Forward Motion as a Community

Motorcycle Classics magazine is staying the same, but we’re embracing our other communities in a new way in 2019.

Reader Contribution by Richard Backus
Published on February 12, 2019
article image
courtesy by Richard Backus

One of the best – if not the best – aspects of motorcycling is the people. When I first got into motorcycles, the motivation was simple: I wanted to ride. An immediate and unanticipated bonus was being introduced to the motorcycling community, and discovering what an incredible resource of people of passion and capacity it contained. I’d never been a club guy or belonged to many organizations, but suddenly I found myself a member of one of the greatest “clubs” in the world. It was – and still is – amazing. That was 40-plus years ago. Fast-forward to today and I still can’t believe my incredible fortune in getting to turn my passion into my work, work where I’m surrounded by the community of motorcyclists every day.

It’s likely that most of you know little about our parent company, Ogden Publications. In addition to Motorcycle Classics, we produce a number of different enthusiast publications, covering subjects ranging from self-sufficient living and homesteading to vintage farm tractors and engines, and heirloom plants. All of our titles are defined and motivated by that same recognition and embrace of community, and we’re committed to being active, positive members of those communities. Take Hank Will, our editorial director; when he’s not commuting to work on his old Honda XL500 or Suzuki DR650, you’ll find him cruising the fence lines on his rural farm where he practices small scale, alternative agricultural strategies, a driving passion in his life for as long as motorcycling has been in mine.

Publishing Motorcycle Classics has been the realization of a dream, and we don’t take it for granted. Moving forward, we’re getting ready to embrace our communities in a new way, one we think will better serve those communities and make us more sustainable as a business in the process. Beginning sometime in 2019, likely in the first half of the year, we’ll embark on a new mission where we no longer look at ourselves as just a magazine and events business (you probably didn’t know we produce the Mother Earth News Fairs held across the country every year), but instead as a truly community-inspiring wellspring that feeds and is fed by an enthusiastic and engaged community of individuals.

Moving forward with us, you won’t simply subscribe to Motorcycle Classics or one of our sister publications, you’ll also get to choose membership in one or more of our communities. You’ll still receive Motorcycle Classics magazine just as you have now for almost 14 years, so don’t worry, nothing changes there. But for the same price of your subscription you’ll also have full access to our soon-to-be-gated websites including exclusive member-only premium material such as videos and podcasts, fixed discounts on books and products in our online store, reduced entry fees to certain events and museums, and more, because we’re still building the benefits list.

None of this happens without you, and the fact that we’re here and moving forward with new models to build our communities is only because of your interest in being a part of the vintage motorcycling scene. We’ll have more details to share soon, but feel free to drop me a line at rbackus@motorcycleclassics.com with any thoughts or questions about the magazine or our future.

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