Forum decline

Ratranger

Ratranger

XS650 Junkie
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Some forums that were very busy 5 uears ago seem almost dead. Dotheton was always getting new posts and threads a few years ago, now some of the busiest threads go without reply for weeks to months. And it's not the only nearly dead forum that I used to frequent. Therangerstation, sohc4, and caferacer seem equally dead.

This forum still gets a fair bit of traffic. Posts on facebook definitely get more comments, but most of them just repeat what others say. It seems like facebook 2/3rds of the responses are negative, and the rest are a mixed bag of "you should have done it this way!" Or the few comments that are actually relevant.

It does seem like facebook has taken over the newbie questions that get asked repeatedly. "What oil?" "How do I do the most basic maintenance item?" Etc.
 
Ratranger said:
Some forums that were very busy 5 uears ago seem almost dead. Dotheton was always getting new posts and threads a few years ago, now some of the busiest threads go without reply for weeks to months. And it's not the only nearly dead forum that I used to frequent. Therangerstation, sohc4, and caferacer seem equally dead.

This forum still gets a fair bit of traffic. Posts on facebook definitely get more comments, but most of them just repeat what others say. It seems like facebook 2/3rds of the responses are negative, and the rest are a mixed bag of "you should have done it this way!" Or the few comments that are actually relevant.

It does seem like facebook has taken over the newbie questions that get asked repeatedly. "What oil?" "How do I do the most basic maintenance item?" Etc.
Click to expand...

This forum survives because of the membership and passion for the bike of choice. Also we are generally (but not solely) older enthusiasts that care. Further still all topics are valid for discussion and all are welcome to comment. Help and support is here for all who need and ask; and all questions are treated seriously and answered by people with years of experience. Of course many other topics are covered, it’s not just about the bikes.

In my view not all forums offer what XS650.COM has.
 
Ratranger said:
Some forums that were very busy 5 uears ago seem almost dead.
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I know what you mean, I’ve had the same experience. I’ve belonged to numerous forums, most of which have either completely shut down or are ghost towns. This forum has been more enjoyable and helpful than any other I’ve belonged to!
 
Mailman said:
I know what you mean, I’ve had the same experience. I’ve belonged to numerous forums, most of which have either completely shut down or are ghost towns. This forum has been more enjoyable and helpful than any other I’ve belonged to!
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I know some forums were sold, and the company that took over caused the decline. You can normally tell when the ownership change happens by the number of ads, it goes from minimal to everywhere. One forum I used to go went so heavy on ads it was almost impossible to read.

Unfortunately unless you have enough younger people involved active members just age out of being involved. Also part of it is what's the current fad? Early 2000s choppers were everywhere, around 2010 cafe racers really jumped front and center, lately it seems like the ADV bike related sites staythe busiest.
 
Another thing that I’ve noticed is when a forum is built around a specific model or brand and it gets discontinued, the forum then goes into a nose dive. For example I belonged to Bonneville America.com and Triumph discontinued that model and within a year the forum died. I belonged to a Fiat 500 forum , which was very busy in the beginning, until Fiat began closing dealerships all over the country and that forum died. Then I bought my Suzuki Boulevard, a bike that they have been making for 23 years now! Joined their forum only to realize that forum peaked 15 years ago and now it’s a ghost town.

So to think about this forum, for a bike they quit making nearly four decades ago, to still be this active….is kinda magical.
 
One thing that sets this place apart is respect. Folk here, for the most part are are respectful to and of each other. Wanna see a dog eat dog show?... get on Facebook. This place is pretty laid back far as not starting flame war's.
And when you have a comfortable place you can go and ask questions without getting ridiculed, they will come.
 
Of the other places I visit, The lonely Ones - mostly Kawasaki W650 & W800, but also Enfield and well, anything really - they're bit like here and love m/cs in general. It's a very nice as in polite and respectful forum but has been running on a pip of gas compared with how it used to be five or ten years ago. Has picked up a tiny bit with the re-introduction of the W800 and the fact they're selling them in the US now. But there's not enough depth for it to be the technical resource this place is.

And the Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum - I mostly visit the Iron Barrel section, again mostly polite and respectful, where there has been discussion lately about how it's getting quiet and how that reflects that stalwarts are aging or dying off. And how there are fewer and fewer people who would have the nous or even inclination to own, cherish and work on something so archaic. Have ventured into the section that deals with the 650 twins and lets just say it's not polite and respectful. I might search there if I have queries on the Interceptor but I have no plans to stick my head above the parapet by contributing.

Nous being a useful English word meaning common sense or practical skills.
 
:twocents: I also frequent FB and many times make the effort to direct folks here. Either with links to relevant posts or just "hey this is done better with forum help and knowledge". Forums guys may be a dying breed but I ain't going down without a fight!
It doesn't hurt that the XS650 had one of the longest and prolific production runs of any larger street bike. MikesXS did a LOT to create the cult bike that it is now. Doesn't hurt that there are so many neglected yet saveable bikes can be had cheap to fuel pennyless young men's dreams. (and get their pants dirty)
Finally the stalwarts here that keep things going so well get my hearty thanks!
 
More and more people are turning to Facebook for the sheer number of forums. On Facebook you can find forums for pretty well anything. There are a plethora of XS650 forums, but like someone said, a lot of posts are from self appointed gurus who always have a better way to do things or recommendations, and quite a few naysayers who love nothing better than criticising someone's work. I never criticise anyone's bike, simply because we all have different ideas on how a bike should look.

I'm a member of several machinist/fabrication forums, similar to XS650 forums, the active machinist's forums are mostly on Facebook. But I have come across quite a few stand alone machinist forums with members who think they are the answer to the machining world, always quick to criticise, always quick with their recommendations, always quick with a better way of doing things.
 
I've started several facebook forums, most members tend to sit on the fence, out of every thousand members only one or two will contribute, so you need ten's of thousands of members to get any meaningful input. Except of course when you post 'due to lack of interest, this forum will be shut down', then everyone posts a complaint.

I shut all down except for two, one on dog stories during my time as a police dog handler, the other documenting my 74 XS650 bike build. They are both public so I don't accept member requests.
 
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As a member of other forums, they are great places to get some particular information. That said, this forum to me is different. Not only is the information abundant, not only is it full of mad scientists figuring out SOME way to fix or bypass something, but it feels like brotherhood, a family. There's a lot of love going on here, there's bickering and back and forth as well, but it's ended as quick as it started. Someone is always willing to help someone out, whether it's information or spare parts. When I went AWOL for a bit I didn't even think about my other forums, but frequently thought about this place thinking "I wonder what those old coots are up to". Facebook is an absolute dumpster fire don't even get me started. While I am in the groups, I generally roll my eyes and come back here.
 
DogBunny said:
I just don't understand the Facebook XS650 forums. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but where is the tech section? How do you Search? How do you find all of your previous posts? Etc., etc., etc.
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ZACTLY!!!
It's all throw away, zero permanence. There ARE ways to dig back but it can be frustrating and many times futile.
 
DogBunny said:
I just don't understand the Facebook XS650 forums. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but where is the tech section? How do you Search? How do you find all of your previous posts? Etc., etc., etc.
Click to expand...
There is a search function on all facebook groups under the three dots to the right and under the group picture. If the group has a tech section it's under Files. However, if you are using a mobile, every is different and varies from mobile to mobile. A tip: throw the mobile in the bin and use your puter. Much easier. Facebook is a great platform, so many groups and so easy to use.
 
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toglhot said:
More and more people are turning to Facebook for the sheer number of forums. On Facebook you can find forums for pretty well anything. There are a plethora of XS650 forums, but like someone said, a lot of posts are from self appointed gurus who always have a better way to do things or recommendations, and quite a few naysayers who love nothing better than criticising someone's work. I never criticise anyone's bike, simply because we all have different ideas on how a bike should look.

I'm a member of several machinist/fabrication forums, similar to XS650 forums, the active machinist's forums are mostly on Facebook. But I have come across quite a few stand alone machinist forums with members who think they are the answer to the machining world, always quick to criticise, always quick with their recommendations, always quick with a better way of doing things.
Click to expand...

Machinist groups are the very definition of toxic. Practicalmachinist would ban you from the forum if you asked about atlas machines because they are "hobby" machines. Doesn't matter if you program and run live tool y axis dual spindle lathes at work, you had the audacity to mention an inferior machine in the sacred forum.

I don't post much in the facebook groups because of the immediate hate everything gets. I made the spin on sump filter conversion for my bike, 90% of facebook replies "you're gonna trash your engine and crash when you bust it on something!" I point out the pipes it used to have hung lower and never hit anything, but someone managed to get scrape marks on their drain plug. It's crazy the amount of disdain on facebook.

This forum is definitely a bit more cordial than others, even back in the day. Dotheton wasn't bad, but being aligned more specifically with cafe racers it seems to have died down when they did.
 
This is one of the best forums I have been on relating to motorcycles. Years back actually before forums were popular there were some very good mailing lists.

I was on one for Sportsters that was excellent but guy running it I believe lost access to the server at the college he worked for, think he might have retired! That was heavy on tech info. What that mailing list changed to was something on FarceBook very commercial and 99% of the posts were about what new trinket some one had installed. The biggest tech Info might of revolved around proper location for little fairy bells.

It was through meeting of one of the guys one that mailing list I learned of the yam650 list that in turn got me to this forum. One of the problems with the mailing lists that I was on was the lack of ease of posting pictures.

I am on a few other forums, like one for heavy equipment and another for snow blowers that are good like this one where 75% or more of the people posting are very knowledgeable about the subjects and don't have a hissy fit when posts wander off topic and also like here will jump at the chance to help others on the forum no matter the problem.
 
Other forums out there ? -- newer heard of it ...
One other thing that makes this sensational Is the enormous knowledge and experience here
Better than the factory .. I believe that is contributing to the Friendly Attitude.
Not gonna out names ..You know
And honesty ..Telling crap parts for crap parts
That is helpful
 
toglhot said:
More and more people are turning to Facebook for the sheer number of forums. On Facebook you can find forums for pretty well anything. There are a plethora of XS650 forums, but like someone said, a lot of posts are from self appointed gurus who always have a better way to do things or recommendations, and quite a few naysayers who love nothing better than criticising someone's work. I never criticise anyone's bike, simply because we all have different ideas on how a bike should look.

I'm a member of several machinist/fabrication forums, similar to XS650 forums, the active machinist's forums are mostly on Facebook. But I have come across quite a few stand alone machinist forums with members who think they are the answer to the machining world, always quick to criticise, always quick with their recommendations, always quick with a better way of doing things.
Click to expand...
DogBunny said:
I just don't understand the Facebook XS650 forums. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but where is the tech section? How do you Search? How do you find all of your previous posts? Etc., etc., etc.
Click to expand...
I hear ya. I don't understand how to navigate ButtFace at all, but then I still use a flip phone and cash so maybe that says a lot about me.
 
One other winner is the arboristsite.com
Even a no nothing, firewood hacking, chainsaw butcher like me is allowed in.
It's huge, dwarfing XS650 but they have a good structure so guys of like interests can hang in subforums without annoying those with different professional needs. Pretty strong moderation with different standards as needed by subforums. They have a political subforum, visiting there helps me understand why Trav wants nothing to do with it.
There are couple good Home machinists forums once you get over the rejection from practical machinist. Went there, got sent packing LOL.
PS the xs650,com group on FB was started by Trav. and has pretty good moderation (not moi).
Don't forget the 650 Society FB group either.
 

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