Bike magazines - value for money?

[jamiey]

Not only do we all love riding bikes, some of us like reading about them too, talking crap about em, discussing them on the net, watching them on TV etc etc etc.

Having my monthly fix of a decent mag seems to be becoming more difficult. I find KIWIRIDER Ok, but after reading the first 1/4of the mag (10mins) the rest is for Dirt riders, adventure riders, kids section then adverts. Now I don't think the sections shouldn't be there - I know each to their own, and alot of people probably like the dirt / adventure / KR kids sections, just not for me thats all. I also find the bike reviews are a bit short, uninformative and not that well written. I know I couldn't do any better myself and fully respect the journos that get to travel the country riding great bikes, I just think sometimes they could be a bit more thorough.

So my other choice for a NZ read is BIKERIDER MAG. I feel this is a better read for me, better bike reviews and often has some good articles to read, but its quite thin and I probably get about an hours decent reading from it.

My other choices in my local supermarket, service station are the Aussie ones, TWOWHEELS etc. Again there OK but nothing that really grips my interest for any longer than a few minutes, so after a few months of reading, spending my cash on them I finally decided I would stop my expensive addiction and just go witjout or "borrow" other peoples.,

That is until however I was in my local BP last night. (Don't worry I didn't buy any gas from these robbing thieves, who always increase gas prices for others to follow - oops i think this is off topic). Anyway i was having a browse at the mags. There i spotted SUPERBIKE, a UK mag. Had a quick flick, saw loads that I wouldn't mind reading so I took it to the counter.

F*****NG $16.

I nearly passed out, but not wanting to look like a cheap fecker, I handed over my hard earned (ok-hardish) and walked out with my $16 mag in hand.

Anyway got it home and got my nose into it. Ahhh nice, i can sit here ignore the wife without been growled at and read in almost peace and quiet. So i had some gr8 quality extensive reviews to read about all kinda bikes. A 600 supersport shoot out between 6 600's, articles on the best bikes ever, IOM racing, interviews, tech help, jokes, mods, product reviews, etc etc etc - hours of fun. Oh and naked women on bikes in the centre pages - just perfect, hours of reading I can spread over a few days.

But my enjoyment is somewhat dampened by the fact it cost me $16. $16 for a mag, daylight robbery the thieving scumbags. BUT.......


Roll on next month for the next copy

[pete376403]

Subscribe to Cycle World (USA) It's so cheap at the moment you can overlook the ads and so on

[Pedrostt500]

The Motorcycling comunity in NZ is still to small for spacific targeted magazines, ie sports bike only or MX only mags, so they have to have a finger in every pie, but I like this as I enjoy reading about the different disiplines of Motorcycling in NZ.

[toebug]

Buying UK mags is not cheap! First you have the currency conversion then you have shipping. If you find a mag you like subscribe to save a bit. I find UK mags to be good quality and informative. I subscribe to Streetfighter mag since I like modified bikes, and I read it from cover to cover.

Locals mags probably struggle and need to cover lots of topics to attract as wide an audience as possible. I'll buy one if they feature my bike!(anyone?)

[Rockbuddy]

Subscribe to Cycle World (USA) It's so cheap at the moment you can overlook the ads and so on

+1 i got a two year subscription it cost about $30 i think, not expensive at all

[Big Dave]

Buying UK mags is not cheap! First you have the currency conversion then you have shipping. If you find a mag you like subscribe to save a bit. I find UK mags to be good quality and informative. I subscribe to Streetfighter mag since I like modified bikes, and I read it from cover to cover.

Locals mags probably struggle and need to cover lots of topics to attract as wide an audience as possible. I'll buy one if they feature my bike!(anyone?)

We'll have a look. 3 good pics and 600 words about it and send to editor@kiwirider.co.nz

we pay $150. (I think.) if it runs.

[jamiey]

The Motorcycling comunity in NZ is still to small for spacific targeted magazines, ie sports bike only or MX only mags, so they have to have a finger in every pie, but I like this as I enjoy reading about the different disiplines of Motorcycling in NZ.

Yep, 100% agree. And if you want a bike specific mag you gotta be prepared to pay for it. Perhaps somebody on KB who has publishing ability could start a knida cheap monthly newspaper. Get reviews, articles, event news etc from everday bikers here on KB, wanna be journos etc. A few 100 to subscribe at a few bucks a month would cover any costs, maybe a tiny profit. Could be perhaps a cheap read for those who need a regualr fix??

[Griffin]

BikeRider magazine is my favourite - they have a dollop of each discipline and some very informative articles. They put out a survey last month asking what readers wanted too so that says that they are looking to improve and grow to incorporate more ideas etc.

True, its not the fattest mag on the shelf, but give it time (tis only young) Im sure it will become the NZ fave... and written by kiwis for kiwis... cant beat that IMO.

[toebug]

We'll have a look. 3 good pics and 600 words about it and send to editor@kiwirider.co.nz

we pay $150. (I think.) if it runs.

Cheers BigDave!!! It will be refinished next week and blinged to hell, I'll get some pics and send an e-mail while its still very clean!!

[Swoop]

Perhaps somebody on KB who has publishing ability...
There might be someone on here that is a bit of a dab hand at photo-journalism stuff...

[jamiey]

BikeRider magazine is my favourite - they have a dollop of each discipline and some very informative articles. They put out a survey last month asking what readers wanted too so that says that they are looking to improve and grow to incorporate more ideas etc.

True, its not the fattest mag on the shelf, but give it time (tis only young) Im sure it will become the NZ fave... and written by kiwis for kiwis... cant beat that IMO.

Suppose buying it, supporting it, staying with a kiwi mag it will get fatter, better etc

[Darth Fader]

I know how you feel... I have the same problem here in Cape Town. I have actually stopped buying magazines all together.
I ride a cruiser (M1800R), but all you read about are superbikes and Harley's (no disrespect to the Harley and superbike riders). I am also not into adventure riding, and I feel that there are more than enough magazines that cater for that segment of the market, so why should it be forced down my throat everytime I buy a bike magazine? As for the rest of these magazine's content, it's always reviews of bikes that the average man in the street will never be able to afford...eg. Ducati's and other expensive Italian makes.

I think I'll start buying porn magazines...at least I'll get excited with every issue...

DF

[Kiwi Graham]

I agree mate, UK mags are alot more flash than NZ ones. The amount of biking public in th UK is massive compaired to NZ this is born out by the number of publications on there shelves. I guess if you want quality you have to pay for it and until the demand for better mags over here grows we shall have to keep paying premium prices for the pomy stuff.

[Padmei]

ill haf a go at this jurna... jonal... writtin thig

[Muppet]

Not only do we all love riding bikes, some of us like reading about them too, talking crap about em, discussing them on the net, watching them on TV etc etc etc.

Having my monthly fix of a decent mag seems to be becoming more difficult. I find KIWIRIDER Ok, but after reading the first 1/4of the mag (10mins) the rest is for Dirt riders, adventure riders, kids section then adverts. Now I don't think the sections shouldn't be there - I know each to their own, and alot of people probably like the dirt / adventure / KR kids sections, just not for me thats all. I also find the bike reviews are a bit short, uninformative and not that well written. I know I couldn't do any better myself and fully respect the journos that get to travel the country riding great bikes, I just think sometimes they could be a bit more thorough.

So my other choice for a NZ read is BIKERIDER MAG. I feel this is a better read for me, better bike reviews and often has some good articles to read, but its quite thin and I probably get about an hours decent reading from it.

My other choices in my local supermarket, service station are the Aussie ones, TWOWHEELS etc. Again there OK but nothing that really grips my interest for any longer than a few minutes, so after a few months of reading, spending my cash on them I finally decided I would stop my expensive addiction and just go witjout or "borrow" other peoples.,

That is until however I was in my local BP last night. (Don't worry I didn't buy any gas from these robbing thieves, who always increase gas prices for others to follow - oops i think this is off topic). Anyway i was having a browse at the mags. There i spotted SUPERBIKE, a UK mag. Had a quick flick, saw loads that I wouldn't mind reading so I took it to the counter.

F*****NG $16.

I nearly passed out, but not wanting to look like a cheap fecker, I handed over my hard earned (ok-hardish) and walked out with my $16 mag in hand.

Anyway got it home and got my nose into it. Ahhh nice, i can sit here ignore the wife without been growled at and read in almost peace and quiet. So i had some gr8 quality extensive reviews to read about all kinda bikes. A 600 supersport shoot out between 6 600's, articles on the best bikes ever, IOM racing, interviews, tech help, jokes, mods, product reviews, etc etc etc - hours of fun. Oh and naked women on bikes in the centre pages - just perfect, hours of reading I can spread over a few days.

But my enjoyment is somewhat dampened by the fact it cost me $16. $16 for a mag, daylight robbery the thieving scumbags. BUT.......


Roll on next month for the next copy


Dude, check this out...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=171655236

Lots of good reading, am making room for the next 10 years worth!!!!:devil2:

[howdamnhard]

I enjoy BIKE ,a UK magazine but its pricey at $14.50.

[Big Dave]

and written by kiwis for kiwis

I get on great with Paul. We travel a lot together, I supply ads for his mag too. His Pommy accent is as bad as my 'strine!

[Pussy]

ill haf a go at this jurna... jonal... writtin thig
Grate! I'll do the prove reading for you

[Griffin]

I get on great with Paul. We travel a lot together, I supply ads for his mag too. His Pommy accent is as bad as my 'strine!

OK then... written by Pommies for Kiwis... cant beat that IMO :mellow:

[Burrt Badger]

None of you have mentioned the best magazine of all. Australian Motorcycle News (AMCN). Great mag, out every fortnight, rafts of road race news, including NZ, road tests etc etc, cant beat it!!!

[Big Dave]

OK then... written by Pommies for Kiwis... cant beat that IMO :mellow:

Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to point out to you drongos exactly how good you jokers have it.

[bobsmith]

If you don't mind reading it on internet, check out www.zinio.com.

I've been getting several subscriptions from them and they're great price.

I see that cycleworld for 12 month is just $12.00 USD and superbike is $30.00 USD (yeah superbike mag is always the most friggin expensive bike mag but ohhh it's sooo good)

[scumdog]

It's like buying smokes as far as value goes.

Except you can re-read the mags - unlike the smokes which ya can't re-smoke.

Smoker= dumbarse money wasters!

[Griffin]

Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to point out to you drongos exactly how good you jokers have it.

What does that mean? Anyhoo... its still my favorite mag... not only cos its made in NZ (please tell me Im not wrong here) and as far as me an my lowly opinion are concerned is the best presented and easiest to read.

I know Kiwirider is also - but I preferred Bikerider... and cant afford to buy 2 mags/month. The thing is, yes NZ is a small country but its still nice to have a mag thats aimed at US and not written for some other countrys riders. NZ conditions / roads are unique and therefore its important to support a locally made mag to help foster its growth. Even if its written by Pommies :)

[Max Headroom]

You guys think it's tough for you to find a magazine that siuts your needs. If you're into post-classics like me, there's bugger-all around for scratching that particular itch.....

The classic magazines are full of leaky old pommie stuff up to the '60s, with an occasional post classic thrown in. You can guarantee a howl from their readers the following month for including a "modern". There are only a few mags that do the post-classic thing very well at all.

If a mag only has one or two articles of interest, I put it back on the shelf unless there's something really significant.
I'm only moderately interested in modern bikes, and overdose on the same stuff regurgitated every month. The current crop of Yamasuzikawahaha's have achieved a very high standard of form & function, yet have little left to distinguish one from another. I stopped buying car magazines a long time ago for the same reason, and now only intermittently buy a classic car mag if it has something really interesting to say.

Good grief, I feel old......

[scumdog]

You guys think it's tough for you to find a magazine that siuts your needs. If you're into post-classics like me, there's bugger-all around for scratching that particular itch.....

The classic magazines are full of leaky old pommie stuff up to the '60s, with an occasional post classic thrown in. You can guarantee a howl from their readers the following month for including a "modern". There are only a few mags that do the post-classic thing very well at all.

If a mag only has one or two articles of interest, I put it back on the shelf unless there's something really significant.
I'm only moderately interested in modern bikes, and overdose on the same stuff regurgitated every month. The current crop of Yamasuzikawahaha's have achieved a very high standard of form & function, yet have little left to distinguish one from another. I stopped buying car magazines a long time ago for the same reason, and now only intermittently buy a classic car mag if it has something really interesting to say.

Good grief, I feel old......

And try finding a Kiwi BEA magazine that caters for rallies etc.

Since Twin Eagle went belly-up I've been going throught a drought - as have a lot of my mates.

[gav]

I second the AMCN vote, great value for money. My fave UK mag though is Performance Bikes, have been buying it since 1985 :crazy:

[Big Dave]

If you're into post-classics like me, there's bugger-all around for scratching that particular itch.....

Nice feature by Rhys on Mike the Bike in this month's KR.

[Pussy]

I've been regularly buying AMCN since 1997... great mag, and always enjoy the Fred Gassit cartoon. I have been a subscriber to BRM since before the first issue even came out... also a great mag

[nico]

Not only do we all love riding bikes, some of us like reading about them too, talking crap about em, discussing them on the net, watching them on TV etc etc etc.

Having my monthly fix of a decent mag seems to be becoming more difficult. I find KIWIRIDER Ok, but after reading the first 1/4of the mag (10mins) the rest is for Dirt riders, adventure riders, kids section then adverts. Now I don't think the sections shouldn't be there - I know each to their own, and alot of people probably like the dirt / adventure / KR kids sections, just not for me thats all. I also find the bike reviews are a bit short, uninformative and not that well written. I know I couldn't do any better myself and fully respect the journos that get to travel the country riding great bikes, I just think sometimes they could be a bit more thorough.

So my other choice for a NZ read is BIKERIDER MAG. I feel this is a better read for me, better bike reviews and often has some good articles to read, but its quite thin and I probably get about an hours decent reading from it.

My other choices in my local supermarket, service station are the Aussie ones, TWOWHEELS etc. Again there OK but nothing that really grips my interest for any longer than a few minutes, so after a few months of reading, spending my cash on them I finally decided I would stop my expensive addiction and just go witjout or "borrow" other peoples.,

That is until however I was in my local BP last night. (Don't worry I didn't buy any gas from these robbing thieves, who always increase gas prices for others to follow - oops i think this is off topic). Anyway i was having a browse at the mags. There i spotted SUPERBIKE, a UK mag. Had a quick flick, saw loads that I wouldn't mind reading so I took it to the counter.

F*****NG $16.

I nearly passed out, but not wanting to look like a cheap fecker, I handed over my hard earned (ok-hardish) and walked out with my $16 mag in hand.

Anyway got it home and got my nose into it. Ahhh nice, i can sit here ignore the wife without been growled at and read in almost peace and quiet. So i had some gr8 quality extensive reviews to read about all kinda bikes. A 600 supersport shoot out between 6 600's, articles on the best bikes ever, IOM racing, interviews, tech help, jokes, mods, product reviews, etc etc etc - hours of fun. Oh and naked women on bikes in the centre pages - just perfect, hours of reading I can spread over a few days.

But my enjoyment is somewhat dampened by the fact it cost me $16. $16 for a mag, daylight robbery the thieving scumbags. BUT.......


Roll on next month for the next copy

i did exactly the same that dam that gas was a bit ruf 2day but when i chekd me docket 16 for the mag but it was a good read dont know if it work 16 of my hard earned pingas but mabie if i dont buy the other one ill sleep at night :baby:

[Wingnut]

I have a mate in england who is mailing me over a heap of MCNs. They are great - Its like reading the sunday news except its all bike related. Love it!

[Zuki Bandit]

Yep BRM kicks arse in the mag stakes.

[Oscar]

Subscribe to Cycle World (USA) It's so cheap at the moment you can overlook the ads and so on

+1
Always a good read (sometimes a bit short).

[Big Dave]

What you schmucks fail to realise is that KIWI RIDER is the best motorcycle magazine on the planet. By some considerable margin.

I'm in it.

:apint:

[Oscar]

What you schmucks fail to realise is that KIWI RIDER is the best motorcycle magazine on the planet. By some considerable margin.

I'm in it.

:apint:

Yeah, but Stretch is on the cover.
That's as far as most of these ghey bastids are gonna get - staring at the cover, whilst whishing they could be him...or be with him....

[trustme]

+1 for Kiwi Rider . Bears' Aussie Roadrider is good although not widely available, Two Wheels isn't bad either
I find the pommie mags full of pretentious big noting wankers, I have never yet managed to get to the end of one of those Dan Walsh diatribes of mindless drivel, pommies also gave us the tabloid press so I guess it figures
I look for info about real world bikes being ridden in MY real world by mere mortals like me = Kiwi rider

[EJK]

Bike mags? Expensive? I bought some from Trademe for a dollar each!

Kiwirider ofcourse...

[Teezer]

I am a massive fan of the UK's 'Bike' magazine. You can get it in Whitcoulls for an exorbitant amount of $'s, or - like me - you get your mates in the UK to sort you out with a subscription as a Xmas/ birthday present rolled into one. It gets delivered to my door monthly, and costs me feck all! Sweeet :2thumbsup

I used to love another UK mag - 'Fast Bikes' when it was new and fresh a fair old few years ago. Shane 'Shakey' Byrne used to be one of their test riders, and their vids were simply mental. Too old for all that now tho' - <googles for Sam Browne belt & a Beemer single>

I have a few spare Bike's from earlier this year - and Canty KB'ers are welcome to a lend.

[EJK]

We'll have a look. 3 good pics and 600 words about it and send to editor@kiwirider.co.nz

we pay $150. (I think.) if it runs.

Is that competitive?
So basically anyone can be in the bike mag (kiwiRider) if they have a good story, 3 good photos, good grammar, humor and a bike?

[Oscar]

Is that competitive?
So basically anyone can be in the bike mag (kiwiRider) if they have a good story, 3 good photos, good grammar, humor and a bike?

Nope, you also have to be incredibly intelligent and have an enormous schlong...

[fire eyes]

:hug:I buy Kiwi Rider & FMRiders .. I love FMRiders! and I quite enjoy Kiwi Rider .. I must admit I buy Kiwi Rider because I like to look at the Bikes & Motorcycle Apparell .... gawd theres some great stuff in there! I actually don't even mind the MotoX Stuff .. even though I prefer road .. dirt has an attraction for me .. and overall I prefer to support Kiwi Mags .. I am open to reading the overseas stuff but I won't go out and buy it. :2thumbsup

[avgas]

$8 a copy and its better than the info you can get from local bike shop

[Griffin]

KIWI RIDER is the best motorcycle magazine on the planet. I'm in it.


So basically anyone can be in the bike mag (kiwiRider)

:rofl::rofl::rofl: I love muli-quote

[HenryDorsetCase]

I subscribe to Cycle World (and before that, Cycle) and also now Performance Bikes. I also buy probably one other of either Classic Bike, Classic Racer or Two Wheels or KR depending if there is a story i am interested in. Value for money wise I think that KR is excellent.

Ihave no idea on what planet the distributors are living when the retail price of a magazine is $17 and it goes for 2.99 pooounds.

and paperback books: stickered at 5.99 US (say $NZD10) and its $27.99 here at Borders or Shitcoulls. No wonder I spend a lot of money on Amazon: no spotty herberts, no annoying dicks with B.O. no mouthbreathing gumsnapping slovenly portly fuckwits.... buy what I want and it turns up on the door. Love online shopping.

[Oscar]

I subscribe to Cycle World (and before that, Cycle) and also now Performance Bikes. I also buy probably one other of either Classic Bike, Classic Racer or Two Wheels or KR depending if there is a story i am interested in. Value for money wise I think that KR is excellent.

Ihave no idea on what planet the distributors are living when the retail price of a magazine is $17 and it goes for 2.99 pooounds.

and paperback books: stickered at 5.99 US (say $NZD10) and its $27.99 here at Borders or Shitcoulls. No wonder I spend a lot of money on Amazon: no spotty herberts, no annoying dicks with B.O. no mouthbreathing gumsnapping slovenly portly fuckwits.... buy what I want and it turns up on the door. Love online shopping.

And you don't even havtae put yer clothes on....

[pritch]

I enjoy BIKE ,a UK magazine but its pricey at $14.50.

Me too on both counts.

I have often thought that if I didn't spend about $30 every two months I could invest that money in real books. Oh, hang on, I buy those too...

If I didn't spend the $30 on magazines I'd probably end up drinking it.

There is an article rating sprot bike tyres in the latest issue of BIKE. Similar to the Sport Touring tyre test I mentioned in the Tyre Test thread. If I keep telling y'all what's in the mag though they might sue me so best you buy it.

[Big Dave]

Is that competitive?
So basically anyone can be in the bike mag (kiwiRider) if they have a good story, 3 good photos, good grammar, humor and a bike?

There are standards - but The Ed's attitude is that it is 'our' magazine.

It's nearly 200 pages every month.

There are several KB'ers in this edition.

Including A near full page on Surfchick - and Randoms effort's at her show.

[Big Dave]

If I didn't spend the $30 on magazines I'd probably end up drinking it.


I thought that about the $16 rant.
That's not even a full round at the Cock n Bull.

[disenfranchised]

Have you seen this then?
http://www.mygazines.com/magazines/index/automotive/motorcycles/?v=recent_published

[HenryDorsetCase]

I thought that about the $16 rant.
That's not even a full round at the Cock n Bull.

is that code for some bizarre sexual thing that only happens north of the Bombays?

[Big Dave]

is that code for some bizarre sexual thing that only happens north of the Bombays?

It's a genuine neoprene and foam authentic recreation of an English pub mate. Nomenclature issues should be addressed to the English.

[HenryDorsetCase]

mmmmmm neoprene.

[Big Dave]

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/david_cohen_design/.Pictures/misc3/387115.jpg">

[twistemotion]

Well, I also like to read a number of bike mags, but can't afford to buy them all, so I head down to the library where I can read the latest ones, and can also take out the ones older than 1 month. If they don't have the one you want, ask them to subscribe to it.

Sometimes I buy one of the local bike mags though.

[Stormer]

SuperBike mag is cool...I get each issue at the local Shell...although some of the UK stuff is kinda irrelevant here in NZ.