I rather doubt it, but I am bored and need something to grace my bathroom. What do you guys read? Who is biased, who is not? I want a magazine about high performance quads and riding them. I want more information about riding and tuning, then racing. Any suggestions?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

I picked up the first issue of ATV RIDER at the airport the other day. Kinda short, but had some good info. I believe it is bi-monthly. I also sometimes read ATVSPORT, it's okay. I mostly get it for the ad and equipment reviews. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

What I was really looking for was a magazine about Z400's and only about Z400's. You know about how they are the greatest quad ever and will dominate all other quads. When they are not doing that I want them to tell about modding out the Z and how it is the greatest mod quad of all times.......Oh wait, all the magazines are like that already![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

That's pretty much what both current mags I have say... I guess it shows the magazines always write the truth ~~~~LMAO [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

The current issue of ATV Sport that I just received in the mail has a build up on a Z400. They gained 18 hp. I think they used a CT racing pipe. I will have to reread the article. They basically bored it to a 440 and ported the head along with a cam and carb change and that pipe from CT. It made just shy of 50 HP. They also did an article on a Raptor buildup. It dynoed at 34.5 stock and they raised it to 58 hp with pretty much the same mods.

 

ATVSport is my fav.

 

we have to look at what the mags purpose is: to sell thier publication. that entails a number of things... one is they want the mag to sell to both current atv users and anyone interested in or investigating the sport. to do this they want to promote what product(quads & related products) is currently available & show what can be done with it.(selling the product sells the publication) as well as give bits about what's happening on the manufacturing and users scenes(i.e. races, cool places to ride, rumors)

even though the machine they may be raving about isn't what you're interested in hearing about right now, it is what a great number of people in the community are intersted in and want to see tested, modified, etc... people don't want to put $6k or more into something that's a dud. each product(once it exists) should and will get its time in the spotlight... in a few months the Z400 will not be in the spotlight anymore, new things will come along(predator comes to mind.) let suzuki have its time, it's long overdue... they've been out of the sport ATV arena for 10+ years and have a great machine to show off now.

personally i think that they should have an occasional article devoted to older machines that aren't in production anymore & what's available for them(hop-ups, mods, etc.). it'd help those that are just getting into the sport and can't drop the cash for the new 'hot ride', but can get an older one, to know what's out there for it... and it would help people on newer stuff get familiar with the stuff that isn't in production. it would help everyone know the roots of the sport.

 

All magazines are biased! They try to keep everybody happy. You can never get a real, unbiased opinion from a magazine. They are in it for the advertising money and they like to keep the advertisers happy. Even when they pick a winner they always say, but if you ride this way get this one or if you ride another way get a different one. Use magazines to get specs and things, but when it comes time to get a quad ride them all and then get the one you like best.

 

All mag readers are also bias. The mags do the best job they can to evaluate each bike. The first test are always fluff but the shootouts are pretty good. Of course if you quad did not win then the mag sucks.
When I was younger I disagreed w/ most everything they said now only about 25% I feel is bs. Unless you have rides every quad back to back in under the same conditions how can you know if they are right or wrong also as said before I have let people ride my race bike and after a few laps they are turning 3 to 4 seconds a lap quicker than the quad they ride but the comments are almost always the same "It's not that much different I can go just as fast on mine" so when you read you need to drop your bias as well.

 

I really feel that a lot of readers are unbiased. I have a 97 sportsman that I love but it is in the shop recently more than it is on the trail. If I was going to buy a new sport/ute right now it would either be the prarie 650 or the rincon. The polaris quads have been improved, but they are still way to heavy. I just bought a new cannondale and I love it. But if someone bought a Z400 I would say good choice, I almost bought one myself. Not all readers are biased. I just think the mag's try to kiss but to the big advertisers! That is where a lot of their paydays come from. I wish it wasn't true but the mags say what is in their best intrest financially and that is the bottom line.