www.caimag.com/forum

[Chris Haynes]

Ditto, and I should add that I am also a Cotten fan

Cotten, Cotten, He's our man. If Tom Cotten can't do it, no one can! ;-)

[frichie68]

Crap, now I'm afraid to post anything for fear of being on the "wrong" thread.
Which one is this, anyway?
Maybe it should be only ONE CLASS: "Old Bikes."
Rich

[c.o.]

Here is another reason people shy away. This thread started out by asking a simple question and now it has turned into a political debate (as usual) on who has the better web site. Can't we stay focused on antique motorcycle talk? I know by me responding makes me part of the debate but... really???

The thread did wander, I'll give you that. I didn't note a "who has a better web site" vibe but maybe that's just my interpretation???

[murph]

I can't get into any of Buzz's caimag web site areas tonite. Does anybody know what is going on?

Here is another reason people shy away. This thread started out by asking a simple question and now it has turned into a political debate (as usual) on who has the better web site. Can't we stay focused on antique motorcycle talk? I know by me responding makes me part of the debate but... really???

[c.o.]

Wonderfully stated Tom! Can I hear an Amen!

You'll hear one from me Bob!!!

I remember when I was turned on to this forum. I wasn't much of a compter dude but happened across Adminguy (a former web-dude for the newer folks) at a vintage rally and he was successful in convincing me to give it a try. I registered, logged on and decided to hang around! At the time it was pretty much THE only place to find good reliable (early to late) antique info. There was also an excellent core group of participators and many great discussions were had. Then the political rants and arguments started. It went from a good, friendly old motorcycle environment to a hostile war zone. It was mentioned by a few that the rest of "the world can read this stuff" but when there's an agenda to be had the rant must go on! Almost immediately I watched the membership fade away. I'm talking about wise members who knew their stuff, mechanical and history wise. As far as new members... why join the board to read typed out bitterness? But then there was a ray of light, only it was in another forum. Buzz couldn't have picked a better time to fire up a new site. I will give the man credit. He can really market the hell out of his stuff. People almost immediately flocked there and I recognized many names that no longer posted on our AMCA board. The new board was essentially the same, only you didn't have to be a member of a club to join. It did expand and I suppose went beyond what we have on this forum. I gave it a try for awhile but I'm sort of in the same boat as Tom Lovejoy...." I am staying here and hoping for the best." Some of the "wise ones" still frequent this board and I'm thankful for that. I'll agree with you though Eric... there's not nearly enough of the "early" anymore. To all the new forum members.... ask your questions and don't hesitate to share a project with us. I know the long timers have projects too... maybe take us along... it doesn't have to be involved as the Slojo build so don't let that intimidate you. This board, with a little jump start, could flourish again, I do believe.

[Skirted]

Being a new born to the antique motorcycle world, I thought folks might want to hear from someone who doesn't know enough to be biased or have any preconceived notions. I found the CAI site maybe 3-4 days after I found this site and joined AMCA. I do visit CAI though infrequently compared to this site where I visit an average of 2 times per day. I have over 20 posts here and zero at CAI. So the lopsided visitation indicates which site I overwhelmingly prefer and Cotten hit most of the reasons for that in post #30.

A little food for thought;
I belong to a Car club that has about 10,000 members.......very similar to AMCA's membership. The demographic of the car club is primarily 50 years and older. No clue what AMCA is but from what I have seen it seems to attract older and "wiser" folks. The car club also has a well moderated forum and we determined less than 10% of the membership visits the forum with any regularity and less than 4% make the majority of posts. I personally know some of the most technically skilled and knowledgeable members never visit the forum and these are the people who could make it a lot more interesting. That forum doesn't get the traffic as similar forums do that aren't associated with a club membership but it serves the purpose well offering quality over quanitity. With those numbers, it's obvious the majority of older folks don't get excited by being active in an online forum.

Not sure if there is ever space in the AMCA magazine dedicated specifically to market the forum in an effort to increase participation??? If not it might not hurt.

[fillibuster]

Wonderfully stated Tom! Can I hear an Amen!

Ditto, and I should add that I am also a Cotten fan

[Robert Luland]

Wonderfully stated Tom! Can I hear an Amen!

[fillibuster]

quoting exeric: "Anymore, it seems that the antique motorcycle world is only about knucks, pans, and Harley 45s." end qu

Reckon that's a survival factor, and their production numbers, Eric. Can't have anything to do with "good", can it? (sarcasm)
I do wish the Harley guys would post their subject in the appropriate threads, though. Funny they haven't invaded the Indian threads!! (Okay, it's not that bad!)
Re; the dinosaurs, teens, and twenties bikes; I agree we see too little of them, and I'm afraid they're out of my league, showed up too late for this party, ya know? .. and there again, why isn't our Classifieds section the FIRST choice for sales and wants? Dang it!!
On the plus side, Slojo's Cannonball I thread has absolutely been the best, and I'm hungry for more of it (big thx to Cory?!!).
And I read everybody's chatter, cuz it's who we are.
and now, I think I'm gonna go post an indian question on a harley thread....

[T. Cotten]

Your loss, Tom. .

No Sargehere,

I cut my losses by leaving immediately, as I highly value the right to choose my own words.
Didn't you serve in the military to protect such freedoms?

It was Mr. Kanter's commercial loss, not mine: Why do you think he went out of his way to personally invite me in the first place?
Because I dig in dumpsters?

Folks,
Websites are like gas stations, taverns, and other rest stops on the highway: they are all entertaining to a degree, but some are traps, while others are essential.
This AMCA forum is essential on the 'information highway', as the broader motorcycle sites push advertisements, banners, data miners, and live links to generate revenue, and often are moderated by callous and selfish interests.

It is up to the Membership to make this AMCA forum beneficial to vintage motorcycling.
We are responsible for its content.
This is the best place to encourage youths and ladies, as most need not be exposed to trashy banners for "bikers singles" sites and other life-styler come-ons.
This is the best place to search for accurate information, as many industry leaders participate, perhaps for no other reason than this forum is not so noisy, and "tribal".

Enjoying those hundreds of other sites is great, if and when you need to banter anonymously, but vintage motorcycling still needs a clean, honest, and healthy environment to share information, and grow.

....Cotten

[murph]

I agree on the money issue, if this site was free to post on you would get a lot more diverse crowd. Money changes people like it or not. Maybe if non members were able to post and express there input for the hobby they may like it and join. JMO

[LouieMCman]

I visit a few different forums and here are some numbers for you........

AMCA forum..................2,800 members
CAI forum.....................8,000 members
Old Mini Bike forum......29,000 members
Motor Bicycle forum .....37,000 members

I think the AMCA is the only one you need to be a "club (paying) member" of. I visit all of them as I did various cannonball sites. I agree the CAI is a good site for the Harley's but go to this site for the other and obscure makes.
Eric, anyone that would laugh at a Merkel must be an idiot.
Maybe the AMCA needs to follow some of the those other sites like the motor bicycle site, if they want to get younger members involved. Not everyone has hand me down knuckleheads and panheads from daddy to ride and work on.
Oh well off the computer and back to the garage......

[exeric]

I have to say that members like Cory are what make the AMCA forum still worth comming to. His passion for early bikes is what this club used to be about. Anymore, it seems that the antique motorcycle world is only about knucks, pans, and Harley 45s. I love those bikes as much as anyone, but there is a whole universe of American motorcycle history that goes ignored. I've actually had "motorcycle" guys laugh at my Merkel, which is something I would only expect from a slack jawed yokel at a tractor pull. My complaint about the lack of early motorycle interest goes further than just this forum. I think there is a general lack of interest in early motorycles unless they're modified for the Cannonball thing. Maybe it's because early bikes are not good riders, or the lack of documentation, and parts scare people. Whatever the case, I have seen big changes in this hobby and that's where my negative statement came from. Regardless, I'll continue to visit here. As for the AMCA's reputation for being a contentious forum; I think those days have passed. I've seen as bad, or worse on the caimag forum.

[murph]

I have been a member both here and caimag for the same amount of time. I didn't have much knowledge at the time and was desperate to get it. Once I was able to get on a steady pace with things I decided that I didn't want anyone to go through what I did trying to learn, so I started to post my builds. I have to admit I went to post on a site where I was met with less abrasiveness rather than cast stones. It didn't seem anyone here had time unless your motorcycle was a knuck or a pan. I linger here though, so rather than bicker about who did what to whom, How can I help to fix it. What makes me shy away from here is when your met with attitude on a post that was legitimate. Scroll back a few you'll see what I'm talking about.

[rwm]

Eric, I think we need look no further than the actions of the different boards over the last 10 years. It has turned people off. I still gaze here and other places occasionally, but not nearly every day like I used to.

you guys miss one thing buzz draws from an open enrollment world wide anybody can join. this forum only allows club members to join. so you are limited to 12,000 who may join. i know of a few club menbers who for one reason or other cant join up they have tried to no end and failed. failed so hard the gave up. the site would not allow them to sign up