Motorcyclist Magazine fired Dexter Ford

ShinyPartsUp · Dec 17, 2009

I know there are strong advocates for particular helmet standards and brands -- but we have many threads on these topics. I ask that the focus of the thread be around motojournalism ethics, Motorcyclist magazine firing Dexter Ford, the effects on motojournalism, advertising dollars and the power it holds on what motorcycles and products we see, etc.

In the following Podcast, Dexter Ford relates how Arai and Shoei did not like his article in the New York Times , where he explained the controversy of the SNELL 2005 standards and the changes included in the SNELL 2010 standards. Ford says Brian Catterson was pressured to fire Ford, or get fired himself. Mr. Ford wrote the 2005 article in Motorcyclist that sparked eventual changes in the SNELL standards. Dexter Ford wrote for the magazine for 30 years. The portion related to his firing is sprinkled in the podcast, with the most pertinent (to me) information around the 10:40 mark and Ford commenting near the end of the podcast:

https://www.podbean.com/home/podcast-direct...php?eid=2204785

The article that caused his problems:

https://motonews.podbean.com/2009/11/16/har...rd/#more-846199

squeezer · Dec 17, 2009

That would reduce the high level of respect I had for Motorcyclist if I had such respect in the first place.

I only get the mag because the subscription was free. I had already decided not to renew at that price.

beemerdons · Dec 17, 2009

squeezer said:
That would reduce the high level of respect I had for Motorcyclist if I had such respect in the first place.
I only get the mag because the subscription was free. I had already decided not to renew at that price.

Shiny, I have to absolutely agree with squeezer; Motorcyclist is the pits of all of the motorcycle magazines. I get twelve M/C magazines a month, even get Motorrad in German, and Motorcyclist is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to mags!

Like squeezer, I get this rag for free due to a promotion Cycle Gear in Mesa was having, if you bought over $500 in tires/gear!

Dexter Ford and Brian Catterson are two of the most conceited jerks in the moto industry. I know Brian Catterson through his involvement in U.S. Vintage BMW Racing. If you think SkooterG is arrogant, multiply Skooty by 100 and you have B. Catterson!

Dexter Ford is truly not a bit better than Catterson! He is not fit to carry the jock straps of Clement Salvadori and Peter Egan!

lnewlf · Dec 17, 2009

I canned Motorcyclist years ago-I was tired of their lack of understanding of mechanics and their constant erroneous information [eg-they would run a bike on a dyno and report bhp as tho the number came fron an engine brake] . Their touching story of the struggles of a transexual bike racer did it for me.

Duezzer · Dec 17, 2009

I will not be renewing my subscription

Enough is Enough

dcarver · Dec 17, 2009

beemerdons said:
squeezer said:

That would reduce the high level of respect I had for Motorcyclist if I had such respect in the first place.
I only get the mag because the subscription was free. I had already decided not to renew at that price.

Click to expand...

Shiny, I have to absolutely agree with squeezer; Motorcyclist is the pits of all of the motorcycle magazines. I get twelve M/C magazines a month, even get Motorrad in German, and Motorcyclist is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to mags!

Like squeezer, I get this rag for free due to a promotion Cycle Gear in Mesa was having, if you bought over $500 in tires/gear!

Dexter Ford and Brian Catterson are two of the most conceited jerks in the moto industry. I know Brian Catterson through his involvement in U.S. Vintage BMW Racing. If you think SkooterG is arrogant, multiply Skooty by 100 and you have B. Catterson!

Dexter Ford is truly not a bit better than Catterson! He is not fit to carry the jock straps of Clement Salvadori and Peter Egan!

Damn, Don, what do you REALLY think?

beemerdons · Dec 17, 2009

dcarver said:
beemerdons said:

squeezer said:

That would reduce the high level of respect I had for Motorcyclist if I had such respect in the first place.
I only get the mag because the subscription was free. I had already decided not to renew at that price.

Click to expand...

Shiny, I have to absolutely agree with squeezer; Motorcyclist is the pits of all of the motorcycle magazines. I get twelve M/C magazines a month, even get Motorrad in German, and Motorcyclist is at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to mags!

Like squeezer, I get this rag for free due to a promotion Cycle Gear in Mesa was having, if you bought over $500 in tires/gear!

Dexter Ford and Brian Catterson are two of the most conceited jerks in the moto industry. I know Brian Catterson through his involvement in U.S. Vintage BMW Racing. If you think SkooterG is arrogant, multiply Skooty by 100 and you have B. Catterson!

Dexter Ford is truly not a bit better than Catterson! He is not fit to carry the jock straps of Clement Salvadori and Peter Egan!

Click to expand...

Damn, Don, what do you REALLY think?

Sorry for beating around the bush like this on Motorcyclist mag. You're right: Motorcyclist Magazine sucks moist *** cheese!

johnny80s · Dec 17, 2009

beemerdons said:
Sorry for beating around the bush like this on Motorcyclist mag. You're right: Motorcyclist Magazine sucks moist *** cheese!

Agreed. I have not been impressed with Catterson or the magazine.

ShinyPartsUp · Dec 17, 2009

I certainly don't have inside knowlege like Don, but I will be grateful Motorcyclist and Ford started the ball rolling on reviewing helmet safety testing back in '05. Strange they stood by their story but threw Ford under the bus.

I have now come to the conclusion, like many others, that "motojournalism" like most TV News, etc. is driven by advertising dollars and has become part of the entertainment business. I was not delusional about their objectivity, but hoped they weren't just shills for the bike and aftermarket companies. First Santa, then the Easter Bunny, now journalists aren't journalists.

I concur Eagan and Salvadori are the cream, but they also mostly do commentary and ride reports, which keeps them out of the product review stuff (for the most part). I'm tired of having to read between the lines (with all the bigger mags) as to whether they like a product or not.

I'll never trust anything they write. I wonder if the copy editor is the advertising chief?

EDIT: Don, where the hell do you find the time to read 12 magazines a month?

happyPuppy · Dec 17, 2009

The magazine seems to have lost its way. The appear to be moving to "green" more and more with lots of articles on electric bikes and the editorials to that effect. The problem is I don't know anyone that ones one , they are very $$ and have a limited range. maybe in 5 years they will be great or some type of hybrid. But the end results is that your advertisers sell gasoline driven bikes , and I am sure they are not happy with the direction, hence heads roll.

beemerdons · Dec 17, 2009

Uh Shiny, My Dearest, both Niehart - Dave and I share the same physiological and psychological condition: We are both freaking R - E - T - I - R - E - D; for example, all we do all day long, is ride our many motorcycles and hang out at Starbuck's or Applebee's, looking for Cougars & Pumas! To kill time in between prey sightings, we occupy our ourselves reading moto mags!

johnny80s · Dec 17, 2009

beemerdons said:
Uh Shiny, My Dearest, both Niehart - Dave and I share the same physiological and psychological condition: We are both freaking R - E - T - I - R - E - D; for example, all we do all day long, is ride our many motorcycles and hang out at Starbuck's or Applebee's, looking for Cougars & Pumas! To kill time in between prey sightings, we occupy our ourselves reading moto mags!

Please explain the difference between a cougar and puma before we move any further. I thought they were the same thing...

beemerdons · Dec 17, 2009

johnny80s said:
beemerdons said:

Uh Shiny, My Dearest, both Niehart - Dave and I share the same physiological and psychological condition: We are both freaking R - E - T - I - R - E - D; for example, all we do all day long, is ride our many motorcycles and hang out at Starbuck's or Applebee's, looking for Cougars & Pumas! To kill time in between prey sightings, we occupy our ourselves reading moto mags!

Click to expand...

Please explain the difference between a cougar and puma before we move any further. I thought they were the same thing...

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=puma johnny80s, so we don't confuse someone here on our Forum, won't mention his name but his initials are SPU, examine definition of the Puma here, then contrast it to the Cougar definition link!

I might as well clear the air on this subject matter right now, Niehart and I aren't adverse to hunting down sabor tooths; 45+!

beemerdons · Dec 17, 2009

beemerdons said:
johnny80s said:

beemerdons said:

Uh Shiny, My Dearest, both Niehart - Dave and I share the same physiological and psychological condition: We are both freaking R - E - T - I - R - E - D; for example, all we do all day long, is ride our many motorcycles and hang out at Starbuck's or Applebee's, looking for Cougars & Pumas! To kill time in between prey sightings, we occupy our ourselves reading moto mags!

Click to expand...

Please explain the difference between a cougar and puma before we move any further. I thought they were the same thing...

Click to expand...

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=puma johnny80s, so we don't confuse someone here on our Forum, won't mention his name but his initials are SPU, examine definition of the Puma here, then contrast it to the Cougar definition link!

I might as well clear the air on this subject matter right now, Niehart and I aren't adverse to hunting down sabor tooths; 45+!

OK, I'm Irish, on occasions I've also gone after mountain lions; so sue me!

DABRIT · Dec 17, 2009

beemerdons said:
Uh Shiny, My Dearest, both Niehart - Dave and I share the same physiological and psychological condition: We are both freaking R - E - T - I - R - E - D; for example, all we do all day long, is ride our many motorcycles and hang out at Starbuck's or Applebee's, looking for Cougars & Pumas! To kill time in between prey sightings, we occupy our ourselves reading moto mags!

I suffer from the same condition, I came face to face with a cougar once, had to give it up as I got attacked,

.

.

.

.

my wife found out and attacked me ..... :yahoo:

DB

johnny80s · Dec 17, 2009

beemerdons said:
johnny80s said:

beemerdons said:

Uh Shiny, My Dearest, both Niehart - Dave and I share the same physiological and psychological condition: We are both freaking R - E - T - I - R - E - D; for example, all we do all day long, is ride our many motorcycles and hang out at Starbuck's or Applebee's, looking for Cougars & Pumas! To kill time in between prey sightings, we occupy our ourselves reading moto mags!

Click to expand...

Please explain the difference between a cougar and puma before we move any further. I thought they were the same thing...

Click to expand...

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=puma johnny80s, so we don't confuse someone here on our Forum, won't mention his name but his initials are SPU, examine definition of the Puma here, then contrast it to the Cougar definition link!

I might as well clear the air on this subject matter right now, Niehart and I aren't adverse to hunting down sabor tooths; 45+!

That is too funny.

Auburn · Dec 17, 2009

ShinyPartsUp said:
I'm tired of having to read between the lines (with all the bigger mags) as to whether they like a product or not.

That's why I only get and read RoadRacing World. John Ulrich, editor (& owner) is willing to print the truth and let the chips fall where they may.

He has printed many articles and opinions that were not popular over the years. But I believe his integrity is intact and very credible.

I drop Motorcyclist years ago because they were obviously very biased toward their advertisers.

Fred W · Dec 17, 2009

Don,

I think I can help explain why you and your fellow coffee house codgers are wasting so much time. You are chasing the wrong game, sir!! (I call you sir in deference to your advanced age and ~~********~~ retired status)

Puma's, Cougars and Saber-tooths all have an affinity for YOUNGER men (in the case of the latter two, they are MUCH younger men). You trouts are the complete antithesis of what these women are looking for. The only way you'd be getting them in bed is caveman style (club 'em first and then drag them off).

What you should be looking for is a young woman who is in search of old geezers, such as yourselves.

In modern parlance these are known variously as "Prostitutes" or sometimes called "Drunken Sluts".

This tip should save you lots of time for reading those crappy magazines written by arrogant bastids that you don't like. You can thank me later, sir.

PS - I'm sure that you already realize that heterosexual women are all prostitutes. It's just that some require a much smaller amount of money and for it to be paid up front, and then they make no demands on your time later.

I think it must have been one of the other kind that made the cheaper ones illegal (in every state but Nevada). It must have been a union thing. :blink:

DABRIT · Dec 17, 2009

Fred, Fred

Didn't anyone tell you discretion is the better part of valour sorry valor

You are going to get one heck of a shitstorm when Barb, Tyler and MEM see this.

Man I would not want to be in your shoes or anything else from what I have heard !.

Bye Fred nice knowing you

DB

Motorcyclist Magazine fired Dexter Ford

Help Support Yamaha FJR Motorcycle Forum:

Old Goat

Squirrelly Geezer

Certifiable Old Fart

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Certifiable Old Fart

Turtle Gears

Old Goat

Well-known member

Certifiable Old Fart

Turtle Gears

Certifiable Old Fart

Certifiable Old Fart

Well-known member

Turtle Gears

Well-known member

1 Wheel Drive

Well-known member

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!