Motorcycle magazines – am I wrong to be suspicious?
Discussion
Funnily enough, I notice many magazine reviews appear positive about brands that, coincidentally, advertise in those publications. Am I wrong to be suspicious?
While I sympathise with publishing pressures in an online world, how independent are our motorcycle mags? This post from the Evo magazine thread made me wonder some more.
While I sympathise with publishing pressures in an online world, how independent are our motorcycle mags? This post from the Evo magazine thread made me wonder some more.
lowdrag said:
I wrote articles in several magazines for about thirty years. Never not many replies or compliments and it came as a great relief to finally quit earlier this year.More to the point, I was asked a number of times to lend a car for articles, and I have always been disgusted by the lies told. The articles were pure figures of invention, like when Motor wrote in 2006 about driving the first D-type around Le Mans and commenting on the supple handling, the roar of the engine, the slick gear change and so on. the truth was they weren't even allowed to have the keys to the car and I towed the ruddy thing round the circuit behind a Toyota people carrier with the photographer crouched in the back They Photoshopped the tow rope out of course, and the 1/15th of a second speed made it look fast even though we were at a steady 30mph. The article on my XKSS talked of opposite locking and 150 mph on the straight. Once again, I was driving the Peugeot 206 with the snapper in and I know we never topped 55mph. Maybe I've burst your bubble a bit, but the Beano and Dandy are much nearer the truth. A caveat; My dear friend Tony Dron (RIP) was a stickler for the truth and I loved his articles in Octane.
I thought everyone knew they were biased
Mind you so are the majority of owners - I've ridden a few bikes that I thought were s
t yet they receive glowing reports on the forums
Dad used to regularly lend his Classic Car stock for press articles - they all gave rose tinted reports - because if they didn't he wouldn't have lent them another one !
Mind you so are the majority of owners - I've ridden a few bikes that I thought were s
t yet they receive glowing reports on the forumsDad used to regularly lend his Classic Car stock for press articles - they all gave rose tinted reports - because if they didn't he wouldn't have lent them another one !
I don't believe a word written in them nowadays, I bought an MT09SP on the strength of the reviews, it was hailed as the second coming, it was ste, journo's have to ensure they are invited back so will always be positive, bike mags need to sell advertising so they won't publish negative reviews as the manufacturers won't advertise with them
The whole point of magazines is to sell advertising and generate revenue for the publisher, accurate reporting is not usually a priority!
te, journo's have to ensure they are invited back so will always be positive, bike mags need to sell advertising so they won't publish negative reviews as the manufacturers won't advertise with themThe whole point of magazines is to sell advertising and generate revenue for the publisher, accurate reporting is not usually a priority!
Fairly obvious they are biased.
It's impossible to pick up a copy of RiDE/MCN without it dripping with the ejaculate of "journalists" whenever there is a BMW or Triumph story.
Similar to a few months ago when the new Hornet was described as the second coming by almost everyone but then suddenly it pales in comparison to the more expensive, heavier and less powerful Suzuki....
Interestingly, I read a copy of the TVAM Slipstream recently (use it to fall asleep with as it's so painfully dull) where a somewhat negative review of the Triumph Tiger 900 was written. I have it on very good authority the editor was torn apart by the local Triumph garage sales manager and bent over backwards to ensure there was a positive story of one in the next copy......
The only ones I care for the opinion of are the likes of Classic Bike Guide and the defunct Practical Sportsbikes
It's impossible to pick up a copy of RiDE/MCN without it dripping with the ejaculate of "journalists" whenever there is a BMW or Triumph story.
Similar to a few months ago when the new Hornet was described as the second coming by almost everyone but then suddenly it pales in comparison to the more expensive, heavier and less powerful Suzuki....
Interestingly, I read a copy of the TVAM Slipstream recently (use it to fall asleep with as it's so painfully dull) where a somewhat negative review of the Triumph Tiger 900 was written. I have it on very good authority the editor was torn apart by the local Triumph garage sales manager and bent over backwards to ensure there was a positive story of one in the next copy......
The only ones I care for the opinion of are the likes of Classic Bike Guide and the defunct Practical Sportsbikes
Journalistic integrity is a concept pretty much forgotten about now: the online media is desperate for new content and clicks, so tends to sensationalist speculation of almost no content, and print media is so burgeoned with costs it can't afford to piss of advertisers.
Traditionally I would read content from many sources, contrast and compare between them and with my own experience and figure out whose opinion seemed worth listening to. I don't regularly buy now, Alan Cathcart always seemed to write decent reviews, Neevsy is decent, the bloke on Bennets who does the product tests I like.
Traditionally I would read content from many sources, contrast and compare between them and with my own experience and figure out whose opinion seemed worth listening to. I don't regularly buy now, Alan Cathcart always seemed to write decent reviews, Neevsy is decent, the bloke on Bennets who does the product tests I like.
certainly, about clothing/accessories
I have bought items with the recommended triangle or even a you tube video review and they have been very poor buys
it gets expensive after a while when stuff doesn't perform as stated, I’m even dubious about the chap in the cap's reviews
i try and test ride bikes and not rely on reviews and glad i did with the Tiger the vibration i found dreadful, that was supposed to be the second coming. there was no mention in the reviews but there were several on tiger forums and when i handed it back at the test the salesmen said i wasn't the first to mention it.
I have bought items with the recommended triangle or even a you tube video review and they have been very poor buys
it gets expensive after a while when stuff doesn't perform as stated, I’m even dubious about the chap in the cap's reviews
i try and test ride bikes and not rely on reviews and glad i did with the Tiger the vibration i found dreadful, that was supposed to be the second coming. there was no mention in the reviews but there were several on tiger forums and when i handed it back at the test the salesmen said i wasn't the first to mention it.
Edited by GSA_fattie on Friday 21st July 17:05
Seen a thread of here recently (about cars) that talked about how cars put on a pedastool in the day have slowly lost that status when reality bites.
One such example was the Journo hype around the Yaris GR. Perhaps the new M3 touring will the the next.
I fell foul on this with a Tracer 900gt I bought without riding.
YouTube reviews loved it, yes one mentioned it maybe being slightly noisey.
The thing was crap. The noisest screen, tonnes of dirty air buffeting your head no matter what screen you put on. The throttle connection was dreadful, made it snatchy and horrible around town. Did make a nice noise tho.
Wouldn't have dreamt of touring on it, couldn't wait to get rid.
Similar with the Rs660.
Rear shock is dog st - 44t said "it's budget" budget isn't 5mm of play in the bushing on a bike with zero miles.
terrible terrible flatspot which makes it annoying to ride...oh yeah that can be sorted spending 1600 on an aftermarket exhaust, a map that voids the warranty. Don't even mention the st dealers that don't give a st.
Think I'm done with new bikes really, starting to enjoy my "retro" stuff now. More fun and cheaper overall cost of ownership. Plus they don't depreciate like a stone...see aprilia above.
One such example was the Journo hype around the Yaris GR. Perhaps the new M3 touring will the the next.
I fell foul on this with a Tracer 900gt I bought without riding.
YouTube reviews loved it, yes one mentioned it maybe being slightly noisey.
The thing was crap. The noisest screen, tonnes of dirty air buffeting your head no matter what screen you put on. The throttle connection was dreadful, made it snatchy and horrible around town. Did make a nice noise tho.
Wouldn't have dreamt of touring on it, couldn't wait to get rid.
Similar with the Rs660.
Rear shock is dog s
t - 44t said "it's budget" budget isn't 5mm of play in the bushing on a bike with zero miles.terrible terrible flatspot which makes it annoying to ride...oh yeah that can be sorted spending 1600 on an aftermarket exhaust, a map that voids the warranty. Don't even mention the s
t dealers that don't give a st.Think I'm done with new bikes really, starting to enjoy my "retro" stuff now. More fun and cheaper overall cost of ownership. Plus they don't depreciate like a stone...see aprilia above.
They are all playing the same game which isn’t well served saying a 20 year old bike is probably better.
I did a p/x on a k4 gsxr 750 for the modern naked equivalent (another make) which the press raved about. It was crap in every way and even now I’m not convinced it wasn’t broken in some way it was that bad.
I did a p/x on a k4 gsxr 750 for the modern naked equivalent (another make) which the press raved about. It was crap in every way and even now I’m not convinced it wasn’t broken in some way it was that bad.
GSA_fattie said:
certainly, about clothing/accessories
I have bought items with the recommended triangle or even a you tube video review and they have been very poor buys
it gets expensive after a while when stuff doesn't perform as stated, I’m even dubious about the chap in the cap's reviews
i try and test ride bikes and not rely on reviews and glad i did with the Tiger the vibration i found dreadful, that was supposed to be the second coming. there was no mention in the reviews but there were several on tiger forums and when i handed it back at the test the salesmen said i wasn't the first to mention it.
Don't start me on gear, so much of it is disposable utter crap. Even big, previously respected, big brands are producing flimsy crap that seem suited for lasting two or three "seasons", in other words if you get 6k miles out of them you'll be doing well. Chap in cap is a snakeoil salesman IMO after his hyping of single layer jeans.I have bought items with the recommended triangle or even a you tube video review and they have been very poor buys
it gets expensive after a while when stuff doesn't perform as stated, I’m even dubious about the chap in the cap's reviews
i try and test ride bikes and not rely on reviews and glad i did with the Tiger the vibration i found dreadful, that was supposed to be the second coming. there was no mention in the reviews but there were several on tiger forums and when i handed it back at the test the salesmen said i wasn't the first to mention it.
Edited by GSA_fattie on Friday 21st July 17:05
Biker9090 said:
Fairly obvious they are biased.
Interestingly, I read a copy of the TVAM Slipstream recently (use it to fall asleep with as it's so painfully dull) where a somewhat negative review of the Triumph Tiger 900 was written. I have it on very good authority the editor was torn apart by the local Triumph garage sales manager and bent over backwards to ensure there was a positive story of one in the next copy......
I tracked that article down and thought it was very reasonable. Whilst I've not ridden a 900, I've read quite a bit about them (articles and on forums) when weighing up whether to upgrade from my 800, and the issues highlighted are echoed in plenty of comments by reviewers and owners. Interestingly, I read a copy of the TVAM Slipstream recently (use it to fall asleep with as it's so painfully dull) where a somewhat negative review of the Triumph Tiger 900 was written. I have it on very good authority the editor was torn apart by the local Triumph garage sales manager and bent over backwards to ensure there was a positive story of one in the next copy......
JulianHJ said:
Biker9090 said:
Fairly obvious they are biased.
Interestingly, I read a copy of the TVAM Slipstream recently (use it to fall asleep with as it's so painfully dull) where a somewhat negative review of the Triumph Tiger 900 was written. I have it on very good authority the editor was torn apart by the local Triumph garage sales manager and bent over backwards to ensure there was a positive story of one in the next copy......
I tracked that article down and thought it was very reasonable. Whilst I've not ridden a 900, I've read quite a bit about them (articles and on forums) when weighing up whether to upgrade from my 800, and the issues highlighted are echoed in plenty of comments by reviewers and owners. Interestingly, I read a copy of the TVAM Slipstream recently (use it to fall asleep with as it's so painfully dull) where a somewhat negative review of the Triumph Tiger 900 was written. I have it on very good authority the editor was torn apart by the local Triumph garage sales manager and bent over backwards to ensure there was a positive story of one in the next copy......
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