CycleWorld comparo Feb issue ... FYI

[markjenn]

I tried to find an on line version. Have you got a linky. The dead tree version is not showing up anywhere I have tried.

I'm not aware of any free scans floating around, but you get a few free zoomed pages on Zinio.com - if you're careful, you can probably read the article with these free zooms or you can subscribe or buy a single issue.

I've seen CW digital subscriptions anywhere from $4/yr (on promotion) to $12/yr.

- Mark

 

[AL-58]

I tried to find an on line version. Have you got a linky. The dead tree version is not showing up anywhere I have tried.

I found the Dec issue in Penrith, Feb issue must be 2 months away yet. Cycleworld 12month subscription on Zinio.com is less than $12AU

Then surprise, surprise, they sent me 25 Zinio bucks which can be spent on other subscriptions.

Al

 

[GrahamD]

Thanks guys ::008::, just bought the issue and am reading it now.....

Apparently both the BMW side cases broke and fell off a few times....AL ;D

...one of them while completely empty..

and the KTM cases popped some rivets, The S10 cases were the only ones to survive intact.

You are bad ass AL.

That article was followed by a special on the R80GS and then Charlies South African Adventure on...you guessed it BMW's.. So the Shootout didn't seem to suffer much from editorial bias.

What did surprise me was the that they all chose the S10 considering comments like the KTM is not far behind in touring but eats them on the dirt. Would have expected at least Ryan to give a nod to KTM based on that.

Comment which I think best explains a few things

Compared to the others, the weight of the Tenere is most apparent, giving the impression it is hardest to handle" but it turns out to be surprisingly adept.....

I like the mag actually, they cover a range of bits and pieces and aren't afraid to bring an expert along when needed.

::008::

 

[Tremor38]

Thanks guys ::008::, just bought the issue and am reading it now.....

Apparently both the BMW side cases broke and fell off a few times....AL ;D

and the KTM cases popped some rivets, The S10 cases were the only ones to survive intact.

You are bad ass AL.

That article was followed by a special on the R80GS and then Charlies South African Adventure on...you guessed it BMW's.. So the Shootout didn't seem to suffer much from editorial bias.

What did surprise me was the that they all chose the S10 considering comments like the KTM is not far behind in touring but eats them on the dirt. Would have expected at least Ryan to give a nod to KTM based on that.

Comment which I think best explains a few things

I like the mag actually, they cover a range of bits and pieces and aren't afraid to bring an expert along when needed.

::008::

Yeah, I've always liked Cycle World. Been reading it since elementary school. Usually the guys they choose to test any given type of bike really know their stuff. To add to their credibilty - with me but I might be biased in this case - Macolm Smith is a regular contributor of written material. I've just dated myself by mentioning him I suppose. That son of gun can still ride the wheels off of most any machine.

 

[20valves]

Malcolm Smith is a regular contributor of written material. I've just dated myself by mentioning him I suppose. That son of gun can still ride the wheels off of most any machine.

Malcolm is everyone's hero. The guy has led an inspiring life and yeah, I hope I can ride half as well as he does at his age (he'll be 71 this year!). Heck, I hope I still have a pulse at his age!

 

[pluric]

Malcolm is everyone's hero. The guy has led an inspiring life and yeah, I hope I can ride half a well as he does at his age (he'll be 71 this year!). Heck, I hope I still have a pulse at his age!

I still never was able to back a trials bike up like he did on "On Any Sunday".

I tired and tried. He took an old TL125 up a slight incline, rolled backward and drove off, no dab.

Pretty amazing guy. ::008::

Have to wait to end of video....

"http://www.youtube.com/embed/A8Fmcxd5-wk" frameborder="0"

 

[20valves]

I still never was able to back a trials bike up like he did on "On Any Sunday".

I think we all smacked a little dirt trying that stunt. It looks so easy when MS does it. :-[

 

[pluric]

After reveiwing he video it was an old Montesa. Doesn't matter I never pulled it off. :'(

 

[Mike Sisson]

I think we all smacked a little dirt trying that stunt. It looks so easy when MS does it. :-[

Yep, fell about 200 times trying that one.... ::025::

 

[protondecay123]

::022::
Found this magazine with comparo of KTM/BMW and XTZ12. It is the Feb issue of Cycle World. Pretty much the same old same writing style. Our baby stands up to the others.

Just located a copy at the Dallas airport . Love seeing the SuperTen wheelieing on the front cover!

 

[fender5803]

I still never was able to back a trials bike up like he did on "On Any Sunday".

I tired and tried. He took an old TL125 up a slight incline, rolled backward and drove off, no dab.

Pretty amazing guy. ::008::

Have to wait to end of video....

"http://www.youtube.com/embed/A8Fmcxd5-wk" frameborder="0"

Thanks for clipping that for us to see Pluric. For sure an amazing amount of balance needed with a lot of feel and practice. MS makes it look so easy ....
::022::

 

[mcook]

::022::
Found this magazine with comparo of KTM/BMW and XTZ12. It is the Feb issue of Cycle World. Pretty much the same old same writing style.

Harsh assessment. I'd like to see you jam as much info into 1500 words...

--Marc

 

[dcstrom]

Harsh assessment. I'd like to see you jam as much info into 1500 words...

--Marc

I didn't do a count, but I remember thinking it was short! Seems like a lot of trouble to go to with the testing, locations, photos and everything else that went into it, to then have to leave a ton of stuff out due to lack of space. Another limitation of print media eh?

 

[mcook]

Yes, it's a limitation of print. That story should have been longer. We had more info and more riding impressions than we had pages.

 

[markjenn]

Cycle World has long been the fluffy, short-sweet sort of mag. I remember talking to David Edwards a long time ago when Cycle was disbanded (by the same publishers as CW).... he said the publishers had no interest in having CW print long, in-depth articles like Cycle used to run. Since then, things have gotten more and more abbreviated, to the point they don't even do individual road-tests much anymore; mostly they do the 2x2, 3x3, 4x4 etc. mini-comparison tests. Breadth, not depth, has been the mantra at CW for some time.

That's why I would take CW's pronouncement that the S10 is the best in the dirt and the GS the best on the street with a grain of salt as it runs 180-deg to what three or four other publications have said. In reality, they're probably about the same with strengths and weaknesses that, depending on any particularly rider's proclivities, tilt the final judgment one way or the other.

If you want in-depth, then you get the British mags, but they have their drawbacks too. I read CW mostly for the fine photography.

- Mark

 

[protondecay123]

Actually they said that the 990 was the best in the dirt and the SuperTen was best overall.
And quite honestly just about any magazine comparison and it's validity for my purchase decision isn't even needed. The magazines can bluster SuperTen wont do this, BMW that, Ducati this Blah, blah, blah. But There is not a dealer of either of the latter two brands in the entire state of Arkansas. Also I Plan on keeping my bike for years. I have a 2005 FJR of which I'm the single owner. I've not seen a long term 7 year test and it's not practical for a magazine to do such. Yeah it's nice that CW liked the SuperTen and congruent with my purchase decision. That's nice. But there were so many more important factors in my purchase decision than how you disable ABS etc.

 

[markjenn]

Actually they said that the 990 was the best in the dirt and the SuperTen was best overall.

True and good catch (the 990 with 21" front end and chain-drive is really in another league in the dirt); my comment was comparing only the S10 and GS relative to one another with respect to street vs. dirt where CW had a completely different opinion than the other publications.

- Mark

 

[GrahamD]

True and good catch (the 990 with 21" front end and chain-drive is really in another league in the dirt); my comment was comparing only the S10 and GS relative to one another with respect to street vs. dirt where CW had a completely different opinion than the other publications.

- Mark

But Mark, it aligns well with previous tests overseas (some) They tend to flip between this or that. Aussies tend to go out into the Desert areas and like the S10,
The Poms are scared of dirt and like the GS or Multi.
The Italians liked the S10 slightly better off road and the GS slightly better on road,
The south Africans tend to think the same as the Australian reviewers and the Italians, and the Germans like the GS a bit better than the S10 (i'm shocked) but have had a few issues with the BMW's "failing to proceed" on the long term bikes.

So really, take a ride, take your pick. I don't know what all the fuss is about from everyone. They are all very competent bikes with different biases. Some are high strung and have to have a bit of TLC or they break, some just break occasionally and some don't.

 

[dcstrom]

Yes, it's a limitation of print. That story should have been longer. We had more info and more riding impressions than we had pages.

Hey Marc,

I should have clued in to the fact that you were one of the authors when you mentioned the exact word count above!

I think it was one of the best reviews so far - and not just because I have an S10. Other tests have been littered with inaccuracies, and I can't say I saw any in yours. I would have like to have seen more depth, but understand what you're up against with page counts in the mag. What about putting some of the stuff "off the cutting room floor" up on the web? I know you already have a page of bonus content
http://www.cycleworld.com/2012/01/03/ride-there-bonus-content/
but not much text there, just some nice pics and that loverly video. I know it's a fine balancing act between what goes in the mag and what goes on the web - if you put too much on the web you sell less mags... etc. Different subject, but maybe have 2 levels of subscription, magazine only and mag + bonus content?

Anyway... one of the reasons that a lot of us bought the S10 over the GS or GSA, apart from the price, is BMW's reliability problems that have been ongoing for some time now. You didn't touch on that in the test. I realize it's a delicate subject for a number of reasons, but there a hundreds of documented final drive failures, a number of swingarm breakages, not to mention electronics problems, and it would be hard for somebody to say these issues are "myths" or "hearsay". I understand that if you mention these problems that BMW may suddenly become "uncooperative" but I think the readers deserve at least a heads up, so that they can do their own research.

Enjoyed the test though, and the sidebars too were interesting and relevant.

Trevor

 

[20valves]

and the sidebars too were interesting and relevant. Trevor

Agreed. Yep, I went right out and bought some super duper matches in the waterproof box. ::008:: I'm kind of afraid to try 'em! I doubt I'll ever be in a survival situation since I won't be going to BFE on the Super Ten, but if I do get stranded, something's gonna burn! >