I get all that, but that place is just unpleasant and rude. It's not the first other forum I've been on and a few have been fairly robust but the GS lot are by far and away the least welcoming. Perhaps it is the Charley and Ewan thing, or maybe they're all inbred? Who knows or cares? It is consistent with them not nodding on the roads though, and in my experience over the years most* GS riders totter along like they're riding a horse that might bite them! I don't think I'm in the clique in here, but people are civil and I enjoy posting / learning / sharing / buying and selling... it's got a good vibe, and I like it. Love my GS though, very different to an L-twin or an IL4. TBH if the right deal had come up on a fully-loaded Multi then I'd have just as likely gone for that, but couldn't find one that was right for me for the right money and didn't want to be PCP/HP indentured to the tune of £13k+. I'd have a KTM, they intrigue me and the weird looking 990 Adventure is kind of alluring in a "my eyes, my eyes" kind of a way... especially in blue and orange. Shouldn't work, kind of doesn't, but also kind of awesome... *there is that one instructor at Cadwell with the GS who rides it like he's on a sports bike... I like to see them ridden hard, and the flat-twin sounds pretty great when it's being given death.
The 675 forum's the best (or used to be). Only forum Ive met people off (so far) and they e all been sound. This is ok though, especially the way they pay some of you to be posting on it all day lol.
My other ride is a GSA. and I always put my hand up to other bikers (there...that's got the group therapy bit out of the way ). But anyway, UKGSer is full of good stuff, but as you say, toxic. I visit regularly to see the "fun" (a bit like the Romans going to watch the Christians in an arena), but rarely contribute, except if I can help (rarely) some other poor twat who dared to ask a question. 99% of the postings are made by about half a dozen regulars. Clearly some very bright intellects among them, but downright vile if you happen to have a different view on something. Stay clear or lurk would be my advice. Now, if you're the sort of person who likes Quinoa.......try the Triumph Tiger-Explorer forum. Started off well, but has become full of drivel and a bit like a Lilo :cryingcat:
Just seen this....id say for me the most hostility came from the s1000r forum. I signed on as I was about to buy one....had a test ride, hated it, bought a z1000 (said that on the forum) a couple of lads were genuinely interested in what I thought and why I made the choice but then it started getting nasty so I instructed the admin to close my account. KTM forum: on the whole a good laugh but I don't know if Gimlet agrees it can get pretty hostile when selling stuff...if you own it, its worth fuck all.
Haven't had any hostility on the KTM forum. Everyone wants to drive a hard bargain, but who doesn't? I've had my SMT advertised on there throughout the winter and had a few nibbles and some try-it-on low offers and a couple of dreamers who just wanted to buy bits of it, but no grief from anyone. There are a few serial bike sellers on there who seem to come in for close scrutiny and a bit of stick but I've had nothing but courtesy, with every nibbler getting back to me to tell they'd bought something else. For GS riders, what about the about the Adventure forum? Stacks of GS riders on there and generally fairly civilised from what I've seen. Jonnybiscuit's description sounds like Rev Counter. A hotbed of trolls and tetchy, argumentative aresholes.
What you have to remember is the coined term for a GS rider; tosser (also done using the wanker sign). Says it all really.
