Hi Phil,
if you re-read the blurb of Biker Match you will see it isn't misleading or inaccurate, and all social sites, that are fee paying, state the same.
It IS free to join, and to search, it only becomes a paying deal when contact is required. That is the same whichever site you are on and has been so for many years.
I remember how I felt the first time it happened to me years ago, I spent flaming ages filling in a form to become a member (on another site, not BM) and then when I wanted to contact someone up popped a notice telling me to cough up the fee; and that fee was a lot more than Biker Match's. I too thought it was misleading and inaccurate, til I re-read it.
Anyway, I hope you are enjoying your time with us and that you find from it what you are looking for.