weekly tips yes no???

[MR ATC]

i've been thinking of doing a weekly tips thread. weather it be mechanical tips, riding tips, or performance tips. i've talked to Billy (HondaATC) about it and he likes the idea. here is the problem. i don't want it to get into a debate/fight problem. while i know there are some sound backyard/homemade solutions, i'm interested in informing people of the professional techniques. i would not mind answering questions and would welcome them, however my fear is a my way is better then your way argument. so HondaATC and i came up with some suggestions and i'm presenting them in this poll. i'll let it go for a week then make a final decision with HondaATC's and Howdy's aproval. one thing HondaATC did also mention is he was thinking of taking the tips and putting them in a permanet spot on the site for future referance.


i would like peoples opinions. and other sugestions

thanks

[JayP]

I think it could be a tips section and then a Q&A type board where you pick the questions you answer each week.

see this link for a good example. I think this is an awesome idea.


http://www.waynoka.com/askdon-a.htm


Just my $0.02

Jay

[bakeban]

i think tips would be alright but it may cause controversy as you say. one might do it another way and such. i think it would be neat-o to see how other people do stuff. do it. sounds interesting

[Billy Golightly]

How about if someone asks something, you could reply and tell them how YOU would do it if it was your bike. And then if someone doesn't like a response then it can just be said that this way or that way is the way you would do it and it doesn't mean the other person has to? That Neither way is right/wrong but if it was yours thats how you would do it?

Unless of course they ask about doing something like wrapping a rag around a piston to give it more compression... :-P :rolleyes: :D

[Bill X_R]

That Neither way is right/wrong but if it was yours thats how you would do it?





LOL!!! YEA that will work!

[plkmonster2]

i really like the idea, but don't want it to be a flame post.. q and a qould be great, and i think it would be best for us to email you, since we could have the tips, and avoid the flames. i don't like to stress you so much, so deleting all the arguments would be very stressfull. just my HO

[AirManCam]

i think that would b cool but state it like honda said as if it was trailprotrailpro own wheeler

[Billy Golightly]

Yeah I mean I think its definetly a cool idea, but we all know how people will get kinda agitated when their told they are wrong. I'm not sure on a perfect soloution.

[MR ATC]

one thing that nobody but HondaATC knows untill now is when i first "met" Billy it was not through the board. Skippy and i had been in a bidding war on a part and i won it. we (skippy and i ) exchanged e-mails and he told me about Billy and his site. i actually chatted with him (Billy)for over a month before i joined the board. during this time he asked me about doing a tech "forum" or something. i had agreed to do it and we were gonna work out the details. so i joined to board to get a feel for things. now please no one take offense to this but what i saw was shocking i saw some really bad advice and information being relayed. so i started posting in my useuall sarcastic ways. well some members were not to happy about this "new" guy that came on strong but they new little about. at first i figured Billy would back me up but i relized he had to stay impartial. so because of that it (tech section) never materialized. i never forgot about it and neither did Billy but the time did not seem right. well it seems like the time has come. for one most people are used to me by now and know how i am. second just because i may have to sell all my trikes i still love three wheelers (except yamahas,kawasakis,ect,... ;) ;) ;)) and i have a lot of knowlege about them and it seems a shame to waste it. i did not come up with it all myself it was passed on to me and i would like to give back to the sport that gave me so much.

hopefully something can be figured out.




P.S. i grew up reading Rondo Talbot aka MR KNOW IT ALL from DIRT BIKE magazine i always liked his style and his hatred for mini's.
he was funnier then He!!.

[J.D.]

(except yamahas,kawasakis,ect,... ;) ;) ;))

I still say we need an emoticon for a shaking fist. :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

[MountainRider]

I think it's a wonderful idea. I also believe that blocking the ability to post to it would be the best way to avoid confrontation. What would you do if you disagreed with a tech tip printed in your favorite magazine?....You'd either ignore it or you'd take the time to write a letter to the columnist, right? Same should apply here, and the columnist (MR ATC) could choose to reply off-line, or not.

[JayP]

I am with MountainRider.

I still think the Little Sahara example is the way to go. A "Q&A" where Bill chooses the questions and a "Tips" where Bill chooses the topic. This could be a way to bring out more interest in the site. I know some people are hesitant to post when they don't know anyone and if they had a "tech resident expert" to turn to they may be more likely to get involved. I think it gives the site more credibility. To a newcomer or casual browser that could mean the difference in perception of the site's credibility.

$.02

[YamaChuck]

This could be a popular thing. For honda owners that is. Bill in the past you have stated many times that you're knowledge of the Yamaha's, Kawis' and Suzuki's is quite limited. Meanwhile your knowledge of Honda related issues could prove to be very valuable. So where does this leave the many of us who own these brands? This issue has yet to be addressed.
Seems to me that the Trikesylvania forum provides exactly what you're trying to do. It's really up to the individual to pick and choose the information that he/she wants to follow. Right or wrong. And for god's sakes people, buy a manual. If anything a weekly or daily Q&A would steer you clear of controversy. My .02

[MR ATC]

well i wasn't thinking about specific model Tips more like generall repaire, rebuilds and modifications that could be applied to all brands....

[bigred110]

Post like performance tips and other helpful tips.

[Howdy]

I have a idea to throw into the pot. I have seen this in a magazine and on TV before. They have 2-4 people to give advice. A person ask a question about a repair. Then each of the guys give their own advice on how to fix it. Sometimes they all answer it in the same way. Other times they all differ in opinion. Even when they differ the end result is it gets fixed correctly. They just have different ways to go about doing it.
To me this way would help more people, because not everyone can or wants to do everything the same way as any one person. Examples here is changing tires, hand grips, seat covers, ect. Giving more choices allows for a person to pick the way that is best for them.

Just my 2 cents.
Howdy

[dc]

I can't see people arguing too much about mechanical tips. But riding and performance tips will no doubt start some name calling. :D

[AirManCam]

just tell ppl there just tips and if it gets outta hand just kick them or ban them or somthing

[Wickedfinger]

..... personally, I have always felt that there is usually (but not always ;)) more than one route you can travel to get from point A to point B - therefore a melting pot of information a person can pick his choice from would always be the best. Sometimes committees tend to end up with compromise (ex. look at alot of the horrific "weapons" that were designed by committees) - which however could be generally a bad idea in repairing something. I think that a healthy, open discussion, one without sarcasm or a way too quick ill judgement, is the best way. To another point, only one persons advice in a column can also be helpful - if its right - but we would need to keep the post un-answerable as was said before. But than again, whos to say someone couldnt just post underneith it ...... more moderating for us I guess.

[TimSr]

I agree with Wickedfinger's post. What gives this site its appeal is that it taps into a wealth of knowledge from several knowlegeable people with different areas of expertise. And whether it be magazines or any other media, experts do occasionally disagree. Open discussion from a variety of sources of varying experience better allows a reader to weigh all the information presented, and arrive at a well informed conclusion, and he is free to decide which sources he feels are most reliable, and which information to reject. While MrATC's expertise and experience are very valuable to readers, I feel to set it side in a special forum in order to prevent dissenting opinions would only result in additional threads being posted to other forums to answer topics that cant be addressed in the specially created Q&A forum, making the duties of moderators more difficult. The current forums work fine as Q&A forums, and if a reader wishes for a response only from a specific individual, they can email, PM, or simply post it as "question for Fred" or whatever. I think the concept of Q&A is a good idea, and Im willing to go along with it, if thats what the majority of site members really want, but I really think if people really think this through, most would prefer open responses as opposed to a single response. I could be wrong. It happens.

[YAMAHA_Jim]

I'd say you guys are straying off the topic a lil bit. A "tip" is just a piece of knowledge that someone offers,its not an answer to a question.Its up to the person that reads it,whether or not they want to use it.I think the "DAILY-TECH-TIP" or whatever your gonna call it should be posted on the main site someplace and not open for discussion. just my 3 cents

[TimSr]

Maybe Im misunderstanding what this is all about then. I was thinking it would be setup like a dedicated MrATC Q&A message board, and Im not too crazy about that idea, but if you are talking about something like MrATC writing a weekly technical column, (which would probably better be posted on the site rather than on the message forums), that might be a great idea. Im thinking of those general things, such as, not a week goes by when somebody does not yet again have to expalin how to read a spark plug, and setup carburetion, or how to service your forks, or adjust your chain's tension. I think this would best be done by simply writing a procedure based on what seems to be an overall topic of the week, rather than responding to specific questions from individuals. This would keep you from getting bogged down in the "please write every possible scenario as to why my bike quit" scenarios, will capitalize on your strengths of techincal expertise, and keep you away from your weakness that seems to get you in the most trouble - people skills. So if you are talking about a weekly "how to" column, not directed towards any individual or specific question I would support it. If its a Q&A session for the purpose of being obnoxious or insulting to people asking questions you feel are "stupid", for entertainment purposes, I would not.

[MR ATC]

Tri-Z Jim hit the nail on the head.

Tim Sr. wrote..... So if you are talking about a weekly "how to" column, not directed towards any individual or specific question I would support it.


thats exactly what i'm talking about.

[AirManCam]

Tri-Z Jim u got it right there bod im with u all da way

[Wickedfinger]

I think Tim and I were thinking you wanted to do a more Sarge McCoy type post, rather than a Rondo Talbot like one. I see the light now ....... (I hope its not a train.)

[Dirtcrasher]

I think tips is a fantastic idea - airboxboot/ joint area siliconed - grease on bolts - running tubes, etc. all could be really informative. I do however have my thoughts - if noone can reply the only thing that can be learned is EXACTLY as it is in ONE PERSONS MIND. If I had a nickel for each time I thought I "knew it all" about a particular part and then someone posts "nope, they stopped heat treating that in 1987" whatever the case may be that I got from another persons perspective.
So why not post ONE TIP as STICKY per week or 2 week period and allow people to respond just as now - I apologize in advance if I hurt anyones feelings but there are alot of creative minds in this world that come up with simple solutions to everyday maintenance problems and procedures, and we may miss out on it if we don't allow it. I believe this board has some of the most intelligent 3whlr wrenchers available and I want to hear and share everyone's knowledge.
If the TIPS are correct and come from years of experience - then the majority of us will agree with them. Its when one person does his first top end job and posts all about it that it gets out of hand.

[YAMAHA_Jim]

In addition to my 3 cents,,,,,,,I think anyone that has a good tip should send it to 3ww so it can be posted up.I dont think the tips should come from one person everytime. I dont think anything pertaining to duct tape or JB weld is a good tip either.

[AirManCam]

Tips are good.
Im out like the fat girl in dodgeball.