KB Brand - Good or Bad Rep?

[Slim]

I proudly donned my Kiwi Biker t-shirt on the Sunday of the Nationals at Pukekohe. We were pitted with Torque & right next to Jill, who's pit crew were proudly wearing their t-shirts, so it seemed like a good idea to join them.

Then ... Neil The Commentator announced the MotoGP results over the loudspeaker!!! :angry:

So ... I trotted up to the Jennian Homes building and was directed to where Neil had set up shop for the day, but before I could open my mouth, I was accosted by an AMCC official.

Apparently Kiwi Bikers hate the AMCC and anything that goes wrong at their race meets or track days is always AMCC's fault, even when it's rider error, riders gear or bike failure, etc ...

All this anger from a person I had never met & who was so pumped about telling me all about it that he forgot to tell me his name.

It would seem that the look on my face (shock & innocence, hopefully) led him to add that not all Kiwi Bikers were created equal, and I was then able to tell Neil off for the results broadcast blunder and he had a weak excuse about a power outage in Auckland Saturday evening ... :shutup:




I don't know what you guys have been up to while I've been a less-than-regular attendee at this forum, but whatever it is, you need to have a wee think about how much we integrate with real world people and organisations, and how what we type here can affect the brand that is Kiwi Biker. Have a think about who owns this brand & what a great guy he is, because I was very tempted to take my t-shirt off when I returned to our pit and only didn't because I like KB ... don't you?

And I couldn't help wondering how many people that saw me that day avoided me because I was wearing the KB t-shirt. It felt like eyes were glaring daggers at my back everywhere I wandered .......:nono:

[MOTOXXX]

Well KB is an open internet forum. Anyone can read the posts

and anyone can slag off race officials, bike shops or anything for that matter.

doesnt take long before a few bad apples spoil the bunch.

just the nature of open internet forums.


there are a lot of nice people on here but a lot of cocks too.


just my two cents :)

[Str8 Jacket]

Man, sometimes I think some kiwibikers hate other kiwibikers.....

I personally wouldnt care what others say. Kiwibikers have been known to slag of other groups of riders too. At the end of the day everyones entitled to their opinions.... just my 2cents

[kiwifruit]

interesting

i've never had anything but positive things happen "because of being a kber"


imho the site is a fantastic resource

[pyrocam]

I've never seen any attitude when I've marshaled towards me nor other KB marshals. (sporting KB stickers on our bikes)

[Str8 Jacket]

interesting

i've never had anything but positive things happen "because of being a kber"


imho the site is a fantastic resource

Yeah, pretty much. Ive made some really great mates. Ive been helped out by a hell of alot of KBers too!

[White trash]

I know exactly who accosted you Slim (didn't recognise me either did ya?). He jsut so happens to be a mate of Riff raffs and a guy I also get on with pretty well. It's not that he hates KBers, he's just had some negative feedback from a couple of KBers and been told of other online "experts" who reckon they could do the job better, yet have never put a hand up to help. I see his point.

What HE needs to see (and I will bring this point up with him when I next see him) is that KB represents the largest single group of motorcyclists in New Zealand, from the widest range of backgrounds. So if we say something as a group, organisations need to listen.

[Edbear]

Each time I meet other bikers, I ask them if they are KB'rs or have heard of KB. So far, the majority have either never heard of KB or have heard of it vaguely somewhere. I've been a bit surprised, because of the number of registered members here!

I always promote the site, good naturedly pointing out that there are good and not so good aspects to it, mirroring people in general.

Must get the KB stickers, I asked about... thought they'd be a good idea for the van and the bike...

[Macktheknife]

It sounds like he was over-reacting to a single or limited experience of KB or KBers, not unlike how you are now reacting I guess! lol
There are some complete dodgy bastards on KB, not many fortunately, but the comments made to you may not be at all representative of KB, SpankMe, or the average KBer.
Good on you for not taking off your KB shirt, I think it would have been a poor reaction to one persons biased view. Maybe by your input and others as he gets around, he will come to have a better opinion. Personally I would not be too bothered by the comments.
My experience of almost every KBer I have met and interacted with has been positive and pleasurable and I am confident that will remain the case.
Cheers SpankMe.

[Colapop]

Thank fuck for that! You can finally use rep outside KB!!!

I wanna get a new bike wif mine....

[Wellyman]

tell the ahole to get on here, and get to know some of the members a little bit better. he should know better then slagging somethimg off after a few small assholes.
WM

[Trudes]

I think I may only have enough for a coffee machine :mellow:

[HDTboy]

While I like KB, and have met a stack of good people by being associated with KB. I can't see myself buying a KB shirt for reasons similar to what you experienced on the weekend.

[Karma]

There are some complete dodgy bastards on KB


Sorry... :dodge:

[Kendog]

but before I could open my mouth, I was accosted by an AMCC official.

Apparently Kiwi Bikers hate the AMCC and anything that goes wrong at their race meets or track days is always AMCC's fault, even when it's rider error, riders gear or bike failure, etc ...

All this anger from a person I had never met & who was so pumped about telling me all about it that he forgot to tell me his name.

And now I hate AMCC and all events they organise.

Well that's not actually true, but isn't it easy for someone to judge an entire group on the actions of the few.

[terbang]

I've had one of two negative comments about the rides from those who belong to other clubs but in general people are very supportive of the site and its collective.

[FROSTY]

I think its very much kettle calling the pot black.
The club prez of AMCC is on record outright attacking KB and "other internet biker forums"

[riffer]

Welcome back Slim! Long time no see...

I have no problem wearing my KB shirt. KB is just a microcosm of life in general, and some bad posts will always give a bad rep.

Its one thing that upsets me about motorcyclists, and people in general; this whole cliquey-ness. Ulysses guys, KBers, BRONZ, AMCC, and all the others.

Sounds like Jimmy will sort him out.

On a better note, nice to see you back.

[Steam]

KB brand good rep! I want a KB shirt with my name on the front too, but I am poor so I can't afford it. I'd rather spend the money saving for another cheap bike. But I have a KB patch on my bike jacket.

[McJim]

I've got the KB sticker on the front of my bike, I have a patch on my arm and I have a KB T shirt.

As a support for new riders I think the KB resource is absolutely fantastic - I'm approaching the end of my first year on a bike and I am so grateful for all the experienced riders that have given me guidance, support, advice, tuition and to The_Dover for showing me how not to ride! :Pokey:

I've enjoyed some of the organised rides (and enjoyed organising a ride or two) and I've learned some great roads that I wouldn't have known were there.

It's so accessible and the vast majority of riders here are great people. However we do all have opinions and they don't always match - we don't all pull in the same direction on many issues so I don't think we really are a collective.

I've also found bike shops are very accommodating about my KB membership (Motomail and Cycletreads) rather than the negative reactions that have sometimes been mentioned.

We are a collection of very individual individuals - I love it - long may it stay that way.

[Slim]

I know exactly who accosted you Slim (didn't recognise me either did ya?). He just so happens to be a mate of Riff raffs and a guy I also get on with pretty well. It's not that he hates KBers, he's just had some negative feedback from a couple of KBers and been told of other online "experts" who reckon they could do the job better, yet have never put a hand up to help. I see his point.

What HE needs to see (and I will bring this point up with him when I next see him) is that KB represents the largest single group of motorcyclists in New Zealand, from the widest range of backgrounds. So if we say something as a group, organisations need to listen.

Ahem. You'd be right that I didn't recognise you! A thousand apologies. :sleep:

I've highlighted your comment about helping. It was a thought I'd had while I composed my post prior to getting in front of my computer, but evaporated before I could type it. I see his point too.

I'm not sure I agree with your comment that organisations need to listen to what we say. It's not like we're an organised club with meetings & minutes & petitions & stuff. We don't lobby parliament or anything else official like that. I'm not sure where that thought's meant to go after that though ....

And it would be nice if you did bring up the whole "KB as microcosm of the human race" thing with him. And point out he never introduced himself! ;)

Mack - it was nice to meet you at Pukekohe. One of the pleasures of wearing the t-shirt is the strangers who feel compelled to come up & introduce themselves. It's a nice feeling.

I didn't think my post was an over reaction though. The title of this post was a question about how the KB brand is perceived & the responsibility we all have as users of that brand not to bring it into disrepute.

Perception is a strange & wonderful beast & I have been on the receiving end of complaints (at work) which turned out to be "perception" or communication problems. It's very amorphous (is that the word for the day?!?)

Riffer - nice to see you too. :)


To the Moderator who shifted this post - I had seriously considered posting this under Site Stuff originally, but thought we might have more input if it was in the Rant section. You're call, and I'm not unhappy with your decision either. :)