spear

Welcome back Paul and good fortunes with your new 'venture'. It will work out because you will make it work.

Any of you guys have any problems with the 'hose clamp' that supposedly 'secures' the bracket arm to the swing arm on the right side? I've posted elsewhere on the forum about the problem but will raise it again. When I fitted my kit I found that the bracket didn't sit flush against the swing arm. There was about a 3/8 inch gap at the front end - furtherest away front the axle. Consequently the hose clamp would just slide down the swing arm towards the axle after a hundred kilometres or so, especially on rough roads. I eventually fixed it though, and for what it's worth, this is what I did (in case anybody else has the same problem.) Removed the right side planner to access the bracket, and removed the bracket - top and bottom sections. Put the bracket in a vise, and using a two foot long piece of square bar slipped over the arm of the bracket, slightly bent the arm. Held it in position against the axle and the swing arm to see if it was flush and repeated a couple of times until it WAS flush. Then on the underside of the bracket about an inch from the end, I filed a small square notch the same width as the hose clamp. When I re-fitted the bracket the hose clamp engaged in that notch to eliminate any chance of it wanting to slide back towards the axle. That chance had technically been avoided because the bracket was now flush against the swing arm and the upper surface of the swing arm was parallel to the underside of the bracket. Once the hose clamp had been refitted and tightened I then attached a second hose clamp in front of the first at the end of the bracket, hard up against the first one that was engaged in the notch. Extra security! I opted for stainless steel clamps and used Lok-tite on the screws that clamp the two halves of the bracket to the axle. Problem solved - FWIW.

Sorry Condor. I see you've had no response to your post. I like your idea and would like to know what eventually happens. My shocks are okay but it's always nice to know of the alternatives. Cheers Spear

I've had my Voyager kit for a couple of years and love it. I don't ride hard and I don't ride fast. Installed and set it up myself. Somebody said tyre pressures are important. Too true. I have a digital air pressure gauge in a pannier. I also have a workshop compressor, pump and gauge. Have many times been tempted to take it off and go 'solo' for a day, but then remember why I bought the thing. Glad you're enjoying YOUR ride. I do. Welcome to Voyager world.

Hi Annie and Al. (That's all!)

Maybe you could just blow them and see (hear) where the sound comes from?

No ash tray?

Take it off and leave it off! (Avoid bumps and pot holes).

Just look up Royal Star Venture on Wikipaedia - I don't know who started the article but I'm doing my best to keep it as comprehensive and up-to-date as possible.

Tell ya what I'll do for ya cruiser my man. I'll loan you my Aussie camera to take your photos. That way, when you load them (given we live on opposite sides of the planet), they should appear right way up. Failing that we can always wait until we're drunk and fallen down, then have a look at the shots. Sounds perfectly logical to me!!

If you wanna outrun the law, don't try it on a Honda. A high-speed police chase in Adelaide turned into a foot race between a motorbike rider and a police officer after the bike suffered mechanical problems. Police said a 21-year-old man, from Bellevue Heights, was arrested just before 2:00am on Saturday after speeding past two patrol cars on South Road in Edwardstown on a stolen motorbike. Officers reported the Honda motorbike suddenly suffered severe mechanical problems and slowed down from a high speed to just 15 kilometres per hour during the chase. The rider then turned into a side street, jumped off the bike while it was still moving and ran off. "A short foot chase ended when the faster, fitter police officer apprehended the not so fit and slower thief," a police statement said. The man has been charged with riding at a dangerous speed, riding unlicensed and illegal use of a motor vehicle. Police said the motorbike was stolen from Clarence Gardens in March. The rider was given police bail and will face court at a later date.

Thoughts are with everybody - top side and down under. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Australian skydivers killed in US motorcycle crash Two Australian skydivers were among three people killed when a car crossed to the wrong side of the road and ploughed into two motorcycles in New Hampshire in the United States. Brisbane couple Clay Anderson and Lisa Perdichizzi were on one of the motorbikes travelling on Route 13 in Brookline, in New Hampshire's south, when a car crossed the centre line and collided with them about 6:30pm on Tuesday (local time), local media reported. Mr Anderson and the rider of the other motorbike, reportedly identified by police as 55-year-old Christine St Jean of Townsend in Massachusetts, died at the scene. Ms Perdichizzi, a passenger on Mr Anderson's motorbike, was taken to the UMass Memorial Hospital with "severe injuries". She died on Wednesday evening.

Yep. Plan is to hook up the camper early 2016 and "go west". Will look you guys up - if you're ever home!

Hey Annie. I suppose you and Al will be taking out dual (Oz/US) citizenship soon? As for me and the bride - we've finally settled in to Port Adelaide. Have fun top-side!

Yep. I know the Demo Club. Had the odd beer and feed there in my day. If I'm up that way I'll drop in and say G'day. Stay safe.

Hey Eck. Good thing they moved because this place ain't big enough for both of us. Sorry I missed them. The Hill is only five hours north. One of my favourite places in all of Oz. Tell 'em when they come back for a shopping spree to let me know and we'll have a catch-up. You planning on a visit at any time?

Just letting you all know that we arrived in Adelaide a week ago and are slowly unpacking and settling in. Love my new 10 metres X 6 metres workshop. Caravan in one end, bike in the middle and workshop at the other end. Needed a tilt tray tow-truck to unload the bike. Wouldn't clear the top of the ramps. Damn! Hate that.

Don't need sun screen. Helmets are compulsory in Oz.

Forgot to mention - when I said a 'new' home, it's actually 100 years old. Four bedrooms, double brick and sandstone with timber floors and 12 feet ceilings. An oldie but a goodie. Can't wait!

Thanks folks. Hey Annie! Getting closer. P'raps we could meet in the middle some time? Actually we're planning a (caravanning) trip to the West - soon(ish). See you then.

A very important update. We're moving. Yep, we're moving. Sold our current home of 10 years and in three weeks we move to Adelaide. No sense buying a birthday present if you can't enjoy it. And get this - the removalist company is taking the bike for me as well.

... and what - me give you an Aussie dollar and you give me 70 cents? (Tell him he's dreaming.)

i just paid my annual 'membership' and couldn't quite believe how much the Aussia dollar has moved away from the greenback. Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining about the cost. My $US12 turned into $A16:15. That's still bl00dy good value in my books. In fact when I paid my subs a couple of years ago the shoe was on the other foot (just) because my $US12 came in just under $A12. The worst thing is it looks like it's going to drop even further. Soon my buck will buy me around 70 of your cents. Good time for you guys to come down-under for a cheap holiday.

Sorry I haven't been back to thank y'all for the same replies. So - thank you. I head off tomorrow morning for a ride to the coast (350kms) to meet up with my sister and four brothers for our annual biker weekend get-together. This is year 12 and I fear it may well be the last time that we do it as we are all slowly drifter further apart on this great continent. I'll post some pics when I get back.

G'day boss. Thanks for the info. I'll rest (and ride) a lot easier. Great riding weather here at present. Temps around 35degC. Spear