Buzz Kanter announces suspension of American Iron Magazine

[BoschZEV]

I last spoke with Buzz at the Las Vegas auctions in January, but obviously much has changed since then. He cites changes in both the motorcycle as well as the publishing industries. These changes already did in 'Motorcyclist' and turned 'Cycle World' into a four or five times a year publication supported by relatively little advertising.

Numbers tell the story: Cycle World's circulation in 2005 was 338.9k; last year it was 106.2k. U.S. motorcycle sales peaked just before the recession of ~15 years ago, and now are only half that number. Well, that was the pre-covid 2019 number; 2020 sales certainly will be worse.

Magazines devoted to classic motorcycles seem to be doing better, but their customers are aging out of the market for those magazines as well as for motorcycles of any vintage (a problem that is hitting Harley-Davidson hard), and new customers aren't aging into either market. Sneaking coverage of post-1960 Japanese bikes into classic magazines, including AMCA's own, helps with circulation (and membership) without upsetting existing customers too much, but someone who got a Japanese bike when they turned 16 in 1970 is now 66 so classic Japanese bikes aren't immune from the aging problem.

For what it's worth, for a variety of reasons, I expect the post-covid motorcycle world to rapidly become post-internal-combustion. Hey, don't shoot the messenger...

[T. Cotten]

I'm still waiting for the Indian Illustrated issues I PAID FOR!

History repeats itself, suckers.

....Cotten

[Rollo]

Sad to hear but I guess it was inevitable. I don't think I'm going to like this brave new world we are entering. I just want to be left alone and work and ride my old bikes as I see fit while not interrupting other folks lives. Best of luck Buzz!

Tom (Rollo) Hardy
AMCA #12766

[ihrescue]

AMERICAN IRON SUSPENDS PUBLICATION

American Iron Magazine, published since 1989, has suspended publication.
The world has changed significantly. The motorcycle business has changed. And the magazine industry has too. Unfortunately, not for the better - short or long term.
For the last 31 years our team has worked hard responding successfully to the trends, opportunities and changes. But when our advertising crashed with the recent spread of the virus, we ran out of options. We trimmed the page count and content in our magazines, but that was not enough to make a difference.
Rather than watch our magazines decline even further, we have suspended publication as we explore our options. It is not an easy decision for American Iron Magazine, American Iron Garage and American Iron Salute, but it is the right one.
The last issue of American Iron Magazine was Issue #390, on sale last week.
Since 1989, I have been fortunate to work with really great editors, art directors and contributors who were dedicated, creative, hard working and smart. They had to be to achieve what we did for more than three decades. And a big thanks to all of our readers and advertisers, who supported our efforts so passionately.
Rather than dwell on the end of our magazines, I hope you'll join us remembering your favorite articles, writers, photographers and events that we have enjoyed over the years. There have been so many.
Thank you one and all for your support, encouragement and friendship. It's been a heckuva ride.

Buzz Kanter - Editor-in-Chief.