I've went to the forum before posting and checked to make sure that none of these threads are currently active so no one would think I'm singling them out and/or attacking them. In fact, I deleted to examples because they were active. The only currently active topic is the "Highball Pictures" thread. My apologies if some come up while (if) this thread is active. It's bound to happen around here lately. I am in no way singling any one person out.
I was going through my home page deleting RSS feeds when I sadly realized my enthusiasm for Vision-Riders had pretty well waned. In fact, the only times I really get interested is if I see one of the old acquaintances has posted or especially if Lloydz has a new blog (Thanks for all the help Lloyd!). With that wane in interest has come lack of support. I would often go out of my way to click on Vision-Rider links to get to Lloydz for parts or shop in the Vision-Riders store. Now I don't even want to log on. It used to be so much more interesting.
I have several products from the Vision-Riders store that remind me of this forum and the people who contributed. I have had several decals, T-shirts and a flashlight from trying to support the store back when it was about the Vision. Now I don't know if I should even bother any longer. Case in point: At one time I would have gladly bought 2 of the large Vision-Riders decals. One would have gone on the back window of my truck and one would have gone on the back of my enclosed trailer. I may have even bought a third for my motorcycle towing trailer! Instead, I just caught myself deleting the Vision-Riders forum RSS link from my home page because I don't even care anymore and that really was depressing. It seems like this forum used to be a place to get together and share your enthusiasm for the Victory Vision motorcycle. I think we (Kevin X)?invented the term "CAM PARTY"? ?This forum is the ONLY forum I have ever actually bothered to personally meet members.
Sadly it has turned more into a general Victory forum. Case in point (and this is just an example, please don't think I wanted to single anyone out): Why do I need to log on and read about a photo contest for the Highball? I thought that was what the difference was between this and the "other" forum? There is a reason I never participated in discussions in the "other" forum (I introduced myself I think) and only visited it about 3 times although have been a member for over a year. Add to that the fact of more and more repeat threads haphazardly started (often in the wrong section). It seems like I open an RSS link and I'm staring at a great big retreaded tire (maybe a car tire). How many threads do we need to start about the Uni-go trailer? Why do we need to start yet another thread about flood lights or the passenger backrests when the anecdotal horse has been beaten to death the forum?
Is this because of the increased load that the moderators must be dealing with when Vision-Riders split into about 4 different websites? In retrospect, it seems that's when this really started to manifest itself. It's as if quality went away and replaced by quantity. Yeah, I realize that information changes over time but seriously. Every week? It just got irritating in that the threads resembled a salvage yard instead of a library. It could also be us too. I seem to remember a time when the moderator was not the only person who would flag repeat content. I guess I could jump on and tell people that they just reposted on a topic that was covered. I can't really blame the mods because no one bothered to let them know. Heck, I seem to recall that they did post a warning about people not reading the guidelines to the forum.? Maybe the majority of folks lost the will to use the "search" function. Guess what, you're not the first person to own a Vision! That was us guys back in 2008. Have a question about using a car tire that hasn't been thoroughly covered? I doubt it! "I guess I'll just make a new thread about engine oil because there's lots of info to read here". It really has become disappointing. ?
I'm still enthused about the THE Victory Vision. Hell I rode off with my wife on this bike at the end of our formal wedding (I know you did at one time too Don). But it's to the point that every time I log on, I'm actually depressed by the fact that there is some thread about the Cross-Country or a repeat thread for the 100th time whining about engine heat. Maybe it's because theress so many alternatives to the Vision that people have lost their partiality to the bike. Maybe it is because I have gotten bored since this is no longer a start-up. Maybe it's because I don't really have anything to offer. IS there a right answer?
I do want to take the time to thank the Vision-Rider team for all the hours and work they put into this. I'm not going to delude myself into thinking that anyone is going to plead for me to keep up with the site. I am but a little-bitty cog in a great big wheel. Maybe it's best for everyone that I throw in the towel. Good luck fellas. I may be lurking in the back somewhere. I hope some of you get the same experience I used to get from here because it was pretty damn cool when the ride was good. And to you guys that were here from the earlier days: i.e. pollolittle, vaparadox, donetracy, varyder, GAtrixiegirl, radioteacher, ElroyJ, Kevin X, Lloyd, Jeff (now jedi jeff) et. al; it's been good reading your insights and in some instances meeting you folks. I do miss those days.

Not that I can fully speak for the chap, but I think varyder fell off primarily because he felt the same way you do Mr. Big Will.... I know he spoke of the early days often and looked forward to some good ole banter while sharing in and gaining Vision and Victory wisdom. In actually, (not reality) those days are not really gone, I just think we got infiltrated with old harley and wing riders that kinda flatten things out. It is the banter, like at the ol' watering hole that makes forums special, and that little bit of humor and ribbing that kept things exciting. But I too also notice on that other site that things seem to be waning, perhaps its just cabin fever, or focus on other things, who knows? I know I that I'm still just as excited about my Vision today as I was 3 1/2 years ago, and the chap, varyder is still a cheerleader for the greatest bike on the planet. I think the cool thing is sharing what you know about the Vision to the "younger" riders coming in. I know the '08ers were excited to get on the Bozo Bike, or Batman mobile or spaceship, etc. etc, but the '10ers and '11ers for some reason don't have the same bang for the bike, or at least they're not sharing it here.

So don't sell out to quick on your 700th post willie man, I think we can brighten up the days and talk more than high ballers and cross-dressers. The Vision is still the best bike on the planet, bar none!

 This is a joke right?

What a condescending bunch of BS!! Too bad you feel as you say. All I can say is the forum will be what you make of it. If you want a deep meaningful conversation about the vision, start one!!!! You talk like the newbies are rehashing and driving you crazy, then say something new!!!! Frankly your complaint is old hat to those that have been using forums since the internet exploded into what it is today. Complaining about what everybody else is or isn't doing will just drag the site down even more, again I say, Start a new tread of interest!!!!

Also please remember that the top section, General Victory Discussion, includes all posts from the general sections of the other model specific sites. If you don't like talking about the other models please ignore this section, it is what it's suppose to be. 

Lastly, it's too bad the old farts on here can't allow the newbies to get as excited about tires, oil, filters, chrome, gps's, seats, heat issues, blue tooth, Ipods, and on and on. You get what I mean, right? After all it's the conversations and threads you "veterans" of 3 years were beating to death the first two years that you say you are sick of. Come on, how 'bout including some of us in the "excitement" you used to have!!!

I say, say something interesting instead of complaining and just watch us middle aged newbies jump into your new and exciting topic. You're the veterans, say something!!!  

Teach, once again you have risen to the challenge, and even so much more in your adversity! God give the strength you need in tough times. 

And yet you have inspired with great words. I love this kind of stuff and this is what I love most about this forum. Some things we can argue about, some we learn technical things from. Others make us laugh and then there are the threads with stories that make us proud and want to ride even more. I've learned much from the advice of the more seasoned riders about safety and even short cuts to dealing with some of the more tricky things about the vision. 

Most of all though I love it when someone can inspire as you have just done for me with your personal story and your rendition of the poem offered. Well done Friend!!!

So as the rest can see there is much to offer and much more to gain from this site, so don't run off because of a lull, offer something up. After all this is the time of year to sit in front of the computer to yak it up. In a few weeks I'll be spending most of my spare time on the "two-wheeled dream machine". What do you say folks?

Thanks Teach!!!

1. To some degree, there is only so much you can say/ask/write about the Vision before repetition. The freshness comes from having new folks discover & experience the bike and feeling compelled have to comment, just as early owners did. BigWill, you are lamenting about the very thing you are advocating. If everyone just used the search function to get info, imagine how quiet the forums would be.


2. Pioneering Ownership and Growth. I noticed the same dynamic in the early days of Victory (1999-2002) as webmaster to the VMC. Those who bought Victorys in the early years, myself included, felt a pioneering kinship to each other and to Victory. We took a chance with the brand and felt, rightly so, that we were the biggest marketing arm of the company. The bikes were so rare to be seen in public, that owners where indeed the face of Victory and took ownership of the cache it brought (good & bad) to have a bike that won cruiser of the year for its very first year of production. As the number of owners grew and exclusiveness diminished, early adopters faded from the scene. This is not a bad thing but rather a natural progression. To BigWill's point, I see, to a lesser degree, the same thing happening in a microcosm with the Vision and some early members moving on. Change is the only constant.


3. Winter. In all the bike forums I'm part of, the seasons always seem to have an effect. It seems odd that with more folks forced indoors and weaned from riding, you'd figure they'd supplant that need by talking about it online more. Maybe that's where point #1 has a greater impact.


4. Other Model Forums on this site. That was always part of the plan; have a network of sites that focused on certain models but shared several common forums. Admittedly, Vision-Riders has done better than the others but our analytics show we still get a good number of viewers on the other sites. We endeavored to not make each site isolated from the other, after all, we are all Victory owners and our bikes have many common components. We also want to promote community across all models.


5. Posting guidelines. Here, I have to agree with BigWill. While we have posting guidelines in place, moderators (again, me & Miles) have had a relaxed attitude toward enforcement. One of the members here, Lotzafun, has helped identify bad and wrong-forum posts to which I am grateful and act upon. In general, I've found a little moderation goes a long way. Over moderating can kill a site. Here again, our members have done a superlative job of self-moderation and I thank you.


6. Expectations. You've probably heard Mark Twain's quote, "Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get." That recently led me to the blog of a business author, V. Kumar who spelled out nicely how our expectations play a big role in our happiness and sense of accomplishment and worth. At times this site is very active as new members join and introduce new ideas (ie, chappellj's Thrush muffler mod). Many of you have brought new ideas to the table as well as taken some. Expecting that you will always get new ideas/innovations from others in this forum is a great compliment to the site but its unsustainable. There will always be fallow periods and as members we all need to feed the collective good. If you feel your appetite for content is not being fed, you may consider taking up the slack and creating some content. To paraphrase JFK, "Ask not what your site can do for you..."

Doesn't take much for some to get there undies in a bunch.

I have to admit that I pay little attention here in the winter. Going to a motorcycle forum when there is 4 feet of snow on the ground seems much the same as poking you finger in your eye.

<<<A rider recently asked about attaching gatlin tips to a Thrush muffler>>>

That's funny because I just did that and took the photos along the way and then decided I like the Atom Bombs better.