This Forum is Dying?

[Suntan Sid]

Wasn't sure where to put this, thought about "Forum Feedback" but let's face it, it wouldn't get read there, so it's here.

I've been a member here for 10 years and for the most part it's been an enjoyable experience. Recently though there's been a noticeable decline in the enjoyment factor. It's not a patch on what it was even 5 years ago, it's become a humourless place full of ungrateful, angry, little, keyboard warriors, constantly bitching and point scoring.
Oh, and for some reason we, currently, seem to be tolerating and encouraging an, overtly, racist troll!

I'm reliably informed that there are now forum members who post exclusively in the Facefook group, there's at least one of them that didn't even know the BBQ had been cancelled, . IMO, Facefook will kill this forum stone dead!
Mid evening, tonight, there were 3 registered members logged in, FFS!

While I'm on the subject of the, cancelled, BBQ, I know that a few of the people who said they'd be attending had genuine reasons why they couldn't make it. However there were others who made the excuse that they couldn't afford it, what, you couldn't save 75p a week, FRO?
Putting your name down then never bothering to do anything about it and leaving it until the last month to decide you're not coming is not on!
You all knew where and when it was taking place, on the Saturday night of last years' BBQ!
These things have to be organised, they don't just happen by magic, thanks to the intransigence of certain members, TSK and myself have wasted loads of time and missed out on a 3 week holiday!

IMO, this forum is going downhill rapidly, if the Facefook thing continues this forum won't last the next 18 months, get off Facefook and use the forum, "use it or lose it", as the saying goes!
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[piazza]

I'm glad it's not just me that's noticed. Being a sad bastard I use this site daily and have done since I joined

It's unusual in that most of the regulars seem to have vanished almost overnight. Im sure it's some 'in' joke or whatever. I thought half the forum didn't use that site you mentioned..I know I don't.
I did wonder if someone had se up another forum

The BBQ reminded me of being a teenger and organising a holiday in the pub - suffice to say no one turned/payed up.

Dd you see the 2 gt's on ebay btw?

[Suntan Sid]

[pepperami]

You’re right this place has become a bit stagnant.
I miss the very silly sense of humour there use’d to be on here.

I do not even have a failbook account, so not guilty on that count.

I think the trolls discourage genuine chat on here .

Me? I’m a saddo and like it here
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[piazza]

Both sold! bugger same guy had both of them.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-GT80MX-1973-DT80-MX-YZ-80-Monkey-bike-kids-motorbike-/163186882715?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137

[Howling Terror]

Not much I can add to that Sid.

BCF stands apart from other bike forums due to freedom and its idiosyncrasies <<<spellchecked.was going to type weirdness.
It has proper intelligent clientele, creative and skilled people who tirelessly give information and advice (sometimes whether you need it or not).

I just do nob gags but there is humour abound and BCF has empathy too. Casting my mind back to members who have fixed bikes, gave lifts, loaned bikes, donated money to ill members, loaned tools, picked up stranded bikers (probably for sex but it's the thought that counts) etc and I've most definitely missed out 1001 other ways that this forum helps.

Come back to BCF you facebookers. Your data is safe with us.

...and for those who haven't joined don't be shy...yes you may have the micky taken out of you, like when I first posted, but that just means we like you.
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[grr666]

Fora are so noughties. People want instant communication these days, not check back for a reply hours/days later.
I think that has a lot to do with it. Plus this forum is a dated computer program, maybe if the powers that be spent
some advertising dough on making the forum a little more modern like some other popular forums it may improve the
user experience. Search is unfit for purpose, the site is glitchy and not especially well set out, the regional forums are
mostly a waste of server space and so sparsely used they are just pointless. There's lots of room for improvement.

Maybe a tiered paid membership is the answer, a forum I used to use (Which I no longer do because speaking ones
mind was fine so long as you toed the party line, say one word that was even slightly controversial and your posts
were removed or altered.) favoured a non compulsory subscription setup. For some time I was quite happy to support
that site until the censorship and white knighting begun. So I let my membership lapse and after a fairly long final post
highlighting their hypocrisy and naming a few names I left and haven't been back since. Regrettable as I made some good
pals on there including the guy for whom I am being best man at his wedding next March, but principles etc.

Bad experience aside, I still used to gladly pay to use that site. £12 a year. But for that money I was able to use the sites
marketplace (non payers weren't) and some features and abilities were afforded to members who put their hand
in their pocket. But, because of this, the site was well maintained with new forum software periodically, competitions
and prizes, a forum for the site sponsors to advertise their goods and services and slick modern software. Not bad,
even if it was run by SJWs. This place is dying for some investment of time and money but the big cheese here seems
far too busy being elusive than involved with the site he set up. Perhaps we should be petioning this Korn bloke
for some kind of show of interest, but from my seat it seems he'd sooner rake in the advertising profits than keep
this place interesting, modern and relevant. I don't think in my time here I've seen a single post and I'm on here a fair bit.

As for the left/right bickering thing. Myself included, there are nobs on both sides of that fence, I don't think singling anybody
out is at all fair. In the interest of balance and preserving the final remaining bastion of online free speech, it's a case
of taking the rough with the smooth. As soon as you start gagging ANYBODY then frankly this place is pointless.
We can have watered down conversations in any number of limp, non committed fora. What makes here special is it's
NOT LIKE THOSE PLACES. The day this place becomes heavily moderated will be the day it dies a quick, meaningless death.
But I certainly do think it needs investment, both of time and money. I won't hold my breath though.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Suntan Sid]

I can't see "Show and Tell" working anywhere other than on an, old fashioned, forum, it would simply be too disjointed on Facefook!

If people can't afford 75p a week for an all inclusive weekend bash, I doubt see them stumping up £'s to talk shite on here!

Personally I don't want more ads, I'd like less, zero if it was possible.
I've got no problem with the forum interface, I just wish the search worked properly.

My reference to a racist troll has nothing to do with "Politics and Current Affairs", but has everything to do with a recently joined member who likes to parade his ignorance forum wide!

My gripe about "Politics and Current Affairs" is the pathetic, playground level, name calling that goes on, some people need to grow the fook up!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[grr666]

[Marmalade]

All forums are dying. People just tend to not use them anymore.

Things changed here a couple of years ago and people started dropping off.

The organising thing is a pain in the arse. It’s hiw it happens, organise anything and half of those definitely coming won’t show up.

BBQ, rideout, trip to Europe etc, always look add say they’ll be there and then get let down.

A group with 20,000 members. 2000 said they were going, 500 turned up.
It makes you not want to bother.
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[c_dug]

Once upon a time I was in the top 10 regular posters or something like that, I still come back to read pretty much daily, old habits are hard to break, but reckon I post about a tenth as much, if that.

There was a real cliquish element for a while that I think ruined it for a lot of people, it seemed to fall below critical mass in terms of users at that point. It was then that I stopped posting so much at least.

Unfortunately moderation is required to an extent, and for a while there was very little. Stinkwheel has done a pretty admirable job IMO but perhaps too little too late to save the place?

I think also new licensing laws have really killed off young riders and a constant drip feed of new blood is needed for this sort of place too.

Oh, also since my bike got stolen I'm far less engaged in road bikes in general. I won't have one for the foreseeable future either, as much as I'd like to. I don't buy bike magazines any more, don't really keep up with new bikes from manufacturers. Bike theft killed it all for me.

Perfect storm maybe.

Sad times...
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[recman]

I does seem to be slowly turning into a resource forum rather than what it was when even I joined six years ago.
Personally, I'm not bothered about instant replies, I cancelled my faceaché account many moons ago.
There are still a lot of interesting, intelligent and very helpful characters on here to keep me coming back each day but that's probably due to me turning into a boring old fart who'll read and enjoy any old shite.

[linuxyeti]

Valid point about the decrease in new riders, having said that, new car licences have also dropped by about 50% in the last 10 years or so, so it's possibly tied in with more of a societal trend in that sense. But yeah, the hoops that have to be jumped through for new bikers and the overall cost is very discouraging for new those new to biking..

Coupled with, generally, an improvement in public transport, more working from home, the rise in cycling, and electric push bikes, again, all add to the downward pressure of new riders coming on stream..

I also agree, that, certain individuals, have promoted racism to such an extent, that it's putting new people off from joining, or discouraging existing forum members from interacting with the forum. Again, these sort of posts will invariably discourage the younger members of society to join in, quite simply because, they are far less racist & prejudiced than the older generations.

I don't think the rise of social media has had an overtly negative effect on the forum, and, again, depending on age, which social media platform would you use as a replacement, for example, my daughter, and none of her friends use facebook, to them, facebook is so passe.
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Beware what photos you upload, or link to on here, especially if you have family members on them

[Ste]

Somebody needs to make this place great again.

All the batching, whining, name calling, bawwwwwing and general pettiness in Current Affairs can easily be fixed. All people have to do is stop replying.

Updating the antique version of BCF with something more 2018 with many flashy features won't fix the forum. Things which would benefit from updating include the how to get a licence thread in the new bikers forum as that thread is about 33bhp licenses.

As soon as you charge people or accept donation towards running the site then expectations change so I think that would be a dangerous path to go down.

I think the BBQ is a totally separate issue and I'd say that it went wrong this year due to the expense of hiring a motocross track when nobody was bringing any motocross bikes.

Make BCF great again!!!

[DrSnoosnoo]

I went quiet when I stopped riding as much, I let my bike get in too bad condition. During that time I did more reading than replying on this forum. Still read it and pop on a few times a day!

BBQ - We all do appreciate the Suntans for the quest of trying to find and book venues year on year. I was in no position to come this year but I too, get frustrated when people say, yeah I'm all over this, who then go quiet when it comes time to pay up.
Back to basics next year - camping, fires, food, music and with me expecting Chickenstrip to just know all the best roads in the area and follow him around for an afternoons activity - or have him wait at a crossroads while I catch up

I think some of the politics & CA spills over, with some trying to point score from threads of old. Let's talk bikes again.

Do you even nod, bro?
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Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[pepperami]

[MarJay]

I think it's improved a lot in all honesty. Sure we have to put up with Bodytard or whatever his name is now, but just think of the epic levels of trolls who no longer frequent the place.

IMO the BBQ was a bit of a fluke over the last few years if only because most people would want to decide whether or not to go at the last minute. To make that decision so early and commit to something isn't always possible, and I for one always intended to go but not knowing my circumstances ahead of time could not commit. This year I seem to recall it was more money and had a requirement for an earlier commitment than previous years. I get that's down to facilities and what have you, but things change, circumstances change and people can't always commit to sitting in a field for 48 hrs.

A lot of people moved to Whatsapp, but then it turned into a Brexit nutter echo chamber so I've no idea if it's still going or not.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[panrider_uk]

[grr666]

Quick note, I suggested an optional charge. As I said above, a tiered membership. People who do pay
naturally take a greater ownership of usage of the resource. For that, a few posting privileges like deleting posts,
a BCF sticker or two plus a members only forum where topics can be discussed by the regulars out of view of
the untermensch. It will only be populated by people who care enough about this place to pay what might
be a pound a month. Discounts for 2 year and 5 year memberships respectively.

And maybe if Korn got off his arse and contacted a few places like Sportsbikeshop for instance seeking some
sponsorship or deals for members. It means some time on the phone, a visit or two maybe but these places are
usually very keen to sell their shit and are familiar with the idea about affiliation with an online community and the
possible marketplace that brings I used to make my subscription back and then some every single year using the
discounts and sponsors page. On discounted airport parking alone actually. I very much get the impression he
doesn't give a fuck about BCF, just the money the advertising nets him. I mean this thread is about the death of
his baby, and where is he?

Of course it wasn't perfect There were the odd one or two who would demand their money back pre flounce and there
was a refund mechanism which could only be evoked by the #1 big cheese so any gripes bad enough to leave for
wouldn't escape his notice. When I went he contacted me directly asking why I felt I couldn't stay, I told him,
we agreed to differ and went our separate ways. I didn't ask for a refund btw. But as a system it worked pretty well.
That said, all the regulars pretty much were paid members.

I don't see how anybody who uses the enemying and karma system can complain this place is potentially hostile.
Enemy/Friend. Black/white. We've literally been given forum tools to be dicks to each other. By the way, modern
forum software can 'talk' to Facebook, there's no need at all to have the facebook using members as a separate entity
once the coffers have been pried open for some software that isn't donkeys years old.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Daytona Loner]

As a someone who joined this forum just two days ago, here's my perspective.

I started a thread, and explained I just bought a Triumph tt600 after 10 years away from biking, and asked politely for any opinions and experiences that anyone had.

A couple of members responded, but then sure enough a so called World chat world champion replied.

''Would've thought the OP would have done his research on the bike before lining one up, but hey-ho''

Nice thing to say to someone who just joined up. The guy is clearly a prick with issues, who would'nt talk to someone in the real world like that , anyway I reckon it's keyboard warriors like him that put people off more than anything else

[grr666]

[Ste]

[wr6133]

Not been here particularly long but I've had some really good advice and information from this forum. Also some epic levels of help (Marmalade came and picked up my crashed bike for me once all arranged on here).

I usually have a read every night when I get home from work and has seemed lately there is alot less to read. The ratio of shite/troll threads to interesting threads has become noticeably less favourable. Regional forums are pretty dead, you could post a video of yourself sodomising Rita Ora in the South West Forum and it'd be 12 months before anyone wanked over it.

Most active area seems to be politics and current affairs (rebrand as PCF?).

I'm with Grr666 that the place could do with a bit of a spruce up. Alot of people nowdays are using phones to access this kind of stuff and this forum looks like utter dogshit on my Android phone. If I was a young lad new to biking and saw this forum on my phone I wouldn't bother joining. Would I pay for the privilege of it being rebuilt though?...... probably not.

Don't think the BCF facebook groups are very active though, or at least the 2 I'm a member of are dead.

TLDR

- Someone sodomise Rita Ora and post it in SW forum

- Rebuild site to look less like a pile of shite on Android

-Rethink the subforums and keep stickies updated or delete them and let someone rewrite a modern version

[skatefreak]

If we want to tap into the younger audience then we need to consider upgrading the forum so it is more accessible and convenient because the bar has been set so high with the likes of facebook and reddit mobile apps. Desktop exclusive sites can be quite the chore on a small phone.

We could always tap into the likes of tapatalk if we upgraded the forum and this would bring a host of features like instant updates direct to your phone (do-able via email albeit clunky), simplified, clearer and easier to navigate/read interface and input, enhanced friend/following over multiple forums...

Whilst these features aren't deal breakers for many of us here, if we're looking to sustain the site then we need to keep up.

In regards to the politics, random banter, trolling, inside jokes and nobcats.. the content defines the forum and the tolerance/lack of PC enforcement brings out some uniqueness and is half the attraction for some. It wouldn't be the same without it...

As for first posts from genuinely interested new comers, there's been more civility than ever from what I've seen... Maybe allow Stu image posting rights again to make the forum great again?

[Tracey Suntan-King]

Just to clarify, although there is a FB BCF group, to my knowledge and experience it isn't used.

However many BCFers are FB users and connected as "friends", which is how we/they communicate. It's on an ad-hoc, not an organised, basis.

I'm as guilty as anyone of checking into FB as often as I do BCF and waaaaay more is shared there. There have been numerous BCF jollies that at one time would have had their own threads here but have bypassed the forum completely.

I'm wondering if the demise of free photobucket hosting is to blame.

I'll be much more likely to post on FB about our imminent trip to Manx GP because it's just so much easier to put up photo's there rather than here.
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