Pacific North West National Parks and Yellowstone.

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

I'll be on a GSA with tin boxes. I'm considering shoving a holdall of some description across the back seat & panniers, otherwise I'm going to struggle to get my lino, beatbox & dancing shoes in.

WTF happened to your avatar?

 

[follow me]

The drinks holder you mean... She's back

I'm on a KTM with a set of elephant ears (Gobi's) which I'm not that fond off. I've started to use and like a Wolfman Beta plus, but I like just turning up at a motel opening up, lifting out a bag and walking in. So if the lottery pays up soon I'll get some Jessie's.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

 

[UturnTony]

Flights now booked, Heathrow BA Friday 5th Sep 11.30. San Fran BA Saturday 27th Sep 16.40...

Looking forward to seeing you all in March

A question, anyone going with soft Luggage..? I have a Wolfman Beta plus and was toying with the idea of a hard luggage upgrade..

using varios with liners. top box with back rest, ideal for the Mrs.
also will be using 1 or 2 roll bags. gotta get all the wife's stuff in fook it, i'll need a trailer
the wolfman looks good kit.

yep, looking forward to the meet up

 

[follow me]

You should give the missus the pannier and say "take what you like as long as it fits in the box"

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

I like the way the Wolfman sits up in the middle but it looks like it's not waterproof?

I rather like the look of these & they're considerably cheaper, though I've never used them.

http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/Dry-Boxes-dry-bags-uk.html

 

[UturnTony]

I like the way the Wolfman sits up in the middle but it looks like it's not waterproof?

I rather like the look of these & they're considerably cheaper, though I've never used them.

http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/Dry-Boxes-dry-bags-uk.html

the wolfman gear do have rain covers so not waterproof i imagine.
i like the look of the lomo 40 litre bag.

 

[UturnTony]

You should give the missus the pannier and say "take what you like as long as it fits in the box"

tried that. it doesn't work

 

[follow me]

The Beta is great. It comes with waterproof covers as an extra, the material is waterproof but sadly not around the zips or the stitching. I just use waterproof stuff sacks and have never had a problem.

I've got a Lomo 40ltr bag which I use when I'm working and ridding in London. It's survived some heavy downpours and not let a drop in. For the piece I don't think you can go wrong.

 

[follow me]

Any suggestions on maps..?

 

[UturnTony]

Any suggestions on maps..?

i have the route planned in microsoft mappoint north america (as near as i can get it off the itinerary we have been provided with) and could print the route in sections using just the section we are doing at the time.

 

[GSAMark]

Not sure what Bilco has planned but myself and uturntony have put maps into sat navs. Mines a tomtom v5 using tyre to travel and Tony's is a Garmin using mapsource. From past experience when Tony and myself have travelled together the maps always differ but as far as the trip goes I'm hoping to do a lot of it using traditional map reading skills......give it to the wife!!!!

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

I'm hoping to load USA and Canada onto a memory card in my Garmin but suspect I'll manage to fcuk that up completely, being the arse that I am.

My lovely wife bought me 2 x paper maps for Christmas as a belt and braces arrangement knowing what a tool I am.

I've got Marco Polo USA West and Insight Guides Canada.

They're pretty big scale but if nothing else I've already had hours of fun looking at them and imagining the adventures to be had.

They'll also come in handy when we get there and my attempts at computer wizardry prove to be entirely fcuking fruitless, as I know they will.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

If you've been on my trips before you will know I only use my sat nav as a back to paper maps, perhaps find the motel in a town and to give me an idea of time to destination etc. It's next to impossible to get lost, unless you are from North London, using papermaps so I always advise getting some decent paper maps in a tank bag.

I think maps are fantastic for many reasons not least being able to see the whole region we are in. A lot of people draw on and mark their maps as we go so they can remember the exact route in years to come

 

[UturnTony]

If you've been on my trips before you will know I only use my sat nav as a back to paper maps, perhaps find the motel in a town and to give me an idea of time to destination etc. It's next to impossible to get lost, unless you are from North London, using papermaps so I always advise getting some decent paper maps in a tank bag.

I think maps are fantastic for many reasons not least being able to see the whole region we are in. A lot of people draw on and mark their maps as we go so they can remember the exact route in years to come

Impossible to get lost eh. There's a good reason for my forum name iv'e even got lost in the hotel

 

[follow me]

Yes I'm the same, I'm off this weekend so I'll give it a go at loading up the right areas from map source. Fingers crossed it will all go to plan. Though I much prefer a real map to look at with a list of roads and junctions for a quick glance.

I picked up the Marco Polo map today, thanks for the recommendation. This evening had a good search and found Michelin do a series of maps for Canada and the USA.

http://http://travel.michelin.co.uk/map-585---western-usa-western-canada-scale-12-400-000-1218-p.asp

I'm just going to check if it's goes high enough, but for a £5 I'll probably just order it...

 

[JoeBiff]

Sgt, you have a PM, sir!

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Just rung my normal Travel Insurance company and the good news is I'm covered for the trip but there are a no. of caveats you may want to be aware of:-

My insurers insist that one must

1) Have held a full UK bike licence for at least 3 years
2) Be RTA free for at least 5 years
3) No motoring convictions of any sort for at least 5 years
4) Wear a crash helmet at all times whilst riding the bike, regardless of local laws.
5) Only be using the bike as transportation and not for any form of racing.

Just thought I'd share the info with the rest of you.

 

[mcinlb]

Just rung my normal Travel Insurance company and the good news is I'm covered for the trip but there are a no. of caveats you may want to be aware of:-

My insurers insist that one must

1) Have held a full UK bike licence for at least 3 years
2) Be RTA free for at least 5 years
3) No motoring convictions of any sort for at least 5 years
4) Wear a crash helmet at all times whilst riding the bike, regardless of local laws.
5) Only be using the bike as transportation and not for any form of racing.

Just thought I'd share the info with the rest of you.

Basically the same as my 'normal' annual travel insurance.......

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

Aye. I was slightly surprised at the 5 year no RTA & conviction free period of time though I must admit.