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You almost made me spill my beer
I normally don't pay a whole lot of attention to shootouts but that was a great video. The bottom line is ML can break a bike down better than pretty much any magazine could ever hope to and the writing is on the wall, people are going to put a lot more stock in an unbiased shootout like this and recognize how well he can convey info. The industry might not be super stoked on it but in the end the consumer decides who sinks or swims, and if I was going to place some bets I'd be putting a lot down on what ML has going right now.
Anyone of us could buy all six bikes and put together a review on them...
Or are the magazines just pissed that he did his before the OEM’s gave them their free bikes to test?
Evolve or die. Paper mags are dying
The Shop
Further confirmation that you and your ilk are shivering in your boots. We consumers are benefiting while people like you are seeing their traditional business model dissolve
You've done it.
You just jumped the shark.
Shit the bed.
Ya even "went all political and shit".
Dude, just stop.
We all know the big issue is with MXA. Having friends that work for them I really really want to like MXA, but the shit they put out and lack or proofreading just completely ruins it.
Let it go bro. The majority of average dudes are going to love Michael's shootout and guess what, not every bit of it was done at your track! If I rode Glen Helen all the time and nowhere else, I’d probably listen to MXA. But their claim of “best bike and setup” in the shootouts is absolutely stupid. Riding and “racing” at the same track over and over doesn’t mean shit to me.
We had a typo, that didn't effect anything, oh well. I think it's funny more than anything, mostly because now I get to tease Joe about it and we got a good reply/photo meme from it.
I stated in my pre-Shootout and Shootout video I was using a 2019 RM-Z450 due to there only being cosmetic changes and a lack of 20 availability when I wanted to start.
I never said anything about MXA, I actually heard Jody told the KTM crew that participating in the last day of my shootout was probably a good idea (where I invited OEMs out to pass on technical info or suggestions, but not allowed to prep or change unauthorized things on my bikes). I know most media outlets had something to say about my shootout to the OEMs, because each rep mentioned that. I went through a political shit storm this last week due to this feature, amazing how so many people could freak out over it. The magazine I hinted to is another.
You are right on one thing, it's likely each media outlet will have different results on their 450 Shootouts. None of us every end up with identical results because we all approach them differently. Does that mean I'm wrong? Nope. Does it mean MXA's wrong? Nope. Does it mean Keefer or Swap is wrong? Nope.
For most shootouts, I'm one of the only that very openly explains what the criteria was and the results to reach there. Been like that since I started at Vital because I wanted to do it my way.
Ultimately, I could care less what other media outlets or the industry guard thinks. I'm not here to be another old school media outlet. Going about my work in the same way as the existing is just asking for myself to never succeed. Beyond that, I want to do things my way and let my work stand out from the crowd. Not because I think it's better, it's not, it's just my work...and I want it to be recognized as my work.
I'm not a media outlet, I'm just a dude that makes content and likes to ride dirt bikes.
And actually, that's what I think is so funny about this whole situation I dealt with in setting this up. All the industry backlash, the political mess, the red tape...WE AREN'T CURING CANCER HERE, we're riding dirt bikes. I test dirt bikes and share my opinion on them, it's not rocket science. I mean, I wish it was, maybe I'd feel better about dedicating my life to it but for now, I'm good with it.
At the end of the day, I spent a lot of money out of my pocket, A LOT...to create a piece of content that's free to view, entertain people and hopefully educate them a bit along the way. While I'm extremely stoked to be gaining an audience and a great amount of support from viewers, this isn't a money maker. I'm stressed out of my mind and hussling everything I can on the side to pay my bills and keep food in my mouth. Just keeping the dream alive and enjoying each minute I get to do this. I realized a bit ago that just going about this the same way as everyone else wasn't going to guarantee me much of a future so it's time to risk it for the biscuit and see how long I can keep the boat sailing.
It's more than just the bikes, it's the photographers, video guys, graphics, fuel to the tracks, track fees, feeding all my riders each day (I actually invited the orange helmet brigade to have some of our tacos at GH during our final test day. Poor Mosiman looked like he was bout to pass out so I made sure he got a little something to get through the day)
I'm hoping in the end I can use my platform to share my love of dirtbikes with people and spread some support onto those who deserve it. Other than helping Jeff Walker this year and a few other privateers I pull favors for all the time, I've got some plans to do something a bit bigger next year and keep giving back to the audience and other riders that have given me the ability to live my dream by watching or reading my content over the few years I've been doing this.
Mark, I've never really cared for how you talk to or treat people on here and watching you somehow try to discredit what I consider my life and existence cracks me up. I really don't know how you sleep at night, if I was in your shoes I'd be wide awake, I couldn't live that.
Edit: One last thing, I'm here basically all day to listen to, chat, and reply to a supporter, reader, disgruntled viewer or someone with an agenda. I don't care who it is, if they send me a message, reply to me, start a topic etc...I'm here. I'm not typing up some magazine, I'm here for anyone who wants a tech opinion, some industry rumors or if they just want to yell at me. Whatever it is, I'm here! You can reach me on Vital, Instagram, FaceBook, by multiple emails, YouTube comment section, Twitter, people walking up at the track...heck many members here have my cell number now. Sometimes I'm a little slow to respond, but I get around to it. I have to sleep eventually.
PS: To me, MXA lost all credibility with this post. Sure, i'm an Alta owner myself, but a major media outlet in the industry laughing at an american made dirtbike.... pretty un-american if you ask me....
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0el0x7pp5l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Oh and you really should be wearing proper shoulder protection!!
😀😀
Pit Row
And...since it's better than actually posting "Bwahahahahahahahaaahaaa"...here's the dude that ordered the pizza or maybe took a nap...or whatever...again...
Do you have a Patreon account?. I have never done the patreon thing but would be happy to create an account and donate to your effort.
https://www.patreon.com/ML512
and if the mouth piece of Glen Helen is pissed with you too, you must be doing it really well,
I do think it is important to have a part of the test with an OEM representative on hand, because a lot of complaints about bikes from all brands are purely due to user error and can easily be corrected by someone who knows the particulars about a certain bike.
Cheers from Australia
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