Bagger Magazines what do you think?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 237
Likes: 3
From: Liberty Lake, WA
Bagger Magazines what do you think?
I've had a subscription to American Bagger for around half a year. I've got a buddy that gets the other one I think its Hot Bike Baggers. I guess it's better than nothing, but I think that most of the information/products in the magazines have already been thoroughly discussed around here long before the magazines get to them. It is cool to see the high quality photos of some of the forum members bikes in the magazine. Kind of seems a little stupid when there is a how to article about installing chrome caps on your front axle-I mean come on. Quite a few pages devoted to showing readers how to bolt on parts. It would be nice if they would offer some in depth reviews of products. I get the impression that some of the how-tos are just a glorified add for companys willing to send them free parts.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,698
Likes: 10
From: Longview, Washington
RE: Bagger Magazines what do you think?
ORIGINAL: rgardjr
I've had a subscription to American Bagger for around half a year. I've got a buddy that gets the other one I think its Hot Bike Baggers. I guess it's better than nothing, but I think that most of the information/products in the magazines have already been thoroughly discussed around here long before the magazines get to them. It is cool to see the high quality photos of some of the forum members bikes in the magazine. Kind of seems a little stupid when there is a how to article about installing chrome caps on your front axle-I mean come on. Quite a few pages devoted to showing readers how to bolt on parts. It would be nice if they would offer some in depth reviews of products. I get the impression that some of the how-tos are just a glorified add for companys willing to send them free parts.
I've had a subscription to American Bagger for around half a year. I've got a buddy that gets the other one I think its Hot Bike Baggers. I guess it's better than nothing, but I think that most of the information/products in the magazines have already been thoroughly discussed around here long before the magazines get to them. It is cool to see the high quality photos of some of the forum members bikes in the magazine. Kind of seems a little stupid when there is a how to article about installing chrome caps on your front axle-I mean come on. Quite a few pages devoted to showing readers how to bolt on parts. It would be nice if they would offer some in depth reviews of products. I get the impression that some of the how-tos are just a glorified add for companys willing to send them free parts.
I still enjoy them though.
And it's great to have a couple mags devoted to geezer bikes.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,573
Likes: 138
From: StL, MO. USA
RE: Bagger Magazines what do you think?
I like 'em...but I'm kinda biased... 
All of the magazines are the same way. Hot rods, trucks, bikes, car audio - whatever. They are catering to a 'general' audience and have to be written as such. I see it kinda like public speaking and/or teaching - you have to target the dumbest person in the room to be successful. Magazines are the same way. Have some pretty pictures, tell aguy how to install some simple chrome & you'll sell some issues. Get too technical & you'll lose your audience.Kinda like here - check the 'General Harley Chat' post count vs. any of the technical forums - more people want to talk about bullshit than tech stuff.
my $0.02
All of the magazines are the same way. Hot rods, trucks, bikes, car audio - whatever. They are catering to a 'general' audience and have to be written as such. I see it kinda like public speaking and/or teaching - you have to target the dumbest person in the room to be successful. Magazines are the same way. Have some pretty pictures, tell aguy how to install some simple chrome & you'll sell some issues. Get too technical & you'll lose your audience.Kinda like here - check the 'General Harley Chat' post count vs. any of the technical forums - more people want to talk about bullshit than tech stuff.
my $0.02
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
RE: Bagger Magazines what do you think?
I saw your bike in one of those rags.. nice bike you built there. If I remember right you look kind of short (I'm only 5'8") anyway I'm wondering how those beach bars are when it comes to turning. Do you have any reach problems when they are at a full right/left turn??
Thanks
Thanks
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,573
Likes: 138
From: StL, MO. USA
RE: Bagger Magazines what do you think?
ORIGINAL: scarygt
I saw your bike in one of those rags.. nice bike you built there. If I remember right you look kind of short (I'm only 5'8") anyway I'm wondering how those beach bars are when it comes to turning. Do you have any reach problems when they are at a full right/left turn??
Thanks
I saw your bike in one of those rags.. nice bike you built there. If I remember right you look kind of short (I'm only 5'8") anyway I'm wondering how those beach bars are when it comes to turning. Do you have any reach problems when they are at a full right/left turn??
Thanks
Thanks.
I dig the beach bars. They took some getting used to in regards to the slow, parking lot kinda stuff - but its well worth it for the ride I get on 'real' roads. Which is where I am 99% of the time. The first day or two I got a litle sketchy doing slow full left/rights as the bar does get in near your leg - but that uneasy feeling went away quickly.
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
RE: Bagger Magazines what do you think?
It's not a pure "Bagger" mag but I like American Iron Magazine (http://www.aimag.com/forums/homepage.php) for tech articles. Still have some of the bolt-on type articles but there are sections that are fairly heavy on tech.
I like Hot Bike and Hot Bike Baggers for the pics and the easy bolt-on articles. Easier than searching through a bunch of catalogs sometimes just to get ideas.
I like Hot Bike and Hot Bike Baggers for the pics and the easy bolt-on articles. Easier than searching through a bunch of catalogs sometimes just to get ideas.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Bagger Magazines what do you think?
If you want some more tech, you have to look for some chopper rags. The Horse and rags like that have sections on fabrication sometimes. AIH has done that in the past too. What I want is a bike version of Car Craft. That is by far the best car rag out there for real car guys. It's all about doing EVERYTHING yourself.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
RE: Bagger Magazines what do you think?
I couldn't agree more. I have 8 or 10 motorcycle magazine subscriptions and American Bagger is easily the worst. Very little true editorial content. No road tests. No trip reports. Little in the way of true tech articles. Mostly it's, like you say, just a bunch of stories on how to bolt-on accessories. Most which have no interest for me.
Lousy rag.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 723
Likes: 62
From: Cape Cod, Ma.
RE: Bagger Magazines what do you think?
I have found American Rider to be one of the better mags out because it doesn't lean too far either way. It has some info on all the "American" bikes and covers good rides, tech articles, etc... I just wish it came more than every two months!
Neil
RDMC
Neil
RDMC