I bought my Harley back in late 04. At that time, I joined various online sites in order to assist me in obtaining answers to questions I was developing.
It seems to me now, in retrospect, that expert advice in those days was freely given, offered by any number of experts. But many if not most of these 'altriustic experts' don't seem to be around any more.
They have been replaced with persons who will freely share public domain information, i.e. info that's readily available elsewhere, if you search for it. These are people who are friendly enough, but who are 'selling' something--products and/or services--and as such, are tight-lipped about anything they perceive they could otherwise sell, including information. Their agenda is not so much to help you rather than to enlist you as one of their 'customers'.
This is not an absolute. There are still a few 'expert' persons on this and other sites who provide information freely. But it seems to me the breed of 'atruistic expert' is growing extinct, and we're left with 'Insurance Salesmen' in their place.
Nothing wrong with Insurance Salesmen. They provide a needed service. We all need insurance. I insure my house, and cars, bikes, life...you name it, and I've got insurance for it.
But imagine if several--no, many--such Insurance Salesmen were allowed to ban together and open a store called "Motorcycle Help" at your local, neighborhood mall. But rather than 'help', when you walk through the door you're assailed by a bunch of these guys, all talking at once, telling you what's potentially wrong with your motorcycle, and telling you what they can do to help you make sure none of these worst-case scenarios occur.
They don't give you the statistics that describe the actual scope of the problems for which they're presenting 'solutions'.
Does the 'failed doohickey' occur to 1 out of 100 bikes, 1 out of 1,000, 1 out of 10,000?
Are the bikes the doohickey fails on stock, or are they 'built' engines? If built, are they putting out 20%, 30%, 50%, 100% more power than the original design was meant to handle?
What are your true chances of suffering such nightmare failure scenarios?
These people aren't liars. But I believe they do take 'exceptions to the rule' and distort the scope of such problems in order to drum up business for themselves, i.e. sell 'Insurance'. The corroboration for their position is usually based on their subjective impressions.
What appears to have happened is that the face of the landscape has changed, on at least some online motorcycle forums. One in particular (no, not this one) that I frequent has suffered this fate.
In my humble opinion, that site used to provide really expert-level advice, and help, to the do-it-yourselfer.
But what was once a locus of help and assistance is becoming a commercial center. Many of its current members now use 'scare tactics' (for lack of a better term) to try to sell us goods, and/or services.
You even find persons who have no financial interest in the proceedings mouthing the same 'horror stories', accepting these things as fact, as if these mechanical failures are the status quo. I guess you'd call these people 'acolytes'.
These Insurance Salesmen fight among themselves in their posts, trying to discredit one another at any opportunity. Sometimes, this is done in a subtle manner, sometimes not so.
For those of you 'experts' who still remain and provide your insights freely, thank-you.
For the rest of us, do-it-yourselfers, don't be afraid to post if you know the answer to a question being asked. You don't have to have all the answers--just speak up with what you do know. There's enough collective information on these sites to answer most of the day-to-day questions that are asked.
As for you Insurance Salesmen, show me the statistics that support your claims. And if they're compelling, I'll likely buy your Insurance. Otherwise, well...
Now, this post is based on 'subjective impressions', and nothing more. The difference between it, and a post that seeks to enlist you as a customer is, I don't want or expect any money from you. My opinions, such as they are, are all freely given--and worth each penny you pay for them.
It seems to me now, in retrospect, that expert advice in those days was freely given, offered by any number of experts. But many if not most of these 'altriustic experts' don't seem to be around any more.
They have been replaced with persons who will freely share public domain information, i.e. info that's readily available elsewhere, if you search for it. These are people who are friendly enough, but who are 'selling' something--products and/or services--and as such, are tight-lipped about anything they perceive they could otherwise sell, including information. Their agenda is not so much to help you rather than to enlist you as one of their 'customers'.
This is not an absolute. There are still a few 'expert' persons on this and other sites who provide information freely. But it seems to me the breed of 'atruistic expert' is growing extinct, and we're left with 'Insurance Salesmen' in their place.
Nothing wrong with Insurance Salesmen. They provide a needed service. We all need insurance. I insure my house, and cars, bikes, life...you name it, and I've got insurance for it.
But imagine if several--no, many--such Insurance Salesmen were allowed to ban together and open a store called "Motorcycle Help" at your local, neighborhood mall. But rather than 'help', when you walk through the door you're assailed by a bunch of these guys, all talking at once, telling you what's potentially wrong with your motorcycle, and telling you what they can do to help you make sure none of these worst-case scenarios occur.
They don't give you the statistics that describe the actual scope of the problems for which they're presenting 'solutions'.
Does the 'failed doohickey' occur to 1 out of 100 bikes, 1 out of 1,000, 1 out of 10,000?
Are the bikes the doohickey fails on stock, or are they 'built' engines? If built, are they putting out 20%, 30%, 50%, 100% more power than the original design was meant to handle?
What are your true chances of suffering such nightmare failure scenarios?
These people aren't liars. But I believe they do take 'exceptions to the rule' and distort the scope of such problems in order to drum up business for themselves, i.e. sell 'Insurance'. The corroboration for their position is usually based on their subjective impressions.
What appears to have happened is that the face of the landscape has changed, on at least some online motorcycle forums. One in particular (no, not this one) that I frequent has suffered this fate.
In my humble opinion, that site used to provide really expert-level advice, and help, to the do-it-yourselfer.
But what was once a locus of help and assistance is becoming a commercial center. Many of its current members now use 'scare tactics' (for lack of a better term) to try to sell us goods, and/or services.
You even find persons who have no financial interest in the proceedings mouthing the same 'horror stories', accepting these things as fact, as if these mechanical failures are the status quo. I guess you'd call these people 'acolytes'.
These Insurance Salesmen fight among themselves in their posts, trying to discredit one another at any opportunity. Sometimes, this is done in a subtle manner, sometimes not so.
For those of you 'experts' who still remain and provide your insights freely, thank-you.
For the rest of us, do-it-yourselfers, don't be afraid to post if you know the answer to a question being asked. You don't have to have all the answers--just speak up with what you do know. There's enough collective information on these sites to answer most of the day-to-day questions that are asked.
As for you Insurance Salesmen, show me the statistics that support your claims. And if they're compelling, I'll likely buy your Insurance. Otherwise, well...
Now, this post is based on 'subjective impressions', and nothing more. The difference between it, and a post that seeks to enlist you as a customer is, I don't want or expect any money from you. My opinions, such as they are, are all freely given--and worth each penny you pay for them.
