Australian motorcycle magazine Motorcycle Trader has today announced its closure.
Motorcycle Trader launched in 1994 as a classified advertising publication and soon transitioned into a consumer title with workshop advice, gear and bike reviews and musings from some of Australia’s best automotive scribes.
According to a press release, the reason for Motorcycle Trader’s closure is due to the current pandemic events which has reduced the industry support that it requires to maintain a high standard.
The magazine’s editor, Chris Harris, says that it’s a melancholy day for Motorcycle Trader readers, however, it’s preferable to discontinue the magazine than be forced to reduce its quality.
“Motorcycle Trader has provided an honest sense of community among its readers and relatable writers like no other outlet,” he said.
“From an editorial viewpoint, we’ve absolutely poured our hearts and souls into making every edition the most informative, entertaining and engaging it could possibly be.
“While it’s incredibly sad to see the magazine’s closure, it’s preferable to continuing with lower standards.
“I’d like to thank our incredibly loyal readers for their unswerving support over the past 26 years and also those in the motorcycle industry who understood that a healthy motorcycle media is necessary to grow the culture.
“Ironically, our cover story in the final issue is about the closure of Norton. Make sure you buy a copy.
“Like every edition of MT, it’s a brilliant read that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s been a brilliant ride.”
INFO MOTO’s own Greg Leech served two stints as editor at Motorcycle Trader, overseeing some 130-odd issues:
“It’s sad that print media struggles to gain the support it really needs to survive in this digital age,” says Greg.
“Good, independent media is becoming increasingly difficult to find and the loss of Motorcycle Trader silences an important voice that ‘called it as it was’.”
“Motorcycle Trader was more than a mag to me. It brought up my children and was an iconic player in the bike community for 26 years or so. It also nurtured a whole bunch of very talented individuals that have gone on to big things in the game. I tips-me-lid to editor Chris Harris, who was a brave and conscientious editor as well as a bloody good mate of mine. Vale MT.”
Spencer has a keen eye for hard news, and does some of his best living on deadline day. He loves more than anything to travel on his motorcycle, and is adamant that Melbourne Bitter is a world-class lager. He also knows how to operate the big computery thing in the office. By night, Spencer plays guitar with Melbourne punk outfit LOUTS.
What a shame the subscribers weren’t notified. Extremely disappointed.
Very true! I was a subscriber for over 15 years. I only found out after obviously noticing no copies coming in the mail. I then emailed the powers that be & managed at least to get the remaining part of my subscription transferred to a sister bike magazine. I received that 2 days ago & sorry to say its not a patch on Australian Motorcycle Trader! Sad to see the boys & their stories gone. I met several of the writers over the years & they’re a terrific bunch of blokes!!!
very sad day indeed,,i loved the mag as it seemed to show no bias,all motorbikes are important,…zen and the art of………i will have to read and re read all of my back issues cheers John
gotta
start back up guys Australia can’t survive without Motorcycle Trader
‘
Very unfortunate. Always a cover to cover read. I’ve been looking forward to the next issue & as a subscriber disappointed at lack of notification. Recently resubscribed for two years. What’s the chance of refund?
If I hadn’t followed up with an email to the powers to be I was in the same boat as you! I ended up with the remainder of my subscription transferred to a sister publication. Not a patch on AMT!!!
Andrew, could you please advise the email address of the ‘powers to be’ so I can try to have my sub. transferred as well. Thanks, Peter
Sad to see MC Trader go but also very disappointing that the subscribers were not notified. If it was not for this site I would have no idea why my magazine delivery stopped. There was not even a mention in the last edition of the impending closure. I paid my subscription only 2mth prior. How about a refund?
Mick Lyons sad to see this happen to the best bike mag in the world .What now where can you find a mag with the news information humour and character like motorcycle trader.What obout our memberships???
Not to poop the grieve-party, but it was coming.
I’ve been reading it since issue No1 (created by the late Ken Wootton). The magazine had more owners than Norton.
When I really started worrying was, when the last editor (Harris) took over, and did everything he could to turn it into a caferacer-brochure. He had to, because that was his only chance of covering up his complete lack of understanding of the universal motorcycle culture.
His pseudo philosophical cries were as annoying as those of Boris’, at the other end of the Oz bikemouthing world. The main difference was, that Boris’s hangover was from VB and Scotch, and Harris’ from Bayleys and hot chocolate.
The real loss here is Spannerman (Grant Roff), who’s heaps more than a “spannerman”. He had been editing Motorcycletrader for some time, and that periode was by far the best time of the magazine…
Been a reader since the beginning, unfortunately the day you do not have bikes fot sale as you should given the title you are on a 1 way down hill slope. Great respect to all, learn a lesson from the Uk re Thames Valley Autotrader that involved. Just Bikes is still going and still advertising bikes for sale?
I thought the mag was great and mostly of honest opinion. I did not subscribe but bought every edition. I hope it gets back up again, but I doubt spanerman would want to. The mag would never be the same without him. Respect to all. I wish Cam Donald all the best and have admired his bravery for a very long time.
I’ve been a subscriber for years, and like Cam, only recently renewed my annual subscription, but no point kicking a dog when it’s down, commiserations to the AMCT crew, not always a great mag, but many great articles, I wish I hadn’t thrown most of them out now! Vale AMCT.
I’m shattered. I looked forward to each new edition each month. I will miss the banter between the staff. I will miss the information from spannerman. I will miss the stories from Roothy. I will miss the stories from Guido, from Charris, from Cam…….from all of you. Best of luck in the future to you all, and maybe catch up on the road one day. Ride safe.?
poo.ihave been a subscriber for years , each year it was a xmass gift from one of the family ,the gift that keeps on giving , ill give up motorcycles now , go play bowls , great
i was gutted to see that MT had shut down, WTF! they are the best motorcycle mag in the world and always have been. No other mag in Australia even come close. I always love the humor, the intelligence and the articles and not forgetting some wonderful photography. A POX upon the house that closed them down. I’ll still pray to the motorcycle GODS that they open up again. wishing all involved with MT the very best. Keep on writing.
This is another example of this bullshit new age tech sweeping the world. One day we’ll all be automatons. The words” tactile experience” will be wiped from the dictionary. Long will some lament the magazine’s passing. It was a good informative read, especially with the beverage of choice in a quiet moment.
RIP, MTM.
Hi Guys, your magazine has been an important part of my motorcycle appreciation. I’m looking at subscribing to Australian Motorcycle News in your absence. Which is a shame as that mag does not have the values and character of yours. I truly hope you get the band back together one day, even if its a loose and occasional blog. Your views and reviews are for me an intrinsic aspect of my motorcycle appreciation. In addition you are in Victoria which makes a difference. Something about your humour and appreciation of weather and roads that the NSW guys seem to miss. Bottom line, your voice is important and relevant and for me at least there is a big hole missing in my monthly reading list. Bring Back Cam. I don’t care what platform I will follow it. Even if I dropped in on the MotoTrader website to see what Spanner Man makes of the latest Interceptor, or Rob Blackburn’s rant and God Love him, Guy Allen’s shed statistics from a life on the road with many many, companions. I would subscribe. Bring Back the Band.
And thanks for the labour love you have been toiling with for many years. Once we get this Pandemic thing over with, I suggest a Bring Back the Band charity ride to kickstart the next iteration. You have a whole new world waiting for you and swag of new bikes to pick from, not the least of which is electric. I need to see what Cam makes of these expensive electric torque monsters.
Leechy here Adam. Yep, MT wa a fine organ that many of us loved to work on. I edited it for 138 issues. And enjoyed most of them. LOL. I have a suggestion… I’m here, Spannerman is here and there will be the occasional bit from some of those you mention. Stick with infomoto.com.au and I promise, you will get many of the people and types of article you know and love. We will do our best. Welcome Adam. Snaggy.