XJ magazine ?!?!?!?!?!

I was reading my easy rider magazine and feeling disappointed knowing there are no publications (I am aware of) that deal with older bikes. We have a wonderful website going here why couldn't some of us get together and put out an XJ magazine that deals with these bikes mainly, but also their descendants and other older bikes as well. I believe it would sell very well and the Tech know how to make a wonderful publication. Lets face it these bikes will be around for a long time yet and the magazine would be a boon the folks that steer clear of the internet that really need the info.


It could have a featured section, a for sale or trade section, a tech section, a Q&A section and I don't think it would be hard to sell advertising in the magazine either.

 

I probably couldn't contribute to the making of it, but i would be willing to buy it!

Now if you needed help selling it, i would be more than willing to help you

 

Same here and realistically I couldn't give much but shares of the magazine could be sold to members to raise capitol. I can't give much but if everyone on here kicked in just a few bucks it would generate enough money to get the Mag up and running Besides then people could get their XJ's featured in the centerfold of the Mag if they have a really cool one.

I like this idea because we have the people with the know how, and enough potential subscribers on this site alone to make it a reality.

 

nice thought but unfortunately the target audience can get it all it needs from this site! Still let's keep the idea going....who's coming up with a name? The YICS Monthly? LOL

 

Maybe but I know quite a few people that avoid the internet, realistically I bet the magazine would do pretty dang well.

 

There have many exciting stories and exceptional restoration adventures of our members that deserved some ink in Motorcycle Mags.

I have submitted several for consideration to:
Cycle World
Motorcyclist
Motorcycle Classics
Bike

I have used the submission forms.
Written to Editors and Managing Editors whose names appeared inn the Mags Masthead.

Written to Freelance Contributors sending them links, quotes, artwork and astonishing details of "Barn-finds" and "Resurrections" that, I dare say, are
by-far more worthy of appearing in their pages than some of the storied they've done.

Never got a peep.
Not even a thanks but no thanks.

Want to give it a shot yourself?

CWLetters@hfmus.com,

 

Sadly I know nothing of magazine publishing. My skills rest in the way of art, and I can write pretty well. I would volunteer my time talents and what money I could spare to the project though. Older bikes shouldn't be ignored on the basis of age or whether they are rice burners or not. I honestly believe there is a market for the mag, it's just a matter of getting the right people together to make it happen.

 

What's needed is a magazine called 'ultimate pods' and ship it out in plain packaging so your neighbor never finds out.

 

Then everyone would think it was a porn mag and the neighborhood teenieboppers would steal it

 

the idea deserves thought. paper based publications are esentially becoming a dying form of media, however i agree not everybody wants to delve into a web based format for their information. the age of the content dictates the audience somewhat, and not everybody has an ipad or iphone to take with us when were "dropping the kids off at the pool". a paper publication is often what we reach for. Ive taken some publishing classes in my life time and am quite proficient with text editing and layouts. keep me posted

 

Besides who wants to grease up their tech gadgets when working on the bike? All we need is enough people to dedicate a just little time to the project. Everyone has a talent or two it's just a matter of getting getting them behind the idea.

 

Sign me up!

 

Hell yeah, this site has over 10,000 subscribers and I would be willing to bet many of them would be interested.

 

Why not an online magazine? The people who avoid the internet could just have someone print one off. By now I would guess that everyone knows someone that has a computer? Would still have the centerfold thrills and articles etc. Or, maybe, the powers that be run this site could expand the site with your ideas? Now, where is a cheap right side cover for an 83 max!? lol

 

On online mag would be good to but I still think the printed publication would do very well. After all it's a pain to jump back and forth from the comp to the build and although technology and the net are great they are not always at our disposal immediately, where as a magazine can be handy most anywhere, doesn't rely on power, and doesn't get screwed up if you accidentally get some grease or other fluid on it.

As for the side cover I wish you luck in your search.

 

Okay, say you have a monthly publication with one or two tech/how to articles, if you accidentally hit what you need in that months issue, you could just print off that article instead of the whole thing. Just a thought.

 

thats very true it is a possibility and it would be easier for a group of people spread across the country and around the world to put together.

 

meh, i would go printed over online publication. because theres already a ton of online publication for anything you can dream of, this site and its tech articles for example.

 

And I'd love to write for it.

EXCEPT:

The articles I do for this website sometimes take me literally months to complete.

Regular, paper publication=deadlines. Deadlines=actual "work" as opposed to "hobby." Actual work=Fitz needs to get paid.

So, who's volunteering to run the "business" end of this proposed mag?

 

Print Media is dying.
A new website could fit the bill easily. Maybe keep the forum as is but add an article page. This website is free and so I'm not complaining but forum sites have come a long way since the mid 1990s. The coding behind this site is ancient.

Hell for Leather is a good example of a funded member site for articles:
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/

If everyone here paid $5 that would go a long way towards keeping a web developer busy.

 

I've put together a couple magazines in the past. It's exciting. Holding those glossy pages, seeing it on the table, smelling that smell of fresh ink and paper, watching other people read it...

But Brady is right. People would much rather just hop online these days. Not to say a magazine wouldn't be worth the effort. Just don't expect it to be very widespread or bring in much dough.

Especially when it is specific to one type of bike, as much as I hate to say it.

But hey, count me in whatever goes down. I could help in any aspect.

 

I'm a senior web app developer, I would be willing to help. SnoSheriff? Chacal?

 

If it was print media, what about an annual publication?

Or a website (as apposed to a forum).

Either option would require real commitment from someone who is prepared to be an editor.

 

I agree completely I still prefer holding a printed publication over me ebooks and ezines

 

I have no idea who would take care of the businesss end it is just and Idea and honestly it would generate enough revenue to pay it's contributors especially with advertising being sold.

 

That could easily work too. Honestly it was just an idea and it seems an annual, semi annual or quarterly publication might be the way to go versus a monthly rag.

 

Crickets?

 

AND???

(There's the source of your "crickets" are YOU volunteering?)

Scroll up and read my response. I'd be happy to write for it, under the proper circumstances...

 

LOL He's awake!

 

Brilliant! Just a great idea for sure. Monthly would be hard to pull off at first w/o a big investment and a large staff. But 6 issues a year is enough to keep a loyal following and gives enough time to come up with quality articles etc.

Print media has been dying since the computer was invented and able to print-DUH! The 'experts' have been telling us that books were going away, newspaper too, and they said very soon-wasn't that like 30 years ago? BULL%&^! Today there are more magazines than there have ever been. Books, yep still got em. Newspaper still being thrown. So stop with the whole we need everything online crap. Let me ask you this-if your power goes away, or your internet provider goes away, or your computer crashes, or your phone battery dies, then how are you going to read your online only mag or whatever. I will never give up my books or stop wanting to read something on paper and why would you anyway. It's not like it's broken and needs to be replaced with technology. If we are doomed as a race it's because we will soon just want to PLUG ourselves in! Believe me I like my technology too and have often been the first one around with whatever new thing came out, but don't throw out the old just because there's something new. Sorry for the rant.

Back to the magazine idea. It needs to be done-I will investigate the possibility of organizing a incubator model for it on my campus. We have some business types here that are always itching for something new-they are born out of Wal-Mart, JBHunt, and Tyson DNA so you can imagine they're amped about new biz.

If it gets off the ground we will need several contributors, writers, etc-and YES of course at that point it's work and would pay. And it wouldn't need to be limited to just one type of bike, like only XJ's but it could focus on these types of bikes and enthusiasts.

 

I know this magazine would do well, especially since most publications out there completely ignore older bikes. "Rice burners" especially seem to get unfairly ignored. They are great bikes and they should get more exposure than they do. We have the manpower and with a little elbow grease we could make it a great thing. Like I said I would contribute whatever I could financially and I have mad photo editing skills to offer. Also I am a decent writer and I could contribute that way as well. Honestly with the internet this could be put together with people from all over the globe without any travel being required.

 

Classic Motorcycle mechanics from the UK is a great mag on older bikes as is Motorcycle Classics out of US. Not sure you could compete with either of these, its just not that big of a market. But if you decide to do it I would buy a subscription.