Proposal to the Members of the R90sWorldnet

["Mac Kirkpatrick"]

All R90sWorldnet members:

As the owner of the R90sWorldnet (I started it maybe 20-25 years ago, truly
amazing and gratifying you guys have hung in there for so long), I was
contacted recently by the host of our group, io, who told me it would cost
$20 per month to continue to support our group IF we wanted io to continue
to store all our emails, pictures, etc., as our volume has risen beyond the
free threshold, and from now on more data than this threshold will mean
data will be automatically deleted.

I posted to the R90sWorldnet asking for feedback about this from the
R90sWorldnet members but only received one response, from James Marciano.
We spoke yesterday and he offered to pay the $240/year for one year to keep
things going as they are, thank you James, that is very gracious of you!

I don't feel it is right for James to do that and I am unwilling to pay
myself, for several reasons:
No one else sent me any thoughts about this which infers there is little/no
interest in saving member data, or you don't know what to suggest to do
about it.
and
There is a better alternative which is as follows:
The Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners, see
https://vintagebmw.org
(Upfront: I have worked with and for this group for many years and am
currently the president, the Grand Pu-bah .) Ha...

If you go to the VBMWMO site above, and cruise around you will find an
immense amount of information; we host Bob (Snowbum) Fleischer's site for
instance, as well as John's Beemer Garage and more), there is a buy/sell
area (members only, to keep spammers out), all the club magazines are
digitized, readable and searchable for all 50 years, you can see tons of
information such as the owner's manuals (some in both English & German),
repair manuals, electrical diagrams, engine oil routing, videos, model
information such as VIN range and...
The Forums, where model ranges are presented so members can ask questions
from the experts. *Including* the area called "The Incomparable R90S" which
I added as the R90S model is pivotal and crucial in BMW's history. And like
you, I really love the R90S.

Why am I telling you this? Because I feel this is a better alternative
since the VBMWMO has unlimited storage capability available, so *it will
store everything*, from all emails, to all pictures, just everything us
R90S members will post.
AND it is all searchable!

We think we can move all the data from the R90sWorldnet to the VBMWMO site
under Forums, the Incomparable R90S so that is good.

You can join the VBMWMO as a paying member (preferred, we do have mounting
costs) and you will receive our quarterly magazine (digital if you prefer).
Or
You can join for free, in which case you won't receive the magazine or have
access to the Buy/Sell area (again, to keep out spammers, they won't pay to
join.)

If we do this the R90sWorldnet will go away because we will then have a
better alternative and there is no sense in having duplicate venues.

Please send me your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, anything at all.

Thanks,
and
Thanks again to James Marciano for taking the initiative to look into this
and contact me about it.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you,

Best,



Mac Kirkpatrick
Glenmoore, PA

"After all, what is adventure, but inconvenience, properly regarded?"
C. Donahue

["Dennis Grossman"]

Hi Mac
Thanks for this update.
What are the downsides of moving this forum and associated materials
to VBMWMO?
Would there be additional navigation to get to the R90S communications and
associated materials? Would one be able to have the same ease of posting
and communications with other R90S enthusiasts, or would one need to wade
through communications with enthusiasts of all the other vintage BMW models?
Let us know more about the pros and cons so we can provide an informed
response.
Thanks,
Denny

["James Wiseman"]

Hi, Mac:
We've met but once, when you hosted the ?th and last reunion.

We face a quandary with a simple solution.
The venerable R90S has so few owners around the world it's hard to imagine that our association could exist without financial support, and I'm grateful for all your work in keeping it going.  I'm pleased to own an icon of cycle history, and have no plans to change horses.

My thought is that a movement of all our data, for what it's worth, to the new site is the way to go,  We'll all have to subscribe to stay connected, but we'll have access to what appears to be a much richer site.
Thanks for your years of interest and service.

James Wiseman
ProServUS Investigation
PO Box 802
Burlington, IA 52601
319-750-4199
The truth will set you free.

NOTICE: This email and any attachments are covered by the Electronic Communication Privacy Act. The information may be confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Please reply to the sender that you have received this message in error, then delete it. Thank you for your cooperation.

["OLD BMWS"]

BRILLIANT!
Ted

["Lars Hens"]

Hi Mac,

Thanks for your efforts. I just signed up for a three year membership.

Lars Hens
Orinda, CA

["David B"]

I'm a member of both and have no issues moving everything to VBMWMO. Seems
like a no brainer to me.

David B

["Mac Kirkpatrick"]

Denny, I suggest everyone go to the Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners site and
do a trial run, so click here
https://vintagebmw.org
Then click on Forums in the top line which will take you here
https://vintagebmw.org/forum/
Scroll down to, ta-dah, "The Incomparable R90S"
and you will see all the current subjects.
Pick one that interests you.
Or
click on the red lettered "New Topic"
and write what you want to talk or ask about.
Or, in the upper left click on Search and do a search in the R90S forum.
Or go up to the line that starts with Home on the left, then come right to
"Knowledge Base" where a drop down will present sites we have preserved,
such as Snowbum's site, or John's Beemer Garage, or Genealogy Graph which
is magic as it allows you to pick out, say all the one cylinder models, or
do a VIN search of your VIN, or many other options.
Or click on "Magazines" to see all the VBMWMO magazines from the last 50
years, and they are all searchable by subject.

Just go for a cruise around the site, click on everything to see what magic
appears!! as there are thousands of things to see and view.

Let me know if I can help further, AND let me know if you have any
suggestions for improvement, OR if you own something that should be added
to the site!!
We can scan anything and add it to the site, OR anyone can add their own
pictures and descriptions of anything by starting a "New Topic" which is
Red on the left, after you open The Forums and click on.

"We" have (actually James Wonder, our VP) has put a huge amount of work
into making this site a success.

*Please* spread the word about how great it is

Best,


Mac Kirkpatrick
Glenmoore, PA

"After all, what is adventure, but inconvenience, properly regarded?"
C. Donahue

["Mac Kirkpatrick"]

Thanks David for your input.


Mac Kirkpatrick
Glenmoore, PA

"After all, what is adventure, but inconvenience, properly regarded?"
C. Donahue

["PJ GAUTILLE"]

Thank you Mac. Appreciate the update and options. I'm new to the
R90SWORLDNET Group since about Jan of 2023.
Don't recall seeing your email on this subject? I think it's a GREAT
SITE and GROUP of R90S owners.

I would be willing to pay to keep it running ie. data charges etc.
However, if you feel VBMW is the better way to go - I'll
also do that. I am already subscribed to it and it is also a wealth of
knowledge. I just liked the international appeal of
R90SWORLDNET, as you hear from R90S owners all over the planet. Just my
2 cents.

Best Regards,

Peter G./ San Diego
1973 BMW R90S

*/PJ Gautille/**

*

["Mac Kirkpatrick"]

Thanks Lars.

mac