticed that this is actually a poll, pity I don't like the yanky or pommy mags - I'd rather read Just Bikes than anything that's come out of the US or UK...for those who don't know Just bikes is 'Trading Post' For sale type mag that is in colourful Black and White.
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My two sons have been selling magazines from High School Band for the last eight years. I take lots of magazines.
In the subject of motorcycles I take:
Cycle World
Motorcyclist
Sport Rider
Rider
After I attend a race or see a cover that catches my eye, I'll get a Road Racing World, Cycle News at the book store. I also luv the Brit magazines like Bike and the others. And sometimes I'll get a Classic Motorcycle Magazine. Now that I have a Moto Guzzi along with my Bandit, I'll be looking for more magazines with something touring, Italian or euro bikes.