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Crasherfromwayback
27th May 2008, 16:07
Hi there people,

I just sorted out a two year subscription to Cycle World (my fav) for $1.00 per issue US delivered to my door!

How's that?? Get online and do it now!!!

James Deuce
27th May 2008, 16:20
I may have to do that!

Crasherfromwayback
27th May 2008, 16:21
Way too good a deal not to Jim!

Badcat
27th May 2008, 16:40
do you have a link?

Crasherfromwayback
27th May 2008, 16:51
www.cycleworld.com

megageoff76
27th May 2008, 18:46
I find with American mags that they are so afraid law suits, they never seem to say a bad thing about even the worst of the worst.

At least the pommie chaps at Superbike are brutally honest.

nallac
27th May 2008, 20:33
I find with American mags that they are so afraid law suits, they never seem to say a bad thing about even the worst of the worst.

At least the pommie chaps at Superbike are brutally honest.

they sure are, they even crash test a few of em.:buggerd:

James Deuce
28th May 2008, 08:31
I find with American mags that they are so afraid law suits, they never seem to say a bad thing about even the worst of the worst.

At least the pommie chaps at Superbike are brutally honest.

Tui Moment.

Motorcyclist for instance, lost millions of dollars of advertising money when they pointed out that Shoei and Arai's helmet design methodology is flawed.

Superbike haven't got the journalistic integrity or the plain collective intelligence to be able to conduct a scientific enquiry into helmet standards, helmet testing methods, and to then publish a long detailed series of articles showing that a $US70 KBC helmet is the safest helmet you can buy in the US. Motorcyclist totally debunked the myth that more dollars=safer helmet.

That litigious society actually promotes better levels jourbalistic accuracy.

Performance Bikes used to be superb when John Robinson was the technical editor. It's a poor cousin of Bike magazine now.

Cycle World has Peter Egan writing for it. His editorial, and any article he writes is worth the entry price to Cycle World.

I find that US magazines are far more willing to evaluate ANY motorcycle and say something positive, and something negative about every bike they test, unlike most British mainstream motorcycle magazines who proclaim that anything that isn't the latest sprotsbike is shit. Even the previous version of the same sprotsbike is immediately rendered shit by the release of its successor.

Dooly
28th May 2008, 09:17
I like some of the yank mags and subscribe to Cycleworld, Motorcyclist & Rider.
The savings are unreal compared to retail here.
I renewed my subs the other day and for one mag I think it was about $40 NZD delivered for 12 issues compared to $180 brought over the counter for 12.

The pom mags seem to be all about who can thrash the bikes the most and the 'look at me' I'm such a hard bike cunt thing.........
Not that I'm saying there is anything wrong with that either.:niceone:

megageoff76
28th May 2008, 09:31
The pom mags seem to be all about who can thrash the bikes the most and the 'look at me' I'm such a hard bike cunt thing.........
Not that I'm saying there is'nt anything wrong with that either.:niceone:


Yep, but thats what makes them so much fun to read.

Thanks for the tips though Jim, but if i was even remotley interested in reading about helemet shell design and the like, i'll be sure to pick up a copy of Helmet World.

James Deuce
28th May 2008, 09:49
Yeah whatever. Can't come up with a cogent argument for what makes a Brit tabloid bike mag "good" apart from heaps of crashes, so you have to have a go at me?

Crasherfromwayback
28th May 2008, 10:15
Yep, but thats what makes them so much fun to read.

Thanks for the tips though Jim, but if i was even remotley interested in reading about helemet shell design and the like, i'll be sure to pick up a copy of Helmet World.

Mate...Cycleworld is worth buying for Kevin Cameron alone.

If you get a stiffy looking at softcock Poms trying so hard to get off the seat so far that they almost get their elbows down going round a roundabout, you need to get out more often.

They ride/test things like Bandits and complain that they're 'soft' etc...they always miss the point, and are full of themselves wankers.

megageoff76
28th May 2008, 10:33
Oh well, I guess I need to get out more often then Pete, thanks for your advice.

Crasherfromwayback
28th May 2008, 10:34
My pleasure.

Quasievil
28th May 2008, 10:45
i am now suitably subscribed, thanks dude !

Badcat
28th May 2008, 10:59
me too.
thanks

k

Rockbuddy
28th May 2008, 11:01
wow great price thanks for the link I am now a paid up subscriber for the next 24 months

skelstar
28th May 2008, 11:38
Subscribed! Cheers... presumably US$16 + US$8 in cost for 24 months.

pritch
28th May 2008, 14:39
Cycle World has Peter Egan writing for it. His editorial, and any article he writes is worth the entry price to Cycle World.


Yes, I have his books "Leanings" and "Leanings2" both good reads, particularly the former. Recommended.

And sorry, no, y'all have to get your own copy :whistle:

Trouser
2nd June 2008, 15:58
24 months for me too. Can't complain for $20.

young1
3rd June 2008, 11:46
This sounds interesting, do they test dirt bikes as well?

Crasherfromwayback
3rd June 2008, 12:24
They sure do

Madnes
3rd June 2008, 12:28
Cheers for that great deal !!!

young1
3rd June 2008, 12:50
Yep that is me sbuscribed to. And I see that if you subscribe now you get two free issues - so that means I am getting 26 issues!

SPman
3rd June 2008, 14:24
$16.75 (Aus) for 26 issues!

I'm waiting for the "we have fucked up, you'll have to pay some more please" email.......

Crasherfromwayback
3rd June 2008, 16:46
I'm guessing that they need 'x' amount of prints for some of their advertisers to stay on board...can't see why else they'd be doing it so cheaply, but I'm not arguing. I think they owe me a free subscription seeing how many here have latched onto it!

zeocen
5th June 2008, 13:10
Signed up for 24 months! I'm guessing our FPO is Pacific in the "State" box? Well, I hope so hehe.

James Deuce
5th June 2008, 13:37
Signed up as well.

vfxdog
5th June 2008, 15:25
Tui Moment.

Motorcyclist for instance, lost millions of dollars of advertising money when they pointed out that Shoei and Arai's helmet design methodology is flawed.

Superbike haven't got the journalistic integrity or the plain collective intelligence to be able to conduct a scientific enquiry into helmet standards, helmet testing methods, and to then publish a long detailed series of articles showing that a $US70 KBC helmet is the safest helmet you can buy in the US. Motorcyclist totally debunked the myth that more dollars=safer helmet.

That litigious society actually promotes better levels jourbalistic accuracy.

Performance Bikes used to be superb when John Robinson was the technical editor. It's a poor cousin of Bike magazine now.

Cycle World has Peter Egan writing for it. His editorial, and any article he writes is worth the entry price to Cycle World.

I find that US magazines are far more willing to evaluate ANY motorcycle and say something positive, and something negative about every bike they test, unlike most British mainstream motorcycle magazines who proclaim that anything that isn't the latest sprotsbike is shit. Even the previous version of the same sprotsbike is immediately rendered shit by the release of its successor.

Well said Jim2- although Kevin Cameron's writings (as subsequently pointed out) are usually well worth a few dollars on their own.
Totally in agreement with you about the British mags- last year in the US I bumped into the editor of Motorcyclist and took no time to let him know that Dan Walsh was a waste of space and they needed to get rid of him asap. For those of you that don't know who Walsh is- he's a British journo- one of those insecure jerks who has to let you know on almost every line how many girls he's pulled and what his drug intake has been in the past day. Every now and again he gets on a bike and attempts some kind of adventure; usually doomed. Anyway it seems he's crawled back to the UK, probably to write for Superbike.
And any biker who isn't interested in helmet design, R&D and value is, in my view, a fully qualified member of the ten dollar helmet, ten dollar brain brigade.

HenryDorsetCase
5th June 2008, 15:43
I find with American mags that they are so afraid law suits, they never seem to say a bad thing about even the worst of the worst.

At least the pommie chaps at Superbike are brutally honest.

I disagree. What was the last "worst of the worst" they raved about that sucked: I will re-read that test or issue.

I read CW for Kevin Cameron first, Peter Egan second, and the tests n stuff third. The problem with the tests is that all the units are imperial (sorry "US standard" which have no meaning for me really...) I have subscribed to it ever since Cycle magazine folded though. the only other mag I subscribe to is Performance Bikes though I have been buying Classic Racer a bit lately.

skelstar
5th June 2008, 16:06
Shit... you guys can read?!?!?

Kudos.

HenryDorsetCase
5th June 2008, 16:10
Shit... you guys can read?!?!?

Kudos.

one of the best things about CW is the pic on the inside back cover with the amusing caption. Everybody wins: lots o pix!

James Deuce
5th June 2008, 16:33
I noticed today that there is now a collection of Kevin Cameron's columns in book form, in the same format as Peter Egan's.

Another worthy tome to add to the collection.

imdying
6th June 2008, 15:00
Performance Bikes used to be superb when John Robinson was the technical editor. It's a poor cousin of Bike magazine now.I do like their trend back towards the Readers Specials content of old. JR would be proud of that much at least :)

AllanB
6th June 2008, 15:09
I've been a subscriber for about 5 years - I even had a letter published in one :banana:

I usually have 2-3 Yank magazines on the go as they are so cheap to subscribe to. English ones are expensive.

Plus as stated earlier the English reviewers appear to miss the point of any bike other than a 100% sport ride. Or stunt bike - they love them but a review on a Harley would go something like 'useless for stunting and the seat is so low I got my arse down in the twisties'

HenryDorsetCase
6th June 2008, 15:20
I noticed today that there is now a collection of Kevin Cameron's columns in book form, in the same format as Peter Egan's.

Another worthy tome to add to the collection.

very worthy. I am on the verge of ordering thru the kneeslider if you want to check if combined postage will work?

I am getting Leanings 2, the japanese motorcycle wars book, and the TDC columns book.

trying to order thru the CW shopfront does not work: apparently NZ does not exist for them. I emailed them and no response.

SPman
6th June 2008, 15:34
The problem with the tests is that all the units are imperial (sorry "US standard" which have no meaning for me really...)

Aaah - the joys of being old and multi-measuremental........

pete376403
6th June 2008, 19:46
very worthy. I am on the verge of ordering thru the kneeslider if you want to check if combined postage will work?

I am getting Leanings 2, the japanese motorcycle wars book, and the TDC columns book.

trying to order thru the CW shopfront does not work: apparently NZ does not exist for them. I emailed them and no response.

Amazon have Top Dead Center for $US17.79 or used from $US12.69, Leanings for $US17.13, or used from $US11.47. Leanings 2 for same new price, used from $US14.55.
The three books, new will cost $NZ71 plus $NZ27.20 shipping. How does the kneeslider compare with that?

gunnyrob
7th June 2008, 10:02
I'm subscribed too.

My Favourite Mag is Australian Road Rider. You can find it in the bigger mag shops, an excellent read.

Owl
7th June 2008, 11:17
I've subscribed too, so cheers. If I don't like the mag, at least I'll have smooth glossy paper to wipe my arse!:whistle:

zadok
7th June 2008, 13:53
I went for the electronic edition for $8. Very readable and ability to print.

steved
7th June 2008, 19:11
I'm guessing that they need 'x' amount of prints for some of their advertisers to stay on board...can't see why else they'd be doing it so cheaply, but I'm not arguing. I think they owe me a free subscription seeing how many here have latched onto it!
You're right. Many yank magazines are really cheap by subscription (ESPN the mag etc). Advertisers pay for the mag and subscribers justify the advertising.

zeocen
7th June 2008, 22:41
Just got an email from them saying this:

Dear Mr. Hamilton,

Thank you for your order. Your credit card will be charged $32.00 for 26 issues.
Your first issue should arrive in 6 to 8 weeks.

Thank you for subscribing to Cycle World.

...a little more than $10.00... ?

James Deuce
8th June 2008, 09:00
Even so, that's the price of three non-airfreighted Cycle World magazines (3 months late in other words) purchased from a magazine shop. Astonishing value in my book.

skelstar
17th July 2008, 14:44
Fark, have not recieved any issues yet (email in May said 6-8 weeks) so checked subscriptions page at www.cycleworld.com and they reckon first issue I get is Sept 08! ... still I'm paid through until Oct 2010 :devil2:

Badcat
17th July 2008, 14:57
mine is the same - but i think you'll find the september issue is printed in late july.
bet we see it soon.
ken

Crasherfromwayback
17th July 2008, 15:04
I've been checking my mailbox every day with fingers crossed. But I had a subscription to Road Racer mag a few years ago, and it seems air frieght outta the States is all over the place. I'd sometimes get a newer one ahead of the months before!

skelstar
17th July 2008, 15:57
I'd sometimes get a newer one ahead of the months before!
That IS all over the place. Boy I hope they don't send me a pron mag by accident!

Crasherfromwayback
17th July 2008, 16:24
That IS all over the place. Boy I hope they don't send me a pron mag by accident!

You trying to tell me we haven't subscribed to a porn mag??

Sorry folks!

Gubb
17th July 2008, 16:48
You bastards, I was trying to limit my Credit Card. But whats US$16? Pretty cheap.
Does it have Posters? That's one bonus for Superbike, I gotta put something on the Garage walls.

young1
17th July 2008, 16:55
Fark, have not recieved any issues yet (email in May said 6-8 weeks) so checked subscriptions page at www.cycleworld.com and they reckon first issue I get is Sept 08! ... still I'm paid through until Oct 2010 :devil2:

Phew I am glad that I am not the only one waiting to get it!

Reckless
17th July 2008, 17:37
Thanks 4 the link and heads up crasher. I got signed up as well.

BIHB@0610
17th July 2008, 18:00
That IS all over the place. Boy I hope they don't send me a pron mag by accident!

Yes, crikey, heaven forbid ..... :innocent:

pete376403
17th July 2008, 19:31
Fark, have not recieved any issues yet (email in May said 6-8 weeks) so checked subscriptions page at www.cycleworld.com and they reckon first issue I get is Sept 08! ... still I'm paid through until Oct 2010 :devil2:

me too!! they prolly wondered wtf happened when a whole bunch of subs came thru from NZ in a few days

Crasherfromwayback
18th July 2008, 08:19
Thanks 4 the link and heads up crasher. I got signed up as well.

My pleasure mate! It's a great mag.

Bob
20th July 2008, 23:09
Well said Jim2- although Kevin Cameron's writings (as subsequently pointed out) are usually well worth a few dollars on their own.
Totally in agreement with you about the British mags- last year in the US I bumped into the editor of Motorcyclist and took no time to let him know that Dan Walsh was a waste of space and they needed to get rid of him asap. For those of you that don't know who Walsh is- he's a British journo- one of those insecure jerks who has to let you know on almost every line how many girls he's pulled and what his drug intake has been in the past day. Every now and again he gets on a bike and attempts some kind of adventure; usually doomed. Anyway it seems he's crawled back to the UK, probably to write for Superbike.
And any biker who isn't interested in helmet design, R&D and value is, in my view, a fully qualified member of the ten dollar helmet, ten dollar brain brigade.

A UK bike scribe reposts...

Dan Walsh - read him at his best and it is sheer quality. I recall one of his columns a couple of years back (it was part of his series on his ride down from North into South America) - and it was one of the best pieces of writing I have ever read. When I was studying reporting, the tutor said that if you wanted to write in 3rd person, then study Bill Bryson. Walsh at his best is in that league.

That said, he has been sacked by every editor of Bike that he has worked for, if there was an Olympic medal for wallowing in self-pity he'd win for GB every four years and yes, he does have this desperate need to show how he pulled/did something illegal etc.

But then everyone raves about Hunter S. Thompson (inventor of the "Gonzo" style of writing Walsh uses) - and I found a lot of his work self-indulgent... very much Walsh at his worst.

As regards UK bike magazines. Bike is the best - and for good reason. The writing is intelligent, they at least try not to fall into the "it isn't a sportsbike, so it is rubbish" trap that a lot of UK magazines topple into with alarming regularity (read editor Steve Rose's review of the new GSX650F - essentially a fully faired Bandit after all - and he raves over it how it performed so well on their test route etc), the standard of photography is superb. Their tests will take like-for-like bikes (this month, giant trailies). If only they'd pension off Ogri...

PB is a poor man's Superbike. Superbike is obsessed with showing how far they get their knee down, what crazy blokes they are (hangover from the days of the old lot that used to run it before moving to TWO). TWO started out awkwardly, being a mish-mash of ex Superbike and ex EMAP staffers. Then the Superbike lot left and for a time it looked like being a serious rival to Bike. Then the old Superbike editor came back... and now it is all about how crazy they are and how they rode to some nice place so they could act real crazy all the time... and oh, were we supposed to review a bike?

Of the others, Ride is the one that does all the really good product reviews (and do a really useful survey of their readership each year, covering bikes, kit, quality of dealers). No, they won't do a multi-page in-depth item like the helmet one in Cycleworld - but try that in the UK and you won't sell copy. That said, they comparative reviews (each month, another item - they will test something like 24 pairs of summer gloves back to back, show what they did and so on - which will take up 5-6 pages).

Motorcycle Sport and Leisure is benefitting from finally being with a publisher that want it to be a flagship. Again, photo quality is now right up there. If I have a niggle, it is reliant on the "coffee table" bunch for copy - Roland Brown etc.

Other than that, Used Bike Guide is now a sorry little every other month title.

Of course, there are the two news titles, Motor Cycle News and Motor Cycle Monthly... but I'll stick away from those two as I am professionally biased towards the latter...

I'll not go into the classic mags as I'm no expert.

I do agree with the problem with UK magazines of reviewing everything as if it was a sportsbike. Problem with living in "Superbike Island". But things are changing - slowly, admittedly. Read reviews these days and they're definitely trying to review bikes on their own merits (and the better titles seem to be finding "experts" in a field - though I'm sure Chippy Wood at Bike gets the cruisers as he is rather short!) - all the riding stuff tends to go on about "moving in the saddle, putting weight on the front tyre" etc - ain't gonna work on a cruiser!.

The US magazines - I read them occasionally and there is a tendency to play safe - but that is what a massive lawsuit will do for you. They seem to be getting bolder though - that article mentioned showing how a cheaper lid can be safer (take a look at the SHARP ratings thread for a long discussion on why this isn't the only criteria in buying a helmet) being a good example.

But ultimately, none of the mags really get it right. As an occasional cruiser rider (get to borrow the wife's one at weekends from time to time), I'd like to read an intelligent cruiser mag, that doesn't try to be some sort of "Bro" title with "Lets see this month's really strange and pointless chopper" feature and some girl with her t!ts out, instead of really riding the bikes out there and giving intelligent commentary on the engine performance, comfort, range etc.

But for a general magazine, I'll take Bike over the rest.

Back to the CW offer - just USD 24 dollars for two year deal(once you add the international post) is an amazing offer. Sadly the website for the company that sells it in the UK is useless so I can't check the over the counter price, but I'd guess it will retail for around GBP 3.80, so maybe around USD 7.50 - so that covers 2 years subscription in about 3 months!

Bob
20th July 2008, 23:17
I find that US magazines are far more willing to evaluate ANY motorcycle and say something positive, and something negative about every bike they test, unlike most British mainstream motorcycle magazines who proclaim that anything that isn't the latest sprotsbike is shit. Even the previous version of the same sprotsbike is immediately rendered shit by the release of its successor.

We all agreed the new 600 Fazer isn't as good as the old one. Actually, I'm lying! All the titles loved the new one, because it had the R6 engine etc... until one of Bike's writers (or maybe even Ride) who had owned an original Fazer said "hang on for a moment, all that stuff the old Fazer did so well... the new one can't". Then everyone else re-evaluated, realised he was right and a whole new batch of articles appeared!

Meanwhile, the British public had already worked this out - which is why new Fazer sales levels have never exceeded half of the old Fazer figures...

... there is another nice twist at the moment. A lot of the titles are moaning about how the latest generation of sportsbikes (esp 600s) are getting smaller and more track-focussed, with little give to road beyond putting on lights. Suddenly, the rest of the bike world is being treated more favourably.

Again, something the rest of us already knew. Yes, sportsbikes are cutting edge, perform amazingly well etc... but how often can you use 186mph, 160bhp etc?

zeocen
21st July 2008, 00:38
Even so, that's the price of three non-airfreighted Cycle World magazines (3 months late in other words) purchased from a magazine shop. Astonishing value in my book.

Oh totally, I wasn't thinking of canceling my subscription or anything.. I have something great to look forward to every month in the mail, for cheap as chips! Can't wait for the first copy :)


Again, something the rest of us already knew. Yes, sportsbikes are cutting edge, perform amazingly well etc... but how often can you use 186mph, 160bhp etc?

That's a big reason why I traded down from litre bike to the ER6, about a week after I bought it there was a very solid review of the ER6 in KiwiRider magazine, singing it great praise. But, I guess you already know that, now I do too (can't think of anything better right now!)... it's just nice to have magazines talk about actual road bikes every now and then for us humble folk !

Reckless
22nd July 2008, 10:52
Just checked my Bankcard statement. Total charges incl conversion rates = $42-80.
Divided by 24 issues that's $1-78 NZD per issue. I'm happy with that!!!:2thumbsup

Swoop
22nd July 2008, 12:29
Just checked my Bankcard statement. Total charges incl conversion rates = $42-80.
Divided by 24 issues that's $1-78 NZD per issue. I'm happy with that!!!:2thumbsup

Hideously expensive.:banana::banana:

Badcat
6th August 2008, 13:53
hey all.
my first issue arrived today.
you should see yours soon too!

woo hoo!

k

Crasherfromwayback
8th August 2008, 17:25
hey all.
my first issue arrived today.
you should see yours soon too!

woo hoo!

k

Yeah finally got mine! In race watch there's an interesting bit about tyre pressures on the various race bikes. Moto GP bikes running 12-15psi??

Jesus. They'll be using nitrogen too...so those pressures won't go higher as the tyre heats up. WTF?

Sully60
8th August 2008, 17:54
Yeah finally got mine! In race watch there's an interesting bit about tyre pressures on the various race bikes. Moto GP bikes running 12-15psi??

Jesus. They'll be using nitrogen too...so those pressures won't go higher as the tyre heats up. WTF?

Something to do with the the relative baloonesque(tm) construction of the 16 and 16.5" tyres? Sounds backwards to me but what would I know.


Fark why have I only just found this thread?

Now where's the missus' credit card?

pete376403
8th August 2008, 20:15
hey all.
my first issue arrived today.
you should see yours soon too!

woo hoo!

k

Mine's arrived too. I can see where they are cutting the costs, the paper is "cheapish", however the content is (mostly) great. As other's have said I'd buy the mag just for Kevin Camerons writings. But Mark Cernicky "turning to a hhigher power in times of trouble" (Masterbike P44) FFS, keep that sorta crap out of bike magazines, we've got bishop brian and density for that.

Reckless
26th August 2008, 18:20
I haven't seen hide nor hare of any magazines any one elses failed to arrive??
I ordered same time as you guys and the payment has come off my credit card?

fLaThEaD FreD
26th August 2008, 18:23
hey all.
my first issue arrived today.
you should see yours soon too!

woo hoo!

k

I just ordered mine last night so guess i'll have a few weeks to wait yet........Boo Hoo:crybaby:

Reckless
26th August 2008, 18:28
I've dropped them an email. The others here have reported getting theirs 10 days ago and I ordered same time so hopefully all is ok.