How To Know If It's Time To Move On? Hayabusa.org

[Hayabusa Wannabe]

Captain, is most of the storage and thus bandwidth used for photos? What if today you resized all of the photos? I did some perusing trying to figure out if auto-compression is used when we upload photos. If it is, the current settings are not efficient enough. In a quick random search I found photos that are particularly large, say 270KB. You can easily get something like an 8-1 compression on this and it will not affect the user experience, and you could compress more than that if necessary. So if the storage was cut down this much, and web requests for pictures commanded 1/8th of the former bandwidth, does that make the site viable?

I see that Xenforo has a resizing plugin. However, I suspect a scripted process with Photoshop could do this with the proper control. The logic would be:

1) Discover any photo larger than 35 KB, ignoring the smaller files.
2) Determine landscape or portrait
3) If possible discover their current size and resize them to a max of 1024x768 (landscape)/768x1024(portrait) based on that. If not, resize all to a fixed size like 640x480
4) Compress to a smaller jpeg with an output rule of approximately 35 KB.

Large files are only needed for printing. For viewing these numbers can be perfectly acceptable, even unnoticeable in most cases.

 

[fallenarch]

Captain loves this site more than anyone. So I'm sure he's thought through a thousand options before getting to where we are now. Sometimes the reality of a situation just sucks. It just really caught me out, was the last thing I had considered and I guess I sort of took it for granted this place was going to always be here (even when I was monster pissed at you all, lol!). Suppose it's time to just thank Captain for a great run and wish everyone well and safe travels.

 

[1busa]

Idk? I was just throwing out ideas.....

I know there are several forums like Vette forums and sites like that where they don't publicly share information/secrets. You gotta pay a membership to get access to information. Hell they even have a Honda RC51 forum that is membership only and that bikes been dead for what a decade!?!?

All I'm saying is there's a ton of knowledge and information Busa related on this forum that I don't wanna see just disappear. None of the other Busa sites even come close to this 1. Ive been on all of them and this is the only 1 worth a damn.

If there's a chance that myself or fellow Busa fanatics could do something 2 save it or get it passed on to another then we need to explore options vs just letting something of Value and worthwhile just die off

 

[VIPER]

my offer still stands. I have the space, knowledge, etc to continue the org.

 

[RedBull]

My offer still stands .

I have the space,
knowledge, etc.
to continue the oRg.

Perhaps a HUGE Atlantic Coast function ~ as well as Gulf Coast & Pacific Coast . . .

Feel FREE to follow along @ www.Instagram.com/RocketRedC *

 

[PADEROLIS]

Perhaps a HUGE Atlantic Coast function ~ as well as Gulf Coast & Pacific Coast . . .

Feel FREE to follow along @ www.Instagram.com/RocketRedC *

That was an awesome experience!!

 

[captain]

That was an awesome experience!!

We got out of the meet n greets for several reasons.
1. We received complaints about a free event that we just helped to organize for no cost.
2. Most people thought we were making money on the events
3. The crashes started happening
4. The drinking got out of control
5. Other oRg members wanted to take it over and do it better than us.

What went from hundrends of people gathered together has dwindled to a handful of folks that might meet up every year. I am out of the business of spending a lot of time so that people can complain about it.

Scar wanted to be an event coordinator, he likes doing that so more power to him for it. The org separated from the Stampede when people were told they had to pay to ride at the event, its an old story that caused some division but in the end paying to ride or go to an event was not what the site was about. As interesting as it is, you guys that go to the Stampede come here for information for free but pay once a year to attend the Stampede. All is good but you get what you pay for...

Cap

 

[ali123]

captain.... I think you are way underestimating peoples willingness to pay to keep things going... it doesn't have to be a membership fee... I think if more people knew about this situation they would simply give money... gofundme style... matter of fact.... whuddya think

 

[ali123]

Captain loves this site more than anyone. So I'm sure he's thought through a thousand options before getting to where we are now. Sometimes the reality of a situation just sucks. It just really caught me out, was the last thing I had considered and I guess I sort of took it for granted this place was going to always be here (even when I was monster pissed at you all, lol!). Suppose it's time to just thank Captain for a great run and wish everyone well and safe travels.

that's ure answer... give up? business is business... ya gotta figure it out... there is an answer... and I believe a gen3... I'm glad ure not my vp....

 

[captain]

captain.... I think you are way underestimating peoples willingness to pay to keep things going... it doesn't have to be a membership fee... I think if more people knew about this situation they would simply give money... gofundme style... matter of fact.... whuddya think

I don't think you can really appreciate the behavior of people and the feeling they get when you take donations for something like this. In the past (when we first launched we did take donations) and it was painful, I took complaints all day long because someone felt like their money paid for us to kick someone else off the site or they wanted a new feature or a feature changed.. Now take a group of people with differing opinions and put them together. Try to tell someone they can't post a pic of a girl laying across a bike and the first thing you will hear is I want my money back.. I've been there and really don't want to go back to that.

that's ure answer... give up? business is business... ya gotta figure it out... there is an answer... and I believe a gen3... I'm glad ure not my vp....

Hope is not a strategy, that is business 101. I can't make business decisions based on the hope that Zook will come out with a new bike that might or might not spur traffic on the site..

 

[Mathewrussell52]

I don't think you can really appreciate the behavior of people and the feeling they get when you take donations for something like this. In the past (when we first launched we did take donations) and it was painful, I took complaints all day long because someone felt like their money paid for us to kick someone else off the site or they wanted a new feature or a feature changed.. Now take a group of people with differing opinions and put them together. Try to tell someone they can't post a pic of a girl laying across a bike and the first thing you will hear is I want my money back.. I've been there and really don't want to go back to that.


Hope is not a strategy, that is business 101. I can't make business decisions based on the hope that Zook will come out with a new bike that might or might not spur traffic on the site..

People and me included have asked about donating to the org. This sight has value to so many of us.

I assume this is not a business that look at making $$ from. But it can’t be a charity also.

Is it about financials or is the org just not what it was and you feel it not worth your time?

 

[Mathewrussell52]

captain.... I think you are way underestimating peoples willingness to pay to keep things going... it doesn't have to be a membership fee... I think if more people knew about this situation they would simply give money... gofundme style... matter of fact.... whuddya think

Suprised I haven’t seen the go fund me yet

 

[captain]

People and me included have asked about donating to the org. This sight has value to so many of us.

I assume this is not a business that look at making $$ from. But it can’t be a charity also.

Is it about financials or is the org just not what it was and you feel it not worth your time?

BOTH! I really don't think that folks know how many emails, how many people can't get logged in, get new accounts created. How many tickets there are for password resets, questions about the site etc etc. (JWCFBD has been life saver on this). I don't think people realize how much time it takes to keep the features working, the site secure for a never ending barrage of global attacks, upgrades, blah blah blah.

I'm just telling you that I will not go back to donations, those days are over come and gone. I don't see this any different than any other business, if the site can't self sustain without someone having to donate to it then it's not a business anymore right?

What drives this site is activity, I have not asked for donations or money and I still don't want those things. What I do want is people to participate, I've tried to get people engaged with picture contest, discussions on tough issues and even begged to get people to add avatars or add their bike to the showcase section. Go check and see what the participation rate is on those areas. I am tired of begging people to participate, there are a lot of people that want the content from the site but really don't want to participate in the site. I see members post ride pics on facebook but they won't post them here, why? FaceBook is easy and the oRg will always be around right?

The only thing this site needs is participation from a community of people, sounds simple and it is. Participation drives discussion, discussion drives relationships, relationships drive rides and stories which creates memories and the whole cycle starts over again and again. This progressive cycle generates volume which drives advertisers to want to participate here and as The Lion King would say the circle of life.

It just takes one of the variables to slow down or stop and the rest is history. That's where we are today, thats how we got here and this is nothing new to forums or the org.

cap

 

[Mathewrussell52]

BOTH! I really don't think that folks know how many emails, how many people can't get logged in, get new accounts created. How many tickets there are for password resets, questions about the site etc etc. (JWCFBD has been life saver on this). I don't think people realize how much time it takes to keep the features working, the site secure for a never ending barrage of global attacks, upgrades, blah blah blah.

I'm just telling you that I will not go back to donations, those days are over come and gone. I don't see this any different than any other business, if the site can't self sustain without someone having to donate to it then it's not a business anymore right?

What drives this site is activity, I have not asked for donations or money and I still don't want those things. What I do want is people to participate, I've tried to get people engaged with picture contest, discussions on tough issues and even begged to get people to add avatars or add their bike to the showcase section. Go check and see what the participation rate is on those areas. I am tired of begging people to participate, there are a lot of people that want the content from the site but really don't want to participate in the site. I see members post ride pics on facebook but they won't post them here, why? FaceBook is easy and the oRg will always be around right?

The only thing this site needs is participation from a community of people, sounds simple and it is. Participation drives discussion, discussion drives relationships, relationships drive rides and stories which creates memories and the whole cycle starts over again and again. This progressive cycle generates volume which drives advertisers to want to participate here and as The Lion King would say the circle of life.

It just takes one of the variables to slow down or stop and the rest is history. That's where we are today, thats how we got here and this is nothing new to forums or the org.

cap

Thank you for the honesty and everything you have done for the org and me personally my bike would not be what it is today without you and everyone here.

 

[FlatlandBusa]

Losing the org will be a sad day... I still look up information here. Just the other day a quick Google search for Hayabusa oil filter part numbers and the answer was here.

I understand that traffic is needed to keep advertisers happy. I also know that people seem to be afraid to go to the meet and greets. I attended the 2014, 2015, and 2016 MnG at eureka springs,, every year the attendance declined. I was unable to attend the 2017 MnG due to career changes...

Is it a case of everyone not making time for enjoying life?

As for Facebook, I will never waste my time with that random mess of jumbled crap. I like neat and organized and the org is that.

What would it take to bring traffic back to get people to want to hangout on here and in person? Those are the questions that I don't have answers to...

 

[ali123]

Primarily this is an information site... its the content that is invaluable... in the states where it snows, participation in the winter months will predictably be extremely slow. I really think you want the org to be a participation site... but the fact is... people don't make the time... sometimes I have 2 hours to be on this site... some months.. I don't get here at all... but its the CONTENT... 20 years worth... facebook is drop/stop and go.... and its sooooo easy to use it... I think the relationships forged here are a byproduct of the content... You mean to tell me that you cant use the content available here to your advantage?... maybe with the other features that you worked sooooo hard for as a free feature and some features requiring small one time fees to unlock 20 years of information... also... on here we get to converse directly with some great builders/tuners... I could see a section entitled ASK THE PROS.... where everyone involved could make money... I know u don't want to go to donations... but really look at some of the extremely detailed responses Frank and Boosted Cycle give in response to the different questions... they don't have to do any of this... Also, a gen3 changes your whole problem entirely... Its becoming a drop/stop and go world... and ya gotta change with the times.. or the times will change you... it can be done... its been a decade or longer since Suzuki renewed the hayabusa... and people are still here... why u ask? the CONTENT... that's what YOU HAVE that no one else does,...and one thing sure as hell is guaranteed... nobody ever complained about the content.. its really simple.. for a time being.. ya gotta be a member to view the 20 years of content... simple...

 

[ali123]

I don't think you can really appreciate the behavior of people and the feeling they get when you take donations for something like this. In the past (when we first launched we did take donations) and it was painful, I took complaints all day long because someone felt like their money paid for us to kick someone else off the site or they wanted a new feature or a feature changed.. Now take a group of people with differing opinions and put them together. Try to tell someone they can't post a pic of a girl laying across a bike and the first thing you will hear is I want my money back.. I've been there and really don't want to go back to that.


Hope is not a strategy, that is business 101. I can't make business decisions based on the hope that Zook will come out with a new bike that might or might not spur traffic on the site..

doing whatever you have to do is a strategy... and c'mon now ure thinking if a gen3 came out it might NOT help traffic... I think ure giving up... like a prizefighter takin a knee instead of lookin for an uppercut.. is ure mind made up entirely? this is a fight that you don't have the stomach for anymore?

 

[ali123]

Captain if I start a gofundme account... will u accept the money? I messaged you but didn't get a response

 

[ali123]

and is this not allowed?

 

[fallenarch]

Captain if I start a gofundme account... will u accept the money? I messaged you but didn't get a response

I think Captain is telling us he has given what he's got to give the org., thanks for that bro we are in your debt! I think the path forward is to establish another site, run by someone else. He's going to just shut the switch off now and walk away so maybe he would consider taking a big go fund check for his troubles if he can just hand it over with no strings of hassles. Not sure if Captain is interested in selling it straight up, name, content, coding, etc. If not whoever starts another site will need to get as many of us as possible to follow them over (is BUSANATION still going?).

Big ask for someone but it might also be an opportunity. Maybe a new format? Imagine a site with Busas, H2's, etc. all on one site barking back and forth at each other. Not sure there is a site for representing? Might inspire more traffic and sponsors due to wider audience. Hard to control the chemistry of a site though, that's sort of the magic here. Don't know, just an idea.