BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

I just read a MT-01 write up in Superbike where they trashed my ride. I have to say that they are way off on their assessment. If their typical opinion is like this one, I won't re-up the subscription.

Over the years many journalists have picked many of my bikes apart. Typically, they miss the mark on a feature or two, sometimes they discredit a bike for a few glitches, but this guy must simply be a sport bike monkey. One of his complains was that the top speed runs out at 125 or 130 and his friends would leave him behind.

I suppose the name of the rag says it all anyway. The fact that the "F" word is used in the articles shows how professional they are.

What is funny is when a magazine (any magazine) that addresses a specific niche reviews an item that is not specific to their niche, then trashes that item for not fulfilling the requirements of their niche.

I'll bet when "American Iron" publishes a test they trash it too. Probably for too much performance and a reasonable seating position.

I'm sure they've trashed many a BMW in their time also. The R1200ST gets pretty bad reviews, & it looks like a great all around bike to me. Better in about every way than the RR.

"Can't we all just get along?" - Rodney King

I feel ya. My FJR1300 has completely blown away the competition for sport touring rigs since it came out. Years later, http://www.motorcycle.com (they also ranked it 1st) ranked it 5th against the competition. The Buell XB12X even beat it. Guess who had an advertising banner on the site? You got it, Harley Davidson's sport division, Buell.

I used to subscribe to several US bike mags and found their fickle reviews in comparison articles to be a disqualification when it came to trusting their take on bikes.

One year an ATK is best dual sport bike, then it is never mentioned again. Another year Husqvarna gets the top spot then disappears. Every bike that comes in second is junk. Among sportTOURERS, the BMW R-RT gets tops in handling every year, then suddenly the unchanged Triumph Trophy leaps to the top of the rostrom. They pine away for a great inexpensive bike that will do it all and summit Pikes Peak along the way, and when someone builds it they take it to a race track and slander it as too slow with an unadjustable suspension - totally inadequate for a category it was not built for!

I don't even look at the mags anymore.

Well, I have to say I've noticed a lot more positive reviews for BMW since they started advertising more in magazines. Hmmm.

I say ride what you like and don't look back. I look at reviews to help me decide, but once I've written the check it's all over. The bike is mine and I'm going riding.

Superbike is one of those mags that you just look at the pictures.. ..or is that just me..

DJ

I'm with ya on that one DJ.

I subscribed to Sport Rider since its second issue and Motorcyclist for almost as long, but I am letting my subscriptions lapse in January. I've looked at several replacements but in all honesty I can't find one that reflects my particular "genre".

Maybe I just need to ride more, read less. I seem to get more out of life on my bike than in an easy chair.

I would like to see a magazine about riding what you have. Buying older machines, setting them up for traveling or commuting, making reasonable upgrades etc. Also, testing bikes within their intended design, touring for touring, sport for sport and cruising for cruising (?).

Kevin50r wrote:Also, testing bikes within their intended design, touring for touring, sport for sport and cruising for cruising (?).

They provide a good review based on its use, THEN relate it to its possibilities as a tourer.

http://www.rrmotorcycling.com/mags/frames.html

They even have alternating bonus sections for antique rides and scooters.

Is Road Runner still operating after Christian Neuhauser's death? A new issue is due, but what about next year? This is one mag that I have heard great things about. I've seen a couple of copies - impressive. Their tour maps have errors, nothing a good map comparison won't reveal, but the fact that they have them, and that they the editors have ridden the rides shows their focus on riding in the real world. I hope they continue.