| Author |
Message |
    
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 11:05 am: | 
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Thanks CJ!
What do ya'll think of this?
Does this may my bias look big?
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Cj_xb
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 11:14 am: |
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MUCH better !! Of course I'm an accountant and I LIKE order !!
CJ  |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 11:20 am: |
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I guess I'm old school...
Of course when I was taking commercial art was in the 80s I was taught to Keep It Simple Stupid... |
Ferris
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 11:24 am: |
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What do ya'll think of this?
MUCH better, but the pix of the Duc and MV are in the way...
 |
Ferris
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 11:35 am: |
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seriously, the cover's job is to sell the mag on the newstand, and train wreck or not, the more bikes and blurbs (and colors and content) you can pack on the cover, the more chance you have of "connecting" with someone's eyes (and moto interest) as they scan the rack.
the photography and presentation INSIDE Cycle World is consistently top notch, in my opinion, and this particular cover didn't bother me at all. (this coming from someone who has also done some publishing.)
Steve, i echo the other statements above -- thanks for the insight.
FB |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 11:50 am: |
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As I am a subscriber, the cover never bothered me as I didn't even look at it until Blake brought it up. Then it bothered me.
Even if "busier is better", I still think it could have been done better, even with all the bikes reviewed on the cover. But I guess I'm like CJ, I just like order of some kind...
And yes, thank you Steve, I do enjoy reading what people in the know have to say. It's nice to have insight from an insider. |
Cj_xb
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 11:54 am: |
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the more bikes and blurbs (and colors and content) you can pack on the cover,
For me it wasn't how much, but how it was all tied together, still think it could have been done better for my taste, not putting down anyone else's taste !!
Something may catch my eye, but it has to be presented at least in a way I can actually see it first !! If I like something I want it to look good, not look like it was just thrown on the page !!
CJ
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Cj_xb
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 11:56 am: |
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Woops, just saw glitch post the same thing I just did !!
CJ |
Glitch
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 12:12 pm: |
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It's ok CJ, great minds think alike!
If it was up to me though, I'd like to see this cover at least once...
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Cj_xb
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 12:54 pm: |
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It's ok CJ, great minds think alike!
I Agree !!
CJ  |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 04:12 pm: |
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Rocket,
I'm just not the type to purchase an IL4. I'm stuck on twins. I'm not the type for a $14K motorcycle either. I'd rather pay $6K for a used Buell. |
Ferris
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 05:06 pm: |
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i know where there's a low-mile '98 White Lightning for sale for $4999...
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Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, November 13, 2003 - 05:36 pm: |
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That would be a great example of exactly what I'm talkin' about. Can't believe no one has jumped at that yet. |
Dino
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 11:01 am: |
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I'm disgusted by Cycle World's subtle but transparent attempt to sway the hearts and minds of readers of the comparo article. Take a look at the lead photo. It shows the Buell ahead of the other two motos, inferring superiority of the Buell. Further, the blurring of the Buell in the photo is an obvious attempt to make it appear that the Buell is much faster, blowing the others into the weeds. I may well cancel my subscription in response to this blatant example of biased journalism.
Oh, and would the prankster that stole Blake's Xanax please return it immediately.
Dino  |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 12:54 pm: |
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You bastards can piss 'n' moan as much as you like - I've trawled every bloody newsagent in Yorkshire and can't find a copy.
Clearly Cycle World and their distribution sucks - I mean this is the 21st century right?
Rocket  |
Bomber
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 12:57 pm: |
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Rocket -- ping me with yer snail mail address and I'll send you a copy |
Ferris
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 01:26 pm: |
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Dino:
good to have you back.
FB |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 02:29 pm: |
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Dino,
It's not a lack of drugs that can sway my personality to the more critical side. |
Dino
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 03:31 pm: |
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Blake,
I enjoy your enthusiasm for things Buell. It does seem to me, however, that your enthusiasm occasionally runs away with your objectivity. Just as one example in this case, your complaint that CW noted that the swingarm may be HOT on the Buell but doesn't note that the exhaust systems on the others could burn anyone careless enough to come in contact. Well, I would hope that anyone who can fog a mirror is aware that exhaust systems are likely to be hot. Swingarms, on the other hand, are not generally known for having elevated thermal conditions...no? Let's see, how many other bikes carry hot fluids within an aluminum swingarm? Not a problem...just something to be aware of.
In the interest of full disclosure, my personality LIVES on the more critical side. My mother always said that I'd take whatever side of an argument happened to be vacant at the time.
Dino |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 05:25 pm: |
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Dino,
You have a point. Just didn't seem noteworthy to me. Like the case of a muffler being hot, the extremely well reported fact that the XB's oil reservoir is part of the swingarm should allow anyone who can fog a mirror to surmise that it will get hot to the touch. Not near as hot as a tailpipe though. Again, if it were only that one comment, I would have overlooked it. Twas that comment combined with the dozen or so others that lead me to find the author prejudiced in his reporting.
And let's be clear, the author didn't merely point out that "the swingarm may be hot" he exclaims emphatically "...watch out, that sucker gets hot to the touch!" Watch out! The article is biased. |
M1combat
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 06:06 pm: |
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Hmm, at the risk of sounding like I hang out with idiots... A friend of mine was looking over and checking out my XB12R and happened to brush his hand across the swingarm. The fan was running at the time as I had just shut off the bike and he mentioned it was pretty warm. Not hot enough to burn, but pretty warm. I have reached down to feel it while the bike was running and certainly didn't get burned. granted, I haven't had the chance to really get on the bike hard as I'm still braking it in, but I think it IS noteworthy. As far as the method of note... given the rest of the article, I would think it was biased against the Buell. |
Dino
| | Posted on Friday, November 14, 2003 - 06:43 pm: |
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Blake,
I've noticed on occasion that you and I have a slightly different take on things. If a journalist were to say, "I wasn't expecting much from the Buell, but came away from the test tremendously impressed", you'd focus on the "wasn't expecting much" and I'd focus on the "tremendously impressed." Different strokes for different folks. Oh, and as I inferred in my post, the swingarm comment was just one example of instances where I disagreed with your evaluation of the article.
Actually, I think that if I were totally unfamiliar with those particular models and makers, but had a motorcycle background enough to understand the article's comments re torque and power characteristics, suspension, etc, I would have been influenced to check out the Buell and the Ducati.
As for ugly protuberances, I don't think the Duc's radiator has anything on the tube frame's air box or the S1's stock rear hugger fender. Granted, it's a lot harder to do anything about the radiator!
Oh, and I bet that less than 50% of mirror fogging motorcyclists could tell you where the gas and oil go in an XB. Why, having landed hard on my head just two weeks ago, I'm damn lucky to still be able to correctly identify a swingarm...but I'm still foggin' merrily along - or I will be, once my shoulder's well enough to be able to get one of my remaining bikes down off the frikkin' center stand. |
Blake
| | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 02:13 pm: |
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Nice of you to assume how I would perceive things.  I respectfully but strongly disagree with your assumption concerning my reaction to the scenario you describe. Heal up quickly. The Duc radiator is far uglier than anything I've seen on a Buell. |
Dino
| | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 04:46 pm: |
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Nah...no assumption. You do post both here and, occasionally, on Motorcycle Online, do you not? Despite several self-inflicted attempts to scramble my brains, my reading comprehension is still up to snuff. There isn't someone else posting under your name is there? I am assuming that you wrote what you believed.
I'm hoping to have healed up enough to do a little riding tomorrow. Had to steal the wife's keys to get the spare moto keys out of the vault though, so all the healing to date may have been for not.  |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 11:04 pm: |
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Bomber thanks for the offer. I'll probably pick a copy up at next weeks Int M\C show but just in case I don't
Saab Workshop,
Elm Terrace,
Queens Road,
Hull,
E. York's,
HU5 2TQ,
UK
include your address and I'll return something similar of your preference ??
Thanks kindly,
Rocket |
Blake
| | Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 - 11:18 pm: |
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Yes, I'm known as "Blake_1" on MO.
So you don't perceive the author's criticisms and descriptions of the XB12R as out of step compared to his critique of the MV? Seems pretty obvious to me that that they are. No big deal. Just notable wrt that particular author.
An IL4 sounds better than a Duc and a Buell? Ya, right. |
Dino
| | Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 12:30 am: |
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I really did think it was a pretty fair article. While I must admit that when my wife calls me a big lump it probably isn't intended to stroke my ego, I've never thought of a Harley engine as, well, ya know, compact, petite...delicate? Hell no...it a big manly lump of an engine.
Sound wise...I enjoy the sound of a Buell powering out of a tight turn, crankin' out big torque at low revs. That sound is the only reason I usually ride behind FB. I also enjoy the hell out of the sound of an IL4 screaming down the front straight at 14K. I love it all. I want one of everything. Though, frankly, the MV sounded a bit high strung for me. Great fun in a narrow window of conditions, but too high strung.
Perhaps I see articles like CW's in a pretty good light because I'm ancient enough to remember tests of Harley products in the good old seventies. The main question seemed to be how many parts would crack or fall off before the end of the test. If nothing did, that was news in itself. Though it seems like at very least the tail light filament almost always went. Anyway, I see a very different attitude now, and a real appreciation of the product, both Harley and Buell. I hope Harley really stands behind the Buell line and continues to build on Erik's grand dream.
BTW, when are we going to see a new Buell sports tourer with a clutch pull that won't aggravate my screwed up left wrist?
Cheers,
Dino |
Ferris
| | Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 09:34 am: |
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That sound is the only reason I usually ride behind FB.
like i said before, good to have you back. |
Blake
| | Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 12:42 pm: |
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Dino,
Did I not see somewhere a hydraulic clutch kit for Buells? That might do the trick. No more cable friction to overcome. |
Dino
| | Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 12:50 pm: |
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Ferris,
Just checking to see if you're awake and lurking. |
Ferris
| | Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2003 - 01:05 pm: |
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yep, working and lurking (not necessarily in that order) |
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