Gone for a While

[F6Pilot]

We probably will not be paying the fees to keep this up starting next month.

What are the associated fees? Monthly and/or annually?

[RickW]

Everything has changed the last few years. Social Media has taken over. Most everyone is on Facebook, etc. Not so many people are on Forums anymore.

[SpencerPJ]

I'll miss this Forum as well. Social media delivers instant results, and as little issues these bikes have, all known problems have been solved, and a quick Google search yields results. I'm not a fan of the gl1800 forum, that place reeks of arrogance.

[RickW]

If anyone is interested in knowing the fees associated with this site you can give us a call at 440-259-4793.

[jmdaniel]

I admin a fairly active FB group, if y'all need a place to go. Pretty easy to find:

Honda Goldwing F6B

It's a private group, (so you'll have to answer some scammer screener questions, and agree to the rules), and I don't put up with much tomfoolery or skullduggery, but good folks there.

[SpencerPJ]

jmdaniel does run a good FB page. IMO, and I'm not paying the bills but for future Forum gurus, Most people will not enter a 'not secure' webpage (one that is not httpS) My Browser almost made me offer my first born to do so. Then to be interactive, most enjoy being able to give a thumbs up (aka as a' like') for a post. I certainly wouldn't agree Forums are dying. The auto world, specifically Ford Trucks, or F150forum.com is over the top active. That said, the F6B has been out of production for 9 years. Ending, I personally want to thank Rick and anyone else involved to have this Forum available.

[F6Pilot]

jmdaniel does run a good FB page. IMO, and I'm not paying the bills but for future Forum gurus, Most people will not enter a 'not secure' webpage (one that is not httpS) My Browser almost made me offer my first born to do so. Then to be interactive, most enjoy being able to give a thumbs up (aka as a' like') for a post. I certainly wouldn't agree Forums are dying. The auto world, specifically Ford Trucks, or F150forum.com is over the top active. That said, the F6B has been out of production for 9 years. Ending, I personally want to thank Rick and anyone else involved to have this Forum available.

Making the site secure simply requires a security certificate and likely a platform upgrade. The cost is not that bad, but it is a cost that is not being offset by any income from this site. Upgrading the VBulletin software to version 6 would be around $200 plus the cost of converting the database, which is based on database size (up to 25GB is $550).

So, the question becomes, how valuable is the content? Is the content still relevant? Do we as a community wish to maintain said community and retain access to the knowledge contained here? I personally am a member of several FB groups in addition to this site, and I access them all regularly. Yes, the forum is not what it once was but I feel it is still a good resource.

I have talked to Rick and offered to take ownership and maintain if the community believes 1) it is worth saving and maintaining and 2) is willing to help shoulder the cost. To keep it as is and just keep it running would be around $400 annually (I was told $800 for two years) with any desire to upgrade (platform upgrade, https, etc.) adding to that cost. It would require some donations/investments from the community as I do not care to fund the whole endeavor. It would be somewhat similar to an "employee-owned company" with full disclosure/transparency with those willing to contribute.

And so here we are, hosting renewals must be completed in two weeks. Do we band together and save this site or do we simply let it die come November and move on?

[JackB]

I just sold a bunch of bikes, but kept my F6B I love the bike
I checked this site daily. There’s not much going on.
I ride a lot, but I don’t post much. I don’t have that gift of writing.
I will miss the site but I wouldn’t cry if it’s gone.
But if people start donating to the site, I would also send some $
I recent sold my 2015 Valkyrie 1800 and I belong to that site. That’s a lot less 1800cc’s Valkyrie out there and that site is still going OK.
I also check on the VRCC site which is mainly for the original Valkyrie’s 1998 - 2003 that site is going strong but not like it used to be.

[SpencerPJ]

Do we band together and save this site or do we simply let it die come November and move on?

I guess that would depend on participation. I was on a yama site, Venture Riders, we all chipped in $12/year. There was / is a pretty decent following. I do not know the traffic here, I'm guessing rather low?

[jmdaniel]

jmdaniel does run a good FB page. IMO, and I'm not paying the bills but for future Forum gurus, Most people will not enter a 'not secure' webpage (one that is not httpS) My Browser almost made me offer my first born to do so. Then to be interactive, most enjoy being able to give a thumbs up (aka as a' like') for a post. I certainly wouldn't agree Forums are dying. The auto world, specifically Ford Trucks, or F150forum.com is over the top active. That said, the F6B has been out of production for 9 years. Ending, I personally want to thank Rick and anyone else involved to have this Forum available.

Thanks for the good words, and I agree on the lack of security here, and your thoughts on forums. I belong to plenty that are active.