Cycle News Digitial

With a 40-year history of producing a weekly motorcycle racing newspaper, which ceased its print publication at the end of 2010, Cycle News will now debut a digital publication on Feb. 15, 2011.

Cycle News, now part of the Motorsport Aftermarket Group (MAG), will be published every week on Tuesday and avaiable as a PDF-like flipbook. The motorcycle book will leverage Coverleaf, a third-party company who provides digital versions for many legacy print magazines. 

In addition to Cycle News, MAG currently owns a portfolio of motorcycle businesses:

• Performance Machine is a manufacturer of aftermarket motorcycle parts, specializing in custom wheels, brakes, and controls.
• Vance & Hines is a motorcycle aftermarket pasts company recognized for performance exhaust systems.
• Renthal is a designer and manufacturer of motorcycle handlebars, chainwheels, grips and accessories.
• Mustang Motorcycle Products is a designer and manufacturer of motorcycle seats.
• Burly Brand is a manufacturer of custom handlebars and suspension components.
• Kuryakyn is leading designer of aftermarket parts for cruiser and touring motorcycles.
• DragonFire Racing makes performance parts and accessories for side-by-side UTVs, desert race cars, Pre-Runners and ATVs.
• MAG Europe also represents top motorcycle aftermarket brands to distributors and dealers throughout Europe.

Adding Cycle News as an editorial arm certainly gives MAG an opportunity to provide exposure for their motorcycle product companies.

Others believe this comprises the editorial bias of the old and trusted motorcycle information source. Regardless, Cycle News will need to attract and retain digital readers with timely information.

The long-time Cycle News editor sighted issues with the timeliness of a weekly-news motorcycle print publication. "One of the frustrations of the printed Cycle News was the fact that its delivery was unreliable," said editor Paul Carruthers.

"We'd send the publication to the printer on Monday night, but then it was out of our hands and into the postal system. While some received their issues on Wednesday or Thursday, others didn't get theirs until the following week. That doesn't work well for a news-based publication."

In addition to reliable and timely delivery, Carruthers promised that the digital Cycle News will also bring readers a more dynamic package with photography slide shows, videos, etc. - both editorially and in the publication's advertising content.

A one-year, 50-issue subscription to Cycle News is available online for $19.99.