BMX Plus

BMX Plus

Published by Hi-Torque Publications, Inc.

Monthly. Sports magazine.

ISSN: 0195-0320

Reading/Interest Level: Ages 10+

Curriculum ties: P.E., sports

Booktalk Ideas: Spin your wheels!: Talk about and show some of the columns about learning tricks and Q&A section. Highlight this magazine with other biking/sports books and materials at the library.

Challenge Issues: Potentially dangerous stunts, some pictures (and advertisements) might seem immodest.

Challenge Response: First Defense File

Reader’s Annotation:

They say you never forget how to ride a bike, but have you ever ridden a bike like this?

About the Magazine:

BMX Plus has a variety of features that the BMX community will find useful. In every issue there is an “Ask the Experts” section where readers submit questions and experts in the sport answer those questions. Questions come from readers of all ages. The magazine also regularly sends writers to cover events and competitions so that readers who can’t participate can get an idea of what happened. Rankings for major events are also reported, so that not only do readers know in general what happened at the event, but they can also hear how the competitors placed. Writers also interviews major figures in the sport to discuss what got them into the sport, how they learned, what equipment they use and advice they would give readers.

A highlight of the magazine is a section that teaches readers how to perform a new trick in every issue. Because the equipment used in this sport can make a big difference in safety and performance, writers test and review a wide variety of products. Proper equipment care is also vital, and there is section that will explain how to care for different bike parts or safety equipment. Finally, the magazine also takes a quick look back at history to showcase major moments in the sport and interview the participant if possible about the event that happened years ago.

Critical Evaluation:

The articles are generally well written, using terms that would be familiar to their intended audience (BMX riders), but confusing to those unfamiliar with the sport and equipment. For example, I have no idea what a “hop manual” means (I assume it’s a type of trick) or a “first- straight pull.”

When it comes to ads versus actual content, there was about twice as much content as there were ads, but there was a lot that fit into a gray area where it was difficult to determine if it was meant to be an ad or content. There were a lot of reviews that I counted as content but could easily drift into the ad category. Another section highlights products that are coming out, but is written by the magazine rather than an ad placed by a different company. In that case, these were almost like a lot of mini ads. As a magazine out to make money, I expected to see a lot of ads and wasn’t disappointed. At least the ads were obviously relevant and specific to their audience. There were no ads where I thought, why on earth is that here?

The layout of the magazine felt a little cluttered. In some cases they tried to fit multiple pictures on a page with a little bit of text, but the text was divided in an awkward way and pictures were layered on top of each other. It was particularly frustrating to have pictures split between two pages where the magazine’s seem went down part of the picture.

About the Publisher:

Founded in 1971, Hi-Torque Publications quickly became the undisputed leader in the motorcycle media industry. First launching DIRT BIKE and MOTOCROSS ACTION, and later DIRT WHEELS and ATV UTV ACTION magazines, these titles quickly surpassed all competitors to become the #1 newsstand-selling titles in the marketplace, with the largest core consumer reach in their respective fields. Twenty-eight years later, we clearly remain the most powerful media source in the industry today.
Our industry-leading newsstand print titles are available in over 30% more outlets than our nearest competitors. We continue to have unprecedented monthly growth in our digital magazine mobile apps, having surpassed over 1.3 million combined electronic downloads of our titles worldwide in just over one year. These digital magazine apps bring complete monthly issues of our titles (and spread your marketing message) to our readers’ tablets (iPads, Kindles, etc.) and smartphones anywhere in the world and offer instant connectivity.
Our editors are enthusiasts AND participants. We travel the world in search of the best new bikes and equipment, visiting both the industry leaders as well as brand-new companies to showcase their products, and covering races and racers with a unique “inside view.” We share those firsthand experiences with a knowledgeable, ready-to-buy audience. Over the years we have played a significant role in the development of new innovations in the powersports industry. When we write about the history of the sport, it’s often from the first-person perspective of having been there when it happened. And, when it comes to testing products, our evaluations are based on years of firsthand riding experience and technical expertise.
Simply put, our editorial staff are the most knowledgeable in the industry and the most sought after by enthusiasts and consumers worldwide.

-from Publisher’s website-

Justification of Selection:

Teens used to come to the library to do bike tricks and stunts in the parking lot, but with the addition of a skate park in town, those teens have stopped coming to the library as often. To get them back, the library needs to have material they will be interested in, and a teen directed biking magazine is perfect.