Who buys motorcycle mags these days

[John Wakefield]

All the money being saved on not buying mags can be sent to me in exchange for a copy of "ISDT1968". I have taken delivery today of several copies of this magnificent work of about 330 pages with many photos (some of Greeves) and (blowing my own trumpet) quite a few photos from me.
The cover price is 80 Euros, but the UK price is not yet set as the Publisher has been more than a little busy dealing with other family matters.

80 Euros thats £69 at current exchange rates alot for a book on one event only

[Colin Sparrow]

I wouldn't mind one on 'ISDT 1961' !!

Better get on and write one, then!

I mean, how hard could it be..?

[Brian Catt]

I have a few pics if anyone wants to write the 1971 event up.

[John Wakefield]

Too many mags!

Getting back to the original thread, the glossy 'old' motorcycle mags, I think there are far to many.
The Classic Motor Cycle
Real Classic
Classic Bike
Classic Bike Guide
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics
Are just the ones I can think of, I am sure I have missed some out, all costing upwards of £4 per copy, just how many can the market sustain?
The Classic Motor Cycle of course has its origin with the 'blue'un' (The Motor Cycle). In its original form it was of course along with Motor Cycling (the green'un) THE mag of the day, covering the current motorcycle scene both, road & competition & of course the 'trade biased' road tests (still being reprinted by Mortons)
With useful articles on how to maintain you bike, yes you had to do it yourself those days as you could not afford to take it to a dealer, real motorcyclists then, not like todays bikers who have to go onto a forum to find out how to change the oil!
Motorcycle Mechanics in its origial form was mine of information with articles on how to rebuild your engine, gearbox etc. Todays bikers cant do it themselves & have to take it to one of the 'specialists' that advertise in the mags, & pay through the nose for it.
The other mags mentioned just seem to run a line somewhere in between but usually covering the same old topics. With so much info on the internet FREE these days who needs to read an 'old bike' mag?

[whitehillbillies]

Hi John,
4 quid is cheap compared to the $15 au ( 9 quid ) we pay for the same Mags over here in Australia.
The Mags that arrive here from overseas, generally are not covered in plastic,allowing us to flick through them, before forking out the money to buy one.
whitehillbillies

[John Wakefield]

At that price you need to take out a mortgauge to buy one, do any get sold? & I suppose by the time you get them they are about a month out of date. I was supprised to find that a lot of Australians actually buy old Brit bikes, ex pats mainly I suppose. One chap on the Yamaha Townmate (step through) Forum imported a T80 Townmate, he has found it a real pain to get spares, there are non in Aus. (I dont think they were ever sold there) anything he needs has to come from UK. To make it worse he is restoring it to show condition, so needs mint NOS parts which are difficult & expensive in the UK.

[dave higgins]

Time has moved on & motorcycle technology is light years away from the primitive motorcycles of the sixties, fuel injection, full engine management systems, & the ability to remap the computer to alter the power curve, variable cam timing.... the list goes on.
Its a lap top world now, & anyone that spends 10k on a nice bike is going to want it kept at its peak, which only a dealer with the correct soft ware, can achieve.
That is the way it is now, so john wakefields naff comments about modern day bikers not being real bikers or able to maintain there machines does not really stand up.
This is not the way to encourage new younger blood into the gra, on some days, with all the moaning, it must seem like they have stumbled across a script for harry enfields " the old gits ".
Greeves is not just about people who were there at the time, its for the youngsters to enjoy as well, sixty years on...!

[John Wakefield]

Mr Higgins When I was talking about modern day bikers I meant current owners/buyers of old bikes, NOT owners of modern 'resin rockets' hence my ref to the 'specialists' listing their services in the classic mags.

[Mike48]

I blame " VMX" magazine - an Australian mag - for rekindling my interest in classic bikes in 2001. It has changed a little over the years, now features more overseas stories, but has stuck to almost exclusively off road and competition machines. However, I prefer your Classic Dirt Bike, the articles are more detailed, even though the bias is strongly towards trials machines. The ads don't trouble me, I find it interesting and helpful when I and my friends are searching for parts and/or expertise. The only trouble is I picked up my last 2 copies in the UK for 5.50GBP each, but am waiting for issue 29 at home at $13.50.
Mike

[Stuart Wigmore]

Mags

Classic Dirt Bike and Classic Trial are good reads if you are into comp bikes

[rarpos7]

Old Bike Australasia magazine

I am unsure if this magazine is available in the UK, but it is a fine magazine aimed at older motorcycles.
The latest issue has an article on Greeves roadsters.

[John Wakefield]

I am unsure if this magazine is available in the UK, but it is a fine magazine aimed at older motorcycles.
The latest issue has an article on Greeves roadsters.

I think some of the articles previously published in UK mags get reprinted in Australian (& maybe other overseas mags) The Greeves article (Essex pic) looks familiar. Can you scan in the article?

[rarpos7]

Greeves article.

This is a new article about Greeves machines residing in Australia.

I will try to scan the article.

[Rob]

Some interesting comments further back about mechanical ability of modern riders, etc. I think the reason for this is that modern bikes don't fail in the same way as our old British irons. I am old enough to have bought a new British bike - cracked piston, burnt exhaust valve, main bearings, gearbox bearings, alternator falling off regularly, same with clutch centre. You certainly became a mechanic out of necessity as dealers didn't want to touch the things.

Nowadays, many riders are weaned on reliability and haven't had the need to tinker. They have also been brought up on foreign measurements, all these kilo-litre-centi things and don't understand BSF, cycle, fractions, etc. In discussions, I am frequently amazed at the lack of what I consider basic knowledge. Waiting 2 hours for recovery for a broken throttle cable - they were never able to read 'Guinea Gimmicks' in Motorcycle Mechanics, that staple diet of knowledge. Breakdown cover and mobiles are now considered essentials. The other thing that seems to occur is that attempts are made to replicate modern/Jap practice on to British bikes, complicated wiring with dozens of fuses and connectors being one I have noticed as well as fitting R clips to wheel spindles.

This is where the glossy mags should come in. The 'we change a clutch cable' and 'how to fit a new chain' type articles are not for us but for people new on the scene without the knowledge but with the enthusiasm.

So I believe Dave and John are both right in their own ways. New, younger entrants to the classic world have frequently come via a different route and now have different requirements from the classic press.

[Colin Sparrow]

Do you remember when all you did to get you home with a broken throttle cable was to pull the inner out of the outer and work the throttle by pulling on the cable inner down by the tank.

Bet we "oldies" have all done it.

I remember doing about fifty miles once with no clutch cable...