RideForum.NET rides off into the sunset

[troy]

All good things come to an end, my friends!

RideForum.NET was born on Dec 1, 2006
Here is that glorious first ever post by yours truly!
https://archive.rideforum.net/viewtopic ... 2&t=7.html

In the almost 16 years since, this forum has served the community well--bringing riders together to enjoy the backroads and trails. Back then, Facebook was just getting started, and social media in general wasn't all that mainstream. Special interest forums like RideForum.NET ruled the day. Today, all that has changed. Over the last several years, we've watched the engagement continue to fall off in this forum--being replaced by tools such as Facebook Groups.

Long before RideForum started, there was a Kansas dualsport forum that inspired hundreds of local riders to enjoy the backroads. That website is https://www.backroadstouring.org/kansas/. The forum there shut down long ago, but the community continues and has been growing as a private Facebook Group. So if you are looking for a place to connect online with like-minded riders, check them out!

Backroads Touring Kansas
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1912964705591911

This list below should prove to you that there is no shortage of motorcycle communities you can join! Some other groups you might checkout in no particular order include:

MOKAN ADV Riders
https://www.facebook.com/groups/KCRiders

Dirt Bike Enthusiasts of KS
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1826834194283272

Kansas ADV
https://www.facebook.com/groups/549170042517567

Ride FHAT (Flint Hills Adventure Trail)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/335625197627537

Flint Hills Adventure Route (FHAR)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2785056904877911

School Creek Off Road Vehicle Association
https://www.facebook.com/groups/427400068770524

The Kansas Adventure Trail
https://www.facebook.com/groups/753756275409488

Midwest Adventure Riders
https://www.facebook.com/groups/225936404837038

Green County Oklahoma Adventure Tour (GOAT)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2919260181421930

Kansas Dual Sport
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1203749379775179

Flint Hills Enduro
https://www.facebook.com/groups/flinthillsenduro


WHAT?! Are all my RideForum.NET posts lost?! You son of a %@&#$!
Good question! No! I created a static archive of the forum to live forever or until I get hit by a bus (or a 1200GS with aluminum panniers).

https://archive.rideforum.net

When viewing the archive, you might see links to login, reply, and create a new post, but know none of that stuff will work. It's a static site--the content can't be changed.

It was a good ride!

- Troy Wolf

[troy]

If any of you know other motorcycle communities you'd recommend, please share them here!

[Rich]

Troy,

Thanks for managing this forum over the years. Here's another group a little further north:

Iowa Dual Sport Riders
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1225845527949931

Rich

[troy]

Rich! A blast from the past! Miss you, man! They ride motorcycles in Iowa?!

Side note: Of the 305 folks I sent the email notice to, 59 already bounced back undeliverable. Lots of COX and RoadRunner emails that folks don't use anymore it appears. I made a best effort!

When "rideforum.net" shuts down, I will point this domain to the archive so folks can find it..and so Google indexed content can still be found...I think.

[Bob Morgan]

Troy,
As one of the old school guys that kept his Cox email address, your announcement instantly sent me back to happy times for me!
Slogging through the mud hole with a large group riding to the 4 states overlook, Riding the trails at Milford, The "Enduro Challenge", Getting together to help each other out just because, and my final ride with the group in Arkansas in 2014.
Being a part of RideForum, and knowing you made my life better. Thanks..................
Bob Morgan.

[troy]

So many great memories, Bob! Thanks for posting that and for the very kind words!

[hbadventure]

Troy you are a good egg! This forum has been a great resource and way to meet people and share information. Thank you for all the fun and the resource through the years. See ya Saturday at Larry's.

[safiri]

Thanks for the place to hang out. I've jointed the Backroads Kansas FB group as have you. Hope to see a bunch of you over there.

I'm waist (or neck?) deep in high school & club soccer for the next few years, then hopefully back to riding more.

[ozarksrider]

Hey Troy, thanks for keeping this site going as long as you have. The ride forum community was fortunate to have someone like you that has the technical skill and interest to support something like this site.

Again thanks.

Ozarksrider

[Savage]

This use to be my go-to place for local dual sport and dirt bike stuff. We've had a lot of good rides! Appreciate your work over the years!

[troy]

Indeed we've had some great rides! ...and the riding aint over! This is just the end of this forum--not the end of motorcycle community!

Many of you have posted here or replied to the email announcement. So many kind words! You meet the best people on a motorcycle!

[troy]

There has been a rumor going around that RideForum.NET is shutting down so I can focus more on my quilting passion.

DON'T JUDGE ME! YOU DON'T KNOW ME!

Of course these rumors are baseless.

[Savage]

We can still be friends

[katbeanz]

Thanks Troy, had some good rides, I couldn't count the number of times I've ridden the gravel loop you put together. I also got some great coaching here when I got my first gps. Best wishes on future endeavors, DK. :thumb

[xr-nut]

Thought I should log in one more time. Change. That is the spice of life. Or so they say. While down in chadwick this past weekend, my oldest and I sat out on the porch of the cabin and pondered why the old group just kind of fizzled out. I don't know the reason, I assume each of our lives changed in some way. Kids and their activities. Jobs moved some of us. Some of just got older. Some might have lost interest.

It never fails after riding a gnarly trail, that the topic of one particular ride comes up. That ride was an early april ride many years ago. It came up last weekend, me sitting on an old worn out 500 at the bottom of a rough trail trying to plan how I would make my escape from this obstacle. Then there was another spot inside chadwick where after riding down it, memories came flooding back of the first time I rode there. I had an XR650L and the entire old group was there. Some of you remember that obstacle, we all had to help each other get up it.(some more than others ) Then there was another time at the same place, one of the og members of troys group came on a bike he was so proud of. Just couldn't say enough good things about it and the fresh build with all the cool upgrades and parts. But....within the first hour of riding it there he was so frustrated with it he loaded it up and went home.

A lot of good times with this group. A lot. None of the memories will be forgotten. I miss the camp fire chats. I miss the camaraderie. I miss the great riding and ride organization. I'm not into the book of face thing, although I did just click over and ask for permission to be let into their group. Kind of made me feel like the outsider of 20 years ago trying to find my place in this group. I hate change.

Troy, love you brother. Thank you for the memories. Joe

[ajayhawkfan]

There has been a rumor going around that RideForum.NET is shutting down so I can focus more on my quilting passion.

DON'T JUDGE ME! YOU DON'T KNOW ME!

Of course these rumors are baseless.

What happened to your scrapbooking passion? I recall rides where we has to stop at every scrapbooking store you can could fill your nostrils will the smell of glue and blue haired checkout ladies.

This was the first motorcycle site I joined when I got back into riding. You also lead the my first group ride around Smithville. You and Mike were also the first people I invited to my place to ride.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BUKjN4AuccEig6QD9 Photos from Linn and Bourbon County August 2007.

I met a bunch of nice people and created some life long friends because of this site. Thank you.

Eddie

[ajayhawkfan]

If any of you know other motorcycle communities you'd recommend, please share them here!

Somewhat specific to GS riders: [https://www.r1200gs.info/forums/][/url]

[safiri]

A lot of good times with this group. A lot. None of the memories will be forgotten. I miss the camp fire chats. I miss the camaraderie. I miss the great riding and ride organization. I'm not into the book of face thing, although I did just click over and ask for permission to be let into their group. Kind of made me feel like the outsider of 20 years ago trying to find my place in this group. I hate change.

Troy, love you brother. Thank you for the memories. Joe

This was the first motorcycle site I joined when I got back into riding. You also lead the my first group ride around Smithville. You and Mike were also the first people I invited to my place to ride.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BUKjN4AuccEig6QD9 Photos from Linn and Bourbon County August 2007.

I met a bunch of nice people and created some life long friends because of this site. Thank you.

Eddie

Y'all are making my eyes water.
See you on the Backroads KS FB group and (hopefully) at Birdman's and Luc's.