Classic Bike Guide - Real rides, real riders

Clarky's Corner - Constant compromise

To be fair, the trees are making a good attempt at looking autumnal and are shedding their leaves best they can, but people are still picking their outdoor tomatoes and mowing their lawns and a ride out on the bike requires little more than jeans and jacket, unless you leave it late in the day whence it gets a bit nippy.

All things considered, it’s fantastic out there and not the least bit like Christmas. If this is climate change - it’s not trendy to call it global warming anymore - then I say bring it on. Besides forget India, China and the rain forests, my conscience is clear because I put my cardboard and my bean tins in separate bins…

However, I’ve digressed already. As I’ve now had a year or so in the CBG hot seat, I would like to thank all of you who took the time and trouble to complete the survey of the likes and dislikes of the magazine. As far as such surveys go, and we have undertaken many over the years, the ‘entry’ was terrific, far more than ever before and for that we are all very grateful.

From a personal point of view, being the name at the top of the list I am naturally held responsible by readers for anything that doesn’t suit them. Trawling through the responses, which, I might add, were generally very positive, there were a few familiar names, who, for whatever reason, have vociferously disliked me for years. These must suffer from Mary Whitehouse syndrome, in that they have to read the magazine in order to be able to tell me how much they hate it, and me! (For our continental readers, the late Mrs Whitehouse was a self appointed anti-sex/smut/porn advocate for TV programmes - not that she did any good - so she obviously had to watch these programmes to be able to comment on their content. I rest my case.)

Everyone knows it’s impossible to please everyone, some wanted Jap bikes, others wanted none, some found the event coverage tiresome, others enjoyed it, some reckoned the tech stuff was great, others reckoned it was patronising, some wanted racing, others wanted trials, others wanted both or neither, some liked the archives, others reckoned it was too old, and so it went on.

What we learned from this - and just to put one reader’s vitriolic monologue in its place, it was not undertaken because CBG is on its knees - is that generally the compromise which is the contents, is not far off the mark and that is very pleasing. Rest assured we shall not be complacent. What is also pleasing is that the standard of photography received many plaudits, so well done and thank you to all my photographers.
Things have to be tried, some work well, others don’t work so well and, as in politics and religion, people are adamant that their way is the right way - and the only way, thus not every issue can suit them every time.

I know mine, and that of my colleagues on other such titles come to that, is a privileged position for any classic motorcycle enthusiast, and as I say to anyone who asks, ‘it’s better than digging a ditch on a rainy day’, but we’re not puffed up egotists, well not all of us anyway, just ordinary Joes who, like you, prefer the traditional style of motorcycle.

The survey results were both appreciated and useful and will be acted upon where necessary, because now we know what you think, so keep in touch. Thanks. Oh yes, one last thing… Merry Christmas everyone. - Nigel C