When do I pull the plug?

[justjoe]

Good morning all,

As you guys may have noticed there is a problem with the website. It is running slow and at times is very slow. When I started digging into it I found an issue that is outside of my scope to fix. I could go into the details but it'd probably bore most of you. Basically the server has lost the ability to talk to the website software and I can no longer upgrade it or any of the plugins that make this forum work. The solution for me is to hire a Wordpress guru to rebuild the website and reconnect vBulletin without losing all of our data.

I don't ask for donations because the cost of the website is relative cheap, less than $500 a year. That wouldn't be a problem to continue without the need to hire someone else. I am projecting the cost to repair what we have to be around $1k. This led me to check usage and over the past few years we have had a steady decline of participation. Currently we have less than 20 people who are very active (visits once a day) and about ten folks who visit once a month. Out of those people visiting, even fewer are posting regularly (including me). I have to ask myself when it will be time to pull the plug on this forum.

So I have a few options:

1. Pay somebody to fix the site and continue for a few more years.
2. Let the site run it's course until it becomes so unbearably slow that folks stop using it altogether.
3. Shut it down at the next renewal for web hosting/software licensing.

I am not asking for money. That's not it. I am asking for opinions on which direction to go.

[Martin_D]

For me it's option #1 !

[justjoe]

You are our most prolific poster. Out of the five or so people who post regularly, you are by far in the lead. And every time I log in I check out the crazy shit you've posted!! LOL

[Martin_D]

I really enjoy my daily visit , and don't want it to stop ...

[802Mike]

I look forward to you post Martin. It's how I know you're still kickin' too.

[wildbears]

Thanks for the heads up.
Not sure about which direction to go. I've also noted the low participation.
There have been a lot of outside distractions this past year for people and that may be part of it and perhaps temporary. Also less are riding for various reasons. Or could the slow speed be a factor? I don't see any significant difference at this time.
Could a Facebook thread be another way to go?

[justjoe]

7 or 8 years ago I did a dig of users on i-BMW and there were about 100 active users and maybe 25 or so consistently posting. That number has steadily declined from there. When i-BMW closed and this site kept rolling, the numbers were about half. Now, 5 years later, we are seeing much fewer active participants.

The reasons are varied. Some folks quite riding altogether. Some found sites better suited to their riding needs or specific motorcycles. And even some have passed away.

[wildbears]

My local cycling group uses "Group Me" to post information and pics. Accessible by cell phone text and the net.

[wildbears]

This could be a way to keep information about the rallies going.

[Lee]

Option 1 manly for the Rally information. If Debbie has to stop riding she mentioned we should still go to one or two in the car.
We don't do Facebook.
Is Group Me part of Facebook or is it a stand alone platform?

BTW if there's any discussion in the Shout Box I can no longer see that.

[cabnfvr]

This site and it's predecessors have been responsible for bringing together like minded people (Refined Hooligans) from all over the world. It is not a reach even to say life changing. But at the same time it has been obvious for some time that interest and participation has dwindled to a mere trickle. I would hate to the site go away, yet I cannot see it surviving for much longer even with the required upgrades. The question becomes, is it worth the costs when the outcome is only a temporary reprieve? Hopefully there are many miles and many journeys ahead for us all, but sadly I cannot see anything that would "save" the site.

My vote is option 2.

[Susan]

I feel that the writing has been on the wall for some time. While that brings some sadness, there may be other options, such as what Wildbears suggested, and there is FaceBook. I use FB to keep up with family who live out of state. Quite a few of our refined hooligans are already on there including myself and Tim. There is a local riding group based out of the WNC area that the only way to "join" is through FB. I am not a paid spokesperson for it but just throwing in as a suggestion.
Maybe option 2?

[justjoe]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/396655844573140

[Susan]

My confirmation is pending, y'all! So excited!

[Martin_D]

Thanks Joe !

[Kneedragger]

I think Facebook would be a good option. What is the name of the page run by Mani and Karl?

[justjoe]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/396655844573140

[955i]

Facebook. Ick Although it might be an option.

[Fastlikehell]

well well well. I've been away for a couple of days to find this? pity, but I do understand. People get older, stop riding and are no longer that interested in a forum dedicated to an activity that only a minority likes - but basically I have no serious say in this because I've been absent for way too long. Still, I have the intention of visiting more often (but the road to hell is paved with good intentions), so I would like you to go for option 1.

[Susan]

You do so have a say in this! You have been assimilated!

[BillGsa]

I'd be willing to chip in for option #1.
Although the only thing keeping the site going is the joke section.

[justjoe]

I appreciate that Bill but it isn't money that makes me think the time has come. And you are 100% correct, the jokes are the most active section.

[Susan]

The Bicycle thread is popular.

[Martin_D]

What's wrong with jokes ???
Life's a joke at times ... :-)

[allikanbe]

we probably need an oil thread or a tire thread to increase the participation. :-)

[955i]

Joe, I love ya' man. I'd be for option 1 or 2. Or option #4: you throw one last great rally somewhere and pay us each $500.00 to show up! Cathy would come along for free, though.

More seriously (although option #4 above is a great idea), I was one of the few interlopers to I-BMW back in the day who didn't have a K-Bike. When that site started, I sense there was a great need for it because 1) the BMW old-guard with R-bikes thought K-Bike owners were uncouth upstarts and generally unlikeable (There may have been justifications for that, but that was before I met a bunch of you at the Gordon at AHR); and 2) there needed to be a site where issues, modifications, problems, etc.with these new fangled k-beasts could be discussed and information shared. The inital interest and utiity was immense. Threads on every imaginable subject related to those bikes were started.

Slowly, however, people bought other brands of bikes, drifted away for other reasons, quit riding altogether, or like me came in rding a CB1100f or a Triumph sport bike. When I-BMW closed shop, only a fraction of the folks migrated over to Theriderspace. It has never really had the shine and following that I-BMW had early on. To be fair, neither did I-BMW in its waning days. Noetheless, those of us here, have greatly enjoyed the site, participate fairly regularly, and will miss it if it is gone. Thanking you for creating and hosting the site/ It should goes without saying that we appreciate it very much.

Joe, may I suggest you mull any decision over for awhile longer. "When you're in a hurry, you're in danger." (CFI Instructor to new pilot Tyson, circa 1983.) All the best, whatever the outcome. T AND C

[Paughco]

The Hog Ridin' Fools (started by Beecher, Roger, Williamson, and myself while on our way to Sturgis back in 1990) communicates by several methods: 1) We have a group on Telegram, 2) We have a weekly Safety Meeting (usually Wednesday lunches at the Longhorn Saloon in Edison, WA) and 3) while on rides. Oh yeah - we have weekly "HRF Happy Hour," which is a 40-minute Zoom meeting, held on Mondays at 1600. Way less formal than a web site, but we're still in touch.

Way back in the beginning we had a group site on Yahoo! Then we went to Telegram, and that's pretty convenient for passing the word. Not nearly as cool as this web site for sure, but still, it works pretty well and requires just about zero maintenance.

The Safety Meeting thing started out when I was working at Northwest Clean Air Agency in Mount Vernon, and Beecher and I would meet up at the Porterhouse Pub in town on Wednesday Afternoons. More Fools started showing up. The venue changed. Finally we settled on the Longhorn. I only go up there about once a month or so, but I'm always glad when I do. Rode up there last week, in fact, and even posted about it on The RiderSpace. Sometimes the "Southern HRF Element" have our own Safety Meeting at somewhere like the Sultan Bakery, or Amarillo BBQ in Duvall, WA.

Every Monday morning I post the "codes" for our 16:00 Zoom meeting. Usually five or six Fools show up. Sometimes we even get Lutz from Germany (he was inducted into the Fools back in 2000 or so).

I really like this forum. It's a drag to think that it might be going away. Last week I saw that the Pirate still posts in the chat box. Now that, IMHO, is extremely cool! I'm proud of the fact that I bought the Remus exhaust that's on my R1250RS from Pirate's Lair!

Sorry if this is getting kinda long, but I just want to express my appreciation for this web site, and also throw out a few ideas for alternatives. Meanwhile...

Keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down. And as Reverend Wayne sez, "Ride fast! Take chances!"

Seeya
ATB

[802Mike]

I hate to make more work for you JJ. You stepped up and
started this site when we really needed it.
Option #4, as long as it's moderators can verify members.
So many good ones go to the scammers there.
If you decide on option #1 then I'd be happy to contribute.

[Scot]

Well still here still riding 04 K1200GT. Don't log in much but look at the site ( mostly jokes daily ). Really miss all the tech information that was lost on I-BMW.com. Whatever you decide will be fine thank you for stepping up when you did. Thoughts:

A lot of these sites are struggling
We are getting older
Hate Facebook and really do not have a legit logon for it, something with my dogs ( now deceased dog ) name.
Next bike I buy will not be a BMW may not buy again anyway may just ride my R75/6 till I die.
Enjoyed my time here and just retired so was hoping to do a rally ( only been to 1 KHC ) and man that was years ago.

Hope the site stays up.

Scot