- This topic has 25 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 13 years ago by madjak30.
Is this forum officially dead?
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February 6, 2011 at 4:31 pm #4330Jeff in KentuckyParticipant
The owner has split, and it is getting fewer and fewer posts every week.
February 6, 2011 at 6:20 pm #29207madjak30ParticipantI’m hoping it is just dormant…we are getting closer to spring…we’ll see if it doesn’t pick up by March…it started getting slower about four months ago…
You’ve been posting up a storm though…I think Ben lost interest a little when his bike crapped out on him…
Jan and Feb are just bad months, winter is starting to feel long and people don’t want to start thinking about their bikes too early, it will make the remainder drag that much more…although I don’t know why more southern guys like yourself aren’t in here more…?? Maybe they think this site is more for beginners (which will start showing up here in the next few weeks) than experienced guys/gals…but really it would be nice to have both…have a good mentor vibe going…
Anyway, don’t give up just yet…give it a few weeks before we declare the death!!
Later.
February 6, 2011 at 7:09 pm #29208MunchParticipantSome of us southern boys are still diggin out to. Though my snow has been gone for a while. I have been working longer hours to make up the money that was lost in the past couple of months plus the economy crap. Manage to ride my bike twice since the onset of winter. Which is really a lot less then usual. That and I had started going back to the gym pretty hardcore back in November. My time is getting limited.
February 6, 2011 at 7:32 pm #29209Gary856ParticipantThis site was great when I was brand new to motorcycling two years ago. It’s easy to digest, not intimidating, and the advise on the type of bikes a beginner should consider are spot on.
The memory of being a total newbie is still very fresh for me, so after gaining some experience, I keep coming back with the intent of helping brand new riders just like I was not long ago. I have to say, however, it got tiring after seeing, “Which bike should I get for my first bike?” asked once or twice a week. The lack of search function on this site is a big drawback. Also, a forum is only as good as the members who are willing to share their experience and knowledge, and it seems like this forum has many lurkers, but few contributors.
Jeff in Kentucky, how do you know that “the owner has split”?
February 6, 2011 at 10:30 pm #29210eonParticipantThis has always been a pretty small forum but that helps keep the conversations civil. It never gets petty or tedious the way many other forums do. However that does mean it gets quiet in here from time to time, especially over winter when there is not much going on. Like madjak says I’m sure it will pick up again in a few weeks with the weather. I’ve always enjoyed the conversations on riding technique that go on here. Again, most other forums if not degenerating into name calling center on what farkles to get. Unless you are planning on shopping those conversations are pretty boring.
Ben had a post a few months back about his bike breaking down and how he would not be contributing any more to the forum as he was going to be bikeless for the foreseeable future. I don’t think that has made a huge difference as he was never very active in here, he would just do the occasional review on the main page.
February 6, 2011 at 11:46 pm #29211madjak30ParticipantAs for a search function…I’m part of some other forums that have it, and all I hear about is “use the search”…newbies don’t use them, they just ask the questions…we all probably did the same thing when we first started looking into the hobby…I know I did.
We just need to remember to keep it friendly and civil in here so that they guys that ask the questions don’t get intimidated, or don’t feel comfortable asking for what ever reason…
Later.
February 7, 2011 at 9:58 pm #29212eternal05ParticipantIt’s quiet now, but not unusually so for winter.
February 7, 2011 at 11:41 pm #29213Jeff in KentuckyParticipantFor other motorcycle forums i have spent time at, they get quieter during the summer when everyone is out riding, except for the people closer to the equator or in the Arizona desert who ride more in the winter when it is not too hot, and busier during the winter when people are home more after work.
Maybe this forum is different because it is set up more for beginners, who might not plan for all winter to get a motorcycle. Maybe it is partly from the slow economy this year.
It is surprising how little is now written about the severe recession in the early 1980s, similar to this recession. Three motorcycle dealers around here closed their doors this year:
“The Dunstall organisation became a victim of the sharp decline in the motorcycle market at the end of the 1970’s with its attendant drop in sales and profits. Paul leased out unused factory space to other businesses and finally sold the name in 1982. It died within 3 years.”
“In 1981, AMF sold Harley-Davidson to a group of thirteen investors led by Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson for $80 million…In the early eighties with very low sales numbers, Harley-Davidson claimed that Japanese manufacturers were importing motorcycles into the US in such volume as to harm or threaten to harm domestic producers. After an investigation by the US International Trade Commission, President Reagan imposed in 1983 a 45% tariff on imported motorcycles with over 700cc engine capacity.”
February 9, 2011 at 1:50 am #29214RabParticipantSomething like this works with most search engines:
clutch site:www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com
Will return all pages from the specified web site URL that have the word “clutch” in them.
Not great, but better than nothing.
February 9, 2011 at 1:52 am #29215bigguybbrParticipantYeah, it’s my guess is just the winter blues keeping people away for a while. I know here in CT, they are only announcing the MSF dates this month. Once riders get signed up there will be a whole slew of newbies on here asking questions.
February 9, 2011 at 4:17 am #29217madjak30ParticipantClasses start April 1st…not sure I would take the course on April Fools Day, not with the smart a$$es at our school…but that has to be a sign that the riding season is coming…
Woo Hoo!!
Later.
February 22, 2011 at 5:02 pm #29271pastorlukepriceParticipantHey guys, I see from some of your comments that you are worried about the forum. I have not contributed much because well I have done lots of research and have my endorsement but due to financial restraints have been waiting way too long to get a bike. I love getting on here and learning about different situations that people go through. My situation I refuse to go into debt over the bike so saving up cash to pay for it takes awhile. Anyway guys this is an awesome forum I have been reading for quite some time and continue to be encouraged and the more I read the more it makes me sick that I can’t get my bike till my wife gets a job and it’s been a 2 year wait so far. but anyway guys be encouraged your doing a great job and I Love reading your responses to all of us newbs that as questions.
Thanks guys
March 19, 2011 at 8:38 pm #29375bigguybbrParticipantOK I think this has officially kicked the bucket. Well it’s been real, and it’s been fun guys! Ride safe!
March 20, 2011 at 1:20 am #29376TrialsRiderParticipantMaybe we could rename er ‘Best Expert Motorcycle’ and bring em back for a second loop;)
Jeff & I certainly struggled to stir the shite in here lately to no avail, sigh.
PMA! there’s only inches of snow and ice remaining on my sections, time to go buy a fresh garden tractor battery for the Beemer and dump that snotty old fuel outa the Montesa and into ye thirsty lawn tractor. I’m officially declaring March 2 4 as the start of My riding season.
Keep those feet up and salute when you see the Motorcycle guys & girls.
…specially the girls:iMarch 20, 2011 at 6:42 am #29377BenParticipantThe site is not officially dead, although I have to admit over the past couple months I investigated selling it since I am not very active here. Even though I received a few more than generous offers, in the end this site is just too close to my heart and I didn’t want to sell it to someone that would just spam the hell out of it with ads even if it would have fixed some of my financial woe’s. I realize I’ve been neglecting things a bit. There are a few problems that have been above my skill set for a while, but I am determined to try and fix those over the next month or so. I would like the website to be a place where you can point any newbie to and he could quickly and easily find all the information he needs in 10-20 minutes. Gear reviews are important, but in the past I focused wayyyyyyyyyy too much on them. They will now be maybe 10% of the site. You’ll start to see the front page changing as well.
Part of the solution might might mean ‘starting over’ the forum using a phpBB instead of drupals forum module. I’m not sure yet. That would effectively kill all the posts that have already been made, which would probably kill the forum. Right now the drupal module is very very sloppy and rudimentary. Upgrading to the latest version of drupal may fix that as well. We’ll see what I decide to do.
Cheers all,
Ben
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