Here are some suggestions that would help me (and maybe many others) help you solve your problem. A lot of these have been mentioned before and are in a sticky thread in this forum (http://www.xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=13), but it seems they are still overlooked sometimes.

Create a clear title (subject) for your question. Good: "Best Set-Up for Low End Torque?" Not so good: "The problem is back". A clear title will help those scanning the forums respond to items they know they can help with, without having to click and read the full post to find out it's something they know nothing about.

Don't post your question in your introductory post. Post a quick hello there, and post your problem or question in the appropriate forum.

Fill out your profile, so we know what bike you're talking about. There are a lot of differences between years, and even if you write in the first post the year & model you're talking about, on subsequent posts by you on the same thread, that information is not visible. So, having it in your profile helps keep things straight.

Also, in your profile, if you fill out your location, not just time zone, you might find someone nearby who can help, or get a suggestion on a shop to go to (indie or otherwise) that someone has had a good experience with. The other reason for the location is environmental: these motors run much differently based on the environmental conditions, and jetting differs based on where you're located.

Limit posts to one question, and choose the proper forum. I find the quickest way I lose interest in a post is if it says something like this: hi. i am having a problem with my bike when i start it in the morning it wont stay running without the choke pulled out. my dealer installed a jet kit but i dont know which one. also i am getting a lot of oil dripping from the air cleaner and when i downshft there is a clacking noise from the motor. thanks! this is my first harley


I thought I had more to say, but I can't think of it right now. Must .... be ...... Bert's .. m ii nn dd connntr (http://www.xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=33468)

You bring up some very good points here Chris. The title, one question, and bike info are the most needed for anybody to find and help with a problem.

Chris, sometimes I can't agree with point 5. Occasionally, two or three questions are related to the same issue, and answering one may resolve the others. However, in your post itself, you inadvertently presented another good point. Reiterate your questions in list form! After all, what's easier for potential respondants to find? "What are the best cams? What is the best oil? Is anyone else getting woozy from absorbing too many Bert mind rays?" or


What are the best cams?
What is the best oil?
Is anyone else getting woozy from absorbing too many Bert mind rays?


It keeps the questions separate, and makes it easier for people to know what points they're looking for in your explanation (and you DID give a concise explanation of your situation, right?).

An easy way for people to comply with #3 is to do what many of us are doing and include your bike year/model/modifications in your signature. If I'm asking a jetting question and forget to tell you what jets I have in, you can just look at my signature and see what jets I'm using (as well as any other parts that may affect what jets I should be using).

An easy way for people to comply with #3 is to do what many of us are doing and include your bike year/model/modifications in your signature. If I'm asking a jetting question and forget to tell you what jets I have in, you can just look at my signature and see what jets I'm using (as well as any other parts that may affect what jets I should be using).

Only if it is your first post of thread. Subsequent posts have the sig removed to save on bandwidth for some of the members on dialup or slower DSL/cable/satelite ISPs.

So, the best way for #3 compliance is to have the bike make/model/year information in both places and to cut/paste modification information into subsequent posts to the same thread.

So, the best way for #3 compliance is to have the bike make/model/year information in both places and to cut/paste modification information into subsequent posts to the same thread.

sorta like this ;)

Carl
04XL1200R - Lily
Ride Safe
Ride Often
Ride Far

Now the trick is to get members (new AND old) to read this. Instead of the boilerplate "I won't sue xlforum for bad advice" click-through, maybe we can require new members to agree that "I will have meaningful subject lines, I will complete my profile..."

:)

Chris, sometimes I can't agree with point 5. Occasionally, two or three questions are related to the same issue, and answering one may resolve the others. However, in your post itself, you inadvertently presented another good point. Reiterate your questions in list form! After all, what's easier for potential respondants to find? "What are the best cams? What is the best oil? Is anyone else getting woozy from absorbing too many Bert mind rays?" or


What are the best cams?
What is the best oil?
Is anyone else getting woozy from absorbing too many Bert mind rays?


It keeps the questions separate, and makes it easier for people to know what points they're looking for in your explanation (and you DID give a concise explanation of your situation, right?).

An easy way for people to comply with #3 is to do what many of us are doing and include your bike year/model/modifications in your signature. If I'm asking a jetting question and forget to tell you what jets I have in, you can just look at my signature and see what jets I'm using (as well as any other parts that may affect what jets I should be using).
I agree somewhat. I like the list idea. I dislike the "i canit find my caps key or my period runon sentences that list everything all in one long sentence so long in fact that you lose track of what youve actually read and have no idea what the questions actually are" posts. I have nothing against people who can't type well, but a little white space goes a long way.

Sometimes the multiple problems in one post point to a problem, but in a lot of cases, they're totally unrelated. And sometimes, someone will try to include things they THINK are related, rather than just posting the symptoms. It's hard to tell what's related and what's not, so more info is better, but trying to solve 3 problems at once is sure to overwhelm anyone trying to help.

I think multiple questions in one post is OK, as you illustrated above, but multiple types of unrelated problems lower the chances that someone will jump on board, in my experience.

So

What are the best cams?
What is the best oil?
Is anyone else getting woozy from absorbing too many Bert mind rays?


is different than

I just installed 6" over tubes, how much oil do I need?
What size tire can I use on this Invader mag?
Why does oil come out of my air cleaner?
How do I get rid of this popping from the carb?


For the sig or profile for the bike info, I'm on board. Doesn't matter to me so long as it's there somewhere.

--Chris

I think filling in the profile should be manditory. It's not like we are asking for your address,phone number, ssn, finger print, retina scan, and dna sample.
The kind of bike, town you live in, and yes, riding/ mechanical experience, all affect what kind of response you'll get.

Bert said I had to send him a DNA sample :wtf

--Chris :redmad

Yeah, but WHO'S dna sample? HMMM? WMAHAHAHA

Boy is he going to be surprised when he gets the results back.

--Chris