bad writing in Motorcyclist

OEM... They're very different, non-traditional writers and certainly nothing that Cycle World would ever print. I love D Edwards and they do a good job, but sometimes all of their articles are just so bland and standard plug-n-play format that never venture outside the mold. Only J Burns is the exception. Much love to the Bitter Little Man. Oh, and Peter Jones kicks butt, too, but he shows up even less than the lovely chick magnet Burns.

Catterson has done a GREAT job as Captain of the ship, opening up the magazine to a lot of areas of the 2 wheel world that were previously untouched, and through that process has uncovered some very different, unique writers who have never had the opportunity to let their wonderful, hard work see the light of day.

We all like different women, foods, bikes, gear, beer, etc. And we all like different writers. It's a wonderful thing to have these different flavors and their personality just adds to the article's reading experience. And that's what good writing is. It's an experience. We're not reading technical articles here.

You know when you go the Rock Store on a summer Sunday around 11:00 AM and see some bike that's unique? And you would NEVER have done THAT to your bike, and myabe you don't quite know why the owner was thinking when he started, what his impetus was.... but you're looking at it and you know what it must be like to ride. What it must feel like. How it must be ridden. Well, the written word is pretty similar. Some of these authors use colorful, unordinary, sometimes off-color verbiage to adorn the meaty facts, the truth, the same as that bike owner added his own stamp, his own soul to that bike.

It may be different, and it may not be your idea of perfection -- it may even be weird to you. But if you try, open your mind, give a look with a little *** of your head and TRY to get it. You will. It's ALL WONDERFUL.  

I was a big fan of Mitch Boehm, and was sad to see him go. That said, MC is still as much fun to read, more diverse than before, and the new writers (Seate, especially) are very good.
Being a BMW GS owner myself, I love how the magazine is actually covering the brand now, when for so many years it was as if the German bikes did not exist at all. And I enjoyed the 800GS Moab article and the photos. I did cringe at the flirting with the factory lady account, imagining HER version to be much different (groan - annoyingly drunk, ugly writer guy hitting on me - what else is new?) and feeling slightly embarrassed. But overall, good job.
Keep sending me MC, I will keep paying for it. Much rather read and cringe once in a while than be bored by Peter Egan's tales he has been repeating in several publications for 25 years+.
Keep up the good work and when you want to ride Puerto Rico (great mountain roads - surprised?), let me know!
DA  

Glad some folks like the writing; glad that others tolerate me; hope the rest find value elsewhere in the magazine.  There's plenty: Mike and Jamie and Brian having been doing this longer and more consistently than have I.

Mostly, I'm glad that Brian has put up with me so far.  Athletes ultimately play for the fans in the seats, but they take their plays from the coach.  Writers likewise get their marching orders from editors, not readers.  So far, I've enjoyed the working relationship and hope the Boss has, too.

I have some quibbles, of course.  One is that while I may be annoyingly ugly, I'm quite a charming drunk -- just ask me sometime after a few beers when I'm feeling like my own biggest fan.

The other is that nowhere among my multifarious sins may be counted recourse to a thesaurus.  Like a big, sticky marital aid, the thesaurus only comes in handy when you've run out of ideas of your own.  Sadly for some and happily for me, that day hasn't come yet.

For those who take a little bit of joy in reading about my clumsy adventures, thank you.  This is the third and best time I've had the best job in the world, so I owe ya.

For those with entirely different tastes who still get on your bikes and push out the borders of the motorcycling world a little bit each day, thank you, too.  You may dislike me as a writer, but you're allies to a rider.

See you on the road.

Cheers,

Jack  

I figure it's a back handed compliment to the writer for the reader to say he liked the article or didn't. Most people are so apathetic these days.

A favourite of mine was this guy who wrote for Cycle Canada for years.  Read the "excerpt" at the bottom.  It really describes a typical dirt ride with your buddies.

http://www.worddust.ca/pages/atba.html  

Jack,

I enjoy your writing, and came across this thread looking for a link to the R1200S article you just wrote to send to some non-riders I thought would benefit from the story.  Keep it up please.

I like the new mag, even though I liked the old mag.  I read several, and now look for Jack's stories the way I look forward to Peter Egan's and some others.

I look forward to the diversity and do not enjoy stories that are essentially filled with technical specs to the exclusion of any human thought.

Happy New Year

Erik  

I liked Jack's article.  Admittedly, I am a motorcycling newbie, so a more esoteric review of the bike might have been over my head.  However, I'm also a mechanic, and, while I can comprehend a technical manual with the best of them, I wouldn't consider it pleasurable reading.  What got me interested in riding wasn't hearing the guys recite engine specs (which they still do incessantly), but listening to their experiences.  And Jack can tell a story.

Sharon  

After reading a number of the posts on this thread, and feeling a little rocked by self doubt, I thought I should go back and read Jack's "Dancing With the Devil" once again.  Had I been wrong to appreciate it the first time?  Not so!  Even better the second time.  His analogy is spot on.  To ride is, que sera, to dance with the Devil.  Let's hope we are ever able to leave him "standing, flat-footed, staring after us".

And "Stoned to the Bone"?  Another stumble on my part, I guess.  Can't imagine why I read excerpts aloud to my wife.  And utterly unimaginable that I should hint to her that an 800GS might make a good stable mate for my 1200.

Entertaining, informative and out of the rut.  What's not to like?  

I stand by my complaints about Mr. Lewis' use of labored similes in last month's articles, but I would like to compliment him on his excellent piece this month about his neighborhood.  It was clearly written; it stuck to the topic; it gave the reader a real sense of place.  

I've been a reader since the mid 60s and a subscriber for most of that time.  While I enjoy the broadening of the tests to cover dual sport and off road (after all you do have Sport Rider for the hard core track day folks and MC was leaning way that direction as well) I've got to admit that the last few issues have me leaning toward not renewing when my current subscription runs out next year.  I didn't care for Walsh's tales of drunken trips, Lewis' article left me cold and at a time when I'm trying to clean up my vocabulary, the collective "you" seem to be reveling in the fact that there is less active editing and various references to body functions and vulgarities are even in the main tests, not just the "lifestyle" articles.
Good luck, I'll be reading and watching.
John in TN
89 Honda Hawk GT
74 Triumph Trident
73 Triumph Trophy Trail
p.s.  Tell APF I said "Hi!"  

GEEZE! Jack Lewis is LAME! (hope that puts the vote over 50/50 to get rid of him...)

Bring back Dan Walsh for cryin' out loud!

The first article I read by Lewis had him "adjusting the idle" about 12 times....I am not even sure he really rides bikes, but if he does, he needs to ride off into the sunset and have another beverage.

Can't STAND him!

Also, "Bike we won't get". 2500 dollar exhaust, 5000 dollars worth of mods to a bike so it's "good enough"?

What's happened to motorcycling?

Oh, yeah, one more *** If I read one more article about a friggin expensive, super duper Ducati or MV that needs service/parts/ect. all the time I am gonna puke!!!!!!

Thanks for listening.  

Was that too honest?
I hope so.  

Damn, I seem to have shut it right down....

Somebody else somewhere has something to say, surely?  

Im with you powerzombie. That guy hasn't impressed me much. He doesnt really have anything interesting to say. Maybe some people like his jibberish but not this one.

There sure is alot of coverage on bikes that many will never own, which is fine with me but its these bikes that aren't even avail. in this country. That xr1200 is a joke.

At least the italian bikes have some performance to go with the price tag, but i'll stick with my japanese literbike thanks. I cant think of a better bike to hammer out a 500 mile day on.

Maybe this year they will compare 1000s to 1000s instead of 600s, who knows? Just an idea  

Right on. I guess I just "don't get it". If a bike is going to cost waaaay north of ten  grand, it shouldn't break down or need a few more grand pumped into it so it acceptable.

I know there are few folks who will pay 20+ for a motorcycle, and that's fine too, but how about a little more writing about bikes that are closer to the real world?

It's not "Fantasy Bike Island" it's "Motorcyclist".

Finally, Jack Lewis- you wrote a good one this month...not so full of "crap".

Still, where's Dan Walsh been?  

I was just reading " Yamaha FZ1 - First Ride & review " http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/yamaha_fz1/index.html and I just have to say are these guys high???? I ride a 1997 GSX-R 750 and my buddy has an FZ1. we ride very hard both street and track, and i have to say the FZ1 is not going to be walked by any new 600. I have drag raced him and canyon danced. In both situations he is no sitting cow. In a drag sometimes I get the jump on him and I get a bike length or two ahead, but in our best race to date, it was wheel to wheel. My bike is modded mildly, Full race exhaust, air filter, 520 quick accel. kit, and stage 1 jets; so its not like its a weakling or anything. 130 hp at the rear wheel. I haven't found a 600 that can walk me, so there is no way in hell any 600 has a chance with him. They compare this 998cc bike to its supposed 1200cc competitors?? DIFFERENT CC'S!! Comparing those, you'll get as far as the ZX14 got before the Hayabusa matched the cc's; Back in the Busa's shadow you go! I have rode the R1 they are comparing this bike to and i just have to say its a great chicks bike because there is no comfortable seating position. Break your wrist or crush your nuts. They didn't say R1 for the real world for no reason, if they said R1 replica i could understand where they were coming from, but to say this bike sucks cause its not an R1 is stupid. Clean the wax out of your ears Motorcyclist! SPORT TOURING not RACE REPLICA!!!! My buddy rode his FZ1 to New Mexico from San Francisco area in 1 sitting. Try getting even to L.A without visiting the hospital for unwanted motorcycle induce vasectamy ( aka R1's Disease) or broken wrists. So short of reading all of my rant, it boils down to this. He just about keeps up with me in the canyons, and drags. Any one of you at Motorcyclist is welcome to keep up with us on your 600.. Good luck. APPLES AND ORANGES!!!!!! Might as well compare a Ducati 999R to a Harley. Both have two cylinders and two wheels so they should be the same right???