Poll on Tech Board adjustments

[basketcase]

I registered here about a month after the boards opened, and since then, I've been observing the interaction on the Technical Forums. The model specific forums are active, but many times, I either have, or read questions that are more general in nature.

For example: batteries, other electrical questions, tires, general maintenance and service, and other matters often come up for discussion that apply across all model lines.

With the present updates in progress on the site, I guess this is a good time to query the netizens of this cyber hangout for your input.

What is your interest in seeing the addition of a General Technical Forum to the present lineup?

[woodnsteel]

To the extent that there are technical issues common to all models, I think it would be appropriate to have a category for those issues.

[CustomSarge]

This makes so much sense I'm aghast it took (me) so long to get here.
1> Many subjects are make/model regardless (tires, batteries, diagnostic methods).
2> I can't deny nuances within a topic, but model specificity might be the new filter for within a topic. i.e. batteries at a low charge state cause different problems for airR, K & oilR types.
3> Allow for generic discourse then split for particular model symptoms & remedies.
4> Note to forum gurus: would it be workable to have a postable forum, for generic considerations, which then has links (hypertext?) over to the model specifics ? It could be nothing more than starting out in the generic and then hitting a "radio button" for reroute/continuation into the specific, based on your type.

P.S. I have confidence in "KBasa" & "Ritalin Boy"(?) since my best language is solder, this web stuff is an orbital pass for me.

[dlearl476]

Yes, I think it's a great Idea. And on another thread regarding the future of the forum, someone suggested posting bug/failure issues. I believe it was Kbasa that suggested making it sticky at the top of a thread. I think it would be great to have an "issues" poll sticky at the top of each model specific fourm.

[donkey doctor]

Hello; I find that about 2/3 of my posting/questions are generic. Since my airhead requires so little explanation/repair. To me a generic technical forum makes sense.

[username]

good idea rickm.

might i also suggest a slight tweak then to the nature of the 'gear' forum, so as to avoid confusion. for instance, right now if i had a tire question, i think i'd post it in gear. if i had a jacket question, also in gear. if we added a general tech forum, we could put our tire questions in there. and maybe gear should be designed such that it is for apparel, safety equipment, camping stuff - basically things you take on and off the bike with you. things like aux lighting, shocks, tires, and seats would be handled in the general tech forum.

there might be a grey area for luggage, but i doubt that would matter much. we could have a huge flame war over whether luggage belongs in gear or tech, and that would keep the yankees busy through winter. :D

good suggestion. i expect rob/kbasa to jump in and talk about how they have considered this sort of thing before, and right now theyre really busy with this conversion, and it might make sense to let this conversion settle for a month or so, then tackle the task of re-arranging things. sounds like those guys have been busting their humps to get the current upgrade running, and doing a good job it too. (thanks guys)

[robnye]

Greetings,

One issue to consider is our desire to not use sub forums or to have too many forums listed. Our goal is to try to keep things as simple as possible.

We have kicked around the idea of a general tech forum and we may still set this up in the future. If we do this there would likely be a tech forum and then the model specific forums would be under this general tech forum.

Best,

Rob Nye

[Sadlsor]

:dunno

Chances are, we'll not be able to duplicate, much less surpass, the fabulous FAQs on www.f650.com , aka the Chain Gang.

Kristian (primarily) and many others have contributed and created what is undoubtedly one of the very finest tech support FAQ compilations anywhere on the web. (Prove me wrong.) :)

If you ride and / or own an F650 OR F650GS OR F650CS, you'll be hard-pressed to find any more comprehensive data on virtually any issue relating to the only single currently produced by BMW.

As a matter of fact, that site is one of the 2 top reasons I bought my first Dakar. For $45 first-year membership, you'll save that money many times over, if you're at all interested in wrenching or modifying your F650.

That being said, a general maintenance forum would be a good addition to this site. No point in re-inventing the wheel (so to speak!)