Forum survivability

Message

Dusty · #1 Post by **Dusty** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:15 am

As a BMW rider, I also contribute to a forum for riders of K bikes. Or, i did until it went mysteriously off air at New Year. Like this one, the forum was a great source of information and also provided interesting debates without any of the immature, confrontational rantings that seem to prevail on other sites. Unfortunately, it transpired that the forum was owned by an individual who had shut it down without informing any of the membership. Discussions with the hosting service failed to resurrect the site because they would only release the archived data on receipt of the password which, you've guessed it, wss only known to the forum owner who has not responded to any attempts to contact him. So, it looks like the old forum has gone for ever and we'll need to start a new one.

Why am I telling you this? I know that this site rose like a phoenix several years ago following changes to its predecessor , so the administrators have probably ensured that such a situation could not result in its loss. I 'd hate to see this excellent site suffer a similar fate to the one I've described because an individual has taken his bat home (cricketing analogy from a Scot? Surely not!).

Falco Frank · #2 Post by **Falco Frank** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:27 am

Try looking for data from your shutdown site here:

https://archive.org/index.php

Its interesting just what is stored there...

Dusty · #3 Post by **Dusty** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:38 am

Thanks, Frank. I've had a look but no luck so far.

Falco Frank · #4 Post by **Falco Frank** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 11:13 am

Quite surprised, Ive just been looking at the Ducatisti (Ducati) website from 2006!

Put in the full domain name, select the calendar to go to a specific day and browse the site but, not allways as you have perhaps found.

Ridersite seems to go back to 2001!!!

https://web.archive.org/web/20010201182 ... rsite.com/

Dusty · #5 Post by **Dusty** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 11:28 am

Frank, you're correct; it was my incompetence. Thanks.
I've also discovered this morning that one of the members has already pulled information from that archive site. Another member created a Facebook group as an interim measure while we attempted to recover the old forum or create a new one. Most of us are old duffers who hate FB, so watch this space for the new forum website!

D-Rider · #6 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:31 pm

Falco Frank wrote:Quite surprised, Ive just been looking at the Ducatisti (Ducati) website from 2006!

Put in the full domain name, select the calendar to go to a specific day and browse the site but, not allways as you have perhaps found.

Ridersite seems to go back to 2001!!!

https://web.archive.org/web/20010201182 ... rsite.com/

Yes Ridersite goes back many years - similarly Aprilia Ridersite (which I joined in 2005)

The sites merged at the beginning of 2007.

I don't see a likelihood of Admins having a terminal fall out. I think the bigger risk comes from the longer term dwindling critical mass of Rotax powered Aprilias.
Now Ridersite is NOT a one make site and it should be able to survive a migration. Nevertheless the greatest weight of numbers comes from Rotax Aprilia riders and over the years quite a few have drifted away when they have changed bikes.
As the bikes get older, this may become much more of an issue.

Still, for now, let's keep it a fun place to be and people will want to stay and others will want to join.

randomsquid · #7 Post by **randomsquid** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 6:37 pm

D-Rider wrote: Now Ridersite is NOT a one make site and it should be able to survive a migration. Nevertheless the greatest weight of numbers comes from Rotax Aprilia riders and over the years quite a few have drifted away when they have changed bikes.
As the bikes get older, this may become much more of an issue.

I've got a not aprillia and I'm looking for another not aprillia. I don't plan on going anywhere.

Willopotomas · #8 Post by **Willopotomas** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 7:29 pm

For a while, I was devoid of an Aprilia of any sort. Didn't stop me sticking around and sharing other goings on in the workshop area. Some may remember my 6T renovation project from a couple of years ago??

It would be nice to see RiderSite create a new forum for the BMW K owners. I've had a few of those in my time and am only recently without one after a good 10 years with. Of course, these decisions aren't mine to make..

BikerGran · #9 Post by **BikerGran** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 7:46 pm

I am not now and never have been an Aprilia owner and I'm not planning on going anywhere!

HisNibbs · #10 Post by **HisNibbs** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:30 pm

Why K owners? Inverted snobbery oohahRRR

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:59 pm

For the record ..... I didn't say that we don't have people that have never had an Aprilia and I didn't say that everyone who gets rid of their Aprilia leaves.

What I did observe is that a significant proportion of people that change from their Aprilia to something else, eventually drift away.

I stand by that analysis - and by the comments about how to mitigate against it .... which, presumably, has some significance in the continued presence from those that have piped up to say they are still here.

Aladinsaneuk · #12 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:05 pm

yeah

bastards will not take the hint

seriously, if your k series friends would like a home, drop one of us a pm - lets see what we can do

#13 Post by **mangocrazy** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:13 pm

It certainly wouldn't be a bad thing to try and broaden the readership by having riders of more than the V60 'Prillers posting (notable exceptions like BG, Willo, Dusty etc. errr. excepted). I've tried subtly dropping hints to riders of the older VFRs that frequent Bikers Oracle, but nothing has come of it. Once you get known as a 'niche' site, it's hard to lose that tag.

And to be honest, I'd say that as long as this site maintains its balance and humour, would you want it being overrun with juvenile ranters ? I certainly wouldn't...

Willopotomas · #14 Post by **Willopotomas** » Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:35 pm

mangocrazy wrote:And to be honest, I'd say that as long as this site maintains its balance and humour, would you want it being overrun with juvenile ranters ? I certainly wouldn't...

I'll join you there, mate. Plenty of people to wind up on Farcebilge, so no need to bring it here.

A BMW section to the forum would indeed bring another dimension to the place. The bar would certainly fill out a bit more.

Dusty · #15 Post by **Dusty** » Wed Jan 28, 2015 9:14 am

Thank you for the reassurances and the (reluctant?

) acceptance of a BMW rider who occasionally chimes in!
DRider's point is well made. However, our experience was that despite having a significant number of enthusiastic, contributing members and a friendly, humorous tone similar to this site, the forum disappeared overnight thanks to the evaporation of one individual's interest.

Thanks also for the suggestion of a K bike section here but the new site is now under construction, http://eurokclub.bike/ If any other K bike masochist wants to get involved in the interim Facebook group, here it is:https://www.facebook.com/groups/6285171 ... 3/?fref=nf
It may be a sign of age and the fact that my wife calls me a Grumpy Old Git, but I can't wait to get rid of this and onto a good, old-fashioned website forum!