About Motorcycle Times 

Here is some information about Motorcycle Times, The Premier Mid-Atlantic Motorcycle Magazine. If you have any questions, want more information, or just want to let us know how we are doing, go to CONTACT US and drop us a line or two.

• When we say “The Mid-Atlantic Motorcycle Magazine” we mean that we serve Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,  Virginia and West Virginia as well as Washington D.C. and the DelMarVa resort areas. We know we do have some copies that have traveled all over the country and even around the world, however these five states and two special places are our main focus – for now!
• Motorcycle Times is bi-monthly so a new issue comes out every other month; beginning with January; on the first of the month and covers two months of motorcycle news, events, stories, pictures, and more. For example, our May/June issue, the third issue of the year, comes out approximately on May 1st and covers things going on in May and June.
• The circulation of the magazine is about 12,500 in the off season to 17,000+ in season and growing! Our free magazines are delivered to locations near you within our territory and we have plans to add more!
•  Motorcycle Times is available to read for free online here on the Home Page. We added this functionality in September of 2017 and that was very well received.
• Motorcycle Times is always free whether in person at a shop or event or online. Paid subscriptions are available for those who are outside our territory, or have other reasons and are offered at only the approximate cost for us to ship out the 6 yearly issues. Find more information under “The Magazine” button on the top of the page.

Motorcycle Times History

Motorcycle Times was born of necessity and creativity. The necessity came from the riding community. In the late 80’s the motorcycle business was in decline and riders were dropping like flies, selling off their beloved bikes left and right. New riders were in short supply, and Jerry C. Smith was wondering why.

It occurred to Jerry that maybe new riders didn’t know where to go, what to do, and who to meet up with on their bikes. There wasn’t really a resource to bring them this kind of information. This is where the creativity came in. His initial thought developed quickly into the notion of a regional motorcycle magazine that would bring riders together and “give a voice to the motorcycling community.”

Having plenty of experience working with bikes and in bike shops and with his wife and business partner Lona Queen, an art school grad with experience in graphic arts and catalog production by his side, Jerry realized he was in a position to do something about his dream. The two published the first issue in 1989 and Motorcycle Times has been going strong ever since.

In 2011, after 23 years of publishing the magazine and with changes in health and lifestyle, Jerry and Lona began looking for new owners to take up the Motorcycle Times tradition. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Maryland, Pat Elburn was trying to revive a little, blue, Honda CB125S for his daughter to practice riding. While he was in a parts and accessories shop, he happened to pick up a copy of the magazine, as he often did, and noticed the “Motorcycle Times Needs New Owners” advertisement. He definitely met the main requirement of loving motorcycles and the bike biz and after some urging from those near and dear to him, he made the call.

Pat and Jerry got on immediately and talked for hours about bikes and the magazine, as both have been well known to do at any given moment. Talks eventually turned into meetings at Jerry and Lona’s home which happened to be nearby the college where Pat’s daughter Darcy was a graduating senior. After several more meetings and months of nervous anticipation, the Elburns were thrilled to find that they had been chosen from a pool of qualified candidates as the new owners of Motorcycle Times.

Since then, they had been hard at work, not only learning as much as they can about the process of putting together a magazine, but also happily getting better acquainted with the local motorcycling community. They were able to fill the magazine with reasons to get out and ride and they added new and exciting features with every issue. They made many dear friends in the motorcycling scene however, life’s paths began to change for them and it was becoming time for them to pass on the magazine too.

In late 2016 Mark McGhee was at one of his riders association meetings when the subject came up once again. Ever since Motorcycle Times had begun advertising for new owners earlier that year several friends had advised him to buy the magazine. Mark definately loves motorcycles, anyone who knows him knows this as a fact. They also know he loves to write and has been published in several venues. They also know he is an amatuer artist and an entrepenuer.

So, after one such encounter Mark thought that maybe this really was something to look at. He had always known it would be the utimate cool job to own a motorcycle magazine! After all, if you do what you love it’s not really work is it? So he contacted Pat and they began talking. Eventually, after some phone interviews and in person meetings, Pat told Mark “I think you’ll be a good one to take over the magazine.” That was in early 2017 in a booth at Red, Hot and Blue just across the bridge.

The new owners, Mark and Evelyn McGhee have been married and motorcycling for 38 years. Mark started long before they met. He was 8 years old when he rode his friend’s first Honda Mini Trail and was completely hooked immediately. Many, many bikes and sizes and types and brands later he now has “several” motorcycles including an XS650 chopper he built in his shop, a 2000 Kawasaki Voyager 12 nicknamed The Sofa and an 82 Goldwing GL1100 Interstate he bought as a patched together rolling basket case. Mark was a professional auto tech, although he has always done motorcycle maintenance, repairs and customizing in his shop at home.

Together, Mark and Evelyn are looking forward to meeting the readers, contributors and advertisers as well at the events so they can continue to grow the traditional grass roots feel of the magazine.

The Contributors

Motorcycle Times is a tradition. So, Mark and Evelyn do not want to mess with a good thing. They give a nod to what works. Every past contributor was welcomed into the new venture. Some took advantage of the opportunity to explore other paths or take a break; and so Mark and Evelyn searched for and added a few new contributors who fit the framework while still retaining their own style. Mark and Evelyn feel this is really important and is one of the many things that make Motorcycle Times what it is, the premier Mid-Atlantic motorcycle magazine!

Motorcycle Times remains committed to being the magazine that is by riders and writers for readers and riders.

ALWAYS FREE

“ALWAYS A GOOD READ!”