BMWSportTouring.com is a privately owned site that exists largely to serve those who sport tour on BMW motorcycles.

This is a member supported site. All funds collected from donations and merchandise are used to cover actual expenses here on the site. No one is paid for their work here. If you'd like to donate, click "About" from the main menu and follow the link for instructions. There, you'll also find an accounting of income and expenses. You can select the Merchandise link if you'd like to support the site with your purchases.

Our goal has always been to foster a community that is informative, helpful, kind, humorous and ultimately human. We see ourselves as your hosts. We welcome people, help the group network and sometimes show someone the door if they're ruining the gathering for others.

To support this environment, we don't allow personal attacks. We encourage spirited discussion but won't tolerate argument for it's own sake. Racism, sexism, inappropriate language/humor/graphics and registering more than one identity are out of bounds. Political comments and discussions may not be posted. Violation of these rules will result in a warning, the editing or deletion of your post, a time out or the permanent deactivation of your account, according to the moderators' judgment of the severity of the transgression.

You may not publicly dispute moderator actions. You may privately request an explanation. Usually a moderator will take the time to reply but not always and we won't indulge in argument. Remember, we're just volunteers with busy lives beyond this site.

Consider your words before you push the "submit" button. Think of how you want to interact with your motorcycling community. The software gives you only 30 minutes to edit your own posts.

BMWST ETIQUETTE

1. Use the correct forum and avoid double posting. Read the descriptions on the main index page and you'll catch on. Your post may get moved. Usually we'll leave a marker behind-- especially if you're new.

2. Search first. There's a wealth of useful information already in existence here. You'll find a tutorial on the search function in the Discussion Board Support Forum.

3. Avoid hijacking threads by changing the subject. Either start your own thread in the appropriate place or communicate privately.

4. Read the sticky posts at the tops of the forums, especially the Classifieds Forum --it differs from the others.

5. Please don't respond to your own post with the sole purpose of bumping it to the top of the forum. In Classifieds this will result in the deletion of your post.

6. Ease the browsing experience for us all by using the proper UBB tags to embed long hyperlinks. You'll see them as options when you're constructing your posts.

7. Folks with smaller screens or dial-up will thank you if you don't post pictures wider than 800 pixels.. You'll find help with this in the Discussion Board Support Forum.

8. Give a warning for large downloads or for links not considered "work safe."

9. Violations of copyright law will not be tolerated and may result in the termination of your account. You may not make, for yourself or for others, or offer, either for sale or trade, illegal copies of any copyrighted materials found on or associated with this site. "Fair use" requires you to give source of quotes, preferably with a hyperlink. Don't reproduce entire articles or even large portions. Summarize briefly and link to your source.

10. If you own or are part of a motorcycle related, commercial enterprise you may make a one time announcement to the board. After that you may put a link in your signature line as your only reference to your business.

11. We do not allow solicitation for charities. You may link to a charity in your signature line. Charity rides may be posted in the Ride Planning Forum. It should look something like this;

    Charity ride "X" is happening here on this date. It is sponsored by "Y". The entry fee is "Z". All proceeds will go to "Whatever Charity". See (link) for more information. This can be accompanied by ride details.

    
    The intention is to notify members of charitable rides open to their participation. There is to be no solicitation for sponsorships. Any post deemed questionable by the Moderators or Administrators of this site, will be dealt with at our discretion.

12. Members may not claim to represent the community in order to negotiate group discounts, bulk purchase agreements or other such activities that might permit direct profit to a member or group of members. Posts inviting others to participate in group buys or bulk purchases are not permitted.

13. The Private Message option on your profile page is a good way to communicate with other users. We do prune PMs regularly so be sure to save anything you want to keep.

1. Complete your profile and personalize your signature. It adds to the sense of community.

2. Post an avatar (no larger than 100X100 pixels). Head to Discussion Board Support for help with this.

3. Add pictures to your posts. You can find out how in . . . you guessed it . . . Discussion Board Support.

We encourage the free exchange of ideas within the previously stated parameters but this is a privately owned site. Thus, you should have no expectation of freedom of speech.

There is no right to privacy on BMWSportTouring.com. All communication through the website is subject to review.

We will not willingly share your private information with outside parties but this doesn't guarantee your privacy. This is the internet, after all.

This is a free service provided with the understanding that you accept full responsibility for the safety, legality and prudence of your own actions. That extends to any advice found here that you choose to accept. You agree to these terms by signing up for this site and continuing to use it.

We're here to help. Be sure to read those sticky posts and scan the Discussion Board Support Forum for help with common issues.

Welcome and have fun!