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VJMC
- Thread starter CL350 K2
- Start date
ballbearian
Veteran Member
I've never got round to joining but they have a nice mag. Bill Silver (member here) used to, or does, write and edit for them. Sounds like an itch worth scratching.
Boosted
Veteran Member
I don't know, never joined because I thought/think it's based in England and I live elsewhere...
I believe they're based in Minnesota, lots of Mid West gatherings
Mikepacific60
Veteran Member
Active VJMC here in Brisbane, Australia….
12ozPBR
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2020
- Total Posts
- 749
- Total likes
- 255
I’ve been a VJMC member for last 5-7 years. Like many things recently, the cost of membership has increased due to inflation. I normally pay for 3 years worth of membership when I go to the Barber Vintage Festival and if my current membership is nearing expiration. A single year membership now costs $45, 2 years for $85, or for 3 years you save $10 over the term by paying a total of $125.
I have been pleased over the years with the value I feel I get for the modest investment. The full color, glossy, bi-monthly magazine has a cover price of $5 per issue. That is $30 worth right there, and it it really is a good magazine if you truly are interested in vintage Japanese motorcycles. Recently and due to the price increases, the VJMC now offers a digital only membership for $30 per year if you do not care to receive the paper edition. I think it is important to recognize that with a membership you do gain online access to not only the current issue of the magazine, but ALL of the back issues in their Library. These back issues encompass a good number of years so there is a great deal of content there.
Beyond these points, I have also met some very nice folks through the VJMC that have led to acquiring spare parts I was seeking at the time. In most of these instances the quality of the parts have been very good and the prices between members have been very fair. I have had these good experiences even though currently I seldom have the opportunity to go to VJMC events and rides.
If you plan to go to the Barber Vintage Festival, the VJMC has their own display area and always sponsors several bike shows during the weekend. For their main show on Saturday featuring clean, original condition bikes you can submit application for your personal bike, and if selected, you receive free 3 day admission to the festival. That currently stands as a $65 value itself. As if you needed more incentive, while at the festival and as a benefit of VJMC membership, you can take part in the Sunday VJMC parade lap around the Barber track. Usually this amounts to actually 3 laps at speeds of 40 up to 60 mph so it’s not like it is a slow puttering affair. I always enjoy it and try and take a different Honda each year to ride on the track. If you were to pay to participate in a parade lap on your own it is at least $30.
These are some of my observations gained over time in the value of the VJMC not only in monetary terms but also in furthering my enjoyment and engagement with vintage Honda motorcycles. It seems to me anyone with more than just a passing interest in old Japanese bikes would also find plenty of value in the VJMC, potentially make new friends and contacts with the same interests, all while promoting these interests to others not currently involved with vintage motorcycles. Seems like a win to me.
I have been pleased over the years with the value I feel I get for the modest investment. The full color, glossy, bi-monthly magazine has a cover price of $5 per issue. That is $30 worth right there, and it it really is a good magazine if you truly are interested in vintage Japanese motorcycles. Recently and due to the price increases, the VJMC now offers a digital only membership for $30 per year if you do not care to receive the paper edition. I think it is important to recognize that with a membership you do gain online access to not only the current issue of the magazine, but ALL of the back issues in their Library. These back issues encompass a good number of years so there is a great deal of content there.
Beyond these points, I have also met some very nice folks through the VJMC that have led to acquiring spare parts I was seeking at the time. In most of these instances the quality of the parts have been very good and the prices between members have been very fair. I have had these good experiences even though currently I seldom have the opportunity to go to VJMC events and rides.
If you plan to go to the Barber Vintage Festival, the VJMC has their own display area and always sponsors several bike shows during the weekend. For their main show on Saturday featuring clean, original condition bikes you can submit application for your personal bike, and if selected, you receive free 3 day admission to the festival. That currently stands as a $65 value itself. As if you needed more incentive, while at the festival and as a benefit of VJMC membership, you can take part in the Sunday VJMC parade lap around the Barber track. Usually this amounts to actually 3 laps at speeds of 40 up to 60 mph so it’s not like it is a slow puttering affair. I always enjoy it and try and take a different Honda each year to ride on the track. If you were to pay to participate in a parade lap on your own it is at least $30.
These are some of my observations gained over time in the value of the VJMC not only in monetary terms but also in furthering my enjoyment and engagement with vintage Honda motorcycles. It seems to me anyone with more than just a passing interest in old Japanese bikes would also find plenty of value in the VJMC, potentially make new friends and contacts with the same interests, all while promoting these interests to others not currently involved with vintage motorcycles. Seems like a win to me.
Richard Pitman
Veteran Member
I joined the UK VJMC to make use of their dating service. Imagine my surprise when I right swiped on a motorcycle ...
Seriously though, it was through their services that I got my bitsa SL175 onto a historic registration, and I renewed my membership this year. The UK magazine mainly consists of regional show meet reports, which really don't interest me, a lot of adverts for specialist services, and some (IMHO) rather amateur articles written by the membership. Plus adverts of bikes for sale, most of which seem rather optimistically priced. They also have a Facebook page, where apparently a lot of stuff is advertised, but I'm afraid FB is still all a bit of a mystery to me, life being too short etc.
Seriously though, it was through their services that I got my bitsa SL175 onto a historic registration, and I renewed my membership this year. The UK magazine mainly consists of regional show meet reports, which really don't interest me, a lot of adverts for specialist services, and some (IMHO) rather amateur articles written by the membership. Plus adverts of bikes for sale, most of which seem rather optimistically priced. They also have a Facebook page, where apparently a lot of stuff is advertised, but I'm afraid FB is still all a bit of a mystery to me, life being too short etc.
suhawk305
Well-known Member
I agree with the comments made by Richard and PBR above.
i have been a VJMC for close to a decade the best I can recall. Their magazine a lot of nice pictures and articles to enjoy; as well as a classified section as Richard said. As far as articles about restoration projects, I would say most of them are summaries of the author’s work and results. There are articles about specific technical work such as carburetor rebuilds, but these articles could be for a Yamaha, etc. There is a lot more technical information available to us in this forum regarding our Vintage Honda Twins.
As PBR stated, the VJMC dues went up. I’m on the fence whether I renew my membership. I have no plans sell my CB77. As some of you know, my main ride is my ‘14 CB1100, which is much kinder to my 73 years old arthritic joints. But the CB1100 is a heavy bike and there will be a day I’ll have to give it up. Then I be back to riding my CB77 again which I’ve owned for 50 years.
One positive thing I had being a VJMC member is I attended two National Rallies and had a good time. At the first rally, I was talked into entering my unrestored CB77 in the show in the “Survivor Category“. I came home with 2nd place plastic trophy! Once home, I showed the trophy to my adult kids and they laughed. Then my daughter said “ Do you realize that 2nd place is a first place loser”! To rub more salt in my ego deflated wound, my wife, who was at the rally with me, told them that she could find only 2 motorcycles in the Survivor Category. I think she was correct
Sorry I drifted from the thread a little, but I thought some of you would get a chuckle about my VJMC story.
i have been a VJMC for close to a decade the best I can recall. Their magazine a lot of nice pictures and articles to enjoy; as well as a classified section as Richard said. As far as articles about restoration projects, I would say most of them are summaries of the author’s work and results. There are articles about specific technical work such as carburetor rebuilds, but these articles could be for a Yamaha, etc. There is a lot more technical information available to us in this forum regarding our Vintage Honda Twins.
As PBR stated, the VJMC dues went up. I’m on the fence whether I renew my membership. I have no plans sell my CB77. As some of you know, my main ride is my ‘14 CB1100, which is much kinder to my 73 years old arthritic joints. But the CB1100 is a heavy bike and there will be a day I’ll have to give it up. Then I be back to riding my CB77 again which I’ve owned for 50 years.
One positive thing I had being a VJMC member is I attended two National Rallies and had a good time. At the first rally, I was talked into entering my unrestored CB77 in the show in the “Survivor Category“. I came home with 2nd place plastic trophy! Once home, I showed the trophy to my adult kids and they laughed. Then my daughter said “ Do you realize that 2nd place is a first place loser”! To rub more salt in my ego deflated wound, my wife, who was at the rally with me, told them that she could find only 2 motorcycles in the Survivor Category. I think she was correct
Sorry I drifted from the thread a little, but I thought some of you would get a chuckle about my VJMC story.
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Sounds like your daughter is ready for the racing circuitThen my daughter said “ Do you realize that 2nd place is a first place loser”! To rub more salt in my ego deflated wound, my wife, who was at the rally with me, told them that she could find only 2 motorcycles in the Survivor Category. I think she was correct
Sorry I drifted from the thread a little, but I thought some of you would get a chuckle about my VJMC story.
We used to say that all the time.
Richard Pitman
Veteran Member
You'd hope so, if they are VJMC members, not just random chancer on Ebay. I'd trust a long term VJMC member as I trust the the regular members here.
12ozPBR
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2020
- Total Posts
- 749
- Total likes
- 255
Agreed!
eamartin
Member
If you ain't first, you're last.Sounds like your daughter is ready for the racing circuit