Way back in the early '80s, I rode Norton Commandos and was even President of the San Francisco Norton Owner's Club. I won that election by and large by promising to keep the club (and bylaws) focused on the reason the club was founded. It seemed that the current administration wanted to expand membership numbers by letting those that didn't even own a Norton become full club members. My view, shared by the majority of members that voted me in, was that the major common element that all members shared (some would say suffered), is ownership of a Norton motorcycle. Those members joined to learn how to fix them, find parts for them, and share enthusiasm and camaraderie related to Norton motorcycles. Sound familiar? See ABC Canon #1: Airheads ride Beemers with air cooled heads.
Imagine the sense of Deja Vu that overcame me when I read the minutes of the July 11. 2021 ABC board meeting. To quote the September '21 Airmail: "The First item discussed was the revision of Canon 1. Concerns that we excluded potential members were discussed." WTF?!? I get that the new board may feel they need to make change to put their mark on the ABC. It's a failing common to those that seek political power. Not long ago, a previous ABC board sought to make change, change that would have been very unhealthy to this club and its members. The upheaval and ill will generated was almost enough to disband the ABC. It was clearly enough to send membership numbers into a tailspin, just the opposite reaction to what the change makers sought.
There's an old saying some attribute to Napoleon: "Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
So here's my message to the new board: I joined the ABC precisely because I ride Beemers with air cooled heads. Change that, and I'll no longer be a member of the ABC. If Canon #1 needs revision, it should read "Airheads own and ride Beemers with air cooled heads."
Who's with me?
No oil heads please, complex un interesting motorcycles ridden by boy scouts .
BTW, I'm sure the new board would love to hear your thoughts on Canon 1.
Here are their email addresses:
bmw_dave@hotmail.com, mojo-airhead@comcast.net, curtisleehenry53@gmail.com, maairhead@gmail.com, duck@vintagemotorsllc.com
If I wanted both, I could join several other clubs that do both. But I'm only interested in Airheads.
I'd like to keep the ABC Airhead-only because the bulk of people that ride modern bikes simply don't 'get' anything about riding a classic motorcycle. And, all the reasons to do so cannot be summarized into a cohesive "sound bite", so trying to explain is useless.
[color=blue]Don't hide 'em, Ride 'em !!
#15150[/color]
My best friend and riding buddy is an Oilhead owner. He, like other Oilhead owners I have known, does not “wrench” on his own bike. If it needs attention, he takes it in to his dealership. It’s a great bike that serves him well, but the man-machine relationship is just not the same.
So, while having more club members to do club rally’s, rendezvous, tech days, etc., sounds nice, I can’t imagine Oilhead owners really wanting to hang out with a bunch of Airhead folks.
It occurs to me that if the Club wishes to attract more members, then maybe they could do more with their website, which is their premier "ace in the hole". Today's Airhead rider is far more web-based in their approach to maintenance and information sharing. IMHO, the accent within this Club is currently on the newsletter, which, while very nice and handsomely presented, is a relic of the past. In the 70's and 80's my mom and pop eagerly awaited their numerous BMW club newsletters. However, today's rider is fully versed in, and accustomed to, the immediacy of the web.
I'm an engineer by education. Like my father before me, I just barely made it past Calculus on my way to graduation. When I asked my engineer son in 2010 how he made it through Calculus, he replied, "I simply watched the Calculus lessons on YouTube." It was a earth-shaking statement. The realization that people today no longer depend on the printed word ! This even though at the time I was employed by a Fortune 50 communications company ! A classic case of not seeing the forest because of all the trees ! And that's where I think we are as a Club.
1. In my view the Club should have a YouTube presence on the order of what Chris Harris was doing. These videos should open and close with title pages that point to, support and elicit membership in the ABC. And the beauty of it is that we don't have to invent anything new. The Club can lift all the information from older sources such as Oak, Snowbum, and even Chris Harris !! So basically the Club would simply be re-packaging existing old format material for today's rider.
2. Then the website should have it's own repository of technical articles which while visible, are only readable by members. Currently a lot of what's there reference Snowbum, and while these are authoritative, are written in a confusing manner.
Someone once said you can't solve existing problems with existing solutions. You've got to move your thinking up a rung or two.
EDIT to add:
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
- Albert Einstein
[color=blue]Don't hide 'em, Ride 'em !!
#15150[/color]
Richard, I fear you are correct.
I've just retired from TV news in the past year, and see how irrelevant it has become. No one wants to wait for a linear presentation. They want the information on their terms, i.e.: now!
Video presentations as you suggest, are the way to proceed.
I have extensive experience in producing, shooting and editing, and would be happy to help.
I've just retired from TV news in the past year, and see how irrelevant it has become. No one wants to wait for a linear presentation. They want the information on their terms, i.e.: now!
And yet, if you ask the TV execs what their "ace in the hole" is, they'll all say it's their news programs. Again, another case of standing too close. I don't know anyone who's watched TV news in decades.
[color=blue]Don't hide 'em, Ride 'em !!
#15150[/color]
For what one man’s opinion is worth I completely agree with Richard. I am 74 and since a child a voracious reader of print. Now virtually any reference I need is internet based. I was reminded of this yesterday. I needed to adjust the pressure setting on my well pump. Despite having the print instructions at hand I moved to YouTube and had my instructions immediately. I know a number of tech luddites who happily use the internet for reference.
That said, I also appreciate the work and expense in building a new site. It is a huge job and one that takes considerable time, skill and expense.
That said, I also appreciate the work and expense in building a new site. It is a huge job and one that takes considerable time, skill and expense.
I did not mean to imply that an entirely new Airhead web site should be built. The Club just went through all that. No, you'd make the videos and start your own "channel" on YouTube, or one of the other numerous video hosting sites.
Then each of the videos would have a title page or the speaker would include an advertisement for the Club that would point back to this web site. So there would be no changes to this site, we'd simply be adding content on YouTube that pointed back to this web site and highlighted the many advantages of membership.
Another plus is that YouTube pays the video owner monthly royalties. My son used to get a check every month for his content. Although not huge, it is nice.
[color=blue]Don't hide 'em, Ride 'em !!
#15150[/color]
I have both an Airhead and an Oilhead and enjoy them both equally for what the are. But I would not excpect to be included in the ABC with my Oilhead. As far as the club entering in to different media platforms as Richard Whatley suggests I'm all for it . Even a Podcast now and then wouldn't hurt either .
Ride Fast.
I am in strong support of leaving cannon 1 as it is. But I value the friendship and camaraderie of people I see at airhead rally's that no longer ride airheads for one reason or another. (Or maybe even have a Italian airhead with the wrong cylinder angle) So as an Airhead, we need to keep Cannon 7 (Airheads do not take themselves... too seriously) in mind in all things including cannon 1.
I strongly believe we should be airhead exclusive. If I wanted a watered down version, I’d go to “that other, larger org” that more often than not, disappoints.
I like the idea of adding youtube content, but certainly not substituting it for the written word.
Whereas I enjoy youtubes for the visual explanations, due to the work required in creating them, they are less likely to have as much input from various sources….much more dynamic and easier for someone to respond to a question asked in a forum on a specific point than to make a video and hope it covers all bases.
Just my thoughts.
Steve H
Being a fairly new member I still feel I should watch what goes on here, but this thread seemed interesting. I own modern bikes but also a 1980 R65 that I inherited a few years back, I enjoy both and understand both. I belong to COG, Concours Owners group, which as many of you may know is a bike that was designed by Kawasaki essentially to compete with BMW's sport tourers. Their motto is "join for the bike, stay for the people". I understand the boards view to encourage and invite new blood into the group. At the same time, I also understand that this club is called "Airheads" for a reason. When COG has a ride or rally, local, regional, national, you will see many different types of bikes. Anybody can join COG, even though it's geared to one bike-no pun intended-. Does it dilute COG or take away it's identity or force the board to recognize certain groups, sub-groups or others not riding a Concours? Is COG getting away from what it was originally organized for? I don't think so at all. It's still about one bike, it's focused on one bike and everything concerning COG is still all about one bike. The trick is to find a balance that retains the uniqueness of the Airhead while telling others owning the same make bike that you are welcome but this is an airhead group. Now, on the forum, COG has tried to tackle this with "members" and "guests" limiting things each can do and access, and, they have board for "other bikes". Will COG turn away or will I ignore a person who rides in or posts something pertaining to a Kawasaki Versys as opposed to a C-14, or deny them membership because they ride or own a Vulcan, or, no longer own a Concours? No. Can COG still maintain their core vision and focus on the Concours while still including others that may buy an airhead in the future or have previously owned one in the past? Of course. I see no reason why Airheads could not either.
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