"Stop and smell the roses" touring tips for a beginner.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Never done much DR stuff in IMC, used VOR Nav or ADF. RRoads interstates lakes mountains etc. VFR.
I can give a general (close) heading from any major city to any other major city in the States W/O looking at a map/chart.

Yeah, my friend Paul (RIP) used to amaze me. We'd head off for somewhere in the midwest, and he'd not even pull out a chart. Of course, around here everything is laid out at 90 degrees.

[twowheeladdict]

Herds of animals such as cattle horses etc. w/ little wind or other wx reasons will very often align themselves on one to the 4 cardinal  compass points.

Really.

Mine orient to the fence, or the corner, or the sun on their backside.

[twowheeladdict]

All mammals are born with an innate sense of direction . It deteriorates rapidly with non-use , or is improved with practice . Have you ever asked for directions in a large city where most folks don't drive ? The locals usually have almost no sense of NSEW , they can however tell you which bus , subway route , or trolley will take you to a destination .

 Dusty

As a person who has studied orienteering, and situational awareness, I will agree to disagree with you. 
Regarding mammals, many leave a scent trail, and others do have internal magnetic sensors.

[drbone641]

When I first started riding 'long trips', in my youth, it was the destination. Long days with roads and sights, not remembered. Harpers Ferry, MD to Pigeon Forge, on the Parkway/Skyline, in 1 day  . Now, it's the journey and a lot of roads that are not on my "itinerary", but look interesting. Those are the roads and the rides that I remember. Schedules are great, for guys who really want to keep orderly schedules. However,that creekside stop, with the mist rising, or the barn in Paint Bank,VA, is the spot that makes you love your bike and remember the day.

[Huzo]

Here you go.  1200 Sport.

Mike

http://www.motoworkschicago.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=3756695&p=1&make=moto%20guzzi&s=Year&d=D&t=preowned&fr=xPreOwnedInventory

(Very very) x 10= Nice !! I like that...

[jdgretz]

Is that red Norge below your donor history like yours ?

Not like mine - it is mine.  Taken in 2011 I believe.


Cruising on the Snake by John, on Flickr

Although since that photo was taken, I've removed the lowers, gone to Sport 100 mirrors and chin fairing and a Cal-Sci windscreen as shown in this post ->> http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=21281.msg1390400#msg1390400

jdg

[Huzo]

Not like mine - it is mine.  Taken in 2011 I believe.


Cruising on the Snake by John, on Flickr

Although since that photo was taken, I've removed the lowers, gone to Sport 100 mirrors and chin fairing and a Cal-Sci windscreen as shown in this post ->> http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=21281.msg1390400#msg1390400

jdg

Hmmm...
what condition are the mirrors in, and do you want to sell them ?

[Lannis]

Coming home from the Ohio Valley BSAOC rally last month, I was actually in my home state of Virginia and got as disoriented and lost as I've ever been.    I knew ABOUT where I was ... I was in a sort of rectangle defined by US220 on the west, by US250 on the south, by VA42 on the east, and US33 on the north.   Home was southeast, anywhere in 90 degree arc southeast.   That was a pretty broad target, I thought.

But it was raining, solidly raining.   No wind, the clouds weren't moving, and NO indication of where the sun was, it was around noon and just a uniform nimbus gray everywhere.   I'd been riding 5 hours or so on the A10, been rallying for 5 days and just wanted to get home.

The roads just went in every direction, were poorly marked, and there's almost no towns in there.   And none of the three locals I asked had any idea where anything was except "well, take a right down over the branch, then a left where Jimmison's barn used to be ....".

I rode in at least two circles while TRYING to stay in a straight line to hit one of the roads mentioned above, then I would know where I was.   

No sun, no sense of direction whatsoever.   If I'd been flying an airplane, I'd have been in an inverted dive and thinking that I was cruising along straight and level.   Finally hit Mt Solon and the postmaster there told me which way to VA42 and thus into Churchville, and I got out.    Carrying a compass next time!

Lannis

[Chuck in Indiana]

^^^^^ I did that one time on an overcast day heading to Mid Ohio. Headed just generally east (I thought) on country roads, rode for over an hour, finally came to a US highway, and was about 10 miles from where I started. 

[Lannis]

If your stuck out in the country with no known direction!
These days almost all farm/country houses have Sat. dishes. In the states that means you can find /identify SOUTH.
Of course my machine has a mag compass!

Didn't even think about satellite dishes all pointing in the same direct (southwest).

I've never found a magnetic compass that will work with the vibration and metal of a motorcycle.  Is there one?   A satellite-based one is about $90, that's doable ....

Lannis

[not-fishing]

As cheap as you got that Breva you might consider investing on a new set of tires and having them mounted for when you pick it up.

This may be a trip of a lifetime  it would for me so ditching the old tires for new ones would be a good idea.   

Mark

[Huzo]

If your stuck out in the country with no known direction!
These days almost all farm/country houses have Sat. dishes. In the states that means you can find /identify SOUTH.
Of course my machine has a mag compass!

Ummmm. Has your bike got any ferrous metals on/in it Kirby ?

[oldbike54]

As cheap as you got that Breva you might consider investing on a new set of tires and having them mounted for when you pick it up.

This may be a trip of a lifetime  it would for me so ditching the old tires for new ones would be a good idea.   

Mark

 Dealer says new tires already installed .

 Dusty

[oldbike54]

Hey Mr. D!
I just noticed...

We've been "orienteering-ized"???

Oh the humanity!!!

:-)

 Yeah , but the Navy and the USAF had already done that , or tried to anyway 

 Dusty

[jdgretz]

Hmmm...
what condition are the mirrors in, and do you want to sell them ?

I think they have been sitting on my bench for a couple of years - either that or they are mounted to a non-running bike.  I'll take a look later today when the temp gets back below 100 or so.  Last time I remember looking at them they were in great condition, but I'll check and let you know.

The reason I took them off was that they vibrated so much that they were unusable for actually identifying anything in them.  The Sport 1200 mirrors don't for some reason.

jdg

[Huzo]

I think they have been sitting on my bench for a couple of years - either that or they are mounted to a non-running bike.  I'll take a look later today when the temp gets back below 100 or so.  Last time I remember looking at them they were in great condition, but I'll check and let you know.

The reason I took them off was that they vibrated so much that they were unusable for actually identifying anything in them.  The Sport 1200 mirrors don't for some reason.

jdg

If they're really tidy, I'd be interested JD..

[jdgretz]

If they're really tidy, I'd be interested JD..

Took a look.  They are in pretty good shape, and with a little elbow grease they should look almost new.

PM me your address and I'll ship them to you.  I'm not using them, and do not foresee any reason why I would, so they get passed along on their journey.

jdg

[Huzo]

Took a look.  They are in pretty good shape, and with a little elbow grease they should look almost new.

PM me your address and I'll ship them to you.  I'm not using them, and do not foresee any reason why I would, so they get passed along on their journey.

jdg

Thank you mate. I'll donate the money to the forum.