The future of NAFO

[beemerdons]

CFR 2012 is scheduled to be in Western Canada and we plan on hosting the best NAFO ever!

I think that's great news, am an absolute supporter of the third installment of NAFO, am thrilled the good folks in Canada are banding together to show off their venue, and looking over my vacation schedule, finances, and will look forward to details in the next year or so. :clapping: I'm hopeful (and appealing for) united support for this event.

I already have Sept 2012 pencilled in the diary for my next trip to the PNW. Perhaps I should think about June and including BC and/or AB?

Brother Dave: If you fly into Phoenix in June of 2012, you know you will have a bike to ride again while you are in North America. You rode to Death Valley Daze 2010 on my Miss Lucy Liu, a fast Gen1 2003 FJR. This time there will be another Yamaha in the Stanley Boys Garage in Arizona: La Poderosa Diabla Negra - The Black She Devil! My raven black Yamaha Super Tenere 1200Zed will arrive May of 2011. I will have her all outfitted with Al Jesse aluminum panniers and top box by the time that you arrive.

You, I and Son Seth would ride the two Yamaha's in the middle of the night over to the Pacific Coast to beat the heat of the Sonoran Desert in June during the day. Up to BC and AB to join up with NAFO, and then back straight down through Montana, Idaho and Utah. Same trick on the return to Chandler from Page; we will ride all during the night to avoid the Arizona heat. Probably hook up with Niehart, escapefjrtist and the rest of those Specific Northwet Whack Jobs as we go up North through Washington.

 

[Burnspot]

I think someone struck upon something even broader than just a NAFO event.

That is Forum participation or even awareness of it's existence. Maybe this idea has been brought up.

Perhaps the forum(s) could approach/develop a partnership with dealers and offer some type of brochure/membership information

to any and all perspective/new owners. Many buyers/interested Sport touring guys don't even know it or any forums exist.

Many come to the forum either by word of mouth or stumble through internet searching(me)

and decide which bike to buy. However a great multitude do not. Getting more people involved in the Forum, would increase the

amount of participants at any local/regional/national meeting. I am sure any/all dealerships would welcome some type of brochure

or pamphlet stand explaining the FJR Forum(s) and where this valuable wealth of information and bike knowledge can be found;

better yet that it exist. Perhaps then people won't get shunned when they try to introduce themselves as a forum member.

It would be a mutual benefit to the dealership due to the fact that the forum and it's support would encourage a buyer to

buy one of their premier bikes.

That was probably my point. The very few FJR riders I've come across, outside of any "event", have never heard of this or the other forum. I've run into a few who inhabit Sport-Touring.net or Advrider.com yet never thought there were a couple dedicated forums for their machine. I make it a point to mention both forums and encourage the rider to come join us either at funnyfarm A or B....even if they don't feel like participating directly...at least they can lurk and pickup the information. It's the very basic foundation of any grass roots campaign...getting the word out. Hell, I've even thought about printing out a sheet of URLs that can then be cut into small "info" items to pass around when I happen upon a rider. Whatever spurs action I suppose.

BTW, +1 on Jeff and Colorado (perhaps not Eastern though...pancakes and flat come to mind)...it's been years since I've ridden/lived there and I'd love to hit an event there one day (Grand Lake is a nice little spot outside of RMNP that'd probably be nice).

NAFO in CFR country sounds like fun and I really hope I can do that!

 

[airboss]

For the record, I really wanted to attend NAFO this year, but as things would have it, I just did not have the time or the money. I really tried to move schedling around, but it just didn't work.

I like that we have regional meets, and kind of don't care about how far they are. I rode 1200 miles to WFO 2009 and 1500 to EOM 2009. Then I rode that 1500 again to the NC camping meet earlier this year.

Like others, I think the economy had a huge impact on the number of people that could go. Most of the complaints were about money, since it seems to be much tigher these days. I wanted to go to NAFO in Golden, but was pretty new to the FJR and with the fees, figured that my wife and I were above $700 before we even left the driveway. IF I had known then what know now, I probably would have gone.

Part of the problem as I see it is so many "regional" meets during the same year as the NAFO event. If NAFO was one of only one or two events held during NAFO years, scheduling dates would be easier, and more people would save up the vacation. However, this year we had, SW-FOG, WFO, CFR, SFO, a large eastern camping event, and I'm sure probably a couple of other FO's that I'm missing. With all those events going on, it's hard to decide on which ones to make and which ones get skipped. During bad ecomonic times, it ends up being the lesser priced ones that get attended and the more expensive trips that get put off.

So...My question is this: During NAFO years, should we reduce the number of regional events, in the hope of luring (bringing) more people to a national event? That may be a ****** idea, as I too like the regional events, but dayum...We get spread thin.

I know some people bitched, but it is impossible to set up an event where everyone is happy. Someone will always have a reason to cry; it's just the way people are. Some were unhappy with the price, the date, the location, the weather, the roads, the city, the hotel, the way their SO looks. Who knows...I just really hope it was not become of some ******** "rift" between the Forums. That would just be ******* stupid! Of course, this would not be the first time I have seen stupid on this forum or the other one. People need to get over **** and stop crying so much. Good God...It's the frigging internet.

Anyway...Since I apparently can't even get my shirt guy to count or spell correctly, I don't think I'm the guy to try to set up an event as sizable as NAFO, but I will say that wherever and whenever it is, I will try to go...Money, family, and time allowing.

Gee, don't go beating your self up. Don't you realize thar you've created a classic.

What HRZ said. Family,Time, Money, If I could I would attend ALL the events as each one comes with it's own special flavor.

CFO, a small gathering southwest Wisconsin, excellent roads for riding, even a mini bonus rally that was a total hoot! (thanks Rick).

WFO, much larger what a blast, couldn't ride due to an injury, but meeting some of the unique individuals in attendance made it well worth the price of admission. I've ridden the area before and know you would be hard pressed to find better riding anywhere.

 

[Joe2Lmaker]

Interesting idea. Of course, when it is CFO's turn to host there will need to be zero other regional events to lure people to a national event.

Oh, and Joe2Lmaker thanks for you support of CFO :finger: You are so thrown out of the rally

 

[GalaxyBlue]

CFR 2012 is scheduled to be in Western Canada and we plan on hosting the best NAFO ever!

I think that's great news, am an absolute supporter of the third installment of NAFO, am thrilled the good folks in Canada are banding together to show off their venue, and looking over my vacation schedule, finances, and will look forward to details in the next year or so. :clapping: I'm hopeful (and appealing for) united support for this event.

I already have Sept 2012 pencilled in the diary for my next trip to the PNW. Perhaps I should think about June and including BC and/or AB?

All i saw with this was Poteen

THE POTEEN SONG

Now learned men who use the pen have wrote your praises high

That sweet Poteen from Ireland green, distilled from wheat and rye:

Throw away your pills, it will cure all ills of Pagan, Christian, or Jew

Take off your coat and grease your throat wish the real old mountain dew

https://homepage.eircom.net/~bunrattywinery/historypotcheen.htm

Look forward to seeing you again Dave!

 

[Bounce]

For me distance was a issue, at 2,650 miles direct to Knoxville. That's five days out and five days back

really? when did you switch to a Harley?

that parses as 3 days of decent riding and not wasting time in a hotel (4 - 7am and 5 - 10pm can be riding time, too).

Well, Honda was involved in it, so I suppose some of the cost was on their shoulders. They held the 2008 one at the Marriott in Knoxville and it was $55/person; local hotels in the area offered special rates

The "special rates" at GWRRA events (think Wing Ding) are unique in that they are HIGHER than the standard rates because the GWRRA Officers negotiate so many comps for their officers and friends that the local businesses then are forced to over charge the attendees to break even.

 

[HaulinAshe]

...Oh, and suggesting a location and asking someone else to do it doesn't count!

But sometimes it's so much fun to stir a pot, turn loose of the spoon and see people try to grab it.

 

[Patriot]

is PM now PC?

That which does not break us, makes us stronger.

:drinks:

 

[orestes]

Brother Dave: If you fly into Phoenix in June of 2012, you know you will have a bike to ride again while you are in North America. You rode to Death Valley Daze 2010 on my Miss Lucy Liu, a fast Gen1 2003 FJR. This time there will be another Yamaha in the Stanley Boys Garage in Arizona: La Poderosa Diabla Negra - The Black She Devil! My raven black Yamaha Super Tenere 1200Zed will arrive May of 2011. I will have her all outfitted with Al Jesse aluminum panniers and top box by the time that you arrive.

You, I and Son Seth would ride the two Yamaha's in the middle of the night over to the Pacific Coast to beat the heat of the Sonoran Desert in June during the day. Up to BC and AB to join up with NAFO, and then back straight down through Montana, Idaho and Utah. Same trick on the return to Chandler from Page; we will ride all during the night to avoid the Arizona heat. Probably hook up with Niehart, escapefjrtist and the rest of those Specific Northwet Whack Jobs as we go up North through Washington.

Thanks Don. That's a very kind offer. At the moment I have a (very) tentative plan of hiring a bike in Seattle or Vancouver (BC) and building a 2 or 3 week tour based around the Dam Tour but everything is flexible until early 2012. Who knows I may even make it to SW FOG 2011. It seems Adam is in need of a fix of Poteen

 

[vandy]

I personally attended this NAFA event but don't think that I would have made the attempt at it if it was not called the NAFA event. Being the national event gave me a reason to attempt the trip. The next one is a lot further away but due to a few other things that I also wanted to see in that direction I am hopping to make this 3 NAFA's in a row.

On another not there was at least 3 of us attending from Oklahoma, one from Kansas, and a couple from Texas so there was several of us from west of the Mississippi that made it to this NAFA.

The riding and company was great, I just wish we had planned well enough to stay one more day and ride on Sunday too.

 

[Iris]

So, I'm just dying to ask.....

where and when is the EOM 2011?

 

[08FJR4ME]

My thoughts would be if there would be another NAFO in the future that maybe all other local events should be put on hold that year. If there was just one "MAJOR" event going on without all the fragmentation of the others it might help attendance. If we took all the organizers of every local getogether and focussed into one event I think we may have something.

Dave

 

[vandy]

If we canceled all of the smaller FJR events to make the NAFA better it definitely would be..

We might get another 50 to 100 to show up for the NAFA but that would mean about 3 or 4 hindered would be missing all FJR events that year.

That kind of defeats the purpose of having the regional to start with.

To put it into a different perspective it would be kind of like Ford saying the want to sell more Mustangs so they stop selling every other Ford that they normally offered and only sold the Mustangs.. Well at the end of one year the Mustang sales have doubled but overall Ford really screwed up because total sales are down and the next year they have less loyal owners that might purchase a Ford.

 

[FJRGuy]

My thoughts would be if there would be another NAFO in the future that maybe all other local events should be put on hold that year. If there was just one "MAJOR" event going on without all the fragmentation of the others it might help attendance. If we took all the organizers of every local getogether and focussed into one event I think we may have something.

Dave

Hmmm... so you want to try and force people to attend by eliminating the options? :dribble:

Sounds a bit dictatorship like to me!

I don't see any need for NAFO to affect regional rallies other than for the host region. Not everyone can afford the time to travel across the country for a rally but can easily make a weekend event within a day's ride. If I could not afford the time or expense, or for some other reason was unable to make it to NAFO (like this year) and had no other rallies to go to, I'd host my own local rally. I don't feel that NAFO has to be particularly large to be successful. The idea, IMHO, is to gather riders that are willing and able, however many that may be, from across the continent. Rotating NAFO through the regions not only provides new and exciting destinations for the LD crowd, but allows those within each host region, who are unable to attend NAFOs in other regions, the opportunity to meet riders from across the continent. JMHO

 

[beemerdons]

My thoughts would be if there would be another NAFO in the future that maybe all other local events should be put on hold that year. If there was just one "MAJOR" event going on without all the fragmentation of the others it might help attendance. If we took all the organizers of every local getogether and focussed into one event I think we may have something.

Dave

Hmmm... so you want to try and force people to attend by eliminating the options? :dribble:

Sounds a bit dictatorship like to me!

I don't see any need for NAFO to affect regional rallies other than for the host region. Not everyone can afford the time to travel across the country for a rally but can easily make a weekend event within a day's ride. If I could not afford the time or expense, or for some other reason was unable to make it to NAFO (like this year) and had no other rallies to go to, I'd host my own local rally. I don't feel that NAFO has to be particularly large to be successful. The idea, IMHO, is to gather riders that are willing and able, however many that may be, from across the continent. Rotating NAFO through the regions not only provides new and exciting destinations for the LD crowd, but allows those within each host region, who are unable to attend NAFOs in other regions, the opportunity to meet riders from across the continent. JMHO

+1, Gunny; Very Well Spoken, Jeff! If Iggy, Bounce and GalaxyBlue came up to Big-D and Papa Chuy and said: We want to hold NAFO in Phoenix and we want you to suspend SW-FOG for that year! Then Hell Yes, we would do that. But it just does not make any sense to suspend a regional rally, if NAFO is not even being held in that particular region!

FOOTNOTE: We did hold SW-FOG in 2008, when NAFO was in Golden, CO. But we held it in Tombstone, AZ two months prior (mid-May) just so we would not conflict with NAFO 2008 in late July!

 

[madmike2]

Yep! Not all of us had the time to make events more than we'd already calendared for the year.

For instance, I had considered skipping WFO this year but went anyway; WCR was on my list for the year because exskibum and I had already planned an extended ride (3600 miles) through BC and the Icefield Parkway to ride through Glacier NP where we'd been rained out last year. That left little available vacation to ride across country to NAFO.

My hat is off to Bluestreek: WFO, WCR, SW-FOG and NAFO. :clapping:

When I grow up I want to be like Steve.....and beemerdons. :dribble:

 

[beemerdons]

Yep! Not all of us had the time to make events more than we'd already calendared for the year.

For instance, I had considered skipping WFO this year but went anyway; WCR was on my list for the year because exskibum and I had already planned an extended ride (3600 miles) through BC and the Icefield Parkway to ride through Glacier NP where we'd been rained out last year. That left little available vacation to ride across country to NAFO.

My hat is off to Bluestreek: WFO, WCR, SW-FOG and NAFO. :clapping:

When I grow up I want to be like Steve.....and beemerdons. :dribble:

Big Mike, see you at FODS one week from today, Mi Bueno Amigo!!!

 

[Silver Penguin]

My thoughts would be if there would be another NAFO in the future that maybe all other local events should be put on hold that year. If there was just one "MAJOR" event going on without all the fragmentation of the others it might help attendance. If we took all the organizers of every local getogether and focussed into one event I think we may have something.

Dave

Of course you're entitled to express your opinion Dave. If we all thought the same way, the forum would be a pretty dull place now wouldn't it?

In the event that a fantastically well-organized NAFO, with everything one ever dreamed of, were to happen instead of all the smaller, local events, it would be quite a show. An awesome experience for those who were willing and able to attend. And I'm sure that everyone who went would have a wonderful time.

However there are those who don't want to ride long distances, or can't be away from home for longer periods. don't have vacation time or $$ available. And the timing may not will not suit everyone. A kitchen pass may be available for a couple of days, but a week off the leash may cost many members a price more than they would care to pay. For lots, and lots of reasons the smaller, local events fill a different need. I would be sad to see them sacrificed.

JMHO. YMMV.

 

[FJRGuy]

Of course you're entitled to express your opinion Dave. If we all thought the same way, the forum would be a pretty dull place now wouldn't it?

+1, Gunny and all that! :thumbsup:

In the event that a fantastically well-organized NAFO, with everything one ever dreamed of, were to happen instead of all the smaller, local events, it would be quite a show. An awesome experience for those who were willing and able to attend. And I'm sure that everyone who went would have a wonderful time.

Of course, the same can be said of a NAFO in addition to all of the smaller NAFOs!

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Just thought if this...

I better get busy NOW to get my Passport, Since i have procrastinated on getting it for the last 2 years!

NAFO 2012 or BUST! (and not you Bust! :****: )