PDA

View Full Version : Should KiwiBiker be actively promoted?



Hitcher
12th January 2005, 10:08
A discussion in another thread raises the issue of whether this KiwiBiker site should be actively promoted through New Zealand motorcycle magazines and other overt channels.

This is our gargre. Should we be in the business of actively growing its membership, or should we just continue to let it evolve organically as it has done to date?

Active promotion comes with some fishhooks, as noted in another thread (if I knew how to link I would, so some help please...).

Vote now!

Ms Piggy
12th January 2005, 10:13
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=7828 Here's the link.

I like the idea of natural evolution myself. I guess it will happen eventually but, the bigger it gets the more knob heads are likely to join. I know, I know - my tolerant self revealing itself again. :shifty:

I think we also have to think of the work involved for Spank Me and the fact that he does it for virtually nothing...except of course our eternal gratitude and the ocaasional donation via Pay Pal.

James Deuce
12th January 2005, 10:16
Autopoiesis anyone?

Jantar
12th January 2005, 10:25
OK, I'm a fairly new member here, and I was directed to the site by another member who was himself quite new. My opinion may therefore be from a position of ignorance concerning the developement of the site and if this is the case then I am prepared to be corrected.

However I believe that the fact that the site does have moderators enables the standards to be maintained and new members can be educated by the more experienced ones. Therefore I see no issues with promoting the site to a wider audience. If the site was unmoderated then I would prefer some method of limiting or restricting membership.

vifferman
12th January 2005, 10:29
Autopoiesis anyone?
Dunno.
I have no idea what that is, neither did the great, all-knowing Interweb (prolly due to its US bias...)

My view is that it's working fine as it is, and while out riding we should encourage people we meet to join, as long as they're not knob ends.

I belong to some other overseas forums/fora, and they're not as good as this. One example is the UK VFR forum, which uses the same engine as KB, looks simialr, but is much more restrictive in terms of not being able to customise your use until you've posted x messages, and not being able to do many of the things we take for granted unless you become an official (paid up!) member. I don't like it.

However I believe that the fact that the site does have moderators enables the standards to be maintained and new members can be educated by the more experienced ones. Therefore I see no issues with promoting the site to a wider audience. If the site was unmoderated then I would prefer some method of limiting or restricting membership.
That creates extra work for the moderators though. "Promotion" need only be by word-of-mouth to keep KB from becoming stagnant. Mind you, having said that, if it were advertised in Kiwi Rider or wherever, it's not likely to grow hugely.
I think.

White trash
12th January 2005, 10:30
I'm thinking that we're all big enough to look after the site and run the wankers out as we have in the past.

You'll get more people onboard, sure. There will be trollers amongst them. And people who rub others the wrong way.

Kiwi Biker. A site for all New Zealand motorcyclists.

Sez it at the top of the page you're reading and every other page on the site. Who the hell are we to not promote it to the ignorant? I've met a few people here who I now consider to be bloody good mates.

I'm all for promoting it.

James Deuce
12th January 2005, 10:35
Dunno.
I have no idea what that is, neither did the great, all-knowing Interweb (prolly due to its US bias...)

My view is that it's working fine as it is, and while out riding we should encourage people we meet to join, as long as they're not knob ends.

I belong to some other overseas forums/fora, and they're not as good as this. One example is the UK VFR forum, which uses the same engine as KB, looks simialr, but is much more restrictive in terms of not being able to customise your use until you've posted x messages, and not being able to do many of the things we take for granted unless you become an official (paid up!) member. I don't like it.
Autopoiesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopoiesis)

vifferman
12th January 2005, 10:36
Autopoiesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autopoiesis)
Thanx, Jim! :niceone:

Hitcher
12th January 2005, 10:38
Autopoiesis anyone?
Where an "auto poi" is something used by a robotic Maori entertainment group; making "autopoiesis" the process of mechanical wear and tear associated with said?

sAsLEX
12th January 2005, 10:41
I think promotion is a good idea, but trying to keep up with the new threads coming up will start to be hard work! Will have to get a cellphone like MR's so I can check it while away from my comp!

Blakamin
12th January 2005, 10:42
I'm thinking that we're all big enough to look after the site and run the wankers out as we have in the past.

You'll get more people onboard, sure. There will be trollers amongst them. And people who rub others the wrong way.

Kiwi Biker. A site for all New Zealand motorcyclists.


Good point!!!! and we have a system to deal with wankers anyway....

James Deuce
12th January 2005, 10:48
Merv has already touched on this point in the "other" thread, but I don't trust the print media or KR to understand and present a technology based community in a way that is both positive promotion and clearly representative of the community ideals of that community.

In my experience a large percentage of print publications are both technophobic and dismissive of most things web based and "free". If KR want to enter this space, then perhaps setting up a login under the shops heading and announcing a subscription deal for KR would have been a more honest approach.

I don't have any issue with promoting KB, but it just doesn't need "professional" help, as thanks to Lynda Blair, all "Kiwi Bikers" are connected anyway (she DOES know everyone on two wheels).

White trash
12th January 2005, 11:09
If KR want to enter this space, then perhaps setting up a login under the shops heading and announcing a subscription deal for KR would have been a more honest approach.



I'm not sure that KR have entered this space, mate. Merely a freelance journalist who happens to write for KR, among others.

How about me joining in the hope of boosting my sales figures.........

Sniper
12th January 2005, 11:11
Keep it in the family, no need to advertise it, as you may just get retards on here trying to troll and piss some off

Big Dave
12th January 2005, 11:16
Merv has already touched on this point in the "other" thread, but I don't trust the print media or KR to understand and present a technology based community in a way that is both positive promotion and clearly representative of the community ideals of that community.

In my experience a large percentage of print publications are both technophobic and dismissive of most things web based and "free". If KR want to enter this space, then perhaps setting up a login under the shops heading and announcing a subscription deal for KR would have been a more honest approach.

I don't have any issue with promoting KB, but it just doesn't need "professional" help, as thanks to Lynda Blair, all "Kiwi Bikers" are connected anyway (she DOES know everyone on two wheels).

Yeah, cool - as I've just said in the other thread - This is not a KR initiative - this is me, a long time and enthusiastic MC forum member, moderator and participant - with a world wide circle of friends in places just like this.
I'm a freelancer - I'm not on any KR crusade - But I have good access to the mag and if I can see mutual benefit and an opportunity to produce some entertainment whilst doing it....
I supply material to all the mags - ads mostly and have good relations with Trader & BRM too.
I am also pretty techno savvy and develop sites, (www.amps.co.nz, www.triumphnz.co.nz, www.nzadventures.co.nz, www.radiushealth.co.nz etc etc) multimedia, digital video. So geeky I shouldn't be so cool ;-)

Rest assured - no encroachment - just participation.
td

toads
12th January 2005, 11:17
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=7828 Here's the link.

I like the idea of natural evolution myself. I guess it will happen eventually but, the bigger it gets the more knob heads are likely to join. I know, I know - my tolerant self revealing itself again. :shifty:

I think we also have to think of the work involved for Spank Me and the fact that he does it for virtually nothing...except of course our eternal gratitude and the ocaasional donation via Pay Pal.

Yes well said CSL, I am in total agreement

Ms Piggy
12th January 2005, 11:20
I'm thinking that we're all big enough to look after the site and run the wankers out as we have in the past.

You'll get more people onboard, sure. There will be trollers amongst them. And people who rub others the wrong way.

Kiwi Biker. A site for all New Zealand motorcyclists.

Sez it at the top of the page you're reading and every other page on the site. Who the hell are we to not promote it to the ignorant? I've met a few people here who I now consider to be bloody good mates.

I'm all for promoting it.
Yes this is a good point Jimbolina - I wouldn't have graced most of you with my presence if I had not come across KB's.

I guess we are just a bit protective and selfish about "our precious Kiwi Biker" isn't we.

toads
12th January 2005, 11:30
Yes this is a good point Jimbolina - I wouldn't have graced most of you with my presence if I had not come across KB's.

I guess we are just a bit protective and selfish about "our precious Kiwi Biker" isn't we.

I agree with this to a degree, if promoting it means commercialising it, then the nature of the site would obviously change, spankme has done a wonderful service to nzbikers by running this site ad free, therein lies the difference between this site and the magazine offering to promote it. I tell people I meet about kiwibikers, and most bikers check it out at some stage, but there is a core group of people who post regularly post and socialise on kiwibikers and others that come along briefly and then go away again, so i guess our little community thing will be ok in the long term, as long as the site remains as it is, so we do all need to be supportive of spankme in order to keep it that way!

Paul in NZ
12th January 2005, 11:40
Autopoiesis anyone?

Posts like this should keep most bikers out riding and away from their PC's! :killingme

Paul N

Motu
12th January 2005, 11:52
Like Merv I have been a Kiwi Rider reader from the very begining,they have been and are there for the long haul,the motorcycling community as we know it now would be a lot less than without the influence of KR,John and Pete are kinda out of the picture these days,but the mag goes on,I'll continue to support them.As for active promotion of the site,I'm not keen on that,but passive is ok,just the name out there for people to come along if they feel so inclined.More people,more trolls,more dickheads,more people with knowledge we need,a 2 edged sword.Hopefully the scum will float to the surface and we can flick it off.

MSTRS
12th January 2005, 12:02
I don't have any issue with promoting KB, but it just doesn't need "professional" help, as thanks to Lynda Blair, all "Kiwi Bikers" are connected anyway (she DOES know everyone on two wheels).
Everyone who matters anyway, eh? says he, restraining himself from commenting as expected.

MSTRS
12th January 2005, 12:08
I like the casualness of the place just as it is, what with all the friendly, relaxed banter amongst the close-knit family of members. I'm for letting it evolve at it's own pace as it is doing now. When something is not broken, it's not a good idea to 'fix' it.

crashe
12th January 2005, 12:28
I am only fairly newish to this site...

I actually found out about it in a "Trade Me" thread... someone was talking about motorbikes and they posted up the website... so I was nosey and found you lot...lol.... and I might say what a neat bunch of people you all are.... I have meet a few of you now...

I am not a person that buys the bike magazines, so I would not have found out about it that way ... and I wouldn't think every bike rider would be buying the bike magazines either....

Plus to advertise in the bike magazines costs quite a lot of money.....
and who will end up forking out for it when the bill comes in...
So thats another thing to consider.

riffer
12th January 2005, 12:30
I make an effort to mention the site to as many motorcyclists as I can.

There are about 145 people on KB who have posted more than 200 posts. I imagine they mention it to a number of people as well.

Word of mouth works quite well, and its helped to keep this place a quite tight community.

Of course, things do have a habit of growing and eventually reaching the stage where they get a life of their own. This will happen to KB whether or not it is advertised.

Ultimately, its up to moderators to maintain the tone of the forum, and for forum members to help set the tone too.

We seem to be quite good at managing with one or two dickheads at a time, however, what would KB look like with, say, 50 dickheads posting all at once...

I wonder what would happen if we got to be as large as, say, Visordown, which, quite frankly, I find too daunting to spend too much time on. Too many threads to keep up...

But at the end of the day, we don't OWN kiwibiker. And as it says at the top, it is a site for ALL New Zealand motorcyclists, no matter what.

riffer
12th January 2005, 12:33
Just to clarify...

I don't think we need to actively promote KB

But I don't think we can stop it growing once it gets to a certain point.

Yokai
12th January 2005, 13:19
I vote no, but I think that it will grow... I like it, we have a good mix of people - of all types - tossers *and* cool people...

It seems to be growing by word of mouth - if it were to be actively promoted then I think that the Spankster would have some issues with the numbers, moderating etc, AND.... it would need some kind of big commercial presence.

*plink plink fizzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*

Gixxer 4 ever
12th January 2005, 15:17
I think promotion is a good idea, but trying to keep up with the new threads coming up will start to be hard work! Will have to get a cellphone like MR's so I can check it while away from my comp!

Yes this is somethin I have noted. I work away from the desk during the day and there is so much to read at night. A great place to learn and sometimes troll but can it get to big? :confused: Easy for me to ask as I am already benefiting from KB. I would like to meet more of the people here face to face and the shirts are good for that. I suppose the more members we have the more chance there is we will meet people when out and about. I find I can not vote here as I do not have a definite opinion yet. So with that in mind I can not see the poll result. :crybaby:

Skunk
12th January 2005, 15:19
My only concern with promoting it is one big rush of newbies when the ad comes out. Makes it hard to run a lot of Sk8r_Boi's out at once. :Punk:

Blakamin
12th January 2005, 15:20
So with that in mind I can not see the poll result. :crybaby:
bottom right of poll... view poll results.....

Gixxer 4 ever
12th January 2005, 15:30
bottom right of poll... view poll results.....
:Oops: :o Thanks.........

Gixxer 4 ever
12th January 2005, 15:36
I like the casualness of the place just as it is, what with all the friendly, relaxed banter amongst the close-knit family of members. I'm for letting it evolve at it's own pace as it is doing now. When something is not broken, it's not a good idea to 'fix' it.

Get off the net John and go back to work. :bash: I will tell her in doors and you will have to take her for a ride. :doh: While you are away we will post 10,000 new threads :nono: and you will have to stay up all night to reply to them :lol: :lol: :lol: :killingme :killingme

mangell6
12th January 2005, 16:28
Let word of mouth be the method of promotion. It limits trolls and other such vermin from reaching the site. They will get here eventually, no need to really encourage them.



Gixxer 4 ever - So you too have noticed how much time John spends on here as well. :killingme

Quasievil
12th January 2005, 16:36
If this was a comercial concern then yes promote the fuck out of it, But it isnt its a network of friends therefore keep it amongst us, those new ones that joined will do so for the reasons we did. If new ones join for a commercial carrot or advantage the spirit we have today will be lost tommorrow and I will certainly be sad to see that happen

MSTRS
12th January 2005, 17:07
I'd like to change my vote to reflect my wish that *some* people who are just too observant (they think) be voted off the site :killingme :killingme

MSTRS
12th January 2005, 17:11
Get off the net John and go back to work. :bash: I will tell her in doors and you will have to take her for a ride. :doh: While you are away we will post 10,000 new threads :nono: and you will have to stay up all night to reply to them :lol: :lol: :lol: :killingme :killingme
Her indoors already knows!!! He is already up half the night anyway and the other half too!!!
Mrs MSTRS

MSTRS
12th January 2005, 17:17
Her indoors already knows!!! He is already up half the night anyway and the other half too!!!
Mrs MSTRS
:argh: bloody jetstream.....must remember to sign out to avoid misunderstanding of the 'time I spend on here' :doh:

mangell6
12th January 2005, 19:32
Her indoors already knows!!! He is already up half the night anyway and the other half too!!!
Mrs MSTRS

:ar15: :ar15: Hijacker!!!!


:killingme :lol:

Slingshot
12th January 2005, 19:40
There should be an option for "undecided"


In some ways I think it would be good to attract others to the site.

But on the other hand I can understand the points that have been raised.

Blakamin
12th January 2005, 19:42
There should be an option for "undecided"


In some ways I think it would be good to attract others to the site.

But on the other hand I can understand the points that have been raised.
I think that is what "dont care" is for

Gixxer 4 ever
12th January 2005, 19:54
:argh: bloody jetstream.....must remember to sign out to avoid misunderstanding of the 'time I spend on here' :doh:
Hahahah you wish that was the case. :stupid: I note your computer does a lot of the " Auto Reply to this thread" stuff :doobey: :doobey: :bleh: :bleh:

Gixxer 4 ever
12th January 2005, 20:01
I'd like to change my vote to reflect my wish that *some* people who are just too observant (they think) be voted off the site :killingme :killingme
:bleh: :bleh: :Pokey: Vote away. I think you go to the religious ravings for that. I hear you have joined Zed's group of spammers and repliers or do you use the auto reply S/ware he gave you as a tool now you have become a clan member. :Oops: :lol: :doh:

Gixxer 4 ever
12th January 2005, 20:04
Her indoors already knows!!! He is already up half the night anyway and the other half too!!!
Mrs MSTRS What could this mean ? :blank:

Gixxer 4 ever
12th January 2005, 20:09
Gixxer 4 ever - So you too have noticed how much time John spends on here as well. :killingme
Between this and Trademe he is a very busy boy. Did you come up and stay with John and family a few weeks ago? Sorry I didn't get on the ride but we will catch up one day. :scooter:

Gixxer 4 ever
12th January 2005, 20:14
Well I have made up my mind and will have to withdraw my first response to this thread. Lets leave it to word of mouth.

merv
13th January 2005, 08:21
I ended up answering "No" above only because it was best fit for my thinking. I really needed a choice that was "No, let it grow naturally" which seems to be the comment from many so far anyway.

I don't think we need to advertise, it is KR that needs us not KB that needs KR. Suckers like me they have no worry with anyway, as I just renew my subscription no matter what.

inlinefour
13th January 2005, 08:54
A discussion in another thread raises the issue of whether this KiwiBiker site should be actively promoted through New Zealand motorcycle magazines and other overt channels.

This is our gargre. Should we be in the business of actively growing its membership, or should we just continue to let it evolve organically as it has done to date?

Active promotion comes with some fishhooks, as noted in another thread (if I knew how to link I would, so some help please...).

Vote now!

If its just left to the "circle of friends" concept that most are agreeing with then does that leave the doors shut for other kiwi riders who have just as much right to join as the rest of us?

MSTRS
13th January 2005, 09:06
If its just left to the "circle of friends" concept that most are agreeing with then does that leave the doors shut for other kiwi riders who have just as much right to join as the rest of us?
Can't see why that would be.....there are new joinees all the time

James Deuce
13th January 2005, 09:13
If its just left to the "circle of friends" concept that most are agreeing with then does that leave the doors shut for other kiwi riders who have just as much right to join as the rest of us?
Not at all. That's been mentioned heaps of time. The idea isn't to be exclusive, just to use word of mouth instead of more aggressive methods

Hoon
13th January 2005, 10:26
But then whats the difference between members displaying KB site logos on their bikes/vans/t-shirts etc, and the same info being published in a magazine?? Word of mouth in no guarantee of quality either - what's to stop the idiots telling all their idiot mates?? Are we then not allowed to wear KB shirts/stickers around potential idiots??

Like Spankme has already said, KB is a resource for ALL NZ bikers not just us lucky few who by some cruel twist of fate stumbled across this site while others did not. None of us have any right to impede flow of new members or muzzle spreading the word to other bikers who have just as much right to be part of the KB community as we do. Likewise no one can prevent any member from talking about KB in a magazine, radio or TV interview either.

Besides the paranoia fuelled/security blanket/flawed logic or purely selfish reasons of why someone would be against promoting KB you also have to consider how you expect to enforce it??

If KB were an exclusive club then I would be all for the secret handshakes/wink wink antics but it is not - it is for all NZ bikers.

If you are just trying to stem the flow, all you are doing is delaying the inevitable....better to tackle the problem full on instead of putting it off.

Blakamin
13th January 2005, 10:51
and, as mentioned before, we do have a system for dealing with wankers and trolls and flamers.... :devil2:

sels1
13th January 2005, 10:57
I'm for evolution model, keep it open and free without promotion or commercialisation. Let it grow (as someone put it) "organically"

James Deuce
13th January 2005, 11:08
But then whats the difference between members displaying KB site logos on their bikes/vans/t-shirts etc, and the same info being published in a magazine?? Word of mouth in no guarantee of quality either - what's to stop the idiots telling all their idiot mates?? Are we then not allowed to wear KB shirts/stickers around potential idiots??

Like Spankme has already said, KB is a resource for ALL NZ bikers not just us lucky few who by some cruel twist of fate stumbled across this site while others did not. None of us have any right to impede flow of new members or muzzle spreading the word to other bikers who have just as much right to be part of the KB community as we do. Likewise no one can prevent any member from talking about KB in a magazine, radio or TV interview either.

Besides the paranoia fuelled/security blanket/flawed logic or purely selfish reasons of why someone would be against promoting KB you also have to consider how you expect to enforce it??

If KB were an exclusive club then I would be all for the secret handshakes/wink wink antics but it is not - it is for all NZ bikers.

If you are just trying to stem the flow, all you are doing is delaying the inevitable....better to tackle the problem full on instead of putting it off.
There's no paranoia at all. It just ain't broke. I don't understand the sudden desire to pimp a naturally growing *free* electronic forum in a retailed print medium that has a crossover clientele.

Ms Piggy
13th January 2005, 11:21
If KB were an exclusive club then I would be all for the secret handshakes/wink wink antics but it is not - it is for all NZ bikers.
Oooooooooo - that sounds like something I'd wanna be a part of! Where do I sign up!

I think what people are saying Hoon, is that the way KB's is at the moment is good. We have a great group of regular posters from all walks of life and we have a culture and mood that most of us seem to fit into really well.

I guess, besides the extra work for Spank Me, active advertsing may bring along a lot more trolls and people that don't have respect for KB's and the members. No one is saying that we should cloak KB's in a shroud of secrecy but, I guess it's more about "damage" control.

I tell some riders I meet about KB's (if they are nice to me :shifty: ) but, as Celticno6 pointed out it's not actually OUR SITE, it is a public forum, for it to become OUR SITE we'd have to have membership fess blah, blah, wank, wank etc.

jrandom
13th January 2005, 11:24
At this point, I'd just like to reiterate the old line from uk.rec.motorcycles.

There Is No Clique.

(Which must be said while performing the secret handshake, also while sacrificing one's virgin daughters on the block of a V-twin at the midnight meetings of the Thing That Isn't A Clique.)

jrandom
13th January 2005, 11:26
as Celticno6 pointed out it's not actually OUR SITE, it is a public forum, for it to become OUR SITE we'd have to have... wank, wank etc.

Oooh errr.

Yes, for THAT to happen, there'd have to be a clique.

Good thing There Is No Clique, eh?

Blakamin
13th January 2005, 11:28
of the 1400-odd members we have already, how many actually hang around long enuff to become senior members??? people might just register, have a squiz, decide it's not for them and leave....
I'd say most of KR's readers are dirt fans (i'm not buyin it again coz the road bit sux)... we dont have that big of a dirt thing here at the moment.. they might get bored and leave... or Motu might take care of them... Spanks SV site has 3000 members... how many problems does he have there???

Coyote
13th January 2005, 11:28
At least most dickheads get sucked into cars with big bore exhausts and we only get the few who get into bikes instead

Skunk
13th January 2005, 15:27
of the 1400-odd members we have already, how many actually hang around long enuff to become senior members??? people might just register, have a squiz, decide it's not for them and leave....
I'd say most of KR's readers are dirt fans (i'm not buyin it again coz the road bit sux)... we dont have that big of a dirt thing here at the moment.. they might get bored and leave... or Motu might take care of them... Spanks SV site has 3000 members... how many problems does he have there???I changed ID to avoid senior membership... I don't want the site reminding me how old I am... :moon:

riffer
13th January 2005, 17:35
of the 1400-odd members we have already, how many actually hang around long enuff to become senior members???

133. 9% so far.

Hoon
13th January 2005, 18:34
I think what people are saying Hoon, is that the way KB's is at the moment is good. We have a great group of regular posters from all walks of life and we have a culture and mood that most of us seem to fit into really well.

Yes but the KB members of a year ago felt exactly the same way and if poised with the same question would have probably had the same response.

My question is who's to say things can't get even better???

You have to take the good with the bad and sure we will get more idiots but for every new idiot there is another 100 potential great members. I'm all for doing anything within our power to reach these new people (especially if its for free) but it seems others who have already made it are ready to kick out the ladder from under them.

MSTRS
13th January 2005, 18:45
but it seems others who have already made it are ready to kick out the ladder from under them.
Only SpankMe can kick the ladder out from under them. The rest of us are only allowed to give it a decent shake when reqd :sly: Let the victims (oops, I mean new members) find this place like the rest of us did

James Deuce
13th January 2005, 18:46
Yes but the KB members of a year ago felt exactly the same way and if poised with the same question would have probably had the same response.

My question is who's to say things can't get even better???

You have to take the good with the bad and sure we will get more idiots but for every new idiot there is another 100 potential great members. I'm all for doing anything within our power to reach these new people (especially if its for free) but it seems others who have already made it are ready to kick out the ladder from under them.

You really get an idea in your head and then shake it to death, eh? :)

NC
13th January 2005, 18:48
I think this is a great site, no stalkers, no tards and no psychos....apart from myself. But I'm harmless... :yes:

avgas
13th January 2005, 19:05
i actually found this site via altavista, while looking for GB stuff 2 years ago - it wasnt till i saw a KB sticker on a bike that i bothered to come back here......oh that and i had a broken leg an no other entertainment cept the computer and dvds

NordieBoy
13th January 2005, 19:37
We seem to be quite good at managing with one or two dickheads at a time, however, what would KB look like with, say, 50 dickheads posting all at once...

Like General on VD? :sick:


I wonder what would happen if we got to be as large as, say, Visordown, which, quite frankly, I find too daunting to spend too much time on. Too many threads to keep up...

I just go into "Supermoto" and "Carlito's Amsterdam Style Coffee Shop" in Test, It seems his old one got demolished... :disapint:

MadDuck
13th January 2005, 19:49
I guess it has all been said but I vote no!

When I first stumbled on this site (and a big thanks SpankMe) there were only 500 odd members. They come they go. I am not a big poster as I am more a reader of the great info and advice that is (ahem sometimes) given on the site. I have met some GREAT people and would hate to see it commercialised.

We promote the site by riding sensibly and having fun. Word of mouth imho is the bestest way to get people along here.

Hell will I ever get to 1,000?

moko
13th January 2005, 19:52
I`ve used loads of the bigger UK forums,and they dont do a lot for me.Only one I use as well as this one is Realclassic.This one was started by a couple of people in the Bike mag business in the UK while "taking a career break".This was always a small fairly tight-knit forum with people that met up,helped each other e.t.c.Now these guys are old hands at the mag business and know their stuff,they actually bought out a Magazine that emanated from the web-site rather than the other way round and apart from that it`s unique in that it can only be bought by subscription or at bike rallies.They`ve now got nearly 3000 subcribers ,purely through word of mouth ,and rising fast plus one-off sales at the rallies,shows e.t.c. Point is the forum has stayed exactly the same,people have come and gone but the numbers stay fairly steady,same people still meet up.There`s been the odd dork but they just get totally ignored and give up pretty quick.The web-site and the mag are separate but linked if that makes sense.Not everyone`s into the net,RC has something like 30-odd regular posters and sales of nearly 4000 a month for the mag.When UMG was going only about 10 people used the BB on a regular basis,2 of which I`m still in touch with years later.Point is it dosnt nescessarily follow that publicity in KR will lead to an onslaught of new members,people buy bike mags because they`re into bike mags,not because they`re looking for web-sites,I`d hazard a guess that you`d get maybe 20 max that would come and stick around,probably find a masive increase in lurkers for a while.I know many bikers of all ages,the majority look at MCN and other bike sites if they have the net but most are not interested at all in BBs so anyone thinking there would be 36,000 people suddenly signing up are way off beam.Dosnt really bother me what happens to be honest,not trying to influence anyone either way,just a few observations from my experiences elsewhere.

Jantar
13th January 2005, 19:53
....I'd say most of KR's readers are dirt fans (i'm not buyin it again coz the road bit sux)... we dont have that big of a dirt thing here at the moment..

For a true kiwi road bike magazine try Bike Rider Magazine. Click here http://www.brm.co.nz/trial.asp for a free issue.

Blakamin
13th January 2005, 20:04
For a true kiwi road bike magazine try Bike Rider Magazine. Click here http://www.brm.co.nz/trial.asp for a free issue.
I should edit that bit to say "it sux for the price" and the logo actually reminds me of some aussie magazine a mate used to read... "dirt bike" or somfin.. Like I said, only bought one issue, nearly everything that wasnt BMW was dirt.... and even the BMW shit was adventure bikes... not my style.... it has a target audience and it aint me at that price... motorcycle trader is more my style (hate the "bikemart" or whatever in KR too)will try Bike Rider... cheers Jantar

FROSTY
13th January 2005, 20:05
I'm of mixed emotions here. I'm of the firm opinion that growth is good because evolution is needed to avoid stagnation.
But i too hate the idea of total tossers that don't actually ride getting on this forum and fucking it up.
Ive made some really good mates on here and i'd hate it to go the way other internet forums have

The Preacher
13th January 2005, 20:07
Likewise I found KB while searching for nz motorcycle sites. Spent a few nights reading the pages, had quite a few laughs and decided to register.

My thoughts are: stay with the same :beer:

moko
13th January 2005, 20:20
But i too hate the idea of total tossers that don't actually ride getting on this forum and fucking it up.


Ridersite went that way,dont know about now,and dont care,but the majority of people that were using that last time I looked were office-workers killing time,seemed like a few of them were bikers and a load of their mates were using it as a kind of network during office hours to shoot the breeze with each other.Shit threads like "It`s raining today" and stuff that had been on t.v. the night before.

Silage
13th January 2005, 20:32
As a relative newbie, I got to this site from a Goooogle search for GS1200 and got hooked. It is great and I have mentioned it to a number of others to try. This is a great way for the site to grow - concious directed search and by recommendation. Open promotion would get too many loosies.

wrt annoying loosers, mebee when it looks like something is getting out of hand, have a poll to boot the problem off/stop the problem threads. If the majority agree - whammo. Doesn't stop returns under a new name or thread but might retard it. Some things are just good humour and some is a pain esp when it intrudes into a good discussion.