| Author | Message | ||
     Sgthigg |
ha ha! i knew it would work oh well i would really like to get my hands on one. | ||
| Gibriguy |
Hey, I'm with Brewtus and Woolf. I think the knowledge vault would be much more effective if it was separated. I have spent tons of time looking through the old stuff to no avail. The other question, what are we supposed to post on the XBboard? Most every question, aside from, Hey, who rode the red XBR down my road last week...."should" be found in the KV. Trust me, I understand the frustration when I see "hey, I'm new here and in the market for a new tire, what do you guys think?"....or "What kind of oil does everyone reccomend?" Not trying to be difficult....but I enjoy just seeing what issues people have. I have made modifications to my bike based on ideas gotten from the XBoard....not from typing in direct searches and killing lots of time finding nothing. The other thing to keep in mind....there are more and more aftermarket parts available. Something that may have not been possible awhile back may be applicable now. And although I do like the Ulyses / cyclone / blasts etc....I would rather read current threads about my bike. All that being said, I love this board and I'm sure as much as I don't like change I'll get used to it | ||
| Henrik |
Hmmm. Tough crowd, eh  I think it boils down to 2 questions; 1) How you access the information on the board - flip straight to the XB pages or use the "Search for New Messages" feature 2) How you see Badweb developing over time: help continue to grow the knowledge base for the benefit of future Buell owners - in a way that the information remains available down the line? If people are not willing to use - or learn to use the Search function, then this question will keep popping up. For those who currently prefer to jump directly into the XB section, using search to accomplish the same thing will not change your browsing, it'll only add the possibility to catch what is going on elsewhere on Badweb - I'd think that a good thing ... no? That simple change in your viewing habits would solve the problem of keeping Q&A in the KV while no one would miss out on XB Banter. I use search and will read up on topics that happen to catch my eye and answer questions if I believe I have anything useful to contribute - no matter where on Badweb. But I'm also very much for trying to keep things organized so that time and energy spent providing a (hopefully  ) good answer will be of benefit to others later. A good example today; someone PM'd me asking about the throttle cable clamps securing the cables in their bracket on the tubers. A quick search for "throttle" "cable" "clamp" limited to "And" in the keyword section and KV in the "search in" section netted me my own pictures of safety wiring as well as Dave's pictures of the official clamp. Anyway - I don't entirely understand the reluctance to stick to a few, easy organizing ways of using the board, which I guess is a failure on my part. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming ... Henrik | ||
| Brewtus |
Henrick, With all due respect sir, I do go to the XBoard for all the information I need because that's what I ride, and that's where I find all the information I am looking for. I am all for the growth of knowledge for all future Buell riders. After all, what brought me to this site with opened eyes and a desire to improve the performance and looks of my bike? Heck, I know more about my bike than my stealership does! I am not looking for what jet size I need to optimize my AFR with a certain exhaust system on a tuber.(No offense guys!) IMHO, I think that the Knowledge Vault is too wide spread and does not get the attention it deserves. When I have posted there in the past it has taken quite some time to get a response. Maybe if there was a seperate Knowledge Vault for the XB series it could possibly get more attention. (It would from me!!) Just a suggestion but something like "XB Knowledge Vault" Do you guys think that would be easier? It could consist of suspension settings, EFI stuff, and whatever else anyone wanted to ask about that was technical. Like I said guys " Just a suggestion." } | ||
| Tpoppa |
Henrik, the problems is this...if you have a question about a sparkplug, suspension setting, weird noise, a modification, etc, etc and post it on XBoard you will get many responses within a day, because many people see your thread. If you post the same question in the KV it could be a week before you get a single response. The odds that someone with the right information is going to look in the EXACT section of the KV to even see your thread is pretty small. Lots of people check XBoard nearly everyday. Does anyone regularly check EVERY section of the KV? Anyone, anyone...Bueller | ||
| Hardcorps |
Ok, I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE ANY ONE MAD BUT, I have tried using the search function on several different occasions and maybe I am just retarded, but I can not get it to work ever. I have posted two or three things in the KV, and it usually takes days if not weeks to get an answer. I would follow the rules and post in the KV also I think if there was a model specific spot! No offense, but saying that most of the KV is XB related now is not true in many people's eyes. It has got to a point that I don't even post my questions here, I just wait until I can ask Spidey or another local bueller. Which kinda of sucks! Anyways just my thoughts not trying to be a nay sayer or anything. Hard Corps | ||
| Skyguy |
Why not archive the existing KV let it remain searchable and reachable from a link on a new KV that is model specific. With the amount of traffic this site gets it would not take long to answer nearly all of the questions ever asked. I would even be willing to donate some time to transfering some things over to the new board. What do you think Blake? Could you use some volunteers? | ||
| Rarebird |
I have a recent post in the KV CLUTCH section, with NO RESPONSES!!! I followed the rules, only to wonder why anyone would want to post there- Particularly if you need info/ answers in a hurry! just my quick to bits of b**chin'... -Mike | ||
| Blake |
I think my previous post answers most all the complaints/gripes about using the KV for posting tech issues. As stated previously, if you use the new messages search utility, you can see all new posts in whatever topics you desire. There is no need to go from KV topic to KV topic looking for new posts/threads, the new messages results will put them up right in front of you. Simple as pie. Far simpler than clicking on the topic list links on the main XBoard page where one then needs to scroll down trying to find where he/she last left off. That'll darn near make you go blind. The links on the new messages results screen will take you right to the post that you want to read. It also opens in a new window. Simple, easy, quick, painless. If you aren't using it, you are missing out. Plenty of XBoard topics on the main page that don't belong in the KV. Which is the point. Migrating all tech topics and other KV applicable threads to the KV will slow down the archiving of the XBoard threads. As it is now, after just a day and a half of no new posts, an XBoard thread is relegated to the archives. <sigh> People sure are funny. If anyone needs help learning to use the new messages utility and how to set it up so that only your few favorite topics are included in new messages searches, please let me know. It is easy and painless. We sure do appreciate all efforts to post tech and parts/apparel threads to the KV. Hardcorps, I want to thank you for posting to the KV. You might want to review your four KV inquiries though. Your accounting of the responses they recieved seem inaccurate. Two were answered within two hours. One was answered in under two days. Another asked if anyone knew anything about two obscure brands of gloves and got no response. If you don't get a timely answer, feel free to post a plea to the XBoard. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=3842&post=592053#POST 592053 http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=3842&post=656282#POST 656282 New tuber questions in the KV are few and far between these days. Sky, We could do that. I'm not seeing the advantage. New threads show up at the top of the various KV pages. Why remove/archive the ones below? | ||
| Blake |
Rarebird, How many folks here do you imagine are able to answer your HD part number question off the cuff as you seem to expect. I sure cannot. Dave and the other dealer professionals might could, but probably not off the cuff either. | ||
| Blake |
What we have is a bit of circular myopia I think. Folks don't want to post to the KV cause it doesn't garner as much attention, but the KV doesn't garner as much attention cause folks don't post there as much. If we post there, folks will come. Trust me on that. | ||
| Hardcorps |
Blake, That is why I put in the top of my thread I am not trying to make any on mad! I just feel that it could be set up better. AND YES PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE SEARCH. Like I said I am kind of CPU retarded! I have been posting since Nov 04, and I am just now figuring out how to post pics! Like I said my thoughts are just a lowly opinion, not trying to make any one mad! Hard Corps P.S nice to see some one else burns the midnight oil! | ||
| Rarebird |
Blake I'm also not in this to tick anyone off, nor am I criticizing anyone's efforts here. I do understand your reasoning, and even agree with it, but yeah, I do believe there are those out there who could, and would answer my question much quicker if it were on the more visible XBoard. My Firefox always opens to that page as one of my tabs, so that's usually all the further I go. I normally use the SEARCH if I need something more. Fortunately, I'm in no rush on this so I can sit patiently and wait for someone to find my query. There are those times, though... Oh yeah, lest I forget; Despite my gripin', I appreciate all the effort on the site! -Mike | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Blake, I think you are looking at this wrong. While I use the search feature for the KV, most do/will not. Most forums (bike, car, whatever) have a similar flow to them. Sort of like the qwerty keyboard, it is like that because it has always been like that. Instead of trying to change the users (never works), why not change to flow with the users. The KV is a great idea on paper, but it does not receive the traffic to be truly useful. Most people will just get impatient, and ask on the XB board. | ||
| Woolf |
It appears to me that the real issue is the resistance to change from the administration, and quite honestly they set up/manage the boards, so it is their decision whether or not things will change. However, it seems to me that if the administration wants to further the success of the board as well as the success of Buellers everywhere, it would be much more affective to pay attention to your audience. I love this board and have a great deal of respect for the guys who set this up because it takes a lot of unpaid hours to create one of these, but that still doesn't mean that us users should not attempt to improve the board as well. To me what is needed is a format change. Take for example atvlifestyle.com http://www.atvlifestyle.com/boards/ Their board is operated by two guys out of their living rooms. Albeit traffic is very limited compared to here, but their layout and format is very familiar to anyone who has ever used a forum in their lives. Consistency from forum to forum makes life so much easier for us users. I love my Buell, but that does not mean I am not going to search my quad, truck, car, etc. boards. In all of my forum jumping, this is by far the hardest and most unfamiliar of any boards. The other boards all share the same basic format, which makes it very simple to navigate. Just some more of my ignorant banter. p.s. The issue here is not how to use the search function, most of us do. The issue is we should not have to use the search function to navigate. | ||
| Jackbequick |
"Lots of people check XBoard nearly everyday. Does anyone regularly check EVERY section of the KV?" Yes!! The majority of the long time BadWeb users do exactly that every single time they log on! Every time! Blake's plea for people to use the New Message search facility falls on deaf ears sometimes. Using it does two things: 1 - It is the key to finding every new message that is posted to appropriate topics in the KV or anywhere else on the board. 2 - It is the key to following numerous topics on a day to day basis. No matter how obscure a new post is (even it is posted as a follow on to a KV subtopic that has been archived and static for two years or more), it will be seen by all readers who use the New Message search facility the first time they log on after the new post. A lack of replies sometimes relates to a lack of knowledge or opinion by those that read your post. What follows my signature below is a repeat of something I posted once in the past, it explains how to use the New Message search feature and reflects the joy I have taken out of learning how to use it. Print it if it will help you follow through, I invite criticism if I have any errors in it, and it is offered with a smile for the betterment of the BadWeb. Jack YOU HAVE TO USE THE "Messages since I last searched for new messages" FOR THE BADWEB TO MAKE SENSE AND WORK RIGHT! Excuse me, I didn't mean to raise my voice. Posting to appropriate topics and using the New Message Search to read the board helps Blake and everyone who is a regular reader. You owe it yourself to give the "Messages since I last searched for new messages" thing a try. Use it for 2-3 days and I really doubt that you'll ever do it any other way. If it does not work for you, go back to doing it the hard way and floundering around in hopeless confusion, and taking the occasional criticism for doing it the hard way. To try it now, open a new browser window and try this: 1 - Click on the Search Board from the Topics page 2 - Go to Search by date, check the Registered Users button, underneath "Messages since I last searched for new messages" 3 - Fill in your user name name and password, leave "(All of BadWeb)" and everything else as it is. If you only read it once a week, change the "3" to "7" or higher, it is that simple. 4 - Click on Perform Search. 5 - Pick you way through the results. Clicking on a result open a new window, closing that takes you back to the search result. That's all there is to it. You mostly want to use the Close Window button to shuttle through the results but that may vary with your browser settings. I get my BadWeb fix once a day or more and I always, without fail, use that Search and I review all posts that are new since I the last time I logged on. It sounds like a lot of work but it is not. So I see a list of all the Topics, listed below are subtopics (the subjects tell me what each is about), and below that are the names of who posted, when, and the first few words of their post. The search result arranges those posts in the same manner that the BadWeb Board and Topics are arranged. I see every new post on every topic, can read and post if I want, and I simply ignore the regional threads and other stuff of no interest. As you click on and read the new posts, it takes you back into the original thread, you can re-read or catch up on the topic as much as you want. When you close it, it takes you back to your search. When I get to the bottom of the search result, I'm done. All the posts in the search result are marked as read, a cookie is set, and the next time I read the board (from anywhere) I won't see anything that I have already seen in the search results. The Search for new posts feature is way beyond very useful. It is the key to not missing anything! Get over the intimidation of "new" and "don't know how" and try it. I can follow any number of running topics with it, even after a lapse of a day or three or even 30. When you have a new technical question go to the appropriate KV or XB topic or subtopic, create a new thread with an appropriate subject, and post it. Your question will be seen by every regular reader using the New Message Search feature (and that would be all the the veterans). If it is not technical or is social, take your choice of the General, Quick, XB, Thumper, or regional boards and fire away. I'm just a regular, not a Custodian, and you can do it however you want, but if you have not tried this you're missing all the fun. Happy Buelling! Jack  | ||
| Court |
Rarebird: I can't even find the the part you need the number for, much less wade through the opinions of where I SHOULD find it. If you need a part number, you can e-mail me and I'll get it for you pronto. You can also reach any of the badweb dealers who should be able to get you the P/N (and part) pronto. It's not very complicated really. | ||
| Road_thing |
For what it's worth, I save the "search" page as my BWB entry point. The page remembers my username and password, all I have to do is click the little button in the "Registered Users" box when I log on in the morning, and hit "Perform Search". Voila! Like magic, I see every post in every thread that's been posted since my last search. Since I log on daily (except on weekends, when I'm at the ranchito with NO PHONE, NO TV and NO INTERNET!) the number of new messages is usually pretty moderate. I skip over the stuff I'm not interested in, like the Storm Fronts threads for everything outside Texas, and most of the XB threads, since I'm a tubular kind of guy. It's quick, it's easy and it keeps me current. Try it, you'll like it. rt | ||
| Court |
The you have it......a coalescence of opinion from the two most non-technical people you'll ever meet. If we say it's simple....well, that ends that discussion. | ||
| Rarebird |
Court I posted the P/N in my original post (P/N 36808-05)... I've never found anything about this board complicated- cubersome, perhaps, but not complicated. I'm merely looking to pick someone's brain to be certain it's compatible w/ XBs, and how easy or tough it might be to do. Not that complicated a query, really... Thanks! -Mike | ||
| Henrik |
Well, Jack put it better than I could - thanks Jack Brewtu, Tpoppa; I guess this quote summarizes your point: Henrik, the problems is this...if you have a question about a sparkplug, suspension setting, weird noise, a modification, etc, etc and post it on XBoard you will get many responses within a day, because many people see your thread. Am I right? If so, my answer is that it's due to the way many users access the board; - if you're going straight to a particular section and just flipping through the pages from the "index", then yes - royal PITA. Badweb grew much too big for that long time ago. - if you were to use the Search function as Jack explained above, you would not only make your daily browsing of the XB Board *much* easier (really - trust me on that), you would also, without *any* additional effort on your part get a clear view of questions in the KV. Now, if more (or all, how 'bout that ) used Search, I doubt any XB questions would take longer getting an answer than what is the case now. "But wait - that's not all. Dial 800-1SEARCH now, and ...  well, we'd accomplish 2 more things: XB Board threads taking longer to disappear and all you guys' excellent XB experience remaining available for current and coming XB owners. Oh, and if you're not using tabbed browsing in your Web Browser you're *really* missing out: on Mac, when you click on a link, hold down the Apple (Command) key, and the link will open in a new tab in your current window. That way you can scroll down your Search list and open each interesting topic in it's own tab - then just read to your hearts content. No back button and reload crap to deal with. I know there are similar Tab features in Firefox and probably Explorer as well. Now you must forgive me, 'cause I'm a nut for organization (must be in my job), but imagine this: - everyone posts tech questions in the KV with a title indicative of the problem. "Help", "Dang" and so on are less useful than say "Clutch dragging 2004 XB12S ...?" - BBS software is upgraded so we can make checkbox and drop menu entries for each tech thread, which will automatically keyword each thread - BBS is upgraded with abilities to further refine a search; for instance focusing on sub-sections in the KV as well as integrating the above mentioned checkbox keywords. - Bolean searching maybe?? "search results must contain these words, *and* must not contain these words". Brave new world maybe - but it'd be the penultimate source of Buell info. Henrik | ||
| Fcbuell |
Just an idea, maybe have a couple "quick links" over on the KV and/or search page... that are pre-set common searches, like last five days etc.. That way folks who have a hard time or are reluctant to search can just click on a few quickies... just a thought. cheers. (Message edited by fcbuell on July 21, 2006) | ||
| Court |
>>>Bolean searching maybe?? Actually, you are right. I was searching for my Boolean and just found it. I can never recall where I leave the damn thing. | ||
| Mdm |
Another thing that is stinky is the whole archive thing. Im in KV, found a subject I want to browse and have to deal with this: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/189804.html?1108486552 Other boards just use next page, or set a global filter for dates to display. This board for example (go to btm of page) http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=36 Nice filter, nice next page thingy, nice advance search function. | ||
| Henrik |
You may be onto something Ian - maybe it's a question of PR ... the term "Search" is putting people off?? Maybe if we make a link that in reality is the "Messages since I last searched for new messages:" Search but call it say "Quick Read" or "Hyper Browse" and then have Glitch make a cool button for it with some flames'n skulls 'n stuff I.e. hit the "Quick Read" link at the top of every page - in the resulting page enter user name and password (even easier if you have it saved on your computer), hit enter ... and Bjørn Stronginthearm is your uncle ... Henrik | ||
| M1combat |
Well... Get rid of the ability to browse. Only allow a search. Any time someone comes to the site it delivers the information as a result of a search. I'm a computer guy and I find it easier/better to just browse. I prefer to make decisions about what I see as opposed to having everything pop up that I haven't looked at. Problem with that is that I have the answers to a lot of KV topics but I don't look in the KV unless "I" have a problem. Then I spend time answering questions because I'm there. The problem isn't with where people are posting. That's a symptom. The problem is where the people with the answers are looking. It's not in the KV. Like I said... Post phantom threads from the KV to the XBoard and they'll exist in both places. Problem solved for both parties. The problem is how to decide which threads in the KV would also need to be phantom XBoard threads. But that's ALSO the problem with the entire KV. We NEED to implement a system where you can not post a thread in the KV w/o indicating which model you're asking about. Like grey out the post thread button until at least one check box is checked. If it's a tube frame, phontom link it to the old school buell area. If it's XB that's checked, phantom it to the Xboard. It'll also allow a neat and tidy way of organizing the KV into model specific info. It's not perfect... Many people wouldn't understand what type of inquiry applies to tube AND fuel frames. I truly believe that is the best and most elegant solution. People are creatures of habit. They won't change unless you force them to. Having tube frame knowledge mixed with fuel frame knowledge is very cumbersome and ruins the whole thing in large part. Even if you kept the phantom post section separate from the XBoard topics. Like a section on top that's the "XBoard" and then a separator and the threads that are phantomed from the KV. When you click on one of those it opens that thread in the KV. I agree... Don't change the users, adapt to them. It's what Buell does... | ||
| Woolf |
I still don't understand why this board is not more similar to the other forums on the internet. Don't tell me it's because of traffic volume. | ||
| Tpoppa |
I sense some stubborness on this topic from some admins. This board wouldn't exist without members...why not adapt to the members rather than try to dictate policy? As far as making content available for future users, XBoard can be searched just like the KV. | ||
| Blake |
Don, Please try the "New Messages" feature, please. In your profile select your "favorite" topics and then select the option that limits the "New Messages" utility to only displaying those favorite topics when it is executed. All, Discus offers a ton of great features that many other boards do not provide, not only for users, but also for the custodial and admin side of things. Discus is kinda "Different in Every Sense."  ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) Yes, the one headache is the clumsy way in which the Discus board auto-archives threads and posts. That is soon to change. If not, we may well ditch Discus and go with another board system. Some folks sense stubborness? I think there is stubborness for certain. Not sure it is limited to any particular viewpoint.  Some are confusing the "search" issue. That is not a concern insofaras use of the KV versus XBoard issue. Don't know why folks keep bringing that up. Like Henrik said, it is probably over confusion in the term "New Messages Search". Okay, I've stopped using that. Let's call it the "New Messages Utility" instead. That "New Messages Utility" is available by selecting the "Registered users:" radio button opion on the BadWeB "Search" page. Then just fill in your username and pw (cookie will do it for you if active), then click "perform search" and boom, you get a direct hyperlink to every new post since your last execution of the "New Messages Utility." And again, if you select the appropriate options and designate your favorite topics in your user profile, you can tailor the results of the new messages utility as you wish. It is a very powerful feature. I guess some of us old timers take it for granted. If you don't give it a test run for a week or so, trust me, you are likely investing extra time and missing a lot of great posts. Sincere thanks to all who are willing to give it a go! I really appreciate everyone's thoughts and the time you all have taken to help us better maintain and even improve BadWeB. Cheers, Blake | ||
| Macbuell |
"I sense some stubborness on this topic from some admins. This board wouldn't exist without members...why not adapt to the members rather than try to dictate policy? " Totally agree Tpoppa. Broken down it sounds something like this XBoard User: I don't like this format Mod: Well, you're doing it wrong Xboard User: Yes, but I don't like the format: Mod: If you did it right you wouldn't have any problems Xboard User: Right, but it's cumbersome and I don't like the flow Mod: But you're doing it wrong. Well, I guess I'm doing it wrong. |
