[kbryt]

but you have to say that it's a bright welcoming place, where you can see different things daily and pics of people using/ working on bikes. There's a reason that the platform is a success and some of that is usability and ease of loading pics

Now apply that to here.

I don't have a mobile phone  either:o

[Davetom]

"The obstacle is the laziness of a lot of users who are mostly using their wretched phones and will get  primarily directed to the likes of face book sites"
Calm down dear, please don't assume that sitting at a pc or laptop takes more effort than using a phone.. I use my phone as it's much faster than my cranky old laptop and as I'm sometimes out and about, it's the only way to access the Net. I'm not keen on Facebook and all it stands for but you have to say that it's a bright welcoming place, where you can see different things daily and pics of people using/ working on bikes. There's a reason that the platform is a success and some of that is usability and ease of loading pics etc. It's here to stay so best to work with it and direct people to the club. I do find the colour scheme here a little dreary ( sorry to those who put all the hard work in, I do appreciate that) , and I find the upside down threads a little odd ( maybe I can change that myself ).
Besides, the Russians/Trump/Farage will have to harvest an awful lot of twaddle to find anything of any worth in my online profile !

[kbryt]

No offence, and I understand where you are coming from.

you sum up the zuckerberg evil empire succinctly, and I realise nothing on the net is secret or safe, which is why anything really personal is never on the net.

I am as asure as I can be that whatever they harvest is of little use or profit to the man with the punch-able face.
However that not really the point which is we need to bring more of the limited amount of Sunbeam owners out there in here.

The obstacle is the laziness of a lot of users who are mostly using their wretched phones and will get  primarily directed to the likes of face book sites, which is why so many overseas enquirers are on facebook, we should be directing them here
Its the same with several other bikes sites , I often ask myself why someone should ask a complicated a marque specific question on a general catch -all site rather than go straight to a specialist one.

All it needs here is a bit more colour and a better more readable font.

[Thomas]

Hi!

I don't want to offend anyone, but this reflects the assumption of all averagely informed users.

Just about everything they had about me is a fib, my age, my email address there is a one time use,even my name is abbreviated and they think I am 18 years old; or 103 I forget.

You can be sure that Facebook knows pretty much about you using metadata, IP contacts, cross-references, and your general surfing habits. They do not even need cookies on your browser. Note, if the product is free, the user is the real product. That's the reason why I will never be found in this machine.

Cheers, Thomas

[johnguppy]

Website  how about. Black and gold.  Ideas ?

[kbryt]

With regard to the facebook  "scandal", and why that came as a surprise to anyone baffles me, Just about everything they had about me is a fib, my age, my email address there is a one time use,even my name is abbreviated and they think I am 18 years old; or 103 I forget.

surely it would involve little effort in trying out a different background on here?

[johnguppy]

The Sunbeam Marston club was set up by founder members  with a view to help  others  keep there bikes on the road , Most of those members  dont own a PC and some have given up  riding   but still support us that do  Our web site  still works  fine  , Our web master   who runs our site  i am sure he took  advice from  members  and arrived at something  that works   yes it could do with some  tinkering   , if so  why not  offer help  lets face it  it is all carried out by a few dedicated  people who do a fine job all for free 
Face book   is  not for seeking   tech advice  something posted today will be long gone  next week   , most dont understand how Facebook works  it links  everyone to everyone   friends on your own list  and all your friends lists as well 

As a club i feel we should have a Facebook  account but in no way should it point to our web site   as i am sure  we all agree   it wont be long  before  our site  is hacked 

Lots of  members would  like to perhaps  move our web site onto a modern platform  if this is  possible  perhaps people with the skills  offer help on how to make things better

Lets get together and  feel part of  our  club   exciting times   

As i said earlier   there are many members   who dont own a PC  if you want advice   these people can help you  when they are gone  to the great
Sunbeamland  in the sky  all there information  is going to be lost then   those who  own a PC  perhaps to try to   offer  contact to the web  for these people   

[Thomas]

I think the latest Facebook scandal should make it clear to everyone what can happen to their data. Our club should simply no longer use this platform. The club website and our forum should be sufficient.
Thomas

[kbryt]

I'm afraid I find this site grey sombre rather than "stylish".

The site is a creation of simple machines,as you'll see right at the bottom, they also supply this site...http://classicmotorcycleforum.com.

Have a look and see the difference in clarity, bright, easy to read and uses nearly the whole screen.

simple machines use templates  which are easy to switch.

And I still find the text too small and hard to read.
Plus I would like to be able to paste photos direct into the page.

I prefer functionality and ease of use over style.

A bit like a Sunbeam in fact.

[johnguppy]

Posting on Facebook   its hear today and gone tomorrow   our site is good and yes it could do with some updating   it needs more to use it   we must not forget  all our  experts  don't even have or want a PC  but  are happy to chat to anyone   over the phone to help

[rjbailey]

A good subject John, and one I am sure every club across the land would love to be asked more often, because active members are always in short supply! I am sure that having put your head above the parapet your offer will be remembered.
      On the subject of Forum v Facebook, I personally I read the forum but not Facebook for many reasons.
I like this website and think the Grey very stylish, and you can change the way the posts are displayed. Knowing how much time running/ changing web sites takes, and that they are Volunteers they do an excellent job. Thank you. 
     

[Thomas]

Oh, I totally agree!!! 

[kbryt]

Agreed but this site needs brightening up. Simple machines  site maker  have lots of bright light friendly templates on offer, this one in my view is a disaster, look at the wasted space each side,  the grey back ground is dismal, the text is far too small and  grey on grey text??.

I would prefer to see each reply in a descending order rather than on top.

Just my personal view, no criticism of  people behind it.

[Thomas]

Ok, but is that a good idea? This rather reflects again the unfavourable separation into different groups. I wonder how many are participating here... We should try to increase the traffic. 
Thomas

[kbryt]

Not club member, you should be able to contact him via the admin link

[Thomas]

... whi isn't listed in the Club Contacts.

[kbryt]

If you go to about this group on the facebook site you see admin who is stuart osbourne

[johnguppy]

May i ask  who is the person  incharge of our  facebook account  i see no mention of it on our offical web site  , who vets the people wanting to join

[kbryt]

In my future posts on face book group I shall simply add a tag line along the  lines of...

Why not post on the official club site @.....

[Thomas]

Yes, we agree on this. However, we should consider further consequences to give the club a recommendation. I also believe that Facebook and Google are the first addresses for many young people (I don't use them both). However, this doesn't mean that this forum or the club suffers if it doesn't run a platform on Facebook. If I have a Sunbeam, I look for Sunbeam colleagues on the Internet immediately. At this point there should be a single platform - the club. And it shouldn't share its strength considering the few Sunbeam owners, no matter whether you decide for a self-controlled forum or Facebook. I believe that focusing on one single platform is the best way to achieve a lively exchange among club members, even if I am out because Facebook is chosen.

Just my two Pennies, Thomas

[kbryt]

I echo these sentiments, I detest face book but it has become a necessary evil .
I think every post on the face book site should have a direction to here to encourage folk to post on her rather than on face book.
Along the lines of "did you know there is a dedicated Sunbeam forum?"

Sadly more and more of the younger and newer recruits to old bikes as as clued up as they should be and the first response is to "google it" and go to whatever site is top of the lists,Both Google and Face book serve only their own revenue streams.

This site could do with  a overhaul, at least jazz it up a bit; I find the grey dingy and the lettering too small for old eyes. It needs to be easier to add pictures and some kind of probationary system for new folk; Have alook at the Matchless club Jampot site to see what I mean.

Virtually every bit of personal info I gave face book in order log into it is a lie, On occasion it can serve a useful function for very local issues , but it is primarily a way to make a very rich man even richer and manipulate events and further his political ideas.

I think its bloody evil, but then I would.

[johnguppy]

I am not a great lover of Facebook. And prefer. Our own web site where we are in control  the web site provides an easy way to find other members pay our subscriptions  and soon our new made spares  lots going on by a few founder members  thank you all
John

[Thomas]

That's exactly what I think. A forum is not only historical but you can also easily find old posts. In addition, I do not give my personal data to a private company such as Facebook, which does not tell me what they do with it (do not run a Facebook page). In year four after Snowdon, this is an important point. In addition one should consider that the forum is for many probably the central reason for a club membership. So if there are secondary platforms like Facebook, this reason is questioned. Anyway, I will stay here and hope for input from the community.
Best, Thomas

[VicYouel]

Sadly we  do not have many regular users of this forum compared to curent activity on our Facebook page. This forum does actually provide a permanent record of technical issues and is "searchable" and should be very useful for future owners.

[Thomas]

Hello, John!

Since I live in Germany, this forum is the biggest help for me. I would therefore be delighted to see strong global participation. I recently received a request from a beamer from southern Germany to join a new WhatsApp group. Unfortunately, I don't use a smartphone (WhatsApp is insecure). I also think a forum is simply better. Using mailing lists mean that many Sunbeam discussions remain invisible and many colleagues do not participate. Too bad!

Help with electrical problems is certainly very welcome. Maybe you can act as a Technical Advisor on the website to contact you directly in such cases. That would avoid long waiting times in the forum.

Cheers, Thomas

[johnguppy]

Since joining  the MSC  shortly after purchasing  my Sunbeam   the help i have recievied  from every question i have asked   has been positive and helpful   everyone is so helpful  but i thought i would ask the question   as a member   liviing so far away from the  hub of the club  and not able to  help  the dedicated   few  who  have set up  the club   if i lived closer i am sure i would be  offering  my help  ( i am retired )  i do feel there must be something  we can do to surport   the club in other ways 
I make good tea , very good on electrical problems ,  but i am sure  you understand what i am trying to say   would love to help