I spoke with Arvon a couple of days ago and he is still in business building bikes. He custom built me a touring bike that has stainless connectors and is exceptionally strong. Since I put the pieces together I have never "split" the bike (into suitcases) for touring. The LBS weighed it at 40 lbs!! It is obviously heavy and strong and is made of steel. The 48 spoke, 26" wheels are on PW hubs and were basically indestructable on the sand and dirt roads in Australia's outback. The non-dished rear wheel is exceptionally strong as compared to dished ones.

A speed demon, the bike is not, but it was built extra strong for expedition stuff - not exactly "touring" as we know it. Going across the Nullabore in OZ (on pavement) will be a piece of cake..

His after sales service is excellent. I have moved and separated and somewhere misplaced the front pannier racks and "shelf" Here where I now live and travel, it is easy for the metal fabricators to make almost anything out of steel. Arvon said he would send a schematic with dimensions for the rack and shelf. Now that is service - 4 years after building the bike.