Going touring to Italy on 749s mono - help?
 

Hi Guys,

I've got to go down to Italy (Lucca, near Pisa/Florence) in early September for work and have decided to ride down if I have the time. So I'd like to know if anyone has had experience of fitting a GPS and also a radar detector for those French police (thinking of a Geodesy+Snooper.. though open to advice), and what tank bags anyone is using as I like the look of the Ducati bag on the bike, but don't fancy the idea of carrying around a red heart when off the bike.

Any advice, input etc. gratefully received.

Cheers,
Tom

i've just put a baglux alpha bag on the tank ready for our scotland trip this weekend, cant expand it as i cant get to bars, the ducati bag might look odd but maybe it fits tank shape a bit better

its ok at its normal size but expanded too hard for a s hort a'se like me to stretch around, should be able to fall asleep on it though.

Have a look a ventura luggage sit , I got a bracket etc to fit the 999R, Yeh ok its a race bike but its better than humping on your back or tank !!!:lol::burn:

If you go to the welcome page ,then "General" Product Reviews - ADMIN
"Sargent World Sports Seats .? Theres a link at the bottom for "Calemander" go to menu the Lugage Walla --Ventura.:D:devil:
God that was hard work !!!

ventura luggage is the way to go.
i've fitted an origin b2 to bike using there "car kit".-works well.
navigation wise garmin stuff gets good reviews.

if you want i can give you more on b2 fit.

Lots of advice on luggage ... here's some on rady detectors.

French police REALLY don't like radar detectors. They are likely to confiscate the detector and ban you from driving (in France). Trouble is, you will not be able to ride from that moment on, so your bike will have to stay put.

This was covered in a motorcycling magazine recently on travelling abroad.

No doubt someone will be along shortly to advise me on how untrue everything you read in the motorcyling press is, but I guess you pays your money and takes you chances on that.

A friend of mine had his radar detector confiscated by the french police, they also took his passport and wouldn't return it untill he paid the £500 fine.

Lucca is lovely ... Pisa is a shithole!! It's an old walled city and a good base for doing the rest of the araea.

Not sure why you want a radar detector ... the French motorways are sort of OK. Cameras are around large cities, not generally on the rural sections. However there are far more on the A roads that there were before.

The police if they stop you will escort you to an ATM. It happened to me when I went over a non-existant halt sign. They also hav no qualms about taking the bike etc, so don't **** them off. It might make you seeth, but it's their country and them's the rules.

If you want unrestricted, cross over to germany at Strasbourg, and you can have a play down to the Black Forest ... but it means you have to go through Switzerland and fork out for a vignette ... and may not be the quickest way

Mounted a garmin street pilot of my 748 last year using ram mounts, rock steady, the mount that i used should be easy to fit on the 749/999.

Ram mount no RAMB149ZG1 fitted to the steering damper bolt

Ventura luggage without a doubt the best.

[Edited on 5-7-2005 by m1keyp]

I have a 999 Mono and use the Ventura kit on it...sits quite high but works very well. Its about the only option for carrying sufficient quanties on a Mono.

As far as tank bags, I generally hate the things but having no under seat storage on the Duke, I use a Oxford Sprint bag which just about carries a camera and passport but is small and low. It has a map pocket.

As for Sat Nav, I have just got a Garmin Quest. Works on the bike with just setting it inside the map pocket. The battery has enough life for a 12-14 hour day before needing recharged. You can get helmet speakers etc, but I don't necessarily like them so just work off reading what the screen says. If you want voice prompt you need to wire it into the bike. I have not taken the bike to Italy yet but am just back after spending the weekend in Italy and the Sat Nav worked really well...got me to the factory, Imola, Masino and the beech at Rimini without any wrong turns !

Guys, thanks for all the replies.

If I go I will be sending all my photographic equipment along ahead of me so I'll chuck a bag of clothes in the same package, therefore I hope I'll be able to just set off with my Krug rucksack and, I think, a thin tank bag to hold and view maps etc.

A friend of mine has just bought a Tom Tom gps that links to his PDA. This might be an option for me if I hold the PDA and Tom Tom unit in the top of the tank bag. Has anyone got the Tom Tom, and also were there strong reasons for some of you choosing the Garmin units?

Cheers,
Tom

A BACK PACK & TANK BAG WILL SPOIL YOUR RIDE:barfy:

I had a garmin because its solid and easy to read at speed, counts you down to the next junction (I do not use the voice when on the bike).

Fitted with a power cord there are no battery issues at all, mine has a 128meg card and that stored the whole trip from Cambridge to World Ducati Week at Misano.

Hope this helps

Tom, I am from Florence and I know really well most of Tuscany. PLEENTYYYY Place to ride - fast - and enjoy your bike...BUT ..with no luggage man!!!
If you want some tips/place/routes U2U me and I will give you a call.

As per radar detectors in Italy these are outlaw. They will confiscate it and you will get a fine. Only GPS are allowed.

I have a TOMTOM navigator that runs on my IPAQ3955 PDA and it is great. For just 140 or less you can buy the receiver, the program and the UK map plus Most of principal routes in Europe. It works perfect in London and in UK, I just haven't tried the rest of Europe. Anyway, I have not idea how you can manage to fix the system on a bike.. I don't think tank bag can be an option..as you will need a receiver and a cradle for the PDA..and if the PDA is not bluetooth..a lots of wiring..!!