Shaping up to be a Very Good Year...

Re: Now that's what I call journalism!

I don't want to turn this into another motorcycle.com pissing match, but...

"Pay up!" You said. "If you pay us, we'll have more and better content!"

"Okay" Said us, and wallets parted. Cobwebs were pushed asides, and dollars changed hands.

So where's the more and better content we were promised? I actually think you guys were better off when it was free! Now you spend our subscription money on beer! Don't think I didn't see the beer next to the computer when I was supposed to be staring at the boobies in the jacket...

*sigh*

I actually *do* like you guys. That's why I keep coming back. That's why it bothers me that you're not living up to your potential. If I didn't care, I wouldn't poke fun.

But seriously, where's the beef? The super-sport-touring comparo? The Nekkid Bike comparo? The SV vs All-Things-Two-Wheeled comparo? Having the intern tell us about his new shock? Or his new headlights? Puh-leez. While I do admire his work, that's not the kind of more and better content we all had in mind.

Re: Now that's what I call journalism!

The "It's only one dollar a month" excuse doesn't cut it anymore guys, so stop beating it to death. You guys have said for the psat month and a half that we would see all the stuff mentioned in the previous post.

And Z3 was polite about it...I'm sure 996R or whatever his name is will loan you use of his 'Busa in an expletive laced post soon, for the hyper-bike comparo (or Supersport Tour comparo, or whatever it was shaping up to be)

And as long as you're willing to curse out Z3, JohnnyB, where the F is my Competition Accessories gift certificate, HMMMMM!?!?!?! The emails I get from you all announcing the stories says new subscribers get it, but I think none of us did.

If you guys need some help, friggin' email me. I'll do whatever labor you need in exchange for room, board and track time for comparos for up to 2 weeks and I'll call it a vacation. Hell, I'll come up with my own food, just give me a place to sleep and bikes to ride. Don't think I'm not serious...I am.

We love you guys, but we need some beef. C'mon, Where's the Beef?

--Foxy wubs j00!

Re: Now that's what I call journalism!

This is totally not the direction that I wanted this to take, but who knows, maybe it's good for readership?

...

Pssst... Didja hear The BLM (tm) is in a pissing match with another person on the web-board?

KPaul again, or someone new?

We better check this out!

...

*sigh*

I would like to engage in an open debate about the future of Motorcycle.com as well as the future of this new medium which is embodied by Motorcycle.com.

I was, for the most part, being sarcastic in my references to money. Yes, the money is an insignificant amount. And honestly, even if the price had been double or triple what you (MO) asked for, I would probably have paid. It's a very interesting social experiment as much as a business, and I don't think I would want to miss out on it.

I think the time of the traditional print magazines (for certain niche markets, anyway, motorcycles being one) is drawing short. They have become parodies of themselves - and slaves to the hype and PR machines that run the industry. But that's another rant for another day.

That's where you (MO) come in! Easy access to the personalities featured, quicker access to content, etc. Less BS, more "reality." The best part being the interaction between the readership and the editorial staff... All good stuff. Contrary to what you may believe, I really do like Motorcycle.com, and hope that you guys to make a killing in the market. I think it advances the medium on the whole.

That said, this isn't a popularity contest. There's room enough for MO, a true alternative to the print magazines, *AND* others - like Dirk Edge at motorcycledaily.com. And let's not forget Dean Adams at amasuperbike.com!

Each of the sites has it's purpose, and fulfills it very well. The purposes range from light reading to hardcore racing news to indepth motorcycle reviews and comparisons and top-notch editorial content. I can't say that any is better or worse than the other, because all are fulfilling different needs. Apples and oranges, man!

However, it is VERY UNBECOMING to resort to attacking others.

I guess the boards here at MO are not immune to the problems of message boards across the internet. People think that the anonymity provided by the medium gives them the right to be a total *******. To an extent, that's true. But we all lose out. Communication becomes difficult, and what should be thought provoking debates and exchanges of ideas denegrate into pissing matches and jokes about mothers.

Well done in furthering that decline, Mr. Burns.

Re: What about the 919?

Yeah the Honda is flawed but so is every model. Honda emphasized agility with a light bike, quick steering geometry, linear torque but then did not follow through with top shelf suspension. I'd love a bike that emphasizes agility over top end power but finish the job at least. The reason I'm leaning to the 919 is its flaws are fixable with time and money.

The FZ1 is my second choice but I hate that quarter fairing and I'd rather have the FI system than four carbs to clean and maintain and rejet.

Bandit's out because I live in Houston. Lousy traffic to commute in and extremely hot weather make an air cooled bike miserable.

SV650 is a reasonable choice but it needs too much work to bring it up to snuff in power and suspension. By the time you get a SV modded up to its potential you've spent as much money as a 919. If I found an outstanding deal on an SV I might still consider one.

Triumphs are out of my league in price and maintenance issues. Good bikes but I don't want to deal with parts availability and such.

Kawasaki's ZR series is pretty decent for nakid bikes but the 93 ZR1100 I left a bad taste in my mouth that has yet to go away. It was a maintenance nightmare.

Ducati? Two words: Valve Maintenance. . Too expensive to ride.

What a ramble... There really is a niche in the nakid bike to make a monster like bike that does not have the desmo maintenance issues at a reasonable pricepoint.

C'mon SV1000 or even better, stuff an RC51 power plant in a 919 frame and call it good .

David