Open letter to the newbies...

[tkent02]

There are other forums using this same format that used a search linked to a google search of the forum's database, anyone know how to set this up?
It worked really well over there.

[Larry D]

I am not offended by this thread and I hope no one is offended by this post.

As a "Noob" to this forum I get the feeling that it is the old boys club and "noobs" are not really welcome.

If we already knew the answer then the search function would be much easier to use. And to that point, sometimes I don't even know what the thing I am asking a question about is called. These bikes are close to 30 years old, very few are still completely stock, therefore they we could do the exact same thing on two bikes and have completely different questions. A new thread addresses my problem specifically. It is all about me after all.

In closing, if I am not welcome as a noob, ban me for life and make the forum by invitation only. If that is not the case, lighten up. The forum is not going to run out of room for new posts.

No offence intended and none taken on my part. Just standing up for all the noobs out there.

Flame on.

No offence taken...by me anyway.

When I first started on this forum, I didn't know a regulator from a starter. I did know however, not to question anyone with alot of posts. I always tried to look up my answer first. And I did ALOT of reading. After awhile you get to know who is who and that most of these guys are very, very well versed in all things GS. And some of them drink to much caffeine or perhaps not enough....

I've only ever worked on one bike....mine. Alot of these guys and gals have worked on many bikes of all kinds. I got my feather ruffled a couple times, but took in stride and kept refining my questioning technique. Having the subject your asking about in your posting title helps greatly. I can answer some questions, but just skip the ones I have no clue about. I go back later and read them hoping to learn a thing or two.

[cruz del sur]

Mark, I am a newbee here to. All I can say it that I was welcomed with open arms. I asked the questions i had to ask, and I got plenty of answers. Moreover, I got my bike running as it was intended to run. But i do look for an answer in the archives first, get some knowledge of what the problem is, and then ask a specific question. And I have to say this: I would have never done it without this site!!!

[posplayr]

There are several issues, and maybe the first one is that the posting formats and search function don't work very well. I have grown accustomed to that and if I have the time still sift through stuff because I always find interesting things. If required i will direct a specific PM question to a person that had been posting.

I asked Cliff if some posting and search guidelines could be developed. That might make it easier.

However, lack of using search and lack of clarity in posts are two different things.

If you are asking for free advice, please consider those people answering you need to get something out of the interchange. They either:
1.) want a challenge to solve a problem, or
2.) to help someone, or
3.) to learn something.
4.) Fill in your own reasons.

While you may not know what you are asking about, being as clear as possible about what you are asking about with description or even better pictures is simple courtesy and not a matter of "stay out of my old boys club".

Not listening, not reading, not pay attention is frustrating when you are trying to explain something. Oh well you get what you can get.

Pos

[mark_vaughn]

Honestly I have felt welcome and have already started repairing a few items on my bike thanks to the knowledge base here.

But I have read a few threads and not all questions are well received. There IS a stuped question after all...

Not trying to change the world, just giving a different point of view.

Knowledge is free, but education is not. Thanks for giving your knowledge to those who can't afford the education.

[tkent02]

Knowledge is free, but education is not. Thanks for giving your knowledge to those who can't afford the education.

Those too lazy to learn cannot often be helped.

[Kerry]

Still waiting for an answer...

Topics that come up all the time...

What tires to get?

Why is my battery running down?

My bike that was parked for 10+ years doesn't run. Could it be the carbs?

How do I adjust my valves and does it need to be done?

Why is there air?

OK, I've just read all the posts on this thread AND done a search and I still don't know...why IS there air? (Even Wikipedia didn't help!)

[tkent02]

OK, I've just read all the posts on this thread AND done a search and I still don't know...why IS there air? (Even Wikipedia didn't help!)

Because all that nitrogen has to go somewhere.

[jpaul]

OK, I've just read all the posts on this thread AND done a search and I still don't know...why IS there air? (Even Wikipedia didn't help!)

Bill Cosby answered this back in the 60's. There's air so we can blow up basketballs.

[Nessism]

OK, I've just read all the posts on this thread AND done a search and I still don't know...why IS there air? (Even Wikipedia didn't help!)

http://www.imeem.com/turner65/music/egdQOr84/bill-cosby-why-is-there-air/

[Kerry]

Now I know!

http://www.imeem.com/turner65/music/...-is-there-air/

Is there NOTHING that the GSR can't answer?

[twiggy2cents]

on the first reply to a constant question just reply with the acronym PUTSB and dont tell them they will more than likely be motivated enough to look it up and find that it means please use the search button and if not just tell them to search and you will find the answer

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I was a noob here at one time.




As you can tell by looking at the upper right corner of this post, I've been here only a little over 2 years. You could still say I have a LOT to learn about GS motorcycles and motorcycles in general.

When I first joined, I read every link on the homepage of www.thegsresources.com . I have found that many newcomers here don't even know there IS a homepage where LOTS of information, background, and history can be learned. I bought a Suzuki Shop manual for my bike off of Craigslist. I read it. I plowed through pages and pages of search results in the forum. I tried to learn a great deal in a short amount of time.

You say you don't have the time to do this? But you want everybody else to take the time to hold your hand, write step by step instructions for you to read, take pictures for you to look at to help you? Well, OK then. That's exactly what I, and many others here, are doing.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff

I took the time to educate myself in order to more clearly relate issues with my bike to the generous and experienced people here. When reading through all of those search results, I could tell that the same questions get asked over and over and over. If a question has already been answered dozens and dozens of times, why would anyone want to take the time to type it all over again? I can see that this would get frustrating. The people here really want to help. It's much more gratifying and rewarding when this community is able to help others help themselves. The GS "old boys" can't do it all. That's one reason why I started my website, to collect this wisdom, share it, and save these generous people from getting burned out answering the same questions and troubleshooting the same issues that they have been doing since the site was founded.

But I have no ego when it comes to what I know. All I know is that there is always somebody out there who knows more than I do. I learn something new on this site every day. Even if a member tells me something I already know, I look at that as reinforcement - both for me and the poster, and hopefully I won't forget.

We're only human and sometimes I get a little annoyed at posters with the "I don't really know what's wrong but can you help me fix it for free, right now" attitudes. I will try harder to show a little more grace. I will do my best to give back to this community that has been so generous to me. Let's work toward a kinder, gentler forum.

And to you noobs, please show a little incentive and try not to be so, uh,.... noob-ish.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[duaneage]

I can't see getting upset at new people asking what we consider to be common or dumb questions. Help them anyway and make a few friends doing it. Might just pay dividends later when he lives near that 1000 Kat you always wanted and can store it for you until you pick it up.

If it bothers anyone that much just ignore the thread. Basscliff will welcome them with his mega welcome and we can get started educating him (or her)

I think all newbies get a warm reception here. I am on other forums where they are treated like Swine Flu patients for the first 49 posts.

[Billy Ricks]

I just wrote up my answers to the most common questions in a Word document so I can just copy and paste them here. Since bwringer did his piece on cam chain tensioners I generally don't post my instructions on that topic. His pictorial essay on it works great for people.