For All You Dirty DS Minded FJR Riders On This Forum!

[charismaticmegafauna]

2 things I'd like to offer concerning off-road/dual-sport touring riding gear:

1, My riding gear is supplemented with a set of light weight polypropylene long underwear for those early morning/high altitude/night-time (hopefully--not)/cool-temp. rides. Usually, carried as extra gear (on the bike) for the majority of the ride.

2, Helmets (some) with lower face protection/chin-guards -- full-face and modular -- often don't have enough fresh air available for good breathing (especially on that technical, long, rocky up-hill -- complete with ledges and drop-offs...). You often need to have plenty of good fresh air available to breathe. On helmets I've liked for dual-sport use for a host of other reasons (but lacked air-availability) -- I've drilled holes in the chin-guard.

 

[Wolfhound]

Yes, never wear a helmet anywhere that you can't breath in (LOL) and if you're too out of shape to control your breathing, you probably shouldn't be there....

Or if you dont like plastic undergarments get the LD Comfort for better cold/hot comfort to wick the moisture away instead of trapping it . . .

 

[yamafitter]

...As for helmets.... I just can't seem to get comfortable with my off road helmet. First, with the goggles on I feel like I'm losing a lot of my peripheral vision. Second, with the sun visor it's PIA doing any speeds over 40 Mph. However, the off road helmet is much cooler to ride with (temp wise that is ). These issues may be because this helmet was a cheap one that I purchase a while back for when I owned ATVs.

The better off-road helmets have visors that have vents to allow the air to flow through and not trap it and then rip your head off. There are aftermarket visors available that have the vents. You may try your local shop to see if they can help you out.

 

[yamafitter]

Radios

I'm thinking of bringing my radio for bike to bike communication. Is anyone else bringing theirs?

 

[fjrrider]

Radios

I'm thinking of bringing my radio for bike to bike communication. Is anyone else bringing theirs?

I guess nobody else is bringing one. I dont have one, so obviously I haven't been thinking about it much.

I am bringing a cell phone, I know coverage is gonna be spotty but I guess spotty is better than no coverage. Hopefully we can all exchange numbers in case one of us goes astray from the group, and I'm the one most likely to go astray.

 

[beemerdons]

Radios

I'm thinking of bringing my radio for bike to bike communication. Is anyone else bringing theirs?

I guess nobody else is bringing one. I dont have one, so obviously I haven't been thinking about it much.

I am bringing a cell phone, I know coverage is gonna be spotty but I guess spotty is better than no coverage. Hopefully we can all exchange numbers in case one of us goes astray from the group, and I'm the one most likely to go astray.

fjrrider y El Grupo: You might find this e-mail conversation beneficial, since it concerns GPS and Radios. It's between Bill F/Yamafitter, my Mexico riding buddy Brian Boles and our Moto-Discovery Tour Guide Barak Naggan. I rode to Real de Catorce offroad with Brian and Barak last Spring. I have no dog in this fight: I hate fecking GPS's with a purple passion and my only radio is the clock radio in my garage/work shop! I am an elderly Neanderthal Luddite and I am god damn proud of it, too!

From BB: "First of all, allow me to say that I hate you guys.

Now, on to the questions.

The best Mexico GPS map is from Bicimapas. Check this website -

https://www.bicimapas.com.mx/Mapas_GPS_EN.htm

They are somewhat pricey, but install easily and have tons of detail. Were I lucky enough to be going on this trip, I would bring my Garmin with the Bicimapas map loaded, and use the stuff off of ADV rider as waypoints and routes. If you use Mapsource, you can install the ADV data, then cut it up into routes and waypoints. I would then load those routes and waypoints on top of the Bicimapas map. Not all of the routes in the Motodiscovery trip are included in the ADV rider set.

Luddite Don has no radios, and actually neither do I.

When the time comes, I would like to ask Don to carry my Spot personal locator set to "track" mode, so I can watch while I sit at work being very pissed off.

I also own a Telcel Mexican cell phone which I will offer to Don, so I can call him and curse. The Telcel phones will work in podunk villages where a roaming US phone won't (unless your US phone is T-mobile or Cingular).

Later, Brian.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Don Stanley [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 4:29 PM

Subject: Fwd: Copper Canyon Countdown

Hi Bill,

I have forwarded your GPS question on to my friends Brian Boles and Barak Naggan, Brian was my room mate on the Real de Catorce Ride and Barak was the Moto-Discovery tour guide on that trip. I'm a complete anti-GPS guy, I actually hate GPS! But, I do indeed love mi Mexico Mapas!

And the only radio I listen to is for the Oldies Station, KOOL FM in Phoenix; my radio is in the workshop of my garage. Neanderthal/Luddite Me!!!

Regards,

Don Stanley

1061 N. Amber St.

Chandler, AZ 85225

Cell: 480-440-4666

-----Original Message-----

From: BILL F.

To: Don Stanley <[email protected]>

Sent: Wed, Sep 29, 2010 2:47 pm

Subject: Copper Canyon Countdown

Hi Don,

NAFO was fun and I'm getting ready to throw some new DOT knobbies on the WR450 at the end of the month and head for El Paso. I was looking around on Mapsource and it looks like 4 relatively easy days of trailering to make it to El Paso.

I'm thinking of leaving on the Tuesday and arrive a day early to relax and get used to the heat again after cooling off in the Great White North. It was toasty on Thursday & Friday down there in Knoxville and it tired me out.

I was looking at some GPS maps. I downloaded a free one off of ADV rider but I'm not really happy with it. I'm thinking about getting the 2010 version of Cartografica E32. Is it worth it? Is anyone bringing radios? I have my Starcom setup that I can put everything in the backpack and have tunes, gps & bike to bike communication but that only works if there is another rider plugged into their radio."

 

[yamafitter]

I just got off the phone with Skip from MotoDiscovery and can report the following. No one else is using FRS radios so I will be leaving mine at home. MotoDiscovery will not be supplying GPS routing or waypoints but they do use Bicimaps for the GPS on their bikes. They will have SPOT's and will be carrying a sat phone for emergencies but Skip says that cell coverage is not bad in the area.

My plan is to bring my iPhone so that I can have tunes and a phone but I won't bother plugging my GPS into the helmet. I also have my own SPOT.

Please don't get mad if I don't respond to you when you talk to me when I have my helmet on. It's not that I'm ignoring you it's just that the tunes are rattling around inside my empty head once I have the ear buds in and I can't hear anything else. :clapping:

 

[CHRIS_D]

Sooo....... I'm kicking around a little (big) plan change for me. :dribble:

The original plan was to drive the truck with the bike on the back to EL Paso. This was because I was going to pick the wife and kid up at the Tucson airport, so that we could be with the In-laws in Rio Rico during T-day. Then we all where going to drive back to GA in the truck.

Now the wife and kid plan on flying back to GA, so there's really no need to take the truck and I could just ride the Adv out to El Paso instead.

Does anyone know of a good bike shop or place to drop ship a pair of tires to in El Paso? They would need to be open at least until 5:00 PM that Saturday or even better open on Sunday. If I have to I can install them myself on that Sunday, but would really like to get them balanced because they will be the set that will get me home. Any suggestions or ideas?

 

[fjrrider]

Sooo....... I'm kicking around a little (big) plan change for me. :dribble:

The original plan was to drive the truck with the bike on the back to EL Paso. This was because I was going to pick the wife and kid up at the Tucson airport, so that we could be with the In-laws in Rio Rico during T-day. Then we all where going to drive back to GA in the truck.

Now the wife and kid plan on flying back to GA, so there's really no need to take the truck and I could just ride the Adv out to El Paso instead.

Does anyone know of a good bike shop or place to drop ship a pair of tires to in El Paso? They would need to be open at least until 5:00 PM that Saturday or even better open on Sunday. If I have to I can install them myself on that Sunday, but would really like to get them balanced because they will be the set that will get me home. Any suggestions or ideas?

Ship some tires to the hotel in El Paso. I'm driving in and will bring some tire irons and such, if nothing else we can spoon some on your bike in the hotel parking lot. For balance I would use some "Ride On" product. I use it in my FJR tires and it does a very good job in balancing the tire.

I kinda of wonder what kind of shape your tires may be in after two weeks of Mexico. Maybe you might think about a set for the road (Atlanta to El Paso to Atlanta) and a set for Mexico. We would have to change out tires when you got to El Paso then again before you go back home! At least you could have a good road tire for the slab riding then a good off road tire for the Mexico riding!

 

[CHRIS_D]

Sooo....... I'm kicking around a little (big) plan change for me. :dribble:

The original plan was to drive the truck with the bike on the back to EL Paso. This was because I was going to pick the wife and kid up at the Tucson airport, so that we could be with the In-laws in Rio Rico during T-day. Then we all where going to drive back to GA in the truck.

Now the wife and kid plan on flying back to GA, so there's really no need to take the truck and I could just ride the Adv out to El Paso instead.

Does anyone know of a good bike shop or place to drop ship a pair of tires to in El Paso? They would need to be open at least until 5:00 PM that Saturday or even better open on Sunday. If I have to I can install them myself on that Sunday, but would really like to get them balanced because they will be the set that will get me home. Any suggestions or ideas?

Ship some tires to the hotel in El Paso. I'm driving in and will bring some tire irons and such, if nothing else we can spoon some on your bike in the hotel parking lot. For balance I would use some "Ride On" product. I use it in my FJR tires and it does a very good job in balancing the tire.

I kinda of wonder what kind of shape your tires may be in after two weeks of Mexico. Maybe you might think about a set for the road (Atlanta to El Paso to Atlanta) and a set for Mexico. We would have to change out tires when you got to El Paso then again before you go back home! At least you could have a good road tire for the slab riding then a good off road tire for the Mexico riding!

That may very well work. Thanks Scott I will look into the Ride On products. With a set of D606 front and 908RR rear I can usually get about 4K miles out of them. I'm estimating total mileage to be around 5k which includes 1500 of that going to El Paso. That leaves around 3.5K on the new set, so I'm thinking (hoping) one set will be enough.

Scott I know its early to tell, but do you think you will be in El Paso early morning on Sunday?

 

[rushes]

Sooo....... I'm kicking around a little (big) plan change for me. :dribble:

The original plan was to drive the truck with the bike on the back to EL Paso. This was because I was going to pick the wife and kid up at the Tucson airport, so that we could be with the In-laws in Rio Rico during T-day. Then we all where going to drive back to GA in the truck.

Now the wife and kid plan on flying back to GA, so there's really no need to take the truck and I could just ride the Adv out to El Paso instead.

Does anyone know of a good bike shop or place to drop ship a pair of tires to in El Paso? They would need to be open at least until 5:00 PM that Saturday or even better open on Sunday. If I have to I can install them myself on that Sunday, but would really like to get them balanced because they will be the set that will get me home. Any suggestions or ideas?

Ship some tires to the hotel in El Paso. I'm driving in and will bring some tire irons and such, if nothing else we can spoon some on your bike in the hotel parking lot. For balance I would use some "Ride On" product. I use it in my FJR tires and it does a very good job in balancing the tire.

I kinda of wonder what kind of shape your tires may be in after two weeks of Mexico. Maybe you might think about a set for the road (Atlanta to El Paso to Atlanta) and a set for Mexico. We would have to change out tires when you got to El Paso then again before you go back home! At least you could have a good road tire for the slab riding then a good off road tire for the Mexico riding!

That may very well work. Thanks Scott I will look into the Ride On products. With a set of D606 front and 908RR rear I can usually get about 4K miles out of them. I'm estimating total mileage to be around 5k which includes 1500 of that going to El Paso. That leaves around 3.5K on the new set, so I'm thinking (hoping) one set will be enough.

Scott I know its early to tell, but do you think you will be in El Paso early morning on Sunday?

I'll probably drive over with the bike in back on Saturday if you want to ship your tires to me.

Did we ever figure out a good place to leave trucks while we're gone?

 

[fjrrider]

That may very well work. Thanks Scott I will look into the Ride On products. With a set of D606 front and 908RR rear I can usually get about 4K miles out of them. I'm estimating total mileage to be around 5k which includes 1500 of that going to El Paso. That leaves around 3.5K on the new set, so I'm thinking (hoping) one set will be enough.

Scott I know its early to tell, but do you think you will be in El Paso early morning on Sunday?

NO not early, but by noonish I'm thinking.

I'll probably drive over with the bike in back on Saturday if you want to ship your tires to me.

Did we ever figure out a good place to leave trucks while we're gone?

I thought I read somewhere we could leave them at the hotel, I could be wrong!

 

[beemerdons]

That may very well work. Thanks Scott I will look into the Ride On products. With a set of D606 front and 908RR rear I can usually get about 4K miles out of them. I'm estimating total mileage to be around 5k which includes 1500 of that going to El Paso. That leaves around 3.5K on the new set, so I'm thinking (hoping) one set will be enough.

Scott I know its early to tell, but do you think you will be in El Paso early morning on Sunday?

NO not early, but by noonish I'm thinking.

I'll probably drive over with the bike in back on Saturday if you want to ship your tires to me.

Did we ever figure out a good place to leave trucks while we're gone?

I thought I read somewhere we could leave them at the hotel, I could be wrong!

Well Scott, Tucson Joe and I plan to leave our pickup truck and trailer at the hotel in their parking lot. Russ will probably look for an Arkansas garage, that would be under a pine tree!

 

[rushes]

That may very well work. Thanks Scott I will look into the Ride On products. With a set of D606 front and 908RR rear I can usually get about 4K miles out of them. I'm estimating total mileage to be around 5k which includes 1500 of that going to El Paso. That leaves around 3.5K on the new set, so I'm thinking (hoping) one set will be enough.

Scott I know its early to tell, but do you think you will be in El Paso early morning on Sunday?

NO not early, but by noonish I'm thinking.

I'll probably drive over with the bike in back on Saturday if you want to ship your tires to me.

Did we ever figure out a good place to leave trucks while we're gone?

I thought I read somewhere we could leave them at the hotel, I could be wrong!

Thanks. I didn't search through the million posts...

 

[rushes]

That may very well work. Thanks Scott I will look into the Ride On products. With a set of D606 front and 908RR rear I can usually get about 4K miles out of them. I'm estimating total mileage to be around 5k which includes 1500 of that going to El Paso. That leaves around 3.5K on the new set, so I'm thinking (hoping) one set will be enough.

Scott I know its early to tell, but do you think you will be in El Paso early morning on Sunday?

NO not early, but by noonish I'm thinking.

I'll probably drive over with the bike in back on Saturday if you want to ship your tires to me.

Did we ever figure out a good place to leave trucks while we're gone?

I thought I read somewhere we could leave them at the hotel, I could be wrong!

Well Scott, Tucson Joe and I plan to leave our pickup truck and trailer at the hotel in their parking lot. Russ will probably look for an Arkansas garage, that would be under a pine tree!

Yur funny....

 

[CHRIS_D]

Sooo....... I'm kicking around a little (big) plan change for me. :dribble:

The original plan was to drive the truck with the bike on the back to EL Paso. This was because I was going to pick the wife and kid up at the Tucson airport, so that we could be with the In-laws in Rio Rico during T-day. Then we all where going to drive back to GA in the truck.

Now the wife and kid plan on flying back to GA, so there's really no need to take the truck and I could just ride the Adv out to El Paso instead.

Does anyone know of a good bike shop or place to drop ship a pair of tires to in El Paso? They would need to be open at least until 5:00 PM that Saturday or even better open on Sunday. If I have to I can install them myself on that Sunday, but would really like to get them balanced because they will be the set that will get me home. Any suggestions or ideas?

Ship some tires to the hotel in El Paso. I'm driving in and will bring some tire irons and such, if nothing else we can spoon some on your bike in the hotel parking lot. For balance I would use some "Ride On" product. I use it in my FJR tires and it does a very good job in balancing the tire.

I kinda of wonder what kind of shape your tires may be in after two weeks of Mexico. Maybe you might think about a set for the road (Atlanta to El Paso to Atlanta) and a set for Mexico. We would have to change out tires when you got to El Paso then again before you go back home! At least you could have a good road tire for the slab riding then a good off road tire for the Mexico riding!

That may very well work. Thanks Scott I will look into the Ride On products. With a set of D606 front and 908RR rear I can usually get about 4K miles out of them. I'm estimating total mileage to be around 5k which includes 1500 of that going to El Paso. That leaves around 3.5K on the new set, so I'm thinking (hoping) one set will be enough.

Scott I know its early to tell, but do you think you will be in El Paso early morning on Sunday?

I'll probably drive over with the bike in back on Saturday if you want to ship your tires to me.

Did we ever figure out a good place to leave trucks while we're gone?

Thanks Russ for the offer!! Barak already offered to let me drop ship them to him. He said he will most likely be there Sat evening or early Sunday. I also order 2 cans of Ride On, so not only will the tires be balance but they will also be puncture resistant. :lol:

Ok so next on list is to order a SPOT. Anybody have some extra money they don't want!

 

[yamafitter]

...Did we ever figure out a good place to leave trucks while we're gone?

I thought I read somewhere we could leave them at the hotel, I could be wrong!

I spoke to Skip of MotoDiscovery about this and there is a good spot to leave trucks and trailers at the hotel in El Paso. According to Skip, they have left vehicles at this location in the past and never had any problems.

 

[rushes]

...Did we ever figure out a good place to leave trucks while we're gone?

I thought I read somewhere we could leave them at the hotel, I could be wrong!

I spoke to Skip of MotoDiscovery about this and there is a good spot to leave trucks and trailers at the hotel in El Paso. According to Skip, they have left vehicles at this location in the past and never had any problems.

:thumbsup:

Thanks!

 

[beemerdons]

For what it is worth, my Buddy Brian Boles (current President of AZ Beemers and Expert GS Rider) is loaning me his SPOT personal locator and his Mexican TelCel cellular phone; these TelCel phones have worked everywhere in Mexico BB and I have ridden to.

Also, thanks to Yamafitter Bill's advice on radios: I'm leaving my General Electric clock/alarm radio at home here in Arizona. Since it only had an 8' cord on it, it probably wouldn't have been that effective in Mexico anyway. Besides, I've owned it for over 35 years.

 

[CHRIS_D]

Also, thanks to Yamafitter Bill's advice on radios: I'm leaving my General Electric clock/alarm radio at home here in Arizona. Since it only had an 8' cord on it, it probably wouldn't have been that effective in Mexico anyway. Besides, I've owned it for over 35 years.

Shooot I guess that means my 8-track aint going to work on the bike in Mexico either!!! :dribble: