What bike mag(s) do you read? post your choice(s) please!
Discussion
Hi guys,
just joined and have a question already!! I wanted to know what bike mag you guys swear by I went into smiths and there were too many mags to be able to make a well informed choice. if it helps im just geting into bikes and plan to take my test (by the summer) before the new EU laws come into force. I like modern sports bikes and naked bikes. what im looking for is a quality publication thats a good informative read, with nice pics and good write ups, that covers a range of machines with good impartial views and minimal bias and most importantly will give good rider tips for a novice like myself. I hope im not asking for too much. For reference I love cars and swear by EVO mag and to a lesser degree AUTOCAR. MAXPOWER et al and TOP GEAR i dont bother with. (though thats me!!)
Thanks
just joined and have a question already!! I wanted to know what bike mag you guys swear by I went into smiths and there were too many mags to be able to make a well informed choice. if it helps im just geting into bikes and plan to take my test (by the summer) before the new EU laws come into force. I like modern sports bikes and naked bikes. what im looking for is a quality publication thats a good informative read, with nice pics and good write ups, that covers a range of machines with good impartial views and minimal bias and most importantly will give good rider tips for a novice like myself. I hope im not asking for too much. For reference I love cars and swear by EVO mag and to a lesser degree AUTOCAR. MAXPOWER et al and TOP GEAR i dont bother with. (though thats me!!)
Thanks
For your needs Superbike would be a good bet. They focus on the faster/newer stuff. I've never seen any obvious bias, but I stopped reading it a while back as I found myself getting bored by it. Which is why you might get a bit sick of it after a while as it all gets a bit samey.
'Oh look, a supersports 600 group test, what a unique jewel-like piece of journalism!'
The only thing I pick up now is Performance bikes. They were getting eaten up by doing the same thing as Superbike, so it changed, and now I really like it.
There are still tests of modern stuff, but it's kind of more real worldy. Superbike often had a air to it's writing where any bike that wasn't brand new for the year and top of it's group was as much fun as Turbo Aids. PB doesn't feel like that, they have had recent articles on early 90's 250's being freshened up and battled against each other, creating a GSXR750 with a big-bang engine, and lots of (sometimes questionable) specials or home built machines.
Bike and Ride are both highly competent and well written, but have a broader focus on all types of bike.
MCN is awful now, like a bike version of the Sun. It's all sensationalism, conjecture and rumour. There's still some decent writing in there, but you have to really look for it.
'Oh look, a supersports 600 group test, what a unique jewel-like piece of journalism!'
The only thing I pick up now is Performance bikes. They were getting eaten up by doing the same thing as Superbike, so it changed, and now I really like it.
There are still tests of modern stuff, but it's kind of more real worldy. Superbike often had a air to it's writing where any bike that wasn't brand new for the year and top of it's group was as much fun as Turbo Aids. PB doesn't feel like that, they have had recent articles on early 90's 250's being freshened up and battled against each other, creating a GSXR750 with a big-bang engine, and lots of (sometimes questionable) specials or home built machines.
Bike and Ride are both highly competent and well written, but have a broader focus on all types of bike.
MCN is awful now, like a bike version of the Sun. It's all sensationalism, conjecture and rumour. There's still some decent writing in there, but you have to really look for it.
carlosvalderrama said:
MCN is awful now, like a bike version of the Sun. It's all sensationalism, conjecture and rumour. There's still some decent writing in there, but you have to really look for it.
got to agree BUt I do read it for the other info it does provide. Like what new bikes the the speed triple I will be getting next yearSuperbike was my mag of choice, now I rarely buy it. None of the mags seem to have enough contect anymore, Superbike really has suffered.
As mentioned, the tests are so mundane.
Which is better, old GSXR or new one?
The answer is always the same... The new one is better, but if you buy an old one you will save money and buy some parts and you'll have just as much fun.
Which 1000cc bike is best.... Always the GSXR, altho that might be cos it is.
Which is best out of the tourer, the sports bike or the MX bike?
If you like offroading, then buy the MX... if you like touring...
Yaaaaaawn!
It does have boobies in it though, woo hoo!
As mentioned, the tests are so mundane.
Which is better, old GSXR or new one?
The answer is always the same... The new one is better, but if you buy an old one you will save money and buy some parts and you'll have just as much fun.
Which 1000cc bike is best.... Always the GSXR, altho that might be cos it is.
Which is best out of the tourer, the sports bike or the MX bike?
If you like offroading, then buy the MX... if you like touring...
Yaaaaaawn!
It does have boobies in it though, woo hoo!
None. If you find one that fits your criteria let me know as they all seem like road test mags to me. Given that I don't want to buy a new bike every month it seems a bit pointless 
Ride seems ok and if I really need something to read I'll probably buy that although I've only bought it twice in recent years... once for a lid test (which I bought the winning lid) and once for a 748 buyers guide (when I bought my 748).
Ride seems ok and if I really need something to read I'll probably buy that although I've only bought it twice in recent years... once for a lid test (which I bought the winning lid) and once for a 748 buyers guide (when I bought my 748).
Subscribe to any one of them for a year and then just re-read them every year, replacing the tests with the latest model - same results.
Used to buy them all, then Superbike and PB, no nothing unless I'm very bored and something piques my interest.
The mag 'greats' have sadly been lost IMHO - Fast Ronnie Smith and Gus Scott - RIP
Used to buy them all, then Superbike and PB, no nothing unless I'm very bored and something piques my interest.
The mag 'greats' have sadly been lost IMHO - Fast Ronnie Smith and Gus Scott - RIP
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