Dreaming of a motorcycle trip to distant climes? This section will help you to plan your trip, whether it's to the next state, country or all the way around the world! Start here!
The Achievable Dream 5-part series - the definitive video guide for planning your motorcycle adventure. Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
You could just get on a plane with your credit card and passport and buy or rent everything you need when you get there. That includes the bike, riding gear, etc. etc.
Gear Up! is a 2-DVD set, 6 hours! Which bike is right for me? How do I prepare the bike? What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers! "will save you a fortune!"See the trailer here!
So you've done it - got inspired, planned your trip, packed your stuff and you're on the road! This section is about staying healthy, happy and secure on your motorcycle adventure. And crossing borders, war zones or oceans!
On the Road! is 5.5 hours of the tips and advice you need to cross borders, break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Tire Changing!Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
With an HU blog, you'll get a lot more readers than in some obscure corner of the web, it's all set to go, no setup required, and it's free! Start your Travel Story Blog right now!
800+ HU Communities in over 115 countries! People who want to meet travellers - yes that's YOU - and can provide local assistance, and may be your new best friends!
Make a DifferenceTips on fundraising or donating time and energy to a cause.
After the big trip - Was the trip the best - or worst - thing you ever did?
Resources and Links
Horizons Unlimited Presents!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
"It has me all fired up to go out on my own adventure!" See the trailer here!
Meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or across Asia! They will encourage you, share their experiences and advice on how to do it!
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Videos - Watch and Learn!
Horizons Unlimited presents!
Achievable Dream The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
"The series is 'free' because the tips and advice will save much more than you spend on buying the DVD's."
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My first impression was that the keyway is still ok, I might order some larger key stock just in case the stock part seems too loose when I reinstall it.
Well upon closer inspection I think the keyway is worn.
It is not so so bad but I won't really know until the parts arrive.
My research led me to think that I might be able to fill the gap in the keyway with a product called loctite 660. There is a bit of www documentation of it being used to repair worn keyways and fills gaps up to .5 mm
Anyone ever tried this product? Feedback ? Advice?
I've used the Loctite product in industry on pumps etc with good results.
The thing you need to consider is the key is not designed to take shear forces (ie to stop the balancer rotating on the shaft) but only to provide the correct location. The rotation is prevented by the nut being done up to the correct torque.
I'd be checking that the balancer is still a snug fit on the shaft and that the movement in use hasn't caused any slop when bolted up. If there is any doubt there are various other Loctite (and others) products that can help. Loctite have a product called "Bearing Fit" ( or something similar - sorry can't remember its number) designed to stop bearings spinning in their housing. If there is any doubt I would assemble the balancer onto the shaft with some of this before torquing the nut to the correct figure.
I agree, make sure everything is spotless clean and degreased. Make sure the nut is well tight then the key as no stress on it. It's only worn the keyway because the nut was loose, allowing it to move.
still awaiting parts (key and breather plate) but started to wonder if this "in and out" play in the balancer will be remedied once i torque the nut to spec. Is the balancer supposed to have all this movement in and out? or is the bearing shot or is the balancer shot? I will probably wait to reassemble and see how it moves afterwards. but if this is obviously a problem i guess it would be good to know at this point. split the cases and get the wallet out again. check this video to see the play. The bearing itself appears to be in good shape and there is no movement in any other direction just the bit of play in and out.
If it was me I'd build it, torque it, and check the end float again, I don't know but it will most likely remove most of it. It looks like a roller bearing in there, they have no means of controlling axial float, but are very strong radially.
The bearing will be fine as theres only lateral play. If you were to split the cases you would find only that the balancer shaft will be very slightly mushroomed out where the spinning forces have bashed it around and wear will have occured. With the nut back on some of the play will disappear as it is now limited to the amount of free movement between the gear wheel on one side of the bearing and the inner race face on the inside.
As this is something that is set by design I convinced myself that this was to allow for either mechanical expansion through heat. Its one of a kind in the engine, the other side is just a small common ball race so they must have designed it like this for some purpose. (or so I'd like to think.)
I know I gave it lots of thought when I had mine apart. One idea was to space it out with shim washers on the other end of the shaft. In the end I did replace the bearing to gain no difference what so ever. Shied away from shimming it out as assumed there must be a reason for it and slightly to lazy to take it apart again.No engineers blue either!
hey A.L.F.
Curious to know if your efferts reduced any sort of knocking noise.
If yours remained with a bit of play - could you still hear this play in the engine while running?
Anyhow, here is the balancer with new parts installed. Installed a new key and used that loctite 660 to make up the small wear gap on the side of the keyway, new breather plate and new lock washer. Torqued to spec from the manual but there still is a little play in there. Guess I'll have to get it running again to see if this solved my problem. Crossing my fingers.
I should have the rest of the motor back together next week. New 1st oversize Yamaha piston, cyl rebore and recut valves by mongoose in poco, bc.
Hope the weather here holds (ie no snow) so I can get the old girl out for a break in run.
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
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Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
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