How do you fell about the BMW MOA Forum ?

[chiltech500]

I just joined the other forum and don't find them as welcoming as STN ... which as an inactive member for several years, I was welcomed back nicely.

Does anyone belong and find their advice as helpful/knowledgeable as here?

[Royal Tiger]

I registered but you have to pay the $40 yearly membership fee to post.  I am able to search though.

[Cablebandit]

I've found that most bike/brand specific forums pretty much suck.

[ConPilot1]

It's the guy who looks like Willem Dafoe!


Well if they read this thread then you're really screwed and might as well stay here.

I know nothing about the MOA forum. But I could see that based on what I've heard about
about certain tendencies of certain (not all) BMW owners.

Seriously, this is a great place, and lots of knowledge here too. I think there's enough BMW owners here who would be more than willing to help you out. As with any other marque.

I too prefer a mixed forum of different bikes. Same talk about the same bike gets old.

Royal Tiger and you are practically neighbors. R6 is a busy one.

Welcome back/to STN.  

[Scratch33]

The MOA's a great resource IMO.  Their board's not as "chatty" but has excellent tech info.

[cruisin]

I was an MOA member for several years and found the forum to have mostly a bunch of snootiness.  Most of them seem to have the attitude that if you can afford a BMW, you shouldn't be servicing your own bike and that the more you spend on accessories the better you are.  I also did not like the close-mindedness when it came to talking about rally locations.  

One of my last comments to the leadership there was "there is no way in hell I want to pay money to associate with a bunch of snobs so steeped in old traditions that those traditions dictate the future of the organization."   MOA

[R Doug]

If the board is that bad, how are their rallies?  I have only visited the MOA boards for info and have not been on them long enough to form an opinion.

[chiltech500]

It's the guy who looks like Willem Dafoe!...

Seriously, this is a great place, and lots of knowledge here too. I think there's enough BMW owners here who would be more than willing to help you out. As with any other marque.



Welcome back/to STN.  

LOL ConPilot. I am happy here, but I did pay the $40 to join (1st time ever paid for a forum, of course with BMW it's about $ ) I did want to be able to ask technical questions because their search isn't the greatest.

I must say the best bike specific forum I joined was the Goldwing Riders who were quite accepting and often had plenty of past history with smaller faster bikes if they didn't still own one. I was an example because I had an SV 650 and an FZ1 while I had the 1800 wing - which if it had the suspension modded and pegs lifted would have been a surprising site in the twisties.

[chiltech500]

If the board is that bad, how are their rallies?  I have only visited the MOA boards for info and have not been on them long enough to form an opinion.

R Doug, I don't think the board is that bad, just not as cordial (warm and fuzzy ) as this and other bike specific forums I've belonged to in the past.

Doug, I think we rode together at region 6 rally in central PA about 4 yrs ago, a rainy and wet morning before a lunch gathering - you'd just bought the KTM and led a small group of about 4 of us. My memory is fuzzy related to my age , I could be wrong.

[Neub]

Don't see a lot of discussion on the MOA site related to my bike (K1300S), most of the discussion under the "wedge" section is around the GT.  I rely on I-BMW.com for tech, advice, etc. And they are "welcoming".

[chesthing]

Why would one pay $40 to join there when this forum is out there?   http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

[chiltech500]

Why would one pay $40 to join there when this forum is out there?   http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

STUPIDITY

[hexkopf]

I am an MOA member/forum surfer. I am glad i found this thread because I have been wanting to vent about the stuff that bugs me over there. First off, it is a great technical resource and has a lot of very knowledgeable members. I do find some of the attitudes to be a bit snotty/snooty and a good number of folks take themselves a bit to seriously.  

Also, the constant threads on the most inane shit really gets under my skin. I am sure someone from MOA is going to see this and make a stink, oh well. The constant threads on oil, oil type, oil analysis, final drive oil, metal in the final drive oil, what type of oil to use....enough! Also a lot of Harley bashing takes place which gets old. Not ALL Harley riders are douchebags. Not all  

I also find that there is a definite insider and outsider feel to things. You are either a cool kid or not.

That said, I think another member hit is on the head with there being a general suckiness to brand specific forums. I think there is some truth in there.

Rant off.  

[bikerfish1100]

a few thoughts, in no particular order:
you are not paying a membership fee to get on the MOA forum. you are paying to be a member of BMWMOA. the forum is a side-benefit.

for technical knowledge, this forum thoroughly sucks compared to MOA's. exactly what one would expect from a very generalized forum compared to a brand specific one.

STN is more "poke you in the ribs" friendly than is MOA. however, many of the MOA members have been friends for decades (MOA just held their 40th National rally), and that long association may come thru as "snootiness".

cruisin'- i have no idea where you got the impression that the MOA group was mostly about "let the dealer do it". i have found that subset to be a very small and insubstantial one within MOA. mostly, i see guys that have no issue with riping their bike apart, and know very well how to do it. yes, some of the newer members/older (in age) members are a bit more prone to the "don't want to touch it myself" mind set, but they are very much in the minority.

as to MOA rallies- they vary in style and type, from the large Nationals (5-10,000 in attendance) to the smaller (a few hundred to 1000) local rallies. the seminars offerd at the National are generally very good, and very wide-ranging in topics. the hosted rides vary in intensity and quality, which is probably a good thing. the rallies tend to be kind of "family oriented" in nature (kinda G or PG13 at most). best if yo ugo with friends, or plan to meet friends there. for me, a National is a place when i can count on reconnecting with lifelong friends that i only get to see once a year.

[chesthing]

Here's another good, free resource: http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=46
The more I hear about BMW MOA the less I like it, although the search feature could come in handy so I saved it to favs.

[chiltech500]

i see guys that have no issue with riping their bike apart, and know very well how to do it

Reading posts which deal with tech topics members do indeed know what they are talking about and I have seen step by step tutorials with pics. That is the benefit of such a forum and it doesn't surprise me that due to the" techy" nature of the BMW itself, it attracts techy types.

PS: I AM NOT A TECHY TYPE. My user name comes from a penny stock that went bust - a tip from my daughters high school class trading stocks. I bought 500 shares  

[tomek]

I've found that most bike/brand specific forums pretty much suck.

 

[zenduddhist]

The MOA's a great resource IMO.  Their board's not as "chatty" but has excellent tech info.

I agree.  I am a member and find it to be very helpful from a technical perspective.  I also like to receive the monthly magazine.

[chiltech500]

1968 BMW R69S, 1975 BMW R90/6, 1995 BMW R100R Mystic, 1995 BMW R100GSPD Classic, 2011 BMW R1200RT, 2010 Bonneville T-100 w/CSM Sidecar, 2008 Honda Goldwing, 2007 Honda Goldwing w/Hannigan Sidecar, 2009 Kawasaki Super Sherpa

Dude, That is quite a cool bunch of iron !!!

[ConPilot1]

I have to agree though, as an ex-COGGER, that the technical knowledge on a bike specific forum is second to none if you need some deep hardcore information.
Support from COGGERS was great, and honestly I have nothing bad to say about the forum, I attended one COG National on my first
jaunt down the BRP to Deals' Gap, and had a great time with the people.

As I mentioned before, I do like the exposure to different MC marques on a forum like STN. I've learned a lot about different ponies
during my stint here. And there is quite a bit of collective tech knowledge here too.

But without a doubt, this place is just a lot more fun.