While not everyone shares my approach to business, I personally take no joy in seeing a competitor disappear.

More importantly, I never like to see people lose their jobs through no fault of their own, and I believe a wider — not narrower — range of news sources in the motorcycle industry is better for all of us. So for all those reasons, I regret to report that Motorcycle-USA.com is closing down after nearly 20 years in the motorcycle media business. Details are scarce, but the news was announced in a tweet late today.

What a long strange trip its been...Breaking news. LDI is pulling the plug on Motorcycle USA Friday. Thx for the 20 year run readers. — MotorcycleUSA.com (@MotoUSA) February 24, 2016

Motorcycle-USA was essentially a motorcycle blog when it was launched by Don Becklin in 1996 in Grants Pass, Ore. The site grew, and then expanded into selling gear online, creating Motorcycle Superstore.

The company has gone through many changes since, with both Motorcycle-USA and Motorcycle Superstore becoming part of the Motorsport Aftermarket Group, which also includes distributor Tucker Rocky, online retailer J&P Cycles, and other brands, such as Vance & Hines, Progressive Suspension and others. MAG in turn is owned by LDI, Ltd., based in Indianapolis (the "LDI" referred to in the tweet).

Last year, it was announced that Motorcycle Superstore would be relocated to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where other MAG businesses are located, but the Motorcycle-USA editorial operations would remain based in Oregon and Irvine, Calif. No other information was immediately released by MAG or LDI, but certainly the struggles of both print and online motorcycle media outlets in general in recent years are well known.

The closure is not the only turmoil inside MAG, lately. Several top employees at Tucker Rocky recently lost their jobs, including company President Dan Courtney.