I could create a subforum that is not seen by the rest of the internet, no problem. Open it to either registered members, or to verified members, or to those with actual Alta bikes who join the bike registry. How would this benefit us? Is there anything that we would want to talk about in that subforum that we don't want the rest of the internet to see?
@leeo45,
@snydes -- The members need to be sold on this idea for it to become successful. Feel free to create a new thread, if needed.
I was thinking along the same lines as Snydes comment. And to be honest it was mostly a curiosity.
The reason I threw out the idea of a members-only subforum for the registry was that someone had mentioned in the past (possibly in one of the code 36 threads) a reservation about having their bike info visible to the world. If visibility to the registry was limited to registered forum members, or as you said, confirmed owners then this concern might be mitigated. I suppose there could be some risk to having this information posted along with the member location map if our bikes become a widespread target for theft.
I don't know if there is any real benefit to such a subforum. Some other boards use it for classified ads to limit spam and increase integrity in those transactions. Also for forum/admin feedback and personal requests or notifications to the membership. I always just assume anything I put on the interwebs is visible to the entire online world for posterity and limit what I post accordingly.
We could limit the posted registry to screen name, model, and last three numbers of the VIN to avoid any personal info. Or expand to include things like modifications, faults/codes, link to a picture, etc., etc. People could send their data in a PM or post in the thread.
And I completely agree that if there isn't widespread interest or if there are valid concerns about sharing the info then I don't think it would be a worthwhile activity. I'll post a new thread to see if there is any interest.