Not sure I've ever seen a time when there was so little activity on the forum. Eight or ten years back things were very active here. I sure hope it isn't in the process of slowing to a stop. And it worries me that Martin might run into the same problem with submissions for the Sidecarist. Even though winter is closing in and, at least in the north, most people will be putting their rigs in a corner of the garage for a few months, maybe it's a good time to write the story of your favorite travels from the past riding season? Could the slow times on the forum be related to a time when I and a few more here became "deleted users", nah, I don't really think that's the cause. Could it be related to many are growing older and not much young blood attracted to the sidecar world? Possible but I'm not sure that's what's causing the brake drag either. What do you think?
@Reardan Tom, I am partially to blame for the lack of traffic on these forums, as I have been away for the past 25 days, to the Land of Eng, then the Land of Scot, cross the Irish Sea to the Land of the Northern Ire, and finally moored my boat in Malahide, in the Land of Ire.
But....I am Back in the US.....Back in the US.....Back in the US of A.
So I can contribute to the noise and chatter here again.
On that note, just before I left for this trip, I bought back one of my former sidecar rigs, my 2006 Honda Goldwing w/Champion Daytona 2+2 sidecar, that I sold to Ned @DRONE 3 years ago. It was not so much that he was anxious to sell it, but rather than I was anxious to buy it back. Been scratching my head as to wanting to find another sidecar rig for us on the European Continent, as we sold our '09 ST-1300 w/EML rig last year, and I wanted to have a different rig for use in Europe. After much searching, and head scratching, decided that the best thing for me was to have a sidecar rig that I knew very well, and was confident that nothing would go wrong on it, nothing break, etc. I talked Ned @DRONE into selling me back my former rig, and he did so at a good price.
I have this next year to tweak this and that, install all new tires on it, new brake pads where needed, replace the front fork seals and dust covers, change ALL fluids, and replace the original bench seat in the Daytona 2+2 sidecar with a better single seat, maybe something out of a Subaru Outback Limited or Touring, so it has all the functions the sidecar monkey would want to have.
Then in February 2025 I need to transport this finished rig to Orlando, Flo-Ri-Duh, and hand it over to Stefan Knopf, for him to ship to Heidelberg, Germany for storage in his huge warehouse. He only has 400+ motorcycles and some sidecar rigs stored at his facility in Heidelberg, and we will fly in to be there when our sidecar rig has arrived, and spend a month traveling around Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, etc....before returning it to the warehouse in Heidelberg, where it will remained stored inside, plugged into a Battery Tender, and waiting for us to return in the future.
Someday......in the next 5 to 10 years....that same 2006 Honda Goldwing 1800 w/Champion Daytona 2+2 sidecar rig will be for sale.....and if someone wants a heck of a good deal on a well built sidecar rig to use over in Europe, this would be the steal of the century. You wouldn't have to pay for shipping...as it would already be there.....with a Washington State license plate on it, and a clear/clean Title.
In the picture below, it's the rig on the LEFT, and we are keeping the one on the RIGHT in the US.
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
Mister Tom, quiet for some, a busy travel time for FM and others.
Scribbled a halloween story to share with all. Is posted on my blog: https://www.ridingthehorizon.com/
We're celebrating 50 years of wedded bliss here in Spain, reconnecting via the vineyards with SO's old family roots.
Jan
Sounds like a fun way to celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss. Barb and I passed the 53 year mark last July. Have a great trip and I'll check out the story over on your blog.
Partly my fault too. I spend too much time on other sites and forget to check in here. My Bad. Plus I've been busy. You know Retirement. I did send in a story for the Magazine but it is probably too much for the editor to digest. We'll see if he can make sense of all my drivel and pictures and spread it over multiple issues.
