Opinions Sought on New EXriders Layout

[Ben]

Well guys I have been spending a crazy amount of time on designing a new layout for the site. After showing it to a couple of people the response has been great but an influential and innovative company owner in the ATV industry told me that part of EXriders appeal, to him anyway, is its "uncommercial" look. He believes that the new layout looks to "commercial," take that for whatever you define commercial to be. What do you guys think? I could always whip up something more "technical" looking and not so flashy. Obviously the design I am posting here would be tweaked a little. The navigation bar at the top would be on the top of the forums section as well, just for your information. The picture shown here is a little blurry but the true design is not. The "buttons" in it are all rollovers (i.e. when you put your mouse cursor on them they change colors). It is your site so let me know what you think! Honest opinions are wanted, so lay it on me. :cool:

[YLW400]

I personally like the one pictured. It is just something different to look at. But heck, it could be in black and white and I would be here anwyay...:D

[Doibugu2]

I like the one pictured above, just get a tougher looking logo for EXRIDERS.com

[400exNH]

Let's see the more technical version

[Ben]

lol - I haven't coded the technical version yet, and won't unless you guys vote that we should go in that direction. I hand coded the above design and it took a huge amount of time, so I don't want to code anymore now than I have too :p

Ben

[JOEX]

I do like the current layout...simple and "homey":) The "new" layout looks a bit generic but the colors are appealing.

Joe

[DGR Designs]

heres a really quick on i did in paint lol

[Foxrage]

I like the one you showed but i wouldnt know unless i seen the technical.

[300exmil]

I think the new one looks sweet! It stands out more than the plain one.

[mysticfalcon]

I think that looks good but i do agree that it seems kinda comercial and that's not what this site is about. just try to keep it simple so us dial-up people can still navigate easily. and the logo does need some more pizaz

[honda400exrider]

i like bens, but i dont care for the color scheme, maybe a darker color though. im not a fan of pink! lol

[Ben]

Just for the record - the picture is blurry but the colors are red not pink! :eek: :eek:

[honda400exrider]

ben, i dont know if this is possible, but if it is... you should have yer design, but be able to adjust the red/pink to what ever color in yer control panel.. like all the basic colors...

[killed300ex]

isnt the one pictred kinda like canondaleriders.com? i like that one better than the one we have though.
killed

[250exen]

Ben,
i like it. its prety sweet. what will the forums look like just out of curiosity? will it be kindof be the some or will it be different?

SWEET

[Sportrax10]

Its definatly time for a new design, I like the one pictured above so that gets my vote.:square

[RideRed04]

Yes! I say 100% I like it fantastic. Now that I got my run-on out of my system, I'll just say the new one looks awsome. Go for it!

[DESDAK4]

I like the looks of you new design. It looks like it might not put as much strain on my old eyes. I need these eyes to build the bombs that the guys in Iraq ordered:devil

Jay
USAF

[Ralph]

Ask the pros and project 400ex. me like!

[Ralph]

just dont make it llok like this;)

[QuadTrix6]

i voted new design, but keep the forum layout the same, its nice and easy to use

[own2424]

I personally like it the way it is...;)

[Ralph]

yeah, but i also like fancy sites like z400central.com

[Wired]

well whatever you do im sure it will be a good choice. i dont ever go to the homepage. my homepage on this comp is a direct link to the forums :devil

[stocktires]

Originally posted by JOEX
I do like the current layout...simple and "homey":) The "new" layout looks a bit generic but the colors are appealing.

Joe

[Z400central]

Originally posted by Lrd Mx400ex
yeah, but i also like fancy sites like z400central.com


Thanks!!!:D

Ben- Looks petty good!! :)

*EDIT* Whats the technical version? Any pics?

[yellowex01]

If its not broke dont fix it...


Use the KISS method
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid..

Not calling you stupid but thats the acronym :)

[quadfamily]

Yeah, just don't make it like LRD's. Yuck, Ketchup and Mustard! I really shouldn't even be voting because my link is directly to the forums too. I would like to see the technical version as well.

[Ryan]

I really like the new design! Its look alot more atracting to new viewers and looks more organized. I'd say the new design all the way!

[killed300ex]

all you people saying it wont affect you cause your linked directly to the forum. correct me if im wrong but wont a site layout change everything even the forum?
killed

[400exRacerX]

Go back to the original design and keep it real!!

[tants]

Originally posted by 400exRacerX
Go back to the original design and keep it real!!


norm you talkin bout the old school blackround?

it was cool looking but hurt the eyes big time!






i like the new design. when will this "change" occur?

[tants]

and norm... your sig big enough? :confused:

[muff]

I'd like a more technical layout

I dont like the one pictured because it seems like a business' site and I dont think thats what your after

if i were you I'd keep the very same layout and everything (well maybe get a new exriders logo) and just get different colors

[02 Red Rider]

I like the new idea pictured. It will be a nice change of pace.:D

[toby400ex]

the one right ther pickered is good:rolleyes:

[Davids440ex]

the one in that pics looks sweet!!!!!!:D

[400exInMI]

i like it, I like the colors! You should throw up an ad or two, but NO pop up windows or anything of that kind!

[400exNH]

The forum layout won't change because he uses vBulletin.

[Ralph]

here is a logo idea

[muff]

wow lrd that design looks so awesome, i think i'm gonna put it on my site

[exriderdude]

that design looks to business like and to much like other forums, it needs to be kinda laid back and original. we need some new features (like chat :macho) and have polls and stuff on the home page, or maybe have a different quad pic on there everyday or something, that would be cool.

i dunno.... we just need something different without changing the homelyness that exriders gives us, you know what i mean?

[muff]

Originally posted by exriderdude
that design looks to business like and to much like other forums, it needs to be kinda laid back and original. we need some new features (like chat :macho) and have polls and stuff on the home page, or maybe have a different quad pic on there everyday or something, that would be cool.

i dunno.... we just need something different without changing the homelyness that exriders gives us, you know what i mean?

i second all of that

we really need a chat

[Nausty]

I like the origional more than the flashier version. I dunno it just seems to busy. Personally i'd like to just see a little bit differant colors, buttons and titles just for a change of scenory(spel?).

[-=Skot=-]

I don't see anything wrong with the way it is, maybe a new logo or something but i kinda like the layout and see no reason to change it.

[-=Skot=-]

i also liked the rides section they old way.

How about an exriders logo in blue, that looks glossey? Brian666 had one and ill post it. We could make all the buttons a glossey blue and leave the backround white, or backround black.. or the buttons glossey red and the backround black.

heres something i made with help from brian666

[nacs400ex]

I say you should have a poll everyweek(if its not too much trouble) Than have a new picture everyday like exriderdude said. I like the site the way it is, but its nice for a change.... Maybe if you could try the technical style. Is it hard to change the layout and colours in the forums, cause I got my homepage to the forums too. lol

Whatever you decide it will be good, cause so far you have been doing an awesome job Ben!

Craig

this would be sweet

[quadfamily]

that last one is nice WOT! Try that in red to see what it looks like. It looks good in blue but it's a Honda site ya know, ride RED. Right?

[muff]

yea get some red w/ some fire :devil :devil :devil

[QuadTrix6]

i voted for the new style but i kinda like it the way it is like everyone said its homely (sp) but ill be here either way

[tants]

when will this change happen?

[300XFST4602]

It looks awsome , but you need to make the exriders logo look more mean looking.

....

[tants]

Originally posted by Lathers
....


crap....

lathers u postwh0re;)

haha, speak of the devil, check out how many post's per day you have compared to me.. then talk :devil j/p bro

[Sparks425Ex]

Forget the Blue Stuff. We are Honda Riders.....We Ride Red not Blue.




I like the way it is but I think we should try the Grey Idea for a week then vote.

better one and matches the site a lil better..

[Woodsrider]

Well for what it is worth, I think it should remain the way it is (Layout). But color change could be interesting. The forum the way it is now seems simple and comfortable. If you change it to something like the sample on the first page then it will look too much like ATVconnection and ATVNews, and we all now what there like:rolleyes:

Ben, if it ain't broke........

[Glow Plug]

i think the one that ben posted was great i really like the colors on it too good job

[nacs400ex]

When is this change gunna happen Ben ??

[phatswinn]

i like exriders cuz its not like those other ones, it doesent have the store then alitlle button to go to the forums, it is the forums, just leave it the way it is unless ur just changing the colors to black and red and leaving thses boxes the same


but im begging ya leave it alone its already the best on the net

:(

[Mxbubs]

DONT CHANGE A THING!! WHY MESS WITH SUCCESS??!!!

I have seen so many other sites loose hits because they change, and people dont like change....

Take atving.com for example.....

[Ben]

Checkout here (http://www.exriders.com/newindex.html) for another topbar idea. No the links don't work yet but you will get a basic idea of what it would look like.

Ben

I think the new look is pretty cool,,just don't go over baord...but it looks good I think..:D Good job.

[DGR Designs]

i was like wtf lol i just typed in exriders.com and i got that. i was like huh?

[jgray]

Originally posted by DGR Designs
i was like wtf lol i just typed in exriders.com and i got that. i was like huh?

Exactly how I felt... I like the last one !!
I have to agree with some others though. try to keep it simple !!

jason

[racerx573]

Looks sorta like bluetraxx.com :huh

[heavy_d]

Originally posted by Doibugu2
I like the one pictured above, just get a tougher looking logo for EXRIDERS.com

I second that opinion

When is this change going to occur?

[ATV_MAN]

The only changes i would like would be a new logo and a chat button on the homepage... keep the rest the same

[Rip_Tear]

I like both ways, I am just liking the oldness of this page. Its all up to you though Ben!

[Z400central]

I like the new one! Hey ben, what ever happened to you know what? ;)

[D-4our]

just a test dont mine this

[@Bad465EX]

Keep it how it is

[Striker49]

Looks cool Ben, but a must more stylish meanier lookin banner would be nice.

Let me know if ya need any help on anything. :)

[Chef]

here is WOT's Blue one, in the best red i could get.

[Striker49]

Just fixed the text up on the banner that is on there.

[Z400central]

id show my new attempt, but ill wait to see if i can show it first. :D

[BrianWrightR6]

Threw this together real quick...

[Mxbubs]

Ben,why change it? I mean, is it possible to grow at a faster rate?

Ask yourself, why are we the best and what makes us different from everyone else?

Im thinking of sites like ********.com, atving.com, atvsource.com, and so on....

Their home page looks commercial....

Why mess with success, we are whipping them.