This is not about the dissappearnce of printed magazines, although that is undoubtedly true. I used to get seven different motorcycle magazines in my mailbox, and while they often covered the same material, they kept me connected to motorcycling during the months of winter when I was not riding. As one after another went out of business, I found myself down to two: the monthly AMA magazine and the digital version of "Rider". "RIder" was my first motorcycle magazine and decades ago I had the pleasure of attending several of their annual rallies. When the print version jumped in price I switched to the digital. But this morning I was reading the latest issue of "Rider" on my laptop, and it took me all of about 15 minutes to go through the entire magazine. I read a few of the regular columns, the Letters to the Editor, but found that I no longer have much interest in the reviews of new bikes or the exotic adventure rides that they cover.
Riding my Spyder RT, and at my age of 82, I have to accept the reality that I likely will never be buying a two wheeler again. Just last year I sold my still pretty new Royal Enfield Hunter 350, a bike that I had bought when thinking that I would miss the two wheel experience. But reality turned out to be that when the weather was nice and I was free to take a ride, I much preferred the RT to that little single cylinder Hunter. So I sold the Hunter through the dealer where I bought it and now am very happy with having just the Spyder in the garage. But today made me realize that the motorcycle magazines just don't offer much to me anymore. Even the AMA monthly is more about their sanctioned races than about anything generic to riding. So when "Rider" comes up for renewal I likely will just let it go, and I might not even be renewing my AMA membership for that magazine. This forum and motorcycleforum. com will have to do the job of keeping me connected to the motorcycle community.
Riding my Spyder RT, and at my age of 82, I have to accept the reality that I likely will never be buying a two wheeler again. Just last year I sold my still pretty new Royal Enfield Hunter 350, a bike that I had bought when thinking that I would miss the two wheel experience. But reality turned out to be that when the weather was nice and I was free to take a ride, I much preferred the RT to that little single cylinder Hunter. So I sold the Hunter through the dealer where I bought it and now am very happy with having just the Spyder in the garage. But today made me realize that the motorcycle magazines just don't offer much to me anymore. Even the AMA monthly is more about their sanctioned races than about anything generic to riding. So when "Rider" comes up for renewal I likely will just let it go, and I might not even be renewing my AMA membership for that magazine. This forum and motorcycleforum. com will have to do the job of keeping me connected to the motorcycle community.
