| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
A Tale of Three Forums I tend to hang out on three motorcycle specific Internet forums at the present time. There have been other forums in the past, but I drifted away. Sometime in the future I might drift back, but right now there are three that I favor. The one that I’ve been on longest is Bad Weather Bikers. It’s a Buell and EBR enthusiasts’ forum, and over the years, I’ve met a number of the members in person, and most I consider as friends. Almost all of the folks there are pretty decent people. After Hardley – Ableson killed Buell motorcycles, the membership slowly dropped, and now there are a lot of political threads, but I still have friends there, and motorcycles are still discussed between rants about Republicats and Democrans and how they’re ruining the Country. Next is Wild Goose Chase. It’s a Moto Guzzi lovers forum. I started posting there when my ex got her Breva 750. After she sold it, I faded away until I got my Norge 1200; then I got into it a good bit more. Political discussions are explicitly forbidden, and a thread will be deleted if it gets too political. It’s also very Family friendly. Crude language and topics are not allowed. There are a lot of really good people there, and the members that I’ve met at the rallies I’ve attended were all really decent folks. The third is the Moto Campers forum. It’s a small forum that isn’t Marque specific; it’s aimed toward folks who love to use their motorcycles for travel and camping. I haven’t been on there long, but I’ve received a lot of really good suggestions about my upcoming trip this summer and help in choosing which gear to use. Most of the folks there are into very large touring bikes like Gold Wings and Electra Glides, and it seems like the majority pull trailers. So far, there are none who I wouldn’t enjoy meeting while on the road. It’s even more Family oriented than Wild Guzzi, and rude behavior is not allowed. It’s a decent forum populated by decent people. One of the things that I find Interesting is the different personality types that gravitate toward each forum. The folks on Badweb are very different from the folks on WildGuzzi. For example; in 2010 I attended the Buell Homecoming. As a little “enhancement”, I had made up key fobs that had Buell Homecoming 2010 debossed on the straps as give aways. They were a big hit and people loved them. The following year, I made up similar key fobs that said MGNOC Elkader 2011, and they went over like a skunk at a church picnic. Last night, I decided to cook a real “Comfort Food” meal for myself (Cheeseburger, fried onions and roasted potatoes) and I put a short post about it on all three forums. Here’s what I posted: I'm sitting here eating a cheeseburger that was fried in butter on a Martin's Potato Bread roll with a nice layer of Sauteed Onions (also fried in butter) and a reasonable amount of Heinz 57 Ketchup. As a side, I'm having oven roasted Yukon Gold potatoes seasoned with salt, black pepper, oregano and garlic powder. It doesn't get much better than this. Just thought I'd make y'all jealous. The responses are interesting. The folks at Wild Guzzi took the bit and ran with it. People posted pictures of meals and described what they were having, threw a couple of joke comments in the mix, and generally had fun with it. (Pork & beans, sardines and Limburger? Just don’t camp near me!) There were 28 replies as of this morning. The people on Badweb posted what they had to eat, but there was almost no enthusiasm shown. There were 7 responses. I guess the people on Moto Campers don’t enjoy food that much. I got one response (although, that one response sure sounded like a really good meal!). Then again, I wonder how much membership size has to do with both the number of responses and the enthusiasm expressed. If there aren’t a lot of forum members, there won’t be a lot of responses, ya know? It will be very interesting this summer when I post about my ramblings on each of the forums. I wonder what kind of responses I’ll get. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Interesting observations Crusty. It is funny how forums seem to have personalities. Another thing I've noticed is how some forums seem to be "dead" at certain times of day or on certain days of the week. I did read your post last night and I was going to post a youtube video of a "Hey Grandpa, What's for Supper?" segment from the old Hee Haw TV show, but I couldn't find a good one. That's the first thing I thought of when I read your post. I did find this one: | ||
| Thumper74 |
Badweb and advrider are the only ones I can stand. I'll go to others for information, but don't actively participate. | ||
| Reindog |
With the exception of the Trolls, Badweb members are passionate, charitable, knowledgeable, and just plain friendly. It continues to amaze me how Badwebbers go way out of their way to help fallen bikes and bikers get better. What's there not to like? | ||
| Ulywife |
Well said Reindog. We may come for the bikes, but we stay for the people. We have met Buellers over the past 8 years or so, many of which we consider family. Can't beat it! I don't always comment on your post Crusty, but they are always fun to read. Hope you have a fun and safe summer as you ride the roads. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Thumper summed up my position exactly. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I have recently jumped back into the RC car hobby and of course one of the main sources (the best) of info is the messageboard at traxxas.com There is so much activity there it's pretty amazing (and cool) you can receive half a dozen responses within an hour even if you re-thread the the most mundane, repeated issue. It's actually hard to keep track of which threads interest you as the threads are bumped to the second page within a day or two. Certainly this is different than Badweb and obviously the reason is due to the greater number of members on the Traxxas forum as well as a younger demographic, which has been raised on Internet. The main drawback over there are the over-bearing moderators. Because it's a Traxxas-owned site, they have banned support of other manufacturers products. I know at least some of the Mods are Traxxas employees and they definitely seem to enjoy their policing "powers"--although other forum members silently "drop a dime" on possible violators as the sheer volume on that messageboard is overwhelming for a handful of Mods. It's also "family friendly"--even to the point that even when your off color words are ****'ed out, you still get reprimanded by the mods. I'm looking for a good third party RC forum so ideas can freely be discussed with some overbearing Traxxas employee slapping me on the wrist for every ****. | ||
| Iamike |
Crusty, I know what you are talking about. I found the Badweb when I was bike shopping 17yrs ago. When I bought my '99 Buell it became part of the family. The S3 is gone but the Badweb is still here. I have a VFR and used to visit VFRWorld but now only do if I need technical help. I occaissionally go to ST1300 users but it doesn't get much traffic. Good technical help since a couple guys are mechanics. But like the Buell, since the bike isn't made any more it seems to be fading some. I'm not a member of ADVRider, but my gosh do the ride reports get me going. It's amazing the trips that people post there. My wife will see me on it and ask "Where are you going now?". But the Badweb is still home. Someday I may pick up a vintage Buell but I still come here regularly. | ||
| Strokizator |
Go to the basement of ADVRider if you're not getting enough abuse at home/work. The libs rule the roost there. Otherwise stay away and read the ride reports or motorcycle specific threads, which are very informative. When I had my RV I occasioned the Class A forum on RV.net. They had an old guy there who was the self-appointed king. His posts always had numerous words with all CAPS so that you could grasp just how important his opinions were. And don't dare disagree with this clown because you'll get private e-mails from him. Even though my Uly bit the dust some years ago, I hang on to my Blast just for a little credibility (plus it's fun). Badweb is still home. Lots of useful information on just about anything you can ask about. Turns out Buell owners are as knowledgeable as they are diverse. Get your questions on smokers, guns, guitars, cameras, computers, camping equipment, 4x4's, snow machines, etc., answered here. No need to scan other forums for answers. Plus, I don't think there's been an oil thread for years. | ||
| Azxb9r |
This may be a bit off topic, but if you have a Norge why did you want a sportster for your upcoming road trip? Back on topic, I have noticed that the Bad Web is much busier during the winter than during summer. All you snow bound types getting bored I figure  | ||
| Court |
>>>>Interesting observations Crusty. It is funny how forums seem to have personalities. That's always been true. Since Buell was the first motorcycle company, in fact the first company that made anything with wheels, to have a website and an owners chat . . .it's bee fun to watch over the years. Probably the funniest incident was set off my the fairing stay recall . . the full cell recall never really drew any attention . . . but, I attribute the fairing stay as the one that woke some folks up and the first time HD realized owners could "talk back" . .hence it's 36 hour life span. Next came what, arguably, remains one of the most passionate and ground breaking forums and that was AOL R.I.D.E. 3 of us here on Badweb . . Chalky (who I call Chuck) and D (who you call either Denise or Mrs. Bueller) survive to this day. It proved . . when one of our members spewed out that the Iron Butt looked easy and promptly made his point . . first on a Gold Wing and next on a 167cc 2-stroke Zündapp. . . Soon . . along came Motorcycle Online with Brent Plummer . . . . it brought out some amazing folks and started an argument which saw me set off on a memorable ride that covers 37 states in 31 days that was featured in all the moto mags and I was doing a "Where's the Buell?" radio call in show 3 days a week as I'd make a 15 minute call in from amazing places. Somewhere in there I hit all the IMS shows for 2 years (leaving Topeka every Thursday and hosting rides . . including the "God, I love this sport" ride that served as the basis for my friendship with the famous Josef Boyd. From there . . . grew a handful of the true nutcase . . . .who were doing a daily "reply to all" e-mail . . . after a bit the cranky Texan tired of it and adopted the cutting edge . . . .actually one of the only at the time . . forum software Discus and started Badweb. In the interim . . . . many have come and gone . . . But Badweb . . through good times and bad has endured. I suspect the story should be told someday . . . . | ||
| Jaimec |
Hey, don't forget all the motorcycle forums that used to exist on Compuserve. That's where I first "met" you, Court! | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Yeah, we are a web forum with a motorcycle problem. I like hanging out here for the technical info, the insights on Buells and, for the most part non-pc, no BS discussions. | ||
| Court |
>>>That's where I first "met" you, Court! True that . . . .you were . . . and remain . . . a 2-wheeled legend in the NYC area. I recall looking forward to having Susan introduce us at the IMS show. Were you are the Buell party I threw at the Ducati flagship store? That was a classic . . . Mark was a heck of a guy and agreed to let me use his store for a Buell party and even brought in a Super Mono as eye candy. | ||
| Jaimec |
No, I missed that, unfortunately. I just remembered that those forums are also where I first became acquainted with Mr. Kittrelle as well. Good times. I knew Susan from before Compuserve (we were both part of the New York/Long Island organized motorcycling community) but I also made a lifelong friend with a young lady on the left coast named Erika Lockhart. She was one of the first to have an All-woman motorcycle team (her tuners and mechanics were all women too). Cycle News had done an article on her and her team (Rush Racing) back then. She's moved on to other things but we still keep in touch and she still rides. In fact, I lent her my Lightning Long when she was over for a visit and she was all set to add one to her stable when Harley pulled the plug on Buell. She ended up with a Honda CBR929RR which was stolen and totaled. She now rides a VFR800 and plans on taking it cross country to see her friends (including me) on the east coast "soon."  | ||
| Luftkoph |
I still have one of those key fob things from 2010 thanks again Crusty | ||
| Blake |
Burger fried in butter you say? Can I get some extra cheese and bacon on that? | ||
| Jaimec |
Try butter AND Worcestershire sauce. The burgers taste AMAZING.  To echo Crusty's original observation: I belong to a couple of other forums too. Although there is a LOT of chatter in their "Technical Areas," there is nothing quite like Bad Web's "Quick Board" anywhere else that I've found. | ||
| Pwnzor |
BadWeB is pretty much the "it" board for me. I'm on riderforums, Bloke's, Florida Sportbikers, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Vanning.com, and Expeditors Online. The only one besides BadWeB that allows any sort of open candor is Florida Sportbikers... but there's too much NSFW content to leave that on an open browser in my house. So, BadWeB it is. In perpetuity. | ||
| Chauly |
Courtness, your recall ain't bad for the early days of the Compuserve RIDE forum (for an old man!), but Martin rode an ST1100 in the first IB (later I rode it in in DE), the Zundapp in '97, then came back in '99 with a 1938 BMW R50 (which broke a crank right near the BMW plant in SC!). I still stay in touch with quite a few of the gang: Mark Gregg, Joan Brewster, Mac McCowen, Don Kime, Martin Hildebrandt (he has an Easter pig roast every year)... they keep popping up like bad pennies! And, from the late, lamented Joe Boyd:  | ||
| Daves |
I hang out on an archery site most of the time anymore but Badweb will always feel like home to me! | ||
| Xbpete |
BWB for the last 9 years for me has been a source of celebration. I read a lot and post a little but every morning I check out my favorite discussions,, ,like the O and occasionally Okra,,, , I was an admin on a couple forums and watch traffic rise, fall, arguments,,,, all the crap we see in the news blowing the membership to hell when somebody gets a bug up their ass. But Bad Web.... A celebration of the genius of Erik's engineering from the Barn to the RX running in WSB... And above all else,,, the care, love and compassion showed like the brightest beacon of light one could ever hope to see on the Interweb for Glitch when he took ill An amazing group of folks unlike any other I have witnessed on the web. Kudos Blake and your core,,, (Message edited by XBPete on April 01, 2015) | ||
| Thumper74 |
Ditto. I sold my Buell two years ago yesterday (  ). I'm riding a DR650 (recently installed Web Cam, JE Piston, FCR Carb, ground header pipe, slip-on, fully set-up suspension, etc.) set up for a side car (...soon) and a Triumph ST. I like both, but the Buell was my first love. I'm looking for another XBS with amber wheels now. | ||
| Doz |
Funny Crusty but your spot on with the differences in forums. I first started at ATC, but found badweb more comfortable | ||
| Steveford |
I'm active on a couple of guitar forums (Gibson and Acoustic Guitar), Audio Circle for stereo stuff and BadWeb and Triumphrat.net for motorcycles. If it wasn't for this site we'd be in for a tough time of it in keeping our Buells going. As for the Guzzi riders, Ride To Eat, Eat To Ride! | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Food, bikes, travel, girls, music and more food .... I am all about it. https://storia.me/profile/@harleydudekorea A new social platform - take a look  I am Aboard & Abroad there. Adventures in overseas travel from an expat American that loves ethnic foods, Russian language / culture and motorcycles! Riding and discoveries for the perfect bliny, piroshki, pelmeni, and sashlik. y'all might enjoy #He4Sammich | ||
| Blasterd |
I am a member of just about every motorcycle forum out there in my years on 2 wheels but this one and Advrider are the only 2 I ever check anymore. I have not owned a Buell in 3 years and been without a working bike for 2 years but I have met so many people here since 1999 and so many people on Advrider since 2001 that I can't let go. God Bless |
