For the readers, by the readers

Write for UBG

Jump on a bike, ride it a few miles and it will make an impression on you - good or bad.

Keep that bike for a week. Run it on some of your favourite roads. See how far you can get before the aches and pains set in, or book yourself for a little track action. Now you will know more about its engine performance, braking, handling, fuel economy and comfort.

But you still won't know all there is to know...

How much does it cost to service (for real, not on paper)? Does it start every morning, rain or shine, Summer and Winter? How good are the lights on a wet, foggy night in February? Which tyres work best? How does the finish stand up to the Great British weather? Can a simple, cheap mod work wonders? How good is the manufacturer's back up? How much do spares cost and are they available without having to wait half your life for a package from Japan or that bloke in Italy to get back from lunch? Does familiarity breed contempt or strengthen the 'man/machine bond? Are there hidden flaws and foibles? Is the bloody thing an unreliable nightmare despite looking drop dead gorgeous?

The best person to answer all those questions is an owner. People like Kevin 'Grubby' Taylor, the aircraft technician who penned the test on his 2000 Hayabusa in the Feb copy of UBG. People like Bruce and Jean Porter who wrote the XJ900F and Suzuki GSX750W tests in the same issue or Gary Lloyd who bought his Yamaha EXUP for the grin factor (see our January 2003 issue).

David Bissell wrote about his parallel-import Kawasaki W650 and Phil Robson had us in stitches with his account of life with a 250 Jawa outfit.

Real stories by real riders has been our policy from day one and remains our policy. Our eclectic coverage runs from budget specials costing just a few hundred quid, through practical classics like Dave Mee's Honda 400-4, to tourers, customs, trailies, all-rounders and zillion mph sports machines.

If it has two wheels - or in some cases three - we are interested because you are interested. We could do what the other mags do and borrow these bikes from the manufacturers and dealers. We don't. Too superficial.

Our readers are also our writers. If you own a bike we want to know about your experiences and pass on your tips to other would-be buyers. We want to know about your touring adventures, around Britain, across the Channel, Down Under or in the US of A. We want to know about your restorations, your modifications, your life as a despatch rider, mechanic, police patrolman or motorcycle medic.

Got a good story to tell, but not sure how to go about getting it down on paper or up there on the computer screen? Don't worry. Drop us a line, we can ghost write the piece for you. What does that mean? It means we interview you in-depth, write the story and give you full editorial control about what is said and how it is said. Think of it as dictating into a tape recorder that can answer back.

Fancy giving it a go? Good. Please don't write something the size of War and Peace without speaking to us first. There is nothing worse than spending hours, days or weeks writing your magnum opus and then being hit by a rejection letter because 20 other readers have done exactly the same thing on that model.

Send to this website or get Postman Pat to drop it through our letterbox at UBG, Readers' Write, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ.

Want to check out our style, but are having difficulty finding UBG at your newsagents? A copy of the current issue can be purchased any month for £2.50 (post free) on 01507 529529. Or on-line!