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

[Conquiztador]

This is your chance. There is this new group with unlimited amount of dollars. They want to start a bike magazine in New Zealand. But have no idea how it should look like, what should be in it.

Tell them what a bike magazine should look like.

What should be in it.

What should not be in it.

Who should be doing the writing, taking the pics.

What do you REALLY want to read about.

What will make you buy the magazine and not only read it at your mates place.

Tell them what will make this magazine a success where others have failed!

[nzspokes]

This is your chance. There is this new geoup with unlimited amount of dollars.

They need a good spell check program.

[Conquiztador]

They need a good spell check program.

Thank you for your in-depth input. I will make sure they get staff who do spell checks. :-)

[Nzpure]

my 2c is articles on and reviews on older bikes aswell as new. I dont mean a 88 zzr or anything but reviews on 2001 gsxr or on the tl1000r as some of us cannot afford to buy the latest bike it would be nice to read about bikes a little older aswell as the new stuff.

[GrayWolf]

Actually I think an 'occasional' article on pre 2000 bikes would be a good read, Not just 'classics' like the Z1, H1 CB750sohc etc, but bikes that are commonplace ZZR/CBR/GSX etc and how they have stood the test of time for 'ageing of cycleparts and common faults of long term ownership'. Some of these older machines are still a viable ride as you can pick up 15+ yr old machines with very low K's on them.

What for me on a personal level is of far more value for tests of new/ latest machines in not just the BHP/top speed/standing 1/4; but real world performance such as top 3 gears roll on at 80 to 130 kph, comfort, stability on a variety of road surfaces. I know to many, it's the ego of the fastest/latest/loudest/trickest ancillaries; but there is also a need to evaluate a bike in the real world environment. So if it handles like a sack of dog turd on back roads where the surface is less than 100% or the power delivery is simply not good for 'real term performance' we can see an honest evaluation.

Apparel evaluation for rain resistance, sweating, fit, fastenings on a long term basis would I think be useful. Things like velcro and stud popper fastenings on pants/jackets, leakage (how quickly they allow rain through) is all information that as a 365 rider I would find of value.

[Brian d marge]

Whats a magazine?

where do you download them from ?

Stephen

[grusomhat]

Unlimited dollars? I believe to run a successful bike magazine they need to be giving away bikes every week.

[Nzpure]

or just decent give aways every mag anyways...Bikes would be excellent!

[Bassmatt]

Have a description or a least a couple of words to accompany ALL the photos. So many times i see interesting photos with articles, and would like to know where it is or what they are doing in it, but alas no words with them.

[nzspokes]

Probably best not to be an expensive advert for bike makers. Do real reviews. And do stuff on fixing up old bikes. How many people can afford new bikes each year? So maybe reviews on bikes from 5/10/15 years ago and whats a good buy now as a used bike.

And you need to answer the important questions like how and who do you wave to?, is clutchless shifting ok, how to handle wind, whats the fastest 250?

[Scuba_Steve]

This is your chance. There is this new group with unlimited amount of dollars. They want to start a bike magazine in New Zealand. But have no idea how it should look like, what should be in it.

Tell them what a bike magazine should look like. - A A4 size gloss paper book

What should be in it. - Motorbikes

What should not be in it. - Cars & Govt

Who should be doing the writing, taking the pics. - Someone that wants to & is good at it

What do you REALLY want to read about. - read?, read?, oh thats the thing you do to destroy your eyes isn't it

What will make you buy the magazine and not only read it at your mates place. - ummm

Tell them what will make this magazine a success where others have failed! - not failing

In more serious tho, tips n tricks & how-to guides are things I like to see & will have me picking up a mag usually. Not everyone is a natural born mechanic, or knows all the tips & tricks so a new how-to or tip/trick in each one could be a good thing.
Also as GreyWolf said a "used bike review" is also a good thing, how well do bikes last, what faults should you be aware of when looking for used bikes etc sorta like the Dog & Lemon guide but for bikes

[mossy1200]

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.

[AD345]

No dirt/adventure bikes

No sports bikes

No scooters

No racing

No streetfighters

No bikes with trailers

I'll think of more later

[Jay GTI]

Thank you for your in-depth input. I will make sure they get staff who do spell checks. :-)

It's a loose way of making a valid point. I understand that few local bike journalists follow the traditional path of a degree in English or Journalism, but grammar and spelling in NZ magazines can be atrocious. Most contributors are bike nuts that just happen to have figured out how to string a few sentences together, but sometimes articles are so badly written it hurts my brain trying to figure out what they are trying to say.

While we're on the subject, it may just be my personal preference, but please remind any regular contributors that there is only one Jeremy Clarkson, we don't need irreverent humour in every article.

Group tests would be awesome, but I know this is very hard to do in NZ. It's the one thing that really lacks in DRD, but I appreciate that it's a logistical nightmare.

[paturoa]

For new bikes meaningful comparisons with existing bikes in their class. For example weigh the bikes and do a table to compare their key measures. Current mags mostly review the bike on its own merrits.

The reviews I read in the nz bike mags are all glowing. Where are the commentaries of the "ordinary" aspects of the bikes being tested.

There are bugger all reviews of the "new" bike brands.

I suspect that it is hard in nz to do "shootout" side by side comparisons of bikes. But that isn't a reason not to. I don't recall the last time I saw one.

What would make me buy a bike mag is a subscription that enabled me to log in to an on-line environment, to view a whole bunch more photos supporting the review, where I could trawl back issues.

More reader articles on their trips. I see KR is starting to do this more. These are good.

Edit: oh and let me review the bikes!