Question,
Just finish reading the latest motorcycle mag to arrive at my house. There was a reference that women ride Sportsters. And all the reviews of the Sport is by women. Now I am not complaining about this. My question is, should they (the corporate world) bring back a HOT XL type of mag for the Sportster fans that we all are? I mean I look at these bikes and say to myself,"Self, there is no way in hell that bike has ever seen more that 10 miles on the open road." Or, "Self, that has to be the most uncomfotable ride i have ever seen." I don't see articles on Sport customs (once in a great while) Or parts that are Sport specific. I like the BT they are nice, but by God we need our due. I feel the market is prime for a new Sportster mag, with informative tech tips, and mods. Also you every notice they NEVER show winners of Sportster class in bike shows. What's up with that? Just ranting may not be the right place for this but just wanted to know everyones thoughts on this. I am sure it has been riden like a dead horse but hey new forum lets start it up again ;) . One other thing, you always see those articles say Sports are not traveling bikes and they beat you up, take a look at the BT rigids and seee how many of them are travel bike, bar hops yes, travel no. I can hop or cruise on my Sport. (look in the latest Ironworks and read Mike Seate's impression on his custom chopper. He didnt make it 70 miles before he had to call it quits) :eek:

They got rid of the mag because not enough revenue. That is the only reason to have a magazine. No matter how much we love our sportsters we have to love to pay for the magazine as well. It is too bad that half the sportster riders dream about the day they can get their big twin. Until that dream changes no magazine will stay our current reality. Maybe the new style which favors the dynas will increase our sportster membership and fuel the cause. Who knows? Rottenralph

Good point Skippy ! Hope there are some editorial-types reading this...

I picked up a copy of "American Iron" recently. I was actually inpressed with how much Sporty-relevant info there was. There was some pretty good tech articles. I may order a subscription...or maybe Santa will bring me one for Xmas. :-)
Later,
W.

Am I the only one that doesn't want a big twin as my only ride..maybe..big maybe in addition to my sportster. The sportster magazine would be nice.

I for one do not aspire to own a big twin... They are not my style.

I know that everyone does not feel this way. However, I also think that some people who don't believe this are caught up in the "grass is greener" theory.

I think that even if there was a Sportster-only magazine out, it would be mostly fluff stuck in with a bunch of advertisements. :D If you want real-world, you are looking at it right here on this forum...

Women do indeed ride Sportsters. My wife for one.

And here she is 25 yrs ago on the YZ125.

I would LOVE to see a Sporty only Mag!!!!

Hint,Hint!!!:D

Hot xl was a great magazine but it did not last long. It was made by the same guys as American Iron and was really good stuff. Just did not work. They used to also have a sportster part of the mag. but it is gone as well. Guess we are just trying to keep our love for our beloved sporties to our selves. I had a B.T. and my current sporty and I still have the sporty. Easy to part with the B.T. but would not get rid of the mean green machine. I love my little precious.

Question,
(look in the latest Ironworks and read Mike Seate's impression on his custom chopper. He didnt make it 70 miles before he had to call it quits) :eek:

mike seate is a poser , for two years (I think) he wrote about the harley life style from the seat of a jap cruzer . I stopped reading his dribble as it was purly bunk . he don't know squat about choppers even though he wrote a book about them (wonder what kinda crap he put in there) which I won't ever waste my money on

mike seate can kiss my .........

If there was a sportster only magazine I probably wouldnt read it, I like a good mix of bikes in my magazines not just sportsters. You can pick up some great ideas from other styles of bike that would never normally appear on a sportster.

I read Hot Bike at the moment which is ok this months isnt brilliant but its ok, American Iron doesnt really do it for me, Easyrider has too much glitz and flesh over the bikes and Hot rod bike has far to little content for the cover price. Some of the best mags seem to be coming out of Japan if you dont mind the $$ and not being able to read the editorials but the pics and layout are great

I 98% stopped buying chopper magazines ... mostly these wide-low-ugly-BTs ..... :eek:

'Normal' bike magazines are more interesting to read! ;)

I 98% stopped buying chopper magazines ... mostly these wide-low-ugly-BTs ..... :eek:


Thats where the jap chopper mags differ they like the sleek, bare bone style that look affordable unlike the $90,000 plus machines that a lot of these mags highlite

It is a shame that the Sportster doesn't get it fair due in the corporate world, but that is fine with me. Yeah, it would be nice to pick up a magazine dedicated to one of Harley's all time greatest bikes, but as already pointed out, many have tried and none have survived. But again, that's alright with me. It would be great to be able to read some tech writers perspective on tuning or customizing or whatever to a sportster, but that is alright with me. It would be nice to pull up at a stop light and have an educated BT rider look over an give a look of approval instead of that look of "he'll be upgrading soon", but that is alright with me. (it's fun to remind them why they call my bike a "sport"ster and his bike a "Fatboy" :) ) The reason it's alright with me is because we have this forum! When I'm on here, I know that everyone else on here shares the same enthusiasm for the Sportster as I. I know that there are technical geniuses on here to help me when I'm at a loss or diving into something new to me. I know that I can help others and everyone keeps everyone's advice based on facts. I feel at home on this forum and when was the last time you could interact like this with some rag?

I've been thinking, and that usually get's me into some kind of trouble, if it were actually true that only women rode sportsters......then I want to be a sportster in my next life!

Wow :yikes , didnt think i'd get the diverse response that I did. I agree that a Sport only mag maybe full of fluff, but I would just like to see some articles on riding bikes. You know the good looking bikes we ride every day. (Just look in gallery). I again do not want a BT. I have the money to buy what ever I chose. I could buy an OCC if I wanted. But I CHOSE to ride and own a Sportster. I love the agressive style and the ability to change the look and driving charateristics with very little effort. However Bobbers are my true love :laugh Such as Suker Punch Sally's love that look. But thanks for the responses. I agree the best info and advice comes from forums such as this one. Just remember, if you want a BT thats ok, just dont go into BTitis when you get one and look down on the Sport. Remember where you came from. And look for me, i'll be the guy laying it down in the curve blowing by you as you lumber down the road in your raked necked, extended fork monster. Its funny all that power in the choppers and they can't go over 80mph because the stress on the forks (shakes just a wee bit :cry1 ) Enjoy stay safe and bundle up for the winter.


Skippy