Chance of a lifetime: YOU can decide on New Zealand's new bike magazine!

[martybabe]

I concur with most here, I'm fed up of reading about the latest metal with a two horsepower gain over the last one, pick up a rival magazine and it's the same three reviews as the one you just chucked out.

Buyers guides to older models would part me from my dollar, running riding and living with an FJ1200 for example, are they a good buy still?, how much should I pay?, what are the common problems to look out for?, how fast are they?

The thing would write itself, a quick survey of past and present riders for their experiences and a dip into the archives for stats and issues, bingo an interesting article with facts about a bike I might like to buy and can afford.

New models too, always interested but some long termers. A quick blat around the block and some well timed sweeteners from the manufacturers for the mag doesn't interest me, if something is rubbish I'd like a heads up before I spend My money, likewise if it's brilliant.

Tips on maintenance, riding tips, issues that affect us like rego, new laws, the Police safety initiatives

Reviews on good affordable gear and where to get it from .

In short, get a few issues of 'Bike' 'Ride' and one of those sporty ones use the good stuff.

[GrayWolf]

oh and for me one critical little 'aside'.... bias!!
I do enjoy reading road tests where a group with different preferences ride 2-3 bikes over a weekend 'fang'. What I dont enjoy is Peter Penishead who is only interested in the latest Ichifanni XBRZ1200 CCIEXUP turbo, deciding that as it doesnt fit his 'bias' its a pile of shit. Lets have reviewer who will give HONEST appraisal of any bike. Example it may be a Boulevard ridden by an R1 preference tester, but at least have riders who can evaluate the cycle for what it is....

I agree with Martybabes thoughts on 'sweetner reviews that are really sponsored? sales pitches.......
lets also have a few reviews and 'shootouts' where sometimes a group of (example) modern sports tourers like the Kawasaki Concours etc may well find a 'venerable' classic like an FJ/ZZR/CBR/RF/GS among them... we dont/wouldnt expect to read how amazing the new/old ones are per se... but it would be good information to see in real terms how things have progressed and where, as well as to see in 'real use' terms how small/big the gap between them is.........

[flyingcrocodile46]

Stories about key people (and company history) involved in bike development, racing, culture, milestone moments and events in the history of motorcycles etc Especially glimpses of some of the personalities of characters like Pops Yoshimura etc. Going about it gradually but with a bit of planing should provide the time to get permissions to borrow some excerpts from authors of a good range of material already written.

It could be looked at as a periodic release of parts of a really big encyclopedia of Motorcycle history as much or even more than bikes models. That could be a way to gain regular subscribers even when the rest of the mag is borderline fluff, piffle and advertising. Might take a bit of organisation to come up with a usable set of index categories so that they could be sorted out of sequence as written, so you could have lots of flexibility about time shots and categories.

[240]

Whats a magazine?

where do you download them from ?

Stephen

hmmmmm I would like to see your eyes in a few years time, I bet you allready are wearing glasses!

[Maha]

A 'Where Are They Now' article...interview with past NZ bike racers...track/road/dirt and oval.
Even one interview every 2-3 issues would be suffice.

[Nzpure]

I'm a commodore nut aswell as a bike nut i have a sub to street commodores..It would be a good mag to model from. Has old stuff new stuff, history, home builds, rallys (car equivalent) shoot outs and interviews of every day drivers aswell as the famous racers. I think it would be a excellent mag to model from or at least pinch ideas lol.

[kiwi cowboy]

less than 10% advertising.Everything advertised must contain Mag discount rate(no exception)
Tyre reviews.
Used bike reviews.
New bike reviews.
Maintence tips.
Build projects and custom build bikes.Prize drawn when finished to mag serial number.
Large race reviews even for budget classes.Full reviews of Motorbike Rallys.
Day Ride reviews on every interesting NZ road and trail.

Agree with all that but espeicly the budget class reviews.

[Flip]

1, T+A
2, No sports bikes.
3, No dirt bikes.
4, Technical sections on fuel, tyres, suspension, oils, chains, tools,tuning, machining, performance parts, coms, vid.
5, Propper maintenance not just "take it to the agent" crap.
6, Vintage bikes.
7, Custom bikes.
8 Touring section.
9, More T+A.

[Nzpure]

1, T+A
2, No sports bikes.
3, No dirt bikes.
4, Technical sections on fuel, tyres, suspension, oils, chains, tools,tuning, machining, performance parts, coms, vid.
5, Propper maintenance not just "take it to the agent" crap.
6, Vintage bikes.
7, Custom bikes.
8 Touring section.
9, More T+A.

PFFF vintage bikes cool, your customs belong in tank magazines although a modern tank would out manoeuvre them ....

[Swoop]

There would have to be a weekly update on the latest waving methods and who to wave to/who not to wave to.

Also, the latest trend in tassle fashion/colours.

[Sharry]

There is a load of relevant ideas here. I would be very interested in reviews regarding NZ events. Kiwirider is doing this and although I do like reading about events and riders overseas I do find it far more interesting to read baout local events and riders.
Also as year round daily rider I would like to see more talk about riding gear and it's various qualities. Also which tyres for which bike, road, and weather in NZ.

[Sharry]

Also bike extras, the qualities and differences of various heated hand grips, scott oilers, map reading devices, bike bling etc and luggage.

[quickbuck]

I will be the forth voter for local Racing content, and Especially Budget Classes.
Racer Profiles will be great too.
I mean (for example) It was mentined that Sam Croft (Current Championship leader of ProLite's) is a relativly unknown racer before he did the nationals.
But, the Vic Club knew him well, and have seen him race for a few seasons now.
To be fair there is no where that he would really get well known prior to going to the nationals, UNLESS somebody did an article on him, in a national magazine...

Also, more tips on basic motorcycle maintenance wouldn't hurt either.
I'm sure some riders wait 6 months before looking at their chain.... Okay, the WOF inspector looks at it for them!

I agree with putting in some tests of older bikes too.

[Badgerclarke]

The practical and real world elements from Ride and the writing, reviews and stories from Bike would be a good start. In summary, as someone has already said the best bits of those two mags with a NZ twist. I stopped buying bike mags over here as I'm fed up reading the same reviews of the same bikes and looking at the same advertising.

[Nzpure]

There would have to be a weekly update on the latest waving methods and who to wave to/who not to wave to.

Also, the latest trend in tassle fashion/colours.

The waving issue is certainly an important one.