New Editor-In-Chief at Motorcyclist Mag

[TheRedOnesAreFaster]

I can't stand that Jack Lewis guy, or Ari Henning. Both are absolutely terrible. I MUCH prefer the writers at Sport Rider.

I don't care one way or the other about Ari, but Lewis is the worst.  I'm glad to find out I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Back in the eighties, MC was the only bike magazine I'd read.  Now I won't even waste my time to get a free subscription.

I do not care for Catterson, either.

I read a bit of CW now, but I subscribe to Rider.  Imagine.....a motorcycle mag that publishes interesting RIDING stories complete with maps!

[bluepoof]

I'll be cautiously optimistic about Motorcyclist with its new editor.  I stopped reading Motorcyclist completely after my encounter with them in 2008 when they published one of my photos without my knowledge or consent.  I learned later that year that they'd done it again to another rider.  I'm completely understanding of confusion regarding online copyright, but for a major magazine to be a repeat offender is inexcusable.

[scottzilla]

I like Ari Henning because his old man rocks.

Motorcycle magazines suck because print publishing sucks and is going extinct.  They are incapable of thinking outside the box and their industry is dying.  Unfortunately it really doesn't matter who is in charge.  

[Bama67]

I never cared much for Cat, he always had a sort of greater-than-thou attitude to me.

I kinda like Ari, and I respect him because he seems like a really good rider.
Now if he would only get rid of those awful dreadlocks.  

And I really like that Joe Gresh guy, he just seems like a real genuine dude.

[Prubert]

Marc has some interesting ideas that he wants to try, but has to square away the current mess before he can do anything.

He did say that the view has to be from the actual riders, so he is going to emphasize that in the reviews.  He also recognizes the need to use online along with the printed media and they can be complementary.

The Oct. '12 issue will be his first, it will be interesting to see if there is a noticeable difference.

Later.

Prubert

[Orson]

thinking back to when I wuz an impressionable young lad reading bike magazines...

while the new bike reviews were certainly alluring, I think what really set the hook into me were the competition articles such as when the 500cc motocross GP at Carlsbad was HUGE (when would we beat those dang yurpeens?) and the Daytona 200 wuz even HUGER with mega-stars such as Agostini & Sheene traveling across the pond.

Throw in some articles on the Isle of Man TT or the ISDT and I was transfixed  

granted, it's a different world now with stunters & U tubes...you kids get off my lawn!  

[satxbonneville]

Current issue. Page 34. Left-hand column.


Sent from my TeamDRH ICS for GTablet using Tapatalk 2

[scottzilla]

All of the magazines use the same template.  Gone are the days when they would actually test bikes.  Now all of the reviews sound the same because they are the same.  The new bike intros are nothing more than mfg press briefings.  If you try to publish something unique and thought Provoking (like an article about how softer helmets may be better than hard helmets) you're fired.  
Magazines lost their luster back in the mid 90's when every other issue was a 600 shoot out.  To this day magazines ignore motorcycles that are available on dealer showrooms and avoid putting bikes head to head.  They've become.....CAR MAGAZINES.  
I really enjoyed reading bike mags back in the day.  

[Blunder]

In order to survive, magazines have to retain sponsors. The readers are only supposed to buy enough issues to satisfy an advertiser's expectation of exposure to their product. Oh, it's also expected that the editors won't print anything overly negative about their patron's poducts, too. Publish something like Dexter Ford's DOT helmet piece of a few years ago and an editor could be placing his profesional neck on the line.

Now....I remember when Cycle would get a new bike, any kind of bike, they would take it back to the shop and strip it down and take pictures of gearboxes, jackshafts and what have you, print the pictures to prove it and write commentary on the exercise's degree of difficulty. One had to actually work on bikes back then, and not just oil changes, either. You kids today, you have it too good.....

[kwb377]

I don't care one way or the other about Ari, but Lewis is the worst.  I'm glad to find out I'm not the only one who thinks so.

I'm another that can't stand reading his incoherant ramblings. Cycle World is tolerable...at least they feature some specialty and home built bikes every now and then.

I loved Cycle back in the day...I have most issues from circa '84 til the end, many of them I liberated from my high school library.  

[atadaskew]

All of the magazines use the same template.  Gone are the days when they would actually test bikes.  Now all of the reviews sound the same because they are the same.  The new bike intros are nothing more than mfg press briefings.

I particularly enjoy their 'Doing Time' long term tests...

"In the 2864 miles we put on the "name of bike here", all we had to do was put gas in it, lube the chain a couple of times, and give it one oil change.  Mods included a new full Akra exhaust plus power commander, Zero gravity shield, carbon fiber hugger, gold anodized foot pegs, titanium clutch and cod piece covers, Corbin seat, Dunlop motogp qualifier tires, Bazzaz traction control computer, Pazzo adjustable levers, Barnett CF clutch plates, suspension rebuilt by Traxxion Dynamics then thrown away 30 miles later for Ohlins pieces front and rear, swing arm spools, frame sliders, fork sliders, swing arm sliders (replacing swing arm spools), another set of anodized swing arm spools (replacing the sliders cuz these are a cool gold colour), PornStar sticker and Rossi 46 plates.  
Total cost of accessories - $18,322.84.

[jetapumper]

Just in time for my free subscription.

+2. Used to subscribe for years but let it lapse when Cat took over. He was a good Assoc. Editor at Cycle World under Thompson, but I just don't think he had the vision/industry respect or connections to lead. He did spend a lot of time on 2 wheels so I think he had the passion. Curious to see how long Lewis lasts now that his Editor/Protector is gone.  

[Cablebandit]

I particularly enjoy their 'Doing Time' long term tests...

"In the 2864 miles we put on the "name of bike here", all we had to do was put gas in it, lube the chain a couple of times, and give it one oil change.  Mods included a new full Akra exhaust plus power commander, Zero gravity shield, carbon fiber hugger, gold anodized foot pegs, titanium clutch and cod piece covers, Corbin seat, Dunlop motogp qualifier tires, Bazzaz traction control computer, Pazzo adjustable levers, Barnett CF clutch plates, suspension rebuilt by Traxxion Dynamics then thrown away 30 miles later for Ohlins pieces front and rear, swing arm spools, frame sliders, fork sliders, swing arm sliders (replacing swing arm spools), another set of anodized swing arm spools (replacing the sliders cuz these are a cool gold colour), PornStar sticker and Rossi 46 plates.  
Total cost of accessories - $18,322.84.

Sounds a lot like many riders here and all over the internet.  Go to any bike specific forum and you'll find multiple first posts asking what the "must do" farkles consist of.  Hell I had one particular buffoon ask me all kinds of thing about the Weestrom.  My answer was simple, add a windshield bracket do stop the buffeting then ride the shit out of it and see what it needs.  So, before riding it, he spent a crap ton of money on extra lights, engine cages, seats, etc, only to sell the thing a few weeks later because of the terrible buffeting.

[Silverbird]

How do you guys feel about the Panigali being MOTY?

[county]

Say what you want but "Motorcyclist" blew the lid off the Snell scam...

[sprint_st]

Say what you want but "Motorcyclist" blew the lid off the Snell scam...

Yep, and they fired Dexter Ford for doing it.  One of the reasons so many folks like Cat.

[veefer800canuck]

"titanium codpiece cover"  

[02Tac]

I have subscribed to a number of bike publications over teh years and have found, of those I have tried, RoadRUNNER to be the best for me.

http://www.roadrunner.travel/

[Cricket1]

I have subscribed to a number of bike publications over teh years and have found, of those I have tried, RoadRUNNER to be the best for me.

http://www.roadrunner.travel/

Really?  I subscribed for awhile, but after a few years, got really tired of their bike reviews- all the bikes they test are great, good luck finding anything negative about any bike. And their trip reports-    They could be doing those reports driving a Miata or Chevy Cobalt, as there is just about zero information about the roads and the riding. Yes, I know they have the cloverleaf tours with the turn by turn route info. How about details on the road condition, twisty factor, traffic, scenery during the ride, etc.  It's all about where they stayed, what they ate, the stuff they saw off the bike, etc. Kind of like a travelougue. To me, that info is all great secondary info to back up the above actual riding info, but when its the ONLY stuff.    Bah- I've let my sub expire.  BIKE magazine is where it's at. 

[scottzilla]

I do agree the European publications, like BIKE have found a way to remain interesting.  They aren't afraid to test new models versus old models, etc.  
For my Money, Roadracing World publishes honest content.  And, you get to read about racing as an added bonus.
They did a cruiser test years ago that was awesome.  They ran all of the available big bore cruisers around a racetrack with passenger in full road race gear and basically declared the bike that felt the best going around the track the winner.  To me, this is the perfect test.  I mean, they all go down the highway the same, right?  Who gives a shit about that?