Bike magazine reviews...Do you trust them?

[Robchester]

Ive always been pretty trusting of magazine reviews, however after hearing quite a few different points of view from people in the know this last few weeks, its begun to put a slant on it.

I never really gave it much thought that certain manufacturers pay a lot of money for advertising in these magazines, thus they have the edge when it comes to review time. A particular bike I had been looking at has been given very little press attention due to the fact that I havent actually seen it advertised very much at all (if any).

The Street Triple is probably a perfect example of good marketing. Triumph have obviously loaded the mags with ads for them, paying top dollar and in return have had very favourable reviews from all of the magazines, encouraging more than 1200 people this year to buy one which is incredible for a naked bike. Obviously the product has to be half decent to start with.

So reviews....do you trust them?

[Eddie Hitler]

I get my reviews from BCF, people dont get paid to say good things on here.

[Chriss]

The Street Triple isn't the first, look at the bike 'exclusives' with magazines with the 675, yet the 600 was an utter flop.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[Tango675]

I do trust the reviews that I read in the motorcycle periodicals.

I am not going to say that a expensive bike launch won't dazzle a journaist, or they don't stick with the big money manufacturs but the jurno's do get to ride a lot of metal, more than the majority on here. And get to jump from one bike to its rival to the next in one group test. And once in a while they do give a bad review, even to the big boys.

I think its the used tests that have the best information as it also contains the experiances of the owners so you get to know what a bike is like to ride and to live with.

I believe that the mags are a good start but you should always go and try the bike you want. After all a blinding review from a 6ft bike tester is no good if you are 5ft 2 with stubby legs.
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Somebody give that windup merchant a torque wrench..

[Mr Nice Guy]

[Suitor_Stu]

[Bendy]

[v8will]

I read mags for the sake of something to do at lunchtime, in the can etc.

Publishers try to sell mags and parts suppliers, manufacturers pay big money to advertise. Of course they want a good word as well.

I've been begged many a time in my own line of work by magazines like Fast car, Max power and even Pimp my Ride UK for free stuff in exchange for a few plug in an article. Thats when they're not ringing everyday looking me to spend on 'discount advertising'

Just seems to be the way it is these days. Triumph as someone suggested seems to be an example. I've never ridden one and I would generally overlook them but they seem to get rave reviews everywhere which might just about convince me to have a look.

[colin1]

I think a big thing is that people use bikes in different ways, and so different bikes are good for different people.

Magazine journalists sometimes struggle to imagine themselves as a different sort of rider and often dont bother, although they do sometimes.

I've not tried the street triple, but i suspect that its pretty versatile, so can be useful to a wide variety of people and in a wide variety of situations, whereas some track focused bikes arent gonna be much fun for commuting.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[daemonoid]

[Mudskipper]

As soon as I read a glowing review in a bike mag of a piece of chinese junk (the same bike had been ripped to shreds by owners on here) that sealed the deal for me that mag reviews mean nothing.
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Skudd]

if the bike suits the rider sod what others say. My bike is just right for me ( Varadero) but it gets slagged off all the time. it may not be the best at any one thing but the sum of its parts makes it a great bike for ME.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[daemonoid]

[Coxyzxr]

One magazine I read occasionly runs reviews on older machines and about how they faired in the bike industry, they also quote the stuff they said at the time when the bike was first released.

The stuff they say at the time is normally wildly different and contradicting to the stuff they say about the same machine now.

Make of that what you will
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**WAS FITTED "WRONG WAY ROUND" !** CANT ACCOUNT FOR THE STUPID !

[Tango675]

[Fawbish]

[daemonoid]

[Tango675]

[daemonoid]

[dodger]

I quite like the reviews in Bike magazine. They often have a few people testing the bikes and each gives their opinion so it helps to give a balanced perspective.

If I'm interested in a bike I'll read a review, search on Google for major problems etc, read the MCN comments and then go for a test ride. So I like them as they are part of a process which helps me judge whether a bike is right or not for me.
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My Bikes: Piaggio NRG| Aprilia RS 125| Suzuki GSX-R 600|Yamaha Fazer Ducati 848
Europe 2008

[Ben.]

i think what they say is accurate, but what they class as a good bike is different to what i do.
eg. gixer thou is supposed to be a fav bike for most mags, but i wont buy one, il'd rather have a zx10.
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follow my racing season
Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[Whosthedaddy]

I must admit that I couldn't give a rats as about a review as look in a different mag and it'll be a complete different opinion.

I like what I like and I know what I like.

[Robchester]

Interesting replies, Ive no doubt that some bike mags say somethings better because theyve been paid a shed load to advertise it.

Personally, I go to the owner forums, and ask their opinions. Some are obviously biased but then you get the real op on living with one too

[kawakid]

2 years ago my bike was given 94% by Superbike.

Roleon 1 year later and its awarded the worst rear shock for any bike.

I know the shocks not great, but its a lot better than anything i'd owned before at the time.

And can you compare a £10K bike with a £5K

Of course its not going to be as good.

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One thing they never seem to consider is simple things
like

How high is the seat (not just seat heigh it depends).
Underseat storage (My ER5 & Z750s ace, my ER6n utter shit)
Is there hooks for luggage.
Tank range (Tank capacity is not enough).
Length of warranty and cost of service.
Actual dealer price.
Finance deals. (People will be tempted by 0%APR I was)
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I've a twin and a 4.