Motorcyclist Retro

after 23 three years of motorcyclist subscription i am unable to find retro mag near where i live would have like to have a copy of the 1st issue but refuse to make any more 40 mile one way trips to look for it again guess i will not be renewing my supscription to motorcyclist in protest  

Came across the first issue in a Publix, and was stoked to find it.....until I saw the price. $8 is too high for me to buy every issue for casual reading. Now if there's a couple of articles inside that directly relate to me, then that's different. I'm not buying the justication that the price is competitive to import magazines. They're import magazines! We expect to pay more, because we know they're hard to come by. I hate to say it, but I put your magazine down and bought two other motorcycle magazines for a combined price of $9.
 
I applaud the decision to focus on japanese bikes. I would say I'm a perfect example of your demographic: I'm 40, male, and own one or more older japanese motorcycles (in my case, a 1982 Kz550 and a 1985 Ninja 900). I have no real interest in british and italian bikes because they are a) too expensive; b) too unreliable; and/or c) lack the performance of a comparable japanese model. BMW's at least are reliable. As has been said, there is plenty of coverage in other magazines for these models. I enjoy vintage japanese bikes for the exact same reason that people bought them for in the first place: value for the money. The same reasoning goes for my magazine purchases. As I said, I'll buy your magazine when there are enough articles that pertain to my interests, but $8 is too high for casual reading (by the way, I personally put import bike mags back on the shelf for exactly the same reason). In all sincerity, I hope you succeed. I know I'll buy issues in the future, just not every issue.  

I haven't seen it yet, but I keep looking.

$8, really?? Wow, that's about what I pay for all the British mags I get (including Motorcycle Mechanic, which aims squarely at the same 70's-80's *** bike demographic). I would think that a US produced mag from a major publisher would be at least a couple dollars cheaper.

I understand it will have limited circulation and needs to be more expensive to make up for that, but still, $8 is ridiculous. I will definitely by the first, but it better be worth it to get me to pay that much again.  

I found it at B&N late last week. Great articles on the CB750 and the H1. Good stuff. I look forward to the next issue.  

I picked one up last week at my local magazine shop.

I like it. I still think it is a bit expensive, but I like the focus on non-brit bikes.

I love Triumph, BSA, Norton et al, but here in the US, Japanese or European is the most likely choice for someone looking for a reliable bike for a reasonable price.  

Just purchased the last three copies of motorcyclist Retro from Barns and Noble in Hacienda Heights, California. I have 2 extras and will sell them .   The rag is what I was hoping it would be.   joelieras   65cb160,75cb750, 77kz1000, 05harley deluxe  

My Dad was out of town Sunday.  He found 2 at B&N.  He picked them both up...great magazine!  As of now, I guess I'll have to make the 70 mile trip every few months to pick up the new issues.  Good luck with the mag, I hope subscriptions are around the corner.

Travis.  

Sorry, but I'm gonna have to give you a C- for issue #1.

Before you jump to super defensive/denial mode understand that I would love to see this mag succeed and did my part by driving numerous times to B&N/ Borders 30 miles away and finally purchasing TWO copies to ensure issue #2.

Purchasers need two things to align. Cost and Content.

You could sell this mag for $8 if the content were more/better.
Otherwise for the price of an Americano and a Pastry you will attract 'flickers'- guys that flick through the mag while enjoying a tasty beverage at the in-store java stop.

$8 is too high for a USA sourced mag. The Brit mags are only 4 or 5 Quid - it's the exchange rate that makes them 8 to 10 Bucks. Motorcycle Classics is $4.95 which probably is your closest rival and they don't have the backing of Source Interlink Media and Motorcyclist as you do. So what's up?

$8 is too high when you run 36 1/2 pages of ads out of 100.
Some of your features are indistinguishable from ads i.e page 10/11 and 74/75 Vs. 62/63. I mean, they look like Dunlop ads to me.

Fasterthen made some fair comments. Nowhere did he say "re-hashed editorials". MCpub said that.
Mitchell184, you need to relax buddy, you ain't the copy ed are you? READ what the guy said.
With the B/W photo's that Dunlop have been running for a few years in many other mags, the features on World and O'Shea, also featured in other mags, this issue DID seem very familiar.

To be fair this IS the first issue (not your first mag though), and I appreciate the risk that you take in doing this.

I will do my part and buy the next couple of issues but past that you're gonna need at least a B.

Not selling the mag online through one of your other publications - at full price of course - is a major mistake. Was that Mitchell184's idea?

Standing by for lambast!  

I had to pay for an electronic copy of the mag from B&N.  Pain in the a$$ to read on a screen.  Would like it made available for subscription!  

I'm starting to beleive this (Retro) magazine is like Bigfoot; I've heard of it but until I actually see one with my own eyes, I don't think it really exsists. I've looked everywhere for this magazine, & it can't be photographed, much less found. The Yeti may or may not be thriving in the Himalayas, but the's no Bigfoot or Motorcyclist Retro magazine in Alabama.. If I WERE to find this mag, tho, I'd buy up every copy & auction 'em off on Ebay, you know?  

I've yet to be able to find a copy........  
Steve

Ride for one - Ride for all

I got a copy last month and have shared it with my friends.  I have four retro restores and my friends have another 10 or so all together.  We need an American publication on retro 70's motorcycles.  If this is going to be a quarterly publication, I'm in send me a subscription at $30.00 a year.  If you give some good tech tips on restoration and help me bring back my youth, it's all good.  Please look into getting advertising space for all the little guys in the restoration business.  I get tired of surfing for them when I could pick up your magazine turn to the last couple of pages and see 25 to 50 small ads from different dealers. Ther're out there and most are on ebay.  

Found your new mag at Border's in the Chicago Suburbs about 2 or 3 weeks ago.

I was a bit surprised at the price ($8), but having worked in the industry I know how hard it is just to get it off the ground, not to mention keep the cost down.  I could have done with the standard format and printing of Motorcyclist for a couple bucks off the coverprice...

I enjoyed the content, especially the "Mr. CB750" article (p46).  Seeing tips and techniques of top restoration specialists is great - p54/55 is excellent!  This is what I want to know and see!  

Also liked the "Carb Cleaning 101", but I would have liked to see more photos of what it took to get the CBX carbs pictured in the background to look like the ones in the foreground - more about the detailing involved and tips from the pros.

Overall I was very pleased, and am anxiously awaiting your next issue.


Jay V  

I am probably the normal type on this forum. Just getting my 1st bike, a CB350K3, and my first motorcycle license at 52, this mag is right up my alley.
Hope to see more of the restoration articles. I will be doing a daily rider resto on the 350, with a possible Yamaha RD250 in the future.
I would like to see more restoration articles, as this is what most of this type motorcycle is undergoing. But history is also a good read.
As with most things, you will either like it, or not.  

I really enjoyed Motorcyclist Retro and agree with the editor that it was about time for a magazine like it to come out.  I have been waiting for the next issue to hit the stands in September; Has anyone seen it out yet, because I haven't and I don't want to miss it.  I really want it to succeed as I ride all 80's bikes at the moment with the most recent an '85.