[vDragon3]

Is there a credible, honest international automobile forum like team-bhp? Just would like to follow car reviews from North America region as well.

[GTO]

Just came across this article on RiderZone - Is xBHP dead?. Must warn you that it has profanity.

As a forum, Xbhp has been dead for years.

As a Castrol-powered unit of Covid super-spreaders, touring the country at the height of the pandemic, and flooding Instagram with cringeworthy dance videos, Xbhp has never been more alive.

Which is why the forum is dead, populated only by the occasional squid asking about top speeds, or the old timer who just wants some attention on his travelogue.

I don’t entirely get what Castrol gets out of Xbhp, they’ve been a sponsor since as far as I can remember. Does Xbhp help sell engine oil? I really, really doubt it. There are 2 types of engine oil buyers, those who know what they need to buy, and those who don’t.

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by GTO

Just came across this article on RiderZone - Is xBHP dead?. Must warn you that it has profanity.

Brilliantly written I have to say with extremely on point use of profanities where needed.

Social Media influencers and vloggers are honestly the modern day bane of what the internet throws up. Most of them are positively cringe worthy to vomit inducing - from the way they speak to the focus and quality of their content.

Coming to X BHP itself and at the risk of generalising from my personal experience: I have two primary hobbies outside of work: motorcycling and endurance sports (like running / cycling / swimming & all three combined). Both are pursued by equally diverse set of people both in age and background.
But as a general matter I find far more interesting people in the world of endurance than I do in the world of motorcycling (I will also mention that I have also met some incredbly interesting exceptions as well to that statement but sadly they are exactly that - exceptions - proving the unfortunate rule!). Sad fact, somewhat generalised I know but largely true. Going by the article, it seems like the X BHP team, their readers and their active meet participants are probably full of such tools - a fact that does not surprise me at all.

For some reason, the automobile enthusiast is as diverse and interesting as any other hobby group. I am not sure why motorcycling in particular throws up such underwhelming personalities. With an overwhelming percentage being outright nutjobs even on their Sunday rides.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Looks more of a personal grudge, than anything else.

Good point - I didn't think of that. But perhaps there are some bits there that ring true regardless.

[akshay4587]

Originally Posted by GTO

Just came across this article on RiderZone - Is xBHP dead?. Must warn you that it has profanity.

Looks more of a personal grudge, than anything else.
I know the guy who got xBhp their sponsorship from Castrol, he wasn't given any due credits for it ever.

[amol4184]

Found this third party article with similar subject as this thread!

Interesting article and explains why this is greatest forum in India across genres. Kudos!

[veyron_head]

Thats a screengrab from the Singapore based youtube channel 'motorist'. While it is only a photo credit, was happy to see Teambhp is well known even to native singaporeans. Full video here if anyone's interested:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkTs5XUEdd4

.

[Ritkon]

It is certainly a concerning development. Meaningful contribution to any forum requires a certain amount of expertise on the subject, research and independent thinking. Previously, those who used to contribute to these dying forums had the focus, patience and passion for it.
Nowadays, because of social media and deluge of information, all of us think we are expert in everything and yet, when time comes for a meaningful contribution, we stare at a blank canvas with a blank mind, reminding us truly of how ignorant we really are.
This is where Team-BHP shines. The members are passionate about their cars and travel and they simply found a common forum to read and contribute. I am sure that most of us started admiring the unbiased reviews and stunning travelogues, which can compete with the best "professional and corporate" ones out there and slowly were drawn to the charm. Then came the forum which had the true blue petrol-heads (sorry if I offended the diesel or electric heads ) who knows his stuff and makes truly insightful contribution. Loose comments and ignorant advice are few and far between here, aided by selective membership and superb moderation.
I would like to end by saying, passion has no age. Let's not lose the still innocent kid in us who gets awestruck every time we see something stunning on wheels. That child is the key to a thriving forum. Not someone who rushes in to take a selfie for some obscure "like" or making judgement without even experiencing it.

[Grimlock]

Xbhp used to be good before they decided to modernize the website. I think they also previously used the same content management system that Team-bhp uses right now. They botched the migration and the site is in shambles now. That site used to have great pictures, content and now the images are either gone, and just navigating the pages are cumbersome. It's a pity really. I think many loyalists have gone to greener pastures after seeing this.

Also like may other have mentioned above, change seems to be the only constant. There has been a big shift to whatsapp ownership groups and post the jiofication of India, a video boom as followed.

I still feel that the written word is the way to go, because a simple Google search would give any user detailed information of the issues and possible solutions because of the many knowledgeable users already active on the site.


There was a time in Xbhp, where whatsapp was picking up, and a link was posted to join & out of curiosity, I had joined one such group only to see that everyday there was a new user joining and asking the same question that an older user might have asked a day before. They had strict rules and a knowledgeable mech to help with technical queries, but understandably, the chap got frustrated and left.

Some have mentioned XDA above too. Same as XBhp, some developers there are slowly moving onto telegram, one can find the initial thread, but later on, for any updates on a custom rom, one has to join Telegram, where the same issue as whatsapp seems to be prevalent.

Similarly, on YouTube, (Great tool for DIY), but suppose one runs into a niche problem, one would have to sit through ads, the promo by the video creator only to find out in the end, that video sometimes would have nothing of use to you and the original problem.

Hopefully users realise old is gold, and still stick to these blogs in the future.

[amol4184]

Originally Posted by Grimlock

Xbhp used to be good before they decided to modernize the website. I think they also previously used the same content management system that Team-bhp uses right now. They botched the migration and the site is in shambles now. That site used to have great pictures, content and now the images are either gone, and just navigating the pages are cumbersome. It's a pity really. I think many loyalists have gone to greener pastures after seeing this.

Right during the pandemic I logged in to Xbhp and it is wasteland of abandoned threads. Its a miracle the forum is still up. Even Google search does not bring up content from Xbhp now a days.

From there I went to their IG page and followed it because that is the norm now a days. But the IG page is full of pictures of wannabe 'hoonigans' with LOOK-AT-ME sticker jobs and wacky paint schemes. After a few weeks I unfollowed. Couldn't handle the cringe under pretext of cheesy "biking means freedom" narrative of Xbhp.

I think I don't quite understand what that site actually means or what it stands for. Is this what growing up feels like? May be. Doing wheelies and stoppies on a rainbow colored bike isn't my thing anymore. Their reviews are also full of burnouts and wheelies and give you a feeling of all show and no go.

[Mr.Ogre]

Orkut Pulsar 220 group and XBhp were the first forums that I got hooked on to. I came across TeamBHP very late. While Orkut died, XBhp still had some of its charm. Even though there were heated discussions, brand wars, the moderators did a fine job of reigning them in, even though getting into the group wasn't as controlled. I think they lost the plot when they launched the magazine, and tried to commercialise too much. XBhp those days was the two wheeler alternative for TeamBhp. Surprisingly XBhp flourished when we did not have many options for the motorbike enthusiasts compared to what we have today.

Fast forward today I think other than TeamBHP there is hardly any automobile forum that is as active. Not only in India but also at an international level. I follow netrider.net.au in Australia and the forum is pretty active for motorbike riders. Apart from that for cars, I haven't yet come across any forum that is as lively, honest and resourceful as TeamBHP, even though there are some brand and model specific forums, but they don't cut it. Like it is said - Content is the King .

Pictures from the old P220 group in Bangalore whom I met through Orkut/XBhp. The red 220 at the front was mine .

[Senna_sempre]

Besides T-BHP, Racefans (erstwhile it was F1 fanatics) is the other online Forum that I regularly use (not an Indian web Forum).

It is also thriving well and gaining popularity. Of course there is more banter in this but most of the times it is of a funny side
https://www.racefans.net/

[Grimlock]

Originally Posted by amol4184

I think I don't quite understand what that site actually means or what it stands for. Is this what growing up feels like? May be. Doing wheelies and stoppies on a rainbow colored bike isn't my thing anymore. Their reviews are also full of burnouts and wheelies and give you a feeling of all show and no go.

I haven't really followed them actively on Instagram or YouTube , but I get what you're saying. By trying to cater to the younger target group, they have let go of the forums, but are now also lost in a sea of other content creators on social media. Maybe they've seen traction with posts related to wheelies and burnouts and are rolling with it.

[dicor]

Surprise!!! Surprise!!! 102 threads and no mention of citehr.com and skyscrapercity. Thought of adding it.

You would be surprised to know that it was skyscrapercity where I had first seen the Burz Khalifa and a 7 star hotel in Pakistan.

Now a day everything revolves around Whatsapp, Youtube, FB, Insta and Twiiter. Quora was once very useful. Now it's just a place of paid political / religious troll armies.

One of us should also take the pain for compiling all the suggestion by BHPians in a categorized way.

[Samarth 619]

I've been an online moderator of Xbhp since 2012 and I've seen and heard people talk about Xbhp. But I'm not directly associated with or related to the core team, I was just a good member they promoted on trust basis.

For whatever reason, I've seen people frustrated at Xbhp for a reason best described as part of their own problems. The Riderzone article quoted above is a good example, by any definition do you conclude that the author was just a guy looking at reviewing an online forum in an unbiased manner?

I once met a guy at BIC who was badmouthing Xbhp in a group of 5-6 guys. I asked him what Xbhp could do better. His reply: "They've made it all business, they don't ride with Delhi guys anymore, just earning money."
How useful this response is, you judge. Is a person under obligation to continue riding forever with you? Doesn't he have a family to feed?

And generally, what problem do people have with entrepreneurs, specially succesful ones, I fail to understand.
People get ripped off in shopping malls and Amazon everyday, but find faults with their friends' businesses instead of supporting them. Its a fact. Whether it arises out of jealousy or whatever.
Try starting a clothing line and promote it to your facebook friends, you'll know what I mean.

In the end, majority of these guys who speak harsh just wanted freebies, a sponsored all India ride or maybe just casual riding with people who have jobs at hand. The latter is still an ok demand, except that only a person can decide if he has enough free time or not, no one else.

Today, my (whatever little) identity is all due to Xbhp. So, I was always open to feedback on how Xbhp can be better. And never got seriously convincing answers.
It is a place where likeminded bikers meet, and it did a fine job. Period.

[NiInJa]

Is it just me or anyone else who is not able to open the riderzone link ?

(Mods: please remove if not correct)

Couldn't read the content on the link mentioned above, but I feel bad for xbhp forums. At one point it was a treasure trove of information with lots of valuable information on DIYs or other mechanical tidbits for bike enthusiasts like me. Slowly they started becoming as one bhpian mentioned: 'wasteland', with photos not visible or removed from pages or threads not updated or abandoned. It just kept on getting worse to the point that I stopped going there.

Their website is still good, the reviews for bikes and scooters are nice, but the problem is they lack consistency in coming up with content. I never got to read an xbhp review or user reviews (like on team-bhp) for FZ-250 BS6 that I was searching, same for some other bikes. My guess is they had other things to do with their bike tours and events, which is good, but again, the content does not guarantee anything of 'value' for you every time, which is the exact opposite of team-bhp, for example, I may never afford a BMW 7 series in India, so I will enjoy reading the review, but at the same time, I will know what issues owners face, be it the run-flats or low profile tyres that are not exactly suited for Indian roads, so I know my next car should probably not have low profile tyres. Also, not to mention some very fine details and things that owners/reviewers come across after using a vehicle for some time.

I feel this is a good opportunity for team-bhp to capitalize on the absence of good, unbiased two-wheeler based forums