1: The Newsgroup

This section of the FAQ has general information on the Usenet newsgroup uk.rec.motorcycles. It gives an overview of what's needed to survive in that harsh online environment.

Many a newbie who posts to ukrm for the first time can be a little taken aback by the response they get from the regulars. However, if they'd had some Compulsory Basic Training on how to keep their feet on the pegs and negotiate the everyday hazards found in ukrm, perhaps they would be a little better prepared to dodge the heavy traffic.

So here it is - ukrm's CBT Please do not remove your helmet or fire-resistant suit and make sure you read the safety instructions contained in this url carefully before venturing into the arena known as ukrm or indeed, before venturing any further into the depths of the FFAQ.

1.1: Is there a FAQ for this newsgroup?

Yes. You are currently reading it. No more silly questions until you've read it all.

1.2: What is uk.rec.motorcycles?

uk.rec.motorcycles (ukrm) is the main motorcycle news group for the United Kingdom.
The news group was proposed by Ian Vincent: ian@binny.demon.co.uk and came into being on the 24th December 1995.

1.3: Where can I find the ukrm charter?

The charter can be seen in full at http://www.usenet.org.uk/uk.rec.motorcycles.html but there are really only two essential points to observe which are:

Commercial advertising is forbidden
Adverts are allowed but only from individuals selling privately.

Binaries are not permitted
but you can post binaries to a binary group
or (even better) on a web page and post the URL to ukrm.

1.4: Why are there so few straight answers in the FAQ?

The FAQ is not intended to answer all questions directly. Some attempts are made to save you time and effort, but its main use is to provide a collection of pointers to other information sources.

1.5: Acronyms

ukrm acronyms and sig lists: http://www.ukrm.info/clues/acronyms.html

http://www.freewarehof.org/acronyms.html

http://members.aol.com/nigthomas/alphabet.html

1.6: Newsreaders

Can anyone recommend any good ones (free), I can download?

Free Agent at http://www.forteinc.com/

XanaNews at http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/xananews.htm. Colin Wilson regularly reads the newsgroup too.

General views -
http://newsreaders.com/gnksa/gnksa-evaluations.html

peel back to http://newsreaders.com/gnksa/ for full info.

A useful link for lurkers or anyone who just wants to read ukrm is
http://www.newzbot.com/
Good lists of free news servers and searchable by the groups that they carry.

1.7: Motorcycle news groups

Beside uk.rec.motorcycles, what others are there?

>>More...

1.8: Posting Style

OK, I give up. What is the preferred and accepted Netiquette on ukrm?

>>More...

1.9: What is Usenet Rule 306a/b?

We'll give you a clue .... (a) is relevant to the Yanks and (b) is relevant to the Brits

1.10: Could it happen to me?

Apart from the obvious "Oh yes, it could, very easily" perhaps a more graphic insight will make you take extra care out there.

http://www.ukrm.info/clues/crashers.html

1.11: Is there a uk.rec.motorcycles homepage?

http://www.ukrm.info

1.12: Keyboard cleaning

I've just burst out laughing at a post on ukrm and now my keyboard's covered in lumps of part-digested chicken vindaloo. How do I get it clean?

Take it into the shower (or bath) with you; give it a good wash, and let it dry out thoroughly before using it again and it'll be right as rain. Yes, *really*.

News just in from a reliable source (at least, I think Chris Shallcross is reliable) is that flushing your keyboard down the loo can also give sparkling results. However, I'd imagine that the state of your loo needs to be one of the considerations in this instance.

1.13: Spammers beware

Do the ukrm regulars really make an effort to get spammers' accounts pulled?

Oh, yes and if you want some tips on how to do it, see Doc Gonzo's tips here

1.14: UKRM tshirts

Where can I get hold of one of the coveted ukrm t-shirts?

Abso's in charge of this now. To keep prices down, he only makes bulk orders but you can contact him at abso@ukrm.info to find out when he's next ordering.

1.15: Bike for sale?

How to advertise your bike on ukrm

First off, let's make it quite clear yet again that whilst private advertising is fine, any dealers found placing commercial ads in ukrm will find themselves in deep shit with the regulars.

• Put "FOR SALE" or "FS" in the subject line
• Where you are (or at least where the bike is). State the town or county. Just saying "south east" isn't much help
• What make, model and year of manufacture
• State if it's an import
• Mileage
• Any modifications / accessories
• Tax/MOT
• Colour
• Garaged or not (optional)
• No of owners (optional)
• Asking price (Warning - if you're being too much of an optimist, TOG'll be down on you like a ton of bricks)
• e-mail address (we don't recommend you give out your phone number on the newsgroup)

1.16: The 'darsy ratings' for urls explained.

S   0 - 9 - sexual content (0 = nun up to 9 = veronicamoser.com etc)
W  0 - 9 - suitability for viewing at work (0 = not good up to 9 = your boss would like it)
P   0 - 9 - pretentious use of technology (0 = text only up to 9 = flash, shockwave, java, javascript, etc)

1.17: trolls, crossposts, etc

Crossposts, troll and flames, and what to do about them.

http://www.hyphenologist.co.uk/killfile/

1.18: Where can I find the ukrm channel on irc?

Login onto one of the following servers and join the #ukrm channel

server	port
irc.ukrm.co.uk	6667 to 7010
irc.fuzzle.org	6667
irc.linuxgrrls.org	6667, 7000, 7001
irc.hikari.org.uk	6667

1.19: Sarratt

Every Wednesday evening, bikers used to meet at a pub called The Cricketers in the village of Sarratt, Herts (about 9 miles North West of Watford). ukrm-ers made up a small but very loud percentage of those bikers.

However, the pub turned into a restaurant in 2003 so the meet is no more.

1.20: ukrm.info email addresses

Dr Gower has all the information you need.
Just browse a little way down http://sportsbike.org/ukrm/ukrmnet.htm