Joe,
Can you explain why the number of members online is sometimes greater than the number of names dispalyed.
Like right now it says there are 7 members and 3 guests but only 5 names are dispalyed.
Yeh, I know. Picky, picky. But I'm kinda bored right now. ;)

Apparently one can log on "undercover" (i.e. so they can post without their name being displayed). I'm not quite sure how though.

Invisible Mode :)
http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?s=&action=editoptions

A potentially stupid question:

Does one's name still appear in red on the thread view in this mode?

Nope, the will stay black, even when online...

... surf the forums without appearing in the 'Logged In Users' list.
Ok, maybe I'm missing the big picture, but why would a member want to log on in this manner?

I have no idea :)

Must make them feel stealthy. :D

Maybe they just don't like anybody else.

I think the 'secret agent man' mode is kind of cool, but I can't for the life of me think of a reason that I would need it. It's like a car with a heated gas pedal - it's a nice feature, but, well, why?

I think most forums offer a lurking or stealth mode... I use it because I'd rather fellow members think I'm not here at all, than that I'm reading and not finding anything I want to respond to. Especially since I am visiting the forums much less than in the past, when I was typically spending two hours a day just trying to keep up.

It's just a personal preference--maybe I'm all wrong, but it wouldn't be the first time.