Do manufacturers brain-wash us during model launches?

The other day I was going through Superbike Magazine's older issues and came across Kenny's (the editor) lines on how motorcycle manufacturers sometimes brain-wash a journo during a press launch of a model.

I very much second him on the fact that during almost every launch, be it a car or a motorcycle, there is always a small briefing about the vehicle in picture. We are told about the engine pumping out 5% more power, the swingarm being 10mm longer resulting in a better feel at high speeds and the likes and how we will be able to feel all this when we ride/drive the vehicle. Yeah, sure, as if we are computer machines registering every bit of information in our mind while riding/driving the new vehicle.

What in actual happens is that when we do get to ride/drive the machine, every thing mentioned during the briefing keeps running through our mind. We remember being told about the extra power while we accelerate the vehicle, we remember being told about the new suspension while taking corners or riding over rough patches and so on. My point is, the new changes made to a vehicle may not always make their presence felt in a positive manner, but just because we were briefed about all these things, it becomes a natural thing for us to think that yes, "I can feel the change and it’s for the good"!

Why can’t we have an older model, which the new model is replacing, for a ride/drive too, so that we can ourselves feel the differences? Why can’t we be asked about what all we felt after we rode/drove both the versions and then be given the briefing? Why cant a manufacturer follow this trend of seeing if we actually felt the changes without been told about the same? This will actually be better and will make a manufacturer realize if they have been able to make the changes effective or not.


And one more thing which manufacturers do to make sure good stuff goes into print/goes online about their model: they pamper you like anything on a launch. Take you to exotic locations, put you up in lavish 5-star hotels and if you have good contacts, will even give you extra services! This, I think is enough to make half of the people write good things automatically. Where did true journalism go? I, have still not been a party to all this, never gone for such a launch, but have heard a lot of stories from people in this industry. A launch becomes like a vacation for many but then again, there are a few of those, who treat a launch like a launch, and do their job effectively and it shows...

Waiting to go for a 5-star launch soon, may be this year, and see what actually happens. Will I be able to feel those 10mm wider tyres gripping the tarmac more than the previous model's tyres without actually riding/driving both the models back to back with V-box strapped in to see the effective G-forces and the line I took in both the model? Well well well...

Comments please....