Does anyone in the Seattle area have a GoPro or similar camera you would be willing to lend for my up-coming trip to Vegas? I have a very solid RAM mounting system on the bike so it should be well secured. I'm riding through some amazing places (MOAB, Zion National Park, Highway 101 up the California coast, etc) and it would be fantastic if I could document it. Also, this is my first long ride. Anything I should know about camping on a bike? What are the best tools to pack? Anything to be wary of on the way? General advice?
Unless they've changed the case, you can't connect to power while the camera is in the case. I have a Gen1 GoPro (non-HD), and the batteries far outlast the memory cards. I haven't flashed the firmware in a while, but last I checked, the GoPro1 only handles up to 4 GB memory cards, which is a hair under 2 hours of video, so you'd have to stop every couple hours and change the card and batteries anyway. Of course, with 4-5 cards and spare batteries, that's easily a full day's riding. Just charge the batteries back up at night. You're welcome to borrow mine, but 1) You'd need to get some mem cards, I only have 2B cards; and 2) it's not HD.
I have a go pro 1 hd and my 32gb card works in it its supposed to record like 16 hours but I can't plug it in while its in the case and the batteries last like 2-2 1/2 hour. Is there a case now that will allow you to plug it in?
If you're going to Zion, Bryce is not far north of there and very worthwhile as well. Even a drive thru the park there is amazing- they have great parking lot view points. You can swing south from Bryce and into the back (east side) of Zion, and drive thru the tunnel coming into the park. You'll break your nec looking up at all the cliffs and canyon walls.. seriously, stop and take pictures, you can't see it all while you're driving. While you're in Vegas, a very worthwhile ride is from the Lake Mead marina park entrance ($10 park fee) in Vegas, up to Overton or Valley of Fire. Overton is a good breakfast/lunch stop, while Valley of Fire is tighter and more technical than the Lake Mead park area. From either one, you can shoot straight down I-15 back into Vegas. Let me know when you're coming, and I can point you to more interesting things going on here in the sportbike community while you're in town. Michael
Thanks FTL900, I'll probably do that (if I remember). A local friend is lending me his gopro, so I'm good on that. Any other camp-on-a-bike tips?
One other thing comes to mind... if your trip dates are flexible at all, 3rd Friday of each month is Bike Night in the Arts District. It's usually a really good turnout, and includes everything from Harleys to custom choppers to Aprilias to scooters, with a good sportbike turnout. Location is easy to find, just off I-15 near Charleston & Main here.
Trip highlights. We had a Suzuki Vstrom, a BMW F800, a Ducati Monster "modified" for touring with pelican cases, and my Harley Street Glide. Japanese, German, Italian, and American; oddest road trip combo you've ever seen. The weather was crazy hot. Eastern Oregon and Idaho are full of nice people, but incredibly boring. There was a trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats. We discovered that mormons are frightened but polite when riders in half-gear walk around their most sacred Temple grounds. I trolled Salt Lake City by rolling around on the Harley playing Nat King Cole at full volume. The Ducati broke (duh). There were giant beetles. We got tired of camping and I shared a bed with a Czech fellow who thrashes violently in his sleep. The Gold Coast is a chump casino. And I found out Harley Las Vegas will wash your bike for $20. Also, this happened. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvD-TtO3Ir8
