Cycle (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Cycle Magazine was an American motorcycling enthusiast magazine, published from the early 1950s through the early 1990s. During its heyday, in the 1970s and 1980s, it had a circulation of more than 500,000 and was headquartered in Westlake Village, California, near the canyon roads of the Santa Monica Mountains
, where Cycles editors frequently road tested and photographed test bikes.
Early Years: Cycle was founded by Robert E. Petersen of Trend Inc. and Petersen Publishing, which also published Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines. Petersen sold Cycle to Floyd Clymer
in July 1953. Floyd Clymer, a pioneer in the sport of motorcycling, was a racer, a motorcycle dealer and distributor, a magazine publisher, a racing promoter, an author, and a motorcycle manufacturer. He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 1998. In an anniversary issue of Cycle, his editorial approach was summed up as: "Clymer never met a motorcycle he didn't like. Clymer owned Cycle until 1966, when he sold the publication to the New York-based publishing company Ziff-Davis Publications, which owned it through the mid-1980s. CBS
, which also owned Cycles main competitor, Cycle World
, purchased Cycle in 1985; Diamandis Communications owned both magazines for a short time in 1988. In April of that year both were sold to Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.
(1969-1979), and Phil Schilling
(1979-1988). P. Thomas Sargent was publisher. Jennings, a self-educated engineer and journalist, worked on and off as a technical and contributing editor for two decades after his editorship. He was beloved among Cycle readers—known for his acerbic wit, his technical know-how, his easy-to-understand project and "basic" articles, and his 1973 Two-Stroke Tuner's Manual, which is still highly sought after by tuners. He was also editor-in-chief of Car and Driver Magazine, another Ziff-Davis publication, from 1970-1971. Neilson, popular for his irreverent, entertaining, and insightful writing, was promoted to editor in 1969, at the age of 26. He is credited with making the magazine successful through the 1970s and popularizing the comparison test format. In addition to being a journalist, he was also a successful motorcycle racer, best known for a much celebrated 1977 Daytona
Superbike win on a Phil Schilling-tuned Ducati 750 Supersport nicknamed "Old Blue" and "the California Hot Rod." Neilson was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
in 2006. Schilling, who worked for Cycle for nearly 20 years, is best known for his exceptional race-tuning expertise and for connecting his readers to the heart of the motorcycling experience. In 1974, during a short sabbatical from the magazine, he wrote The Motorcycle World (RidgePress/Random House
, 1974), one of the first general-interest books about motorcycles and motorcycle racing, still in demand today. Schilling was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2011.
At the end of 1988, Hachette Filipacchi moved Cycle from Westlake Village to Newport Beach, California, to the same offices that housed Cycle World. At that time, the two magazines were consolidated under one publisher and advertising staff. Steve Anderson, previously with Cycle World, became editor-in-chief. Anderson, an engineer himself, maintained Cycles technical focus and the editorial excellence associated with his predecessors. Hachette Filipacchi closed Cycle in the early 1990s, much to the chagrin of its many fans.
In the early 1990s, Anderson, Jennings, and Kevin Cameron (and others) founded "Wheelbase," a pioneering on-line subscription-based electronic magazine for motorcycle and car enthusiasts. Dean Adams of Superbike Planet.com described it as "essentially what we know now as a web site, produced before the majority of the world was aware the Internet existed."
Regular long-time contributors to Cycle included Kevin Cameron ("TDC"), Ed Hertfelder ("The Duct Tapes"), and Jim Greening ("Pipeline"). Art Directors: Eberhard Luethke, Cheh Nam Low, Paul Halesworth, Tom Saputo, and Barbara Goss. Many of Cycles former writers and contributors still work in the motorcycle industry or for other motorcycle or automotive publications.
Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains are a Transverse Range in Southern California, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States.-Geography:...
, where Cycles editors frequently road tested and photographed test bikes.
History
| Issues | Owner |
|---|---|
| Early 1950s–July 1953 | Robert E. Petersen |
| August 1953–1966 | Floyd Clymer |
| Mar 1966–Apr 1985 | Ziff-Davis |
| May 1985–Dec 1987 | CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of... Publications |
| Jan 1988–Apr 1988 | Diamandis Communications |
| Apr 1988–Early 1990s | Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc. , orgin ally known as CBS Publications, was a subsidiary of Hachette Filipacchi Médias , and was based in New York City.-History:... |
Early Years: Cycle was founded by Robert E. Petersen of Trend Inc. and Petersen Publishing, which also published Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines. Petersen sold Cycle to Floyd Clymer
Floyd Clymer
Floyd Clymer , a pioneer in the sport of motorcycling, was a racer, a motorcycle dealer and distributor, a magazine publisher, a racing promoter, an author, and a motorcycle manufacturer. He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.-External links:* - Hemmings Classic Car...
in July 1953. Floyd Clymer, a pioneer in the sport of motorcycling, was a racer, a motorcycle dealer and distributor, a magazine publisher, a racing promoter, an author, and a motorcycle manufacturer. He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 1998. In an anniversary issue of Cycle, his editorial approach was summed up as: "Clymer never met a motorcycle he didn't like. Clymer owned Cycle until 1966, when he sold the publication to the New York-based publishing company Ziff-Davis Publications, which owned it through the mid-1980s. CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, which also owned Cycles main competitor, Cycle World
Cycle World
Cycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...
, purchased Cycle in 1985; Diamandis Communications owned both magazines for a short time in 1988. In April of that year both were sold to Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.
Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.
Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., Inc. , orgin ally known as CBS Publications, was a subsidiary of Hachette Filipacchi Médias , and was based in New York City.-History:...
Editors and Contributors
During the Ziff-Davis years, Cycle was known for editorial integrity, technical expertise, and humor. Editors-in-chief were Gordon Jennings (1966-1969), Cook NeilsonCook Neilson
Cook Neilson is an American former journalist and motorcycle racer made famous for his win on a Ducati 750SS at Daytona in 1977. He was hired as Associate Editor of Cycle in September, 1967; promoted to Editor in 1969, and is credited for making that magazine successful through the 1970s...
(1969-1979), and Phil Schilling
Phil Schilling
Phil Schilling was an editor at Cycle magazine from 1970 until approximately 1988, including nine years as editor-in-chief. For his contributions to journalism and motorcycle racing, he was inducted to AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2011.-Racing:...
(1979-1988). P. Thomas Sargent was publisher. Jennings, a self-educated engineer and journalist, worked on and off as a technical and contributing editor for two decades after his editorship. He was beloved among Cycle readers—known for his acerbic wit, his technical know-how, his easy-to-understand project and "basic" articles, and his 1973 Two-Stroke Tuner's Manual, which is still highly sought after by tuners. He was also editor-in-chief of Car and Driver Magazine, another Ziff-Davis publication, from 1970-1971. Neilson, popular for his irreverent, entertaining, and insightful writing, was promoted to editor in 1969, at the age of 26. He is credited with making the magazine successful through the 1970s and popularizing the comparison test format. In addition to being a journalist, he was also a successful motorcycle racer, best known for a much celebrated 1977 Daytona
Daytona
Daytona may refer to:* Daytona Beach, Florida* Daytona Beach Shores, Florida* South Daytona, Florida-Motor racing:* Daytona Beach Road Course* Daytona International Speedway, a NASCAR speedway, which hosts:** the Daytona 500 NASCAR race...
Superbike win on a Phil Schilling-tuned Ducati 750 Supersport nicknamed "Old Blue" and "the California Hot Rod." Neilson was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Motorcycle Hall of Fame
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is an offshoot of the American Motorcyclist Association that recognizes individuals who have contributed to motorcycle sport, motorcycle construction and motorcycling in general. It displays motorcycles and riding gear and memoribilia. The museum is located in...
in 2006. Schilling, who worked for Cycle for nearly 20 years, is best known for his exceptional race-tuning expertise and for connecting his readers to the heart of the motorcycling experience. In 1974, during a short sabbatical from the magazine, he wrote The Motorcycle World (RidgePress/Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
, 1974), one of the first general-interest books about motorcycles and motorcycle racing, still in demand today. Schilling was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2011.
At the end of 1988, Hachette Filipacchi moved Cycle from Westlake Village to Newport Beach, California, to the same offices that housed Cycle World. At that time, the two magazines were consolidated under one publisher and advertising staff. Steve Anderson, previously with Cycle World, became editor-in-chief. Anderson, an engineer himself, maintained Cycles technical focus and the editorial excellence associated with his predecessors. Hachette Filipacchi closed Cycle in the early 1990s, much to the chagrin of its many fans.
In the early 1990s, Anderson, Jennings, and Kevin Cameron (and others) founded "Wheelbase," a pioneering on-line subscription-based electronic magazine for motorcycle and car enthusiasts. Dean Adams of Superbike Planet.com described it as "essentially what we know now as a web site, produced before the majority of the world was aware the Internet existed."
Regular long-time contributors to Cycle included Kevin Cameron ("TDC"), Ed Hertfelder ("The Duct Tapes"), and Jim Greening ("Pipeline"). Art Directors: Eberhard Luethke, Cheh Nam Low, Paul Halesworth, Tom Saputo, and Barbara Goss. Many of Cycles former writers and contributors still work in the motorcycle industry or for other motorcycle or automotive publications.