Check this out
Harley Feature PhotosDiscuss Check this out in the Other Topics forums; Check this out, was shot by Hotshoe over at the toddharlleypix.
Also check out the cool old gas stations over there.
I think I pumped gas at one of those.
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Check this out, was shot by Hotshoe over at the toddharlleypix.
Also check out the cool old gas stations over there.
I think I pumped gas at one of those.
Talk about a walk down memery lane. Todd's Harley Pix
I followed the link in your post and found some terrific motorcycle photography and a few people who are not going to renew their subscriptions to American Iron Magazine because they feel we a) only feature overbuilt high end customs, and b) have too many ads in the magazine.
Not really sure how to respond to them, but hope others don't feel that way, especially as we are evolving along with reader expectaions.
Strange opinion from those folks. I guess they haven't been paying attention to our monthly American Iron Classic features, or the regular Harley Heritage column penned by AIM's resident cycling historian, Dr. Jim Babchak. As for adverts, they are the life blood of any publishing endeavor. No ads, no mag. And for the record, AIM's advert-to-content ratio is perfectly balanced, and provides readers with a wealth of information on Harley related products and services.
Oh well, ya can't please everyone.
__________________ Associate Editor - American Iron Magazine http://www.aimag.com
I'm the Todd from Todd's Harley Pix and have been reading AIM since 1989 (riding since 1968). As I said at THP, I've seen all the changes in the magazine over the years, both good and bad. And I realize that to survive and prosper, it's in AIM's best interest to appeal to the lowest common denominator, in other words, the average Harley owner.
That's what's changed the most in the twenty years since AIM started: the average Harley owner. These days everyone seems more concerned with the width of their rear tire than with actually riding the motorcycle. If anyone doubts this, simply look at the tires and odometer readings of used late model Harleys.
So what was appealing to the average Harley owner twenty years ago (or thirty, or forty) wouldn't be as appealing to today's owners. The current ads in AIM and other Harley-oriented magazines bear this out. They feature a myriad of products designed to make riding as comfortable as possible, such as thickly padded saddles & rider backrests, relocated brake levers, clutch effort reducers, GPS devices, extravagant luggage systems, state-of-the-art sound systems, cruise control, intercoms, etc.
All this for motorcycles that will never accumulate any real miles.
And let's not forget the numerous trike and trailer ads, for those who don't care to ride a motorcycle at all.
No, I don't blame AIM for this. TAM Communications is merely a business like any other. A lot of it's the MoCo's fault for marketing a lifestyle to people who were never meant for it. Selling an illusion.
Unfortunately problems occur when people try to actually live out this imaginary lifestyle. They discover that even with today's ultra-comfy rubbermounted and counterbalanced Harleys, they still need to put forth some minimal effort to ride them. And more importantly they need real riding skills if they're to survive on the street. That's just asking too much; how do you put riding skills, experience and common sense on a credit card?
So instead of riding, they spend most of their time decorating their Harleys with expensive sparkly things they saw in magazines, buying MotorClothes to look the part and trailering to wherever the most people will see them. It's sad really.
Sadder yet because forty years ago around 75% of motorcycle accidents were caused by automobiles. Today the majority of motorcycle deaths and injuries are self-induced. Pilot error. Single-vehicle accidents, mostly caused by simply riding off the road due to lack of experience.
What can AIM do to reverse this? Probably nothing. It's all right, though, the recession will weed out a lot of the "lifestyle riders" and likely save many of their lives.
But AIM could make an effort to find a balance between helping to market a lifestyle and promoting safety and common sense. Perhaps focus a little less on thousand dollar billet wheels and a little more on riding skills.
Alot of what Todd says may be true but some positives may and have already come of what he has said. As for scooters without any real miles, that is going to mean some really good deals for real enthusiasts in the near future, especially for those who don't need or want brand new iron. As for making riding as comfortable as possible with better saddles for one example, I'm no longer a spring chicken and I still might go 750 miles in a day if I need to get somewhere fun. At times a trailer might be nice also as where I live and work, April is a month with nothing to do and maybe or maybe not a foot of snow in front of the garage. It is nice also to have a reliable machine as some of us, (me) who also like older iron, appreciate the fact that a reliable machine will get me there and back without too many issues which can be important on a limited time riding vacation. Just because I lack sophisticated mechanical skills doesn't mean I should give up my passion, so I, for one, appreciate AIM, their advertisements, and this forum for the knowledge I have gained, and the entertainment I have enjoyed. No intense offended to anyone.
Of course Ad's are necesary!!! for those who dont like the ads in the mag.... get out of your cage....run out in front of it and look at the grill.... I bet it has a logo on it..... then run around to the back !!! there is another logo.... aint that advertizing???? it's everywhere... better stop driving your cage. where do you work>>> is there a sign on the building??? oh my !! that is advertizing too !!!! better stop going to work...
ha ha... just being funny in this over stressed out world..
__________________ Scott aka Unclepsycho
Redneck without a clue
uh, I got away from the toipic a bit there.... that is a great link to the gas stations. I thought I saw my Grandpa's service station in there. It wasn't his but it was real close. He rode an indian back in the 30's. I found some old pic's of his from way back then..... dirt roads... leather helmets... way too cool. thanks for the link to Todd's site.
__________________ Scott aka Unclepsycho
Redneck without a clue
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