Before I forget Yam6, on a more technical issue, how have you found the auxillary lights? Especially on the draw from the battery? Have you tried to have all gadgets turned on, plus heated grips (if you have it), and may be extra plug to heated vest?

the fog lights seam to be OK as they are not always on, i have had them on for about 2hours and every thing was OK, i have no heated grips or vest so on this one i can not say, the road book lights and motors use next to nothing same as the garmin sat nav, if anything this bike is now much lighter as heaver parts are coming off lighter parts go on.there is still so much to go on but its finding the time. :snooze[1]:

A bit overboard
 

Gee I wonder when touratech are gunna start making protectors to protect the protectors!!!..........lol

I have to ask why do you need a map roller if you have a GPS, I mean I plan my trip on a pc then up-load routes and waypoints to the GPS����put the GPS on the bike���go riding and follow the route from the GPS.
Or is the map roller just to make you �look the part�����..lol

In Yam6's defence - a roller roadbook and a GPS perform very different tasks, although, as you suggest, there can be some cross over...

Fundamentally, a GPS needs to be programmed (and once done, means you tend to slavishly follow the route programmed in). This is fine for navigating a relatively simple road/trail route, but if you have multiple turns/junctions etc, takes a lot of time to program the exact route. It is also difficult (if not impossible) to mark hazards such as washouts/blind crests etc. on the screen.

Using a paper road book allows you to put all your instructions on paper, edit them with a pen, and roll them forward or backward and to bypass any particular section completely if you wish. And perhaps most importantly, they are a hard copy - they can't run out of power or get an electrical hiccup, which is the primary reason International Rallye organsiations still use that format. Typically every day there is an adjustment to the route, and it is far easier to mark that on the paper roll, than re-program a GPS unit.

Also, if you are getting the route from a third party (such as a rally organisation or tour company for example), they will need a number of different file formats (never mid the cables connectors etc) to provide the route electronically for all the different GPS units riders may be using.

If you've never used a tulip style road book, then you won't realise how useful (and how much information can be imparted) it is having a roll of paper infront of you! Of course you may well have a GPS unit too - most often to give you a position reading that relates to what is on the paper instructions. In rallyes you'd use an IMO computer too, to accurately count the distance between the instructions in the road book.

Hope that clarifies?

xxx

ps. I agree with you about the "protectors to protect the protectors" (hee hee) - half that TT stuff is just excess clutter, even if it looks nice in anodised aluminium... x

Yeah ok i can see the need for it if your competing in a rally/race, but i still don't see the need for touring arround on a trip?

i would imagine if you ever go to somewhere like Morocco (which is entirely feasable these days) or anywhere where the road signs are crap, and your GPS packs up, you'll think to yourself "hmm, maybe a paper hard copy isn't such a bad idea"

yeah its called a road map.......lol

I agree, although I know Chris Evans' trips in France use a paper roadbook for directions, and a number of other foreign trail riding companies do too as the tulip diagram style isn't so language specific... having the day's route on a roll chart allows you to ride at your own pace, rather than nose to tail in convoy if you see what I mean?

So for an organized trip they can useful - but for general traveling on your own, I agree there is no real benefit (unless you like writing out your own instructions on a roll) - as you say, a map (and maybe a few notes) is all you really need...

xxx

yes i do use both, last time i use the road book was when i went from John o groats to Gibraltar a route that was a 3145 miles only by a/b roads and as you know the sat nav sometimes can not keep up, or do not show all off roads, cattle grids, steep hills or drop off's ect ect, so having the road book is always a good back up for any road/off road trip,what if your sat nav go's tits up, what do you do if your on your own at night "what did we all do before the sat nav" i love the road book and i think i always will use it, i just have to fit my imo now because the speedo/miles on the tenere is well out.

Tenere Crash Damage
 

Came off my Tenere at about 40mph today into a soft loamy field near Thetford !

Damage was : screen came off in one piece - having sheared off all the attaching black plastic bolts ( good design) as I went through it ! Just needs new bolts .

Front left indicator head was found lying in the field - might go back together onto stem.

Indicator mounting grey panel had its two locating pins snapped off where they go into the tank .Might try using some spare plastic bolts to make replaceable "dowels" saving buying a new one each time .

But the worst damage was to the tank , must have flexed as it went down and cracked off the paint beneath the indicator - no leaks or anything - luckily so hopefully can find some near match paint .

Anyone want a cheap Tenere ????

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...neredamage.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...tankdamage.jpg