Low Class Talkin' Trash About The Staff Trashing Motorcycles

I just read Aaron Frank's article about destroying a new 1098. I hope this trashing exotic machinery isn't a newly acquired habit for you folks. Sometimes accidents are unavoidable and sometimes they are due to rider error. Whatever the case, making light of it by writing an article of this nature is flagrantly displaying immaturity and irresponsibility. If I were Ducati and I saw Aaron's attempt at humor while crashing a $15,000 piece of equipment I had lent someone, that would be the end of getting any test bikes from me or my organization. While the article doesn't mention how he managed to destroy the bike, making light of it sounds like he didn't really give a damn about doing it and that he didn't learn a damned thing from the incident either. Not only does that insult the manufacturer, it sets a pitiful example for the magazine's constituents, especially the young ones. Aaron, you should be ashamed.....  

Frank has clearly been added to the staff in the hopes of attracting a younger, edgier demographic. Articles on sleep deprived high speed rides, what a rush crashing is, and flippant reports of wrecking exotic test bikes are annoying to me and perhaps many other longtime readers of the magazine, but sales will most likely be the determining factor of whether he stays or not. Since Boehm stepped down, the staff seem to be throwing a bunch of new stuff at us and seeing what sticks; Dirt bikes, profanity, rah rah military stories, etc. Hopefully it doesn't mean that the owners have demanded an increase in sales or else, because I'd really hate to see this magazine fold and I don't have much faith in the changes so far.  

I feel the same--there has been a recent downturn in the tone and quality of the magazine in the pursuit of a more "popular" style. I can't abide vulgarity and the supposed popularity of the *** mentality. I believe in the pursuit of excellence, and when you abandon that pursuit decay will follow.

Note: following the popular culture is not leading.