Looking for ideas

[Re-run]

The last few months I have noticed a large drop in traffic. People just do not seem to be stopping by like they used to. Now, I suppose part of it could be winter, who knows.
I have actually had the thought of downloading the site to save it and possibly killing it. However, as I would rather not do that, I am looking for input as to what we might be able to do.

What are some thoughts people have as to how we might increase members?

I have thought about a different host, Nabble seems rather limited, well at least for what can easily be done, I am not a computer language person!

Maybe cosmetic changes.

Let me know what some of you think.

[TOOLS1]

To start with, I like the new "Like" button. I have also noticed and been concerned about how inactive the forum has been this last year. I guess all the CB 750's have just been put away into storage, but the reality is, Facebook, twitter, Instagram... The younger people go there for information/approval from their friends... I have had people tell me that it "takes too long to get a response to their post on forums".
I have thought we should grow and cover more bikes. Maybe "Honda CB's" or "Universal Japanese Motorcycles (70's-80's bikes)" or "Inline Four Motorcycles".
As for changing the platform, I really like how simple this one is to use.
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[Re-run]

Yeah I just added the buttons today. They didn't have them way back when. I can add the twitter 1, too.
I suppose we could try an expansion on bikes. I guess we would just have to decide where to stop.
It would also require a rearrangement of the forum to accommodate the additional categories.

But if it helps to get people coming back, I am ok with that.

So then, the question up for discussion is, what bikes/years/makes do we want to add in? Keep in mind we can add just a bit at a time.

edit: by clicking on the "more" button, there are additional ways to post to social media.

[TOOLS1]

I have just noticed that this thread has had 21 looks, but only 2 replies. The lurkers are very active here. Not too long ago I was at a bike shop where they were working on a CB 750 that they had just rebuilt the top end on. They were having trouble setting the cam timing, and were researching it on the internet. They had a thread pulled up from this site that I had started about cam timing. They did not even know that I was the person that wrote the cam timing information. Maybe we just have too much information cataloged here that they can find what they are looking for without making any contribution. Not even a word of thanks, or encouragement for what we have done here. I hate to say it, but maybe we should just archive this information between us moderators, and start over from scratch with a clean board.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

*sigh*

I'm guilty. :(

I'll even admit that I came here just now due to Tools emailing me the link.

Personally, I've just been busy with life in general. And I've been working on non- CB bikes. I'm considering entering a local harescramble series this season and have been spending most of my time trying to prepare a bike and myself for that. Mostly, I got married in June and we've pretty much enjoyed just hiding at home, away from civilization. lol

I've told Tools before, I feel bad about not coming here like I used to. This has always been the most relaxed, easy going forum.

And ditto what Tools said about social media. People nowadays have the attention span of a distracted goldfish.

I have no ideas or answers.

[Re-run]

Ha, that is pretty cool really, Tools. Nice to see the info being used, in person.
Hmm, archiving may be a thought. We would just have to decide what we want to archive. I would say to start at a date, and go back. Obviously there would be certain things to keep; parts sources, write-ups, manuals. Maybe some of the really helpful things such as the thread on pods for dohc.

How about bikes then? Should we stick with certain years, or certain makes? Seems to me we could easily expand the sohc4 bikes easy enough. Maybe add the 70s honda twins, into early 80s possibly. Or do we open it up to the big 4 from the 70s?

Edit:
So I looked into it more and nabble does not have a way of archiving based on date. Essentially, there seems to be 2 ways to go about this. 1) create a new page, with a name reflecting whatever changes we decide on bikes. Move the info we want to keep over to that new page. I can put a not on this page, to people who come, that we have moved, or possibly set up a redirect. 2) Download a backup of the page, delete whatever we don't want. This would be easier, but I am not sure if I can get the url changed to reflect the additional bikes that we add.
This is what I have found, so far.

I have also sent an email to a few members to try and get some feedback.

[Truck]

Just my 2 cents, but I feel if you are going to open it to more bikes start with vintage Honda's. It kinda sticks with the theme of the page, and the top guys on here seem to have the knowledge base for the old bikes.

[OnyxWolf]

I would agree with Truck here on expansion. Hondas are the heart of the forum. I think the twins could have a place here, I have been seeing more of them here in AZ.  When it is time to expand more, then I'd say open it up to other 60's-80's metrics. I'd say open  a pole/vote to decide on which and when.
There are still some of us "older guys/gals" that refuse fbook tweeter etc. So I think there is still a place for the forum.
I  still check the forum about 4 days a week.

[TOOLS1]

Vintage/classic Honda's does open it up, and still keeps it focused. I have seen on other forums where people were asking about a place to go for Honda singles info/help. Honda did make CB 100, CB 125, and CB 175 with a single cylinder. Yet the single cylinder dirt bikes are very popular. Especially the XR/XL 75/80.
TOOLS

[Re-run]

Well 2 votes for sticking with old hondas. I would be inclined to agree with that. We'll see what other think, as well.

[Maz]

Vintage Hondas sounds good to me - As well as my 79 CB750L I have a 75 GL1000 and a 76 CB500T , so I guess I'm being a little selfish. I don't post a huge amount on here, but I visit every day and have learned a lot from you all. I may be a few thousand miles away but I feel I am among friends here.
Maz

[free2ride]

Re-run wrote

Well 2 votes for sticking with old hondas. I would be inclined to agree with that. We'll see what other think, as well.

make it three.

admittedly, I don't have a lot to say here. I get other people to do my work for me [no garage, no aptitude], but I enjoy learning about what others are doing.

I got here because it's a CB 750 site; I'm OK for keeping it classic, but would not want it to become "anything and everything" because the "good stuff" would be lost.

I'm NOT a fan of making it a Facebook site because then you'll lose the threads [and it will be just one more thing to plow through -- and I won't do it].

appreciate what you are doing though!

[Re-run]

No, I wouldn't turn it into some facebook page, that's for sure. The buttons just allow a person to like it and it shows on their feed.

So, classic hondas to start with.

So then, do I start a new page and migrate some of the stuff over to it? It would have a different url, but it might make setting up a new format easier.

There is a lot here otherwise, so moving things around might present issues.

Hmm, well thoughts are welcome but I will look into it more. It may not be as difficult is I think.

On the url topic, should it stay, or should I see about changing it to reflect adding the additional vintage hondas?

[TOOLS1]

Vintage and Classic Honda's
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[OnyxWolf]

I like it.

[shinyribs]

Since I've been pretty much inactive, I'm not trying to step in here and offer my two cents like it's something special, but I also think the "Like" buttons are useful.

Lots of times you see threads go for pages and pages, and nobody ever comments. Especially with build threads, I think guys get discouraged or think they are boring others, so they just go quiet. Being able to "Like" individual posts gives people the ability to offer a pat on the back, when they otherwise would just remain silent.

Not that we build for the approval of others, but I think it helps people feel accepted and causes them to stick around. I see this on other forums and seems like a really good thing, but I have no idea what goes on to enable something like this.

I really need to hang out more. Poor Tools is a one man army fielding everyone's questions! I don't have his knowledge, but I could pick up a few of the easy ones. lol.

I sold my twin cam F and have been building and riding other models, so I just didn't like I should post that stuff here. I do hope to start a CB 1100 F build soon that I intended to sneak in here. I still have one CB here to finish, but motivation has gone the way of the dodo. :(


edit: I guess I could just post up my motorcycling adventures in the Off Topic subforum , rather than being a stranger

[motogrady]

I dunno...........a lot of the younger generation do seem to swarm to Twitter and Facebook.
Look at Cycleworld.com.
That forum was pretty big back in the day, now it's like 8 guys talking amongst themselves.
And they cover it all.  And they have a world wide magazine out there. And a website.
And most of their customers still do the Facebook thing.
I don't get it.
If you Look over there, the biggest threads, motorcycles and girls, random pics, and political crap, which I think I just got banned from for stating a few facts.

Then, look at VitalMX.
The hook over there, is the guy hits every national motocross and super cross in person, and puts the events up that night.
It's kinda become the holy grail for Mx.  The guy has about 50 paying advertisers, and makes a freakin living for half a dozen people,
Do The Ton, CycleNews, only 2 sites I can think of that are even kinda making it without going the Vital route.

Anyways, here's a few I'll put out there.

Get some t shirts printed up, and give them out, free, to any member that attends, takes s few phone pics
at any big event, and posts them here.  Spread the word and pump the site while there.

If the tech library is becoming a value, make anyone that looks over there pay by having them take a survey or
look at an ad or 2.  Call the carb kit guys, the vintage parts supplier guys, sell them on an exclusive deal, as long as they pay.  Anyone that looks at the library looks at their stuff.

A bike of the month contest.  Free t shirt to the winner.

A permanent photo gallery of CBs, a place for those that stop by to kind of see what's up and maybe light a fire of interest.

Sponsor an annual meeting of CBs.  Daytona during bike week, what's the Motogp track in Texas, COTA?,
hell I'd love to have one here in WV last week of July, at the Vintage ride and races at McKees Skyranch.

And I know, pie in the sky, but would it not be really cool to hold an event, Coast to Coast, like the Cannonball,
exclusive to CB 750s, organized by this place?

Sorry for the rant guys, it's just I kinda like this place and the guys in it, hate to see it go........

[motogrady]

Oh, hate to say it, and get on Facebook

[shinyribs]

I'll never do Facebook. I did it once. For about thirty minutes, then shut it down.

[TOOLS1]

shinyribs wrote

I'll never do Facebook. I did it once. For about thirty minutes, then shut it down.

Ditto. By the time you wade through all that auto post, and warm fuzzy feel good BS, how would you ever find the pertinent postings that you are looking for.
TOOLS