| Author | Message | ||
     Kellaupat |
Peter Egan has a nice article in this month's Cycle World about the demise of Buell. I was sold on the Uly when he did his write up a few years ago traveling through Virginia. Hard to believe they are'nt being made anymore.  | ||
| Hughlysses |
That was a good article by Mr. Egan (the one a few years ago; I'm still waiting for the latest CW). I was kind of surprised he didn't buy one for himself after that. Lord knows he's owned just about every other motorcycle there is... | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Thanks for the heads up on the article. Peter Egan's one of my favorite m/c writers. Love his "Leanings" books-they are lol funny. I just got back from holiday on the frozen tundra, so haven't read the CW article but he's a cheddarhead so I'm not surprised at the favorable Buell article. Looking forward to reading it. B. | ||
| 88b |
Cycle World is possibly the best bike mag. i only just received the January issue but it does have a long way to swim to get here. | ||
| Ejc |
I read the article as well. Nice eulogy. Being from Wisconsin myself, Perhaps I'll show up at the Slimy Crud Run this spring to rub in the fact that I have a Uly and he doesn't.  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
As usual, great writeup by Mr. Egan. Sad topic. Let's hope 2010 is a better year for all of us. B. | ||
| Kellaupat |
You said it BeLinda.  | ||
| Hangetsu |
88b I'm surprised to hear you say that coming from the land of Bike, Two Wheels Only, and some of the other truly informative magazines you have over there. I feel our mags are nearly brochures by comparison; written with nearly tabloid simplicity and laced with the same cliche formulaic prose from issue to issue. I can only wish for a publication here written at the same level as Bike, TWO, Motorad, and Motor Cyclist (Japan). It's not that I DON'T like the publications we have here. They occasionally offer some good writeups and I thoroughly enjoy the contributions of some of the columnists; Peter Egan, as mentioned above, for example. I would just like a little more meat where it counts. Unfortunately, I think the general American market just isn't literate enough for that much reading. IMHO (Message edited by Hangetsu on January 07, 2010) | ||
| Buellerxt |
Well Hangetsu, being a teacher you know first hand how lousy our education system is because of teachers being more interested in days off, union pay and benefits, etc. But, I'll argue with your literacy comment. It's way off base. Thankfully many Americans get educated despite the teachers and the lousy system. Some just like knocking American stuff and puffing up anything but America. Cycle World is a good publication, Motorcycle Consumer News is a good one, Road Runner is a good one, etc. Look around and enjoy. Egan is one of my favorites Kellaupat. (Message edited by buellerxt on January 07, 2010) | ||
| Hangetsu |
Well -erxt, you apparently aren’t acquainted with many teachers and if you have met any whose values are where you say they are, they are truly in the minority. And if you think your ability to do math, read, write, think critically, and behave responsibly were achieves on your own, despite a crappy education system, you were obviously another prime example of our undisciplined, ill behaved American youth, the majority of which have no sense of work habits, a severe case sugar induced ADHD, and another host of academic deficiencies (that your foreign contemporaries didn’t have, at least not in the abundance we see them here) who our ever patient and creative teachers managed to educate despite your lack of consciousness in the classroom. Dare I say anything negative about our American culture? I have taught in Japanese public schools. I have taught in Germany and I have visited schools in several other countries on this planet and I can say with first hand authority, we have some of the most highly educated, well trained, motivated, and innovative teachers in the world. Buy you want to know why we have one of the most undereducated populations in the industrialized world? Just look at the average middle to lower middle income American family and the complete lack of parenting most kids grow up with. You want to know why we have such disparity between one school district and another? It’s the “democratic” and localized way our schools are funded and governed. In no other country is the control and funding of education so decentralized and in no other country is there such disparity in standards, teacher compensation, buildings, facilities, and materials for students. And in no other country have I ever seen such a lack of respect, regard, or appreciation for the opportunity of a publicly funded education or teaching profession itself as I have in the USA. You want to blame someone for our crappy education system, go look in the mirror the next time a mill levy override bill comes to your neighborhood. As for the magazines, I read all you listed, and then some, but I would have to read a single months’ issue of each of these to get the same volume of information as I would in one issue of Bike. (Message edited by Hangetsu on January 07, 2010) | ||
| Nobuell |
The US educational system is not generically bad. Most schools outside of the inner city systems are very good. The inner city schools can be a problem. My wife teaches 4th grade at an inner city school in Hammond IN. Hammond is the town next to Gary Indiana. Her school is very nice and well funded. Most of the teachers are top notch. The students are the problem. Many of the parents have no interest in education and it is reflected by the performance of the students. It makes me quite upset when I hear the bad school drumbeat. Many of the kids at her school start the 1st grade 2-3 years behind in development. Many of the kids have behavioral issues. The teachers continuously struggle to get the kids to grade level with no home support. It is not uncommon for kids to mis 30 or more school days. It is not always the schools! | ||
| Buellerxt |
I rest my case Boulder boy, and for you who don't know, Boulder is more liberal than any place I know of in the country. This 'teacher' laid it out for you. Pay higher taxes, pay us poor teachers more, show us more respect without us having to earn it or being personally accountable for anything, and all will be solved! lol He didn't mention that Americans flush more money per student down the toilet by continuing to buy the 'pay more' garbage, than any country in the world. I was fortunate to get an education before such a benefit driven, job protection focused system was fully in place. Too many of our teachers today learned that they didn't have to take engineering, medical, financial, or other difficult courses in college and they could still do well financially and have gobs of time off. They learned they could take 'education' courses that a blind illiterate could pass, glide by, and get on the dole, known as the American primary and secondary education system. Support the union to the hilt for protection, blame the parents, the students, and tax payers FOR EVERYTHING and glide by without accountability. I'd say your response and whining makes you 'very' typical of the group I speak of. My three daughters who are well educated because of us, the private education they got for a number of years before going to public schools, and the Universities they attended, spend a great deal of time trying to ensure their kids are educated despite our lousy public school systems, and WAY too many teachers who play the blame the parents/students game; teachers who could do nothing else. Many parents around the country, thank goodness, are doing the same. (Message edited by buellerxt on January 07, 2010) | ||
| Hooper |
The common thread here? Parents. And off we go to the Backfire page! (Message edited by hooper on January 08, 2010) | ||
| Florida_lime |
Back to the original topic -- I had a reprint of the Egan article I read over and over until I got MY Uly. For those w/o the latest magazine, he was looking into getting a 2010 Uly when the October news broke, and lamented waiting so long to buy a Uly, and to support the various aspects of the motorcycle industry while we can. | ||
| Buellerxt |
I just read the article last night, Florida. Very good, as are most of his. I'd put it in his top 10% because of his heartfelt comments on Buells, Uly's, the industry in general, the sport of motorcycling, and the way he expressed his feelings. Very good. It sounds like he still may get a Uly. I liked his 'support' comment as well. Dealers are definitely in a tough spot. | ||
| Pso |
I agree on Egan. His books are also lol books. Read "Side Glances" serveral times. anyone know the fellow? Is he the same in person? Also would like to see his garage/man cave. it was featured in a mag several years ago. Another comment, I agree about the MC mags presently. I am letting my subscriptions die to several (and I have had them since the late 70's), mostly because they no longer do articles that are of interst to me. They are trying to be everything to everyone in the MC community. Dirt, cruisers, sport, exotics, etc all in one mag. I remember when they would do a series on one topic such as a three or four month series on rebuilding then rejeting then tunning carbs. Now it seems to be the same onth in and month out. If they expanded the product reviews rom one little page to half the mag perhaps it would then become worthwile to me. I suppose they must cater to the market which I, in my dottering state, do not represent. | ||
| Hooper |
I just got a subscription to CW for EIGHT DOLLARS. I usually breeze through most of the articles - not interested in dirtbikes or the race reports - but it was just too cheap to pass up. | ||
| Froggy |
http://www.tanga.com/products/cycle-world-magazine -subscription?affiliate=slickdeals Use coupon code dd1a and it will get you a 1 year for $3.99 | ||
| Hooper |
D'oh! That's $4.01 I'll never see again.  | ||
| Buewulf |
Egan's CW columns are usually a hit-or-miss for me, but I liked this one. It wasn't really about Buell in my opinion so much as it seemed more about changing times in the motorcycling community. This isn't the first time it has happened: Just think back to all of the great marks than have fallen over the years due to poor management, changing demands and hard times. Drooling on the showroom floors of motorcycle dealerships has been a pastime of mine since I was 15, and I always return to my favorites whenever I happen to be visiting one of the many cities I've lived in. I've seen three on my list close in the past 18 months. I hope the others hang in there. I am not a true Buell-blooded Bueller like most on this forum, but it is very sad to see Buell go. Buell never climbed above niche status with regard to market share, but the innovative little company did capture a disproportionally large share of riders' hearts and respect regardless of any brand affiliations. Whether one loves or hates Buell products, everyone who understands what motorcycling is all about understands and relates to the passion and daring that went into creating those unique machines. | ||
| Chalupa |
Being a fellow Wisconsinite I have always enjoyed Egan's writings. I agree that Cycle World and Roadrunner are the two best MC mags out there. Can't wait for winter to end, so I can put more miles on the ULY !! | ||
| Skifastbadly |
I'm an ex Wisconsinite. I've lived in Utah and now Washington, but I still think Wisconsin has some of the best riding areas around. It's great to see Egan sending out missives from the cheesehead state. I now return to my mourning regarding yesterday's Deficient Defense Debacle. | ||
| Kellaupat |
Yo Skifastbadly, Being I am an Eagle fan, I feel your pain!  |
