BEARS magazine

[peasea]

Here's a question for all you BEARS-type bike owners.

If there was a magazine dedicated to BEARS bikes, would you buy it?

Some years ago the lovers of a particular style of bike and particular lifestyle had the likes of Hurricane and Twin Eagle magazines to pore over.

Now? Nothing. Well, not NZ-based anyway.

I was approached by a publisher last summer about this and he asked if I thought there was a market for such a magazine. I answered with an emphatic 'yes' but I'd be interested to know if kb'ers think there's enough support for such a venture. To date nothing has transpired with the 'recession' being quoted as one of the stumbling blocks.

If you look at the sales figures for bikes not of Japanese origin (http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/statistics/motor-vehicle-registration/docs/2008.pdf) there MUST be a market for such a publication.

Aprilia, Triumph, Moto Guzzi, Ducati, Harley Davidson, Buell, Cagiva, BMW and others make up a sizeable proportion of new motorcycle sales in NZ, let alone the older BEARS bikes not represented in sales figures, that are lovingly restored and/or modified by passionate owners. The classic bike fraternity is very strong in NZ yet they lack a publication that caters to their tastes. Much money is spent on older Triumph twins, for example, and I don't doubt that some newer fans could benefit from tips contributed by the older, more experienced bikers from 'back in the day' and so on.

Apart from a few press-release-type articles on new BEARS machines you really don't read much about them, what their owners do to them to improve and/or personalise them yet they are out there in droves.

With Australia's Live To Ride catering for one sector and the UK's Classic Bike catering for another, there is probably much to be said for a kiwi-based magazine that could cater for a very large contingent of BEARS/classic machines and their fans who fall somewhere in the middle. They really do appear to be missing out.

Again; if such a magazine existed, would you buy it?

[tri boy]

Yup.
Don't get to see enough local exotica (bike related) anymore.
Things like mint Laverda's, mean Tritons etc.
Including racing, build ups, shows, rides etc.
I'd throw a lazy twenty every qtr, until it got to monthly status.
Ya just need to find a photo journalist........

[koba]

If it was good enough, I wouldn't just buy it because it is a magazine about somthing I'm interested in; It actually has to be worth the purchase price to me.

[Big Dave]

I liked Twin Eagle - did some cover art.

The problem is a mag requires Ad revenue, Subscriptions and retail sales to meet production costs.

There aren't enough specialist business with enough advertising budget to stack the numbers up.

[98tls]

Yep would be a starter myself and would imagine so would a few others like me,i own 4 jappas at the mo and buy fuck all bike mags if any,as much as i like some of the new stuff i wouldnt bother shelling out hard earned for pics of em as no doubt at the next rally there will be an endles sea of them.A mag that hinted at any older Euros would get my $.

[BAD DAD]

I'm not sure I'd buy a magazine exclusively dedicated to BEARS type stuff , more that I would probably be a more regular buyer if the existing mags picked it up in a more serious way. I tend to find mags with articles mostly about new bikes, most of which are way out of my reach, a bit boring after a while. It would definately be a plus to see more customising and classic stuff.

[peasea]

I'm not sure I'd buy a magazine exclusively dedicated to BEARS type stuff , more that I would probably be a more regular buyer if the existing mags picked it up in a more serious way. I tend to find mags with articles mostly about new bikes, most of which are way out of my reach, a bit boring after a while. It would definately be a plus to see more customising and classic stuff.

Yes, well.....There's nothing wrong with a couple of mags out there now but they lean so hard toward the sports bikes those who favour classics and BEARS just don't pick them up. I feel the mix is unbalanced but without pressure from readers (or potential readers) nothing's going to change.

Thanks for your input to date folks.

[Big Dave]

Yes, well.....There's nothing wrong with a couple of mags out there now but they lean so hard toward the sports bikes those who favour classics and BEARS just don't pick them up. I feel the mix is unbalanced but without pressure from readers (or potential readers) nothing's going to change.

Thanks for your input to date folks.

Put a proposal together and we'd listen.

[BIG DOUG]

Do it peasea I always brought twin eagle until some f**kwits brought it and stuffed it up,I just got back from sturgis where I had a good chat with chris callen who publishes cycle source mag which we don't get here,he call's it a grass roots mag with a lot of homebuilt bikes in it he gave me a few issues and it is one of the best mags I've read If you need any help give me a yell.

[peasea]

Do it peasea I always brought twin eagle until some f**kwits brought it and stuffed it up,I just got back from sturgis where I had a good chat with chris callen who publishes cycle source mag which we don't get here,he call's it a grass roots mag with a lot of homebuilt bikes in it he gave me a few issues and it is one of the best mags I've read If you need any help give me a yell.

Whoa!

I never planned to start a mag, I was feeling for the support for such as it had already been suggested to me by a publisher. The last thing I want to be is self-employed full time again. The last time I did that the boss drove me to drink.

I think we do need something though, even if it was a guranteed however-many page section in an existing mag.

[peasea]

All of this tells me that, while many are passionate, there's not enough support to pursue a BEARS mag.

I think I might research horticulture.

[BIG DOUG]

now don't be like that,I'll read anything about bears bikes what have you got planned or not?

[peasea]

now don't be like that,I'll read anything about bears bikes what have you got planned or not?

It wasn't so much me, it was one of the publishers I contribute material to. The idea was a BEARS-based magazine to fill what was percieved to be a 'hole' in the market. From the outset I supported the idea but it appears to have been put on the back-burner at best, with the 'recession' being quoted as part of the problem. Also, advertisers who enjoy a good response from the current deal, would be unwilling to switch from a known quantity in troubled times.

Can't blame any or all concerned, just the way of the world at the mo'.

[peasea]

Oki doki. If, if, such a magazine was in the offing (and I'm not saying it is) what would you call it?

[kb_SF1]

Yes,:yes: Triumph, Laverda, Moto Guzzi, classics, BEARS racing, an endless supply of material.

Stopped buying the montly publications unless they have something of paricular interest.

Go for it:clap:

[BIG DOUG]

maybe NZ biker?

[Blackflagged]

There`s a few reader Groups within "Bears", Mainly as it say British American and Italian/other Eurobikes , would be the main.I don`t think i have read Twin eagle, sounds straight away, to me as it`s for harley riders.Then Harley riders may not at all be interested in Italian bikes.Then there`s Older bikes and New, performance and cruiser and look,retro and restoration raceprep etc etc.So to cover those , you are much the same as most other mags now.Except no Jappers and some of the above people are interested in some jappers.So what part of Bears, was you publisher thinking of?

Yep to classic Bike Bears!

[BAD DAD]

I was recently given some old magazines and amoungst them was the 1st issue of Bike Rider Magazine, June / July 2001. It seemed that they had really attempted to get that good balance of all-round motorcycling including tour, sport, racing, classic, etc. Just flipping through the pages I can see Suzuki, Royal Enfield, Triumph , Honda, MV Agusta, Bultaco, Norton and Indian. No dirt bikes or quads, which suits me really. This month's Kiwirider also has as good a range of bikes but (even though I've got a subscription for a year) just seems to lack soul. Maybe it's all the glossy ad's for stock-off-the-shelf products ,which are obviously needed to finance a serious magazine. Or maybe it's half the space dedicated to dirt. EasyRider misses the boat completely by being a one-tune show, Harley or nothing.
Man, some people are hard to please . I suppose what I want is something like Kiwirider with the dirt replaced by something as good as the English editions of The Classic MotorCycle or Classic Bike and a reasonable section on custom (bobber, chopper, streetfighter, cafe).
Dream on.

[Big Dave]

just seems to lack soul.

?? Oh I get it - when there's more of my stuff it has 'ah-soul'. :-)

I know what you mean though. I'd like to do some 'harder core' stuff too. But the mag has a Kid's section. Makes it all a non-nipple and Bimbo zone.

[BAD DAD]

To be honest I can't see the point of tits or tats in a bike mag and that is one of the positive things about KR. You can leave it lying around and not think about offending anyone. A couple of my sons are starting to spend quite a bit of time reading the articles and dreaming about about all the horsepower. So although I have been a liitle critical of KR for what I see it lacking, it still gets my dollar vote each month and for a tight-ass like me that's generally a thumbs-up.

[Big Dave]

So although I have been a liitle critical of KR for what I see it lacking, it still gets my dollar vote each month and for a tight-ass like me that's generally a thumbs-up.

All good - thanks - we pull it too bits every month too. Red ink in my pics has been a problem lately - seems to be sorted now.

We pay for contributions. If you go to a good show - take some pics and write it up. We'd be interested in hearing about it.