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There's been plenty of positive comments on here about the good articles in Ride written by Ben Wilkins - particularly those singing the praises of his Falco ...............

........ but I've just bought the August issue and there's a very significant name missing from the RiDE staff list on page 5 ..... yep, our Ben ....

Hope he's gone on to bigger and better things but I fear RiDE's not going to be the same ....................

All the best, Ben.

Their website still shows him as features editor but this one shows him freelance. http://www.benwilkins.com/

Doesn't mean he won't be doing lots of work for them, being freelance probably gives him more freedom to do other things, (and probably the the possibility of more money).
It's not the Falco articles that have been the big thing, he seems to have changed the magazine over the last 18 monts or so since he became the Features Editor. It has been much more interesting to read, always used to be more of a consumer magazine for bikes. Still does this, but has a lot more bikes.
He is also now a well respected bike tester who has undertaken tests all over the world, so can also do a lot of this freelance.
We all know he still loves the Falco, nobody else on this site has had one for more than 8 years!
Think it may be the Falco articles that are the issue, the good write up in the July Bike magazine, Falco/SV1000 Test), was by John Westlake who left the magazine to go freelance, although in his case there were other issues.
If you have left to go freelance Ben, we wish you all the best, your articles and bike tests were amongst the best, keep up the good work, wherever you write.

MYSTERY SOLVED

I hadn't mentioned earlier but I had been trying to contact Ben for some info from an article in last October's RiDE. When I saw he was no longer listed in RiDE, I mailed Kev Raymond who was the author of the article I was interested in.

I've just had a very helpful reply from him and he has confirmed that Ben has moved publications and is now with Performance Bikes (another one that I like to read).
I believe they are part of the same publishing empire.

I dunno about you lot, but after that Bauer takeover, I'm finding that both BIKE and RIDE are getting to be filled with just a load of out of out of date, recycled MCN articles ! I'm really thinking of cancelling my subscriptions.

I've always found PB & 'Fast Bike' a bit too much like like comics

These days, I'm finding that mags like Motorcycle Sport & Leisure are a much better read - s'pose I'm getting old

funnily enough, I have just allowed my subscriptions to lapse to both ride and performance bikes

basically, untill a range of bikes are released that could replace my falco, I see little point in reading about assorted willy waving bikes

(he types as he plots another mod to his falco that is pointless but just has to be done for the sake of the bling and individuality gods....)

Bike and Performing Berks have always been the better mags.
Dire bores me senseless, although the yearly who's who of bikes makes for interesting reading (rider polls)

Aladinsaneuk wrote:(he types as he plots another mod to his falco that is pointless but just has to be done for the sake of the bling and individuality gods....)

Does this mod have something to do with a certain purchase made on the AF1 site?

might do....

Not that individual then ..... just trying to keep up with Sab and me

..... but good to do all the same

I don't read bike mags, I like magazines that have pictures of ladies with nuffin on....



I think they're ace

actually quite different andy.....

lets just say it updates the bird to this years fashion :)

OOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhh

a stumpy one, nice

Aladinsaneuk wrote:actually quite different andy.....

lets just say it updates the bird to this years fashion :)

Damn - I saw those the other day and so wanted to do that ..... but having only just fitted my Fuel can I really couldn't justify it.

(Thinks .... they attach with springs .... now when Pete's not looking ......)

aye, am planning a short stumpy one, and to have it by the right footpeg only

I do need to research exhausts a fair bit though - I know what I want it to look like, and sound like.... but wether or not it is possible is another thing

(I did finish the high level can pipes but they looked awful - so will redo those as well this winter - all being well I should end up with a variety of cans that I can then choose from.... ie, road use, touring use etc)