Happy New Year - Restructure?

[Luap McKeever]

Happy New Year, everyone!

This is a long post, but important;

We're in our 30th year. I just verified that Wildguzzi the longest running enthusiast-owned Moto Guzzi specific website/forum in the world. What started in 1996 piggy-backing using a subdomain from a friend of mines website using basic ASCII text that had to be cleared weekly has grown into this stand-alone behemoth. Can you believe it?

2025 was a quiet year on the board itself, but behind the scenes I’ve been thinking hard about the future — mostly because of the feedback many of you have sent me.
Here’s the straight story:
First, I’d love to remove all ads from the site. They’ve been a necessary evil — they cover roughly half our running costs and reduce how often we have to ask for donations. To drop the ads completely, we’d need to replace that income with donations from the community.

Some quick numbers:
In 2024 we had 214 donors out of about 8,400 members (~2.5%).
In 2025 that dropped to 169 donors — even though we welcomed almost 450 new members.
There are around 1,000 members (13%) who login at least once per month.
We barely hit our fundraising goal last year. Without a strong push that started in late October, we wouldn’t have made it.
I’ve never liked asking for money, but the math is clear: at the current donation level we can’t stay afloat long-term. Some have suggested going to a subscription based system, but I've seen those types of entities die really quick when that route was taken.

The good news? It wouldn’t take much to change that.
If just 200 people gave $2 a month ($24 a year — less than a couple of tanks of gas for most bikes), we’d more than cover all expenses. That’s barely 2% of the membership — shy of 1 in 50 people.
If we ever reach that point on a consistent basis, I will kill every ad on the site without hesitation.

A second goal (once we’re financially solid) is a full site overhaul. I’d like the main WildGuzzi pages to look, feel, and work the same as the forum, with proper member logins and permissions throughout. I would like an image upload option for people to post pictures of their bikes, trips, more tips, real ride maps and much more. That will cost real money to hire professionals, so basic survival comes first — the redesign is the next step after that. We would basically have to reach 2X our yearly donation goal amount to ever see that happen. So, imagine what just 2 out of ever 50 people (<4% of members) donating only $2 per month would do for our site . We could fully fund both goals very easily with that.

Now, if we were to get 8,000 people donating $2 per month I could retire, put my moderators on a good payroll, upgrade our corporate jet and monthly retreat suites Kidding of course.

On a brighter note:
The site is safer than ever. In 2025 we blocked over 10,000 attack attempts — none got through. A few clever scammers slipped in as new members, but thanks to your sharp eyes they were spotted and banned fast. Changing registration rules every week or two helps a lot. The security battle never ends, but we’re winning it.

In summary:
If you’re willing, able and would like to help keep the lights on — even $1 or $2 a month — it would make a huge difference. I won’t beg, but I will say plainly that we need more support to get where most of us want to go: an ad-free, more modern site that’s here for the long haul. Remember, I am always open to suggestions, feedback, criticism, etc. Without such, nothing ever progresses.

You can find all the donation options or view our current status, see here:
https://www.wildguzzi.com/donations.htm

Thanks for being part of this community, and here’s to having a great 2026 on the board!
Luap McKeever

[n3303j]

I look at this BB like a magazine. It provides me education, entertainment, occasional purchases plus a chance to add my comments.

It's a good magazine and people who use it should support it just as if they were paying for any other repeating publication. Someone is paying to make it available. That should be the people who use it.

Thanks for making this resource available & happy new year.

[Stretch]

Like Ron said, this site is, in many ways, not too dissimilar to a magazine.

Magazines are about double the price - or more - of what Luap is asking to keep this
site alive.

Some folks really don't understand - IT is expensive. Good IT is more expensive. (Bad
IT is more expensive still!) Sites like this need to be maintained. Bedrock software - the stuff
that the site runs on and that interacts with the internet - is in a constant state of flux, and this version
and that version of said software becomes obsolete/incompatible/risky with depressing and
alarming regularity. Assessing the situation, reviewing options to choose the best one, implementing
and testing the updates/fixes all takes time and money. In short, keeping a site like this up and
running takes A LOT of work! And let's not even talk about keeping the trolls, tantrums, and some
strongly held opinions under control so that the site doesn't become a flaming match.  I have GREAT
respect for people who run a site like this - my hat's off to ya, Luap! 

$2 a month provides lots of entertainment value, lots of good advice to keep your pet Goose well fed
and watered, and some really cool people to interact with. (I bumped into Steve and his wife just
yesterday while out shopping, for instance!)

Things are tight for some folks - understood. Do what you can, where you are, with what you've got to help.
No judgement shall be passed.......

                                                                        -Stretch

                                                                             

[JJ]

Very nice comments and feedback from Ron & Stretch.

IMHO, the overall value of this forum is far greater than $2 per month / $24 per year  

Luap and team have done an exemplary job over all these years, so let's all help him to keep it going!  

Happy New Year to all of you and your families, and here is wishing you all good health and prosperity in 2026.

JJ

[TN Mark]

I can’t imagine owning a Moto Guzzi without WildGuzzi.com.

Please folks, if you’re reading this site, donate using the Donations tab on the top of the page.

Make a financial contribution, not an excuse not to.

[Tkelly]

At least once a year I get useful advice that solves a Guzzi problem plus lots of interesting motorcycle stories,a bargain at 2$ a month.

[Moparnut72]

I have my Paypal account set up to send $10 a month. Painless and at the end of the year $120 goes to support the site. Well worth it for entertainment alone. I am re-doing an 850T, the engine is currently hanging from the ceiling as I came in from the shop for a snack and warm up a bit. I don't think I would have undertaken this project without what I have learned here especially crabbing. 
kk

[JJ]

I have my Paypal account set up to send $10 a month. Painless and at the end of the year $120 goes to support the site. Well worth it for entertainment alone. I am re-doing an 850T, the engine is currently hanging from the ceiling as I came in from the shop for a snack and warm up a bit. I don't think I would have undertaken this project without what I have learned here especially crabbing. 
kk

Hi Moparnut72 - Best of luck with your 850-T!!  

I have always admired this model as one of the best looking vintage Guzzi's out there.  Here are a few worthy contenders I have seen over the years...

[Vagrant]

I've kicked in $25. a year for years because I'm a cheap bastard.
I just sent in $50. by pay pal because it appears there are a lot of cheaper people than me and inflation sucks. It took about 5 seconds of my time and I'll never miss the money.
Anybody else?

[Griso8V]

I am more than happy to donate, just did.  Great site with lots of valuable information...Thank you for your hard work keeping this going. 
Tony C

[Bill W]

Just donated for 2026

[Ncdan]

 I like the way I’ve made my yearly  donation by using the 50 buck donation and get a Moto Guzzi thermos tumbler.
I have them at the river house, camper at the beach and home of course, 2 at each location.
As long as this donation method is acceptable I’d like to stay the course.
Dang I love these tumblers!!!👍

[nwguy]

I just donated for 2026 too. Most mornings I peruse WildGuzzi before reading any news. I'd probably hang out here even if I didn't own a Guzzi.

[kingoffleece]

I was literately thinking of this today as I logged in.  Looking at the "political" post and all the replys without "donor" next to the name.

My check, as usual, is in the mail today.  DO NOT not ask for the financial support.  Nothing is for free. I do not to understand why some fail to pitch in.

[Shorty]

30 years? Congrats and thanks!  I still like to check in here about daily, even though my Guzzi days are way in the past. I can understand a casual WG viewer not wanting to chip in, but those of us who are on here a lot should help pay the freight. I hope everyone has a healthy and prosperous New Year! 

[circlip]

I just sent in my donation for 2026.
I sold my Guzzi, but I'll still keep coming back to Wildguzzi.

Happy New Year.

[JJ]

2026 Donation Check mailed yesterday to Luap!!

...and here is my New Year's resolution...

[johnwesley]

Thanks for the straight talk, I’m a Guzzi (cheap) guy, but I just did reoccurring donation to the site. I didn’t know it was that easy to set up. Looks like I’ll move my project problems over here for the ole cal III 

[michaell32]

I am not a fan of subscriptions so I always avoid that route. I will buy a tumbler or make a donation every year. I don't know how feasible it would be but an idea to improve the site would be hosting the manuals and schematics directly from this site. Wildguzzi led me to thisoldtractor but it would have been quicker to get it here.

[Bulldog9]

Just did mine $10/Month for the year. Less than a minute.

Of course I missed adding my Handle. Transaction ID: I-1KGHP2MA9LDP

C'mon team......  If you're over 100 posts, you need to step up.

[egschade]

Been a monthly contributor for years. Recurring PayPal payments are easy and painless. As noted, if even a small percentage of members kicked in a couple bucks a month we're solvent. It's less than a cup of cheap coffee a month.

C'mon folks. step up and to the right thing! Less than 2% of the members contributing? That's shameful.

[DoubleGuzzi]

Restructure?
Nah, name change: WildWestGuzzi, MuricanGuzzi or RichGuzzista
More akin to most of the patrons here. 

[Dirk_S]

Restructure?
Nah, name change: WildWestGuzzi, MuricanGuzzi or RichGuzzista
More akin to most of the patrons here. 

I never got the vibe that most people on here were named Rich, but I’m not the keenest bloke.

(Smile, folks. Even at the bad jokes)

Thanks Luap (and mods!) for keeping this boat afloat for so many years. This middle-class dork believes in helping out regularly— you all have to put up with my annoying comments after all. I donate the minimum, I admit, which is more than I ever send to Alan Sadler.

[rocker59]

If WildGuzzi was made a subscription service, the steady cash flow would go a long way toward improving and expanding the site.  None of us would miss $1 or $2 on our credit card statements.  Heck, I spend $6/month on Pandora music...

[YellowDuck]

US$50 just sent.  That's $72 Canuckistan dollars.  Great deal. 

[kballowe]

[fotoguzzi]

You freeloaders disgust me! Only 2% of us (the good guys) donate? Shame on the rest of you.

[Ncdan]

You freeloaders disgust me! Only 2% of us (the good guys) donate? Shame on the rest of you.

Thanks for the support Foto.
However let’s keep in mind that luap has always made it clear that contributing to the WG forum is totally a voluntary action. I know from first hand conversations that when the financial needs comes up short at the end of the year that he hates to have to ask the members for financial assistance, that’s the reason I normally start a thread making the members aware of our situation, because he will and has in the past covered the cost out of pocket.
Even though most of us agree that we members should at the very least keep the administration from having to pay the bills out of his pocket when we the members are reaping the benefits.
This being acknowledged, if we have members who for whatever reason, donating money strains their limited income budget we do not reserve the right to attempt to shame them, so let’s not do that.
Bottom line is, if you, as a active and participating member, of the forum, use and enjoy the forum and can afford to give a few bucks every year to support the financial needs of WG forum, then by all means please do so.
Besides the company jet we ordered is about to be completed and the first payment is a doozy🤣

Dan

[Vagrant]

Dan you are too kind. I would bet that a max of 2% of members would be able to notice a $50. donation. That 2% can stay for free!

[Moparnut72]

I donate on a regular basis so I should be able to get a ride in the new jet. The only improvement I would suggest is a rolling on the floor emoji. 
kk