Get forum in Kiwi Rider?

**toads** · 12th January 2005, 06:58

Originally Posted by Jim2

Call me cynical, but what's the REAL reason KR have sudenly taken an interest in a media and communication format that the print media struggle to understand at best, and occasionally deride at worst?

Remember we have a community here, and as Fire Fight has pointed out in the past it is important that commercial organisations understand and respect the community culture of KB.

Rampant growth is not necessarily a good thing either. Consider the KB culture and ask yourself if we want or need a huge influx of Mikey's or "theknightrider". A lot of good people may give up the fight and go elsewhere if they get too annoyed with battling to keep a friendly non-confrontational community forum going. I enjoy swapping a bit of banter, but I don't want to end up in the situation of defending myself or others from comments or threads that are an in-joke.

I've participated in a couple of other forums that began the self promotion route and ended up with a very different cultural idiom, very quickly, with the consequence that the things I enjoyed about those forums disappeared almost overnight.

I agree with you here Jim, many of us are reborn bikers who want nothing more than to associate with like minded people, without the baggage of belonging to some club or group. I would be quite pissed off if this site had it's backbone broken through promoting it in the wrong way.

**merv** · 12th January 2005, 07:44

You'll see from this pic of my WR that I support both media http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...achmentid=5991

I have subscribed to KiwiRider from way back having originally subscribed to NZ Motorcycle News in the 70's which later merged or was taken over or something to become KiwiRider. I still enjoy their mag, but having met John Nick, Vege etc and having dropped into their HQ myself I find them at times an annoying bunch because they haven't embraced the new technology very well. While they tell you their e-mail address, try getting a reply from them? The other thing they are apt to do is either bastardise your letters to them so badly in the mag it doesn't make the same sense you intended, and the classic for me is that they have printed letters over my name that I have never written, but they have picked the comments up from verbal discussion I have had with them and then written them in their language.

They also do not seem to like having errors pointed out to them, which my Bro' is apt to do when the print factually incorrect stuff - like mixing up make, model, specs all that kind of stuff to do with bikes.

Now this forum is totally different because being live on-line we have all the banter and get stuff commented on straight away, there is no dickshit stuff being printed 2 months later out of context, with incorrect info etc.

Both media have their place in my house but I would spend more hours a month on here than reading the mag.

**Skunk** · 12th January 2005, 07:46

I'd be against promoting it too widely as it can attract the "wrong" sort. Let it grow with people who want to be here...

**Biff** · 12th January 2005, 08:00

I think it's a bad idea - I mean how can you take any bike mag seriously when it votes the FJR1300 as touring bike of the year?

Seriously though - no forget it, on second thoughts I don't do serious today.

**Blakamin** · 12th January 2005, 08:30

I only bought my first copy of it weeks ago... going back to motorcycle trader... cheaper....
Anyone want to start a poll???

**sels1** · 12th January 2005, 08:52

I'm with Jim2 and co....I am a bit suspicious when a commerical enitity takes an interest in our site...call me old fashioned but I like it the way it is.
No offence DD, enjoyed yr website.

**dangerous** · 12th January 2005, 09:13

Originally Posted by Jim2

Call me cynical, but what's the REAL reason KR have sudenly taken an interest in a media and communication format that the print media struggle to understand at best, and occasionally deride at worst?

Remember we have a community here, and as Fire Fight has pointed out in the past it is important that commercial organisations understand and respect the community culture of KB.

Rampant growth is not necessarily a good thing either. Consider the KB culture and ask yourself if we want or need a huge influx of Mikey's or "theknightrider". A lot of good people may give up the fight and go elsewhere if they get too annoyed with battling to keep a friendly non-confrontational community forum going. I enjoy swapping a bit of banter, but I don't want to end up in the situation of defending myself or others from comments or threads that are an in-joke.

I've participated in a couple of other forums that began the self promotion route and ended up with a very different cultural idiom, very quickly, with the consequence that the things I enjoyed about those forums disappeared almost overnight.

I agree with Jim, just a late I have been thinking that KB is expanding a bit fast...... selfesh of me I know..... But I injoy this forum because of its current size, I think if it were to go commercial that a lot of caracter and the caracters on it will be lost to a certian degree.
I would be interested to know what the Boss thinks about this.

**jrandom** · 12th January 2005, 09:24

I don't want KiwiBiker promoted in print media.

If the membership grows, it should be by referral, or by people stumbling across the site and decided to stay. I think that online communities have optimum sizes, beyond which they can only splinter and divide if discourse is to be maintained.

Also, who the hell is going to pay for it when the site's traffic goes up by an order of magnitude? Does anyone want SpankMe to have to start letting advertising in?

The place would go to the dogs. Tell KR to stick to badly-written dirtbiking articles and phone sex advertisements.

**Paul in NZ** · 12th January 2005, 09:56

This site is already far too big and not enough people think exactly like me! To this end, I reckon anyone who is not called Paul and does not own a red Mk2 Moto Guzzi Lemans should be kilt by death.

Ah hem!

Folks! The one thing we can agree on here is that we will never agree on anything. Even on a KB ride there are people who want to ride really fast and people happy pootling. It's the differences that are charming.

A KB ride can attract fat old bastards like me staggering along on museum pieces, the latest and greatest ridden with great vigour by slim hipped Rossi wannabes, cruisers, trail bikes, 150's, guys, girls, homos (apparently) and once a rubber chicken. I doubt any other bike group (other than say a public toy run)would host such diversity.

The motorcycle community in NZ is NOT a large one. It is unlikely to grow too big!

All web creatures and clubs have a natural life cycle. This one is in it's teens and full of vigour. Just be thankful you are a part of the good times now. Let tomorrow worry about it'self!

Paul N

ps - all the feckin' trouble is started by people that don't think like me. I have made a list and I reckon we should ban them ALL!

**Hitcher** · 12th January 2005, 09:58

Originally Posted by Lynda Blair

Mr Hitcher: I think this could be a job for you and your wonderful prose????

What is it you would like me to say? Something like this, perhaps...

If you love motorbikes, riding them and meeting up with other like-minded folks; and if you're connected to that Interweb thingee, then log-on to www.kiwibiker.co.nz to find out what's REALLY happening in the world of Kiwi Bikers!

We talk about everything, anything and nothing. And we have a lot of fun doing it. All interests and tastes are catered for -- there is even an interactive games arcade.

Come and check out our gargre. You will be made most welcome.

**Hitcher** · 12th January 2005, 10:01

Originally Posted by FzerozeroT

a dictortatorial spell check system?

Only when the dictortators are awake and alert...

**Hitcher** · 12th January 2005, 10:03

All good feedback. I'll design a poll...

**Blakamin** · 12th January 2005, 10:17

Originally Posted by Hitcher

All good feedback. I'll design a poll...

bugga.....

**Big Dave** · 12th January 2005, 10:17

Interesting responses, thank you. Never thought of it from some of those angles.
Well yes - frankly, we are looking for more letters to the editor and this seems like the logical place to find them - communicative people with something to say!?!
No personal 'commercial angle' in this, other than trying to make the mag more entertaining and relevant - and try and benefit this site. Daz all.

The magazine welcomes contributions by you guys - we are you guys. All different - tastes, bikes, styles, opinions - and prone to typographical error. The latter we sadly regret.

So, how can advising more people of the existence of the forum be detrimental to it? I've been playing on MC forums for many years now and have always found 'new and more' - the merrier. Sure, there is an 'a**hole index', but welcome to life - eh?

Anyway, thanks again, fwiw i have done articles about internet groups in the mag in the past (and will continue to do so in a positive, supportive context).

I didn't vote for the FJ1300. It's not made in England.

All good.
dd