Total Motorcycle Community Forums

what do you do when you're using driving directions to get to a place?

it's not like you can glance over it for a quick look like when in a car.

how do you guys do it? do you just memorize the directions or maybe make a several stops to check the directions/map?

is there a better way?

GPS

put it in a pocket in your jacket and just stop I would assume.

Or yah, GPS. Those things are so useful, if for nothing else than geocaching lol.

Amen on the GPS - I've been using one for a few months and I love it. Too dangerous to check it while moving for me. I just memorize the next few turns and put it back in my pocket.

Also, geocaching rocks!

If I was using a map though, I'd pretty much use it the same way. You could use a tank bag with a clear cover you could look down at the map occasionally if you were super careful and felt comfortable with it - or check it occasionally at stop signs. If that is too disorienting you could write a few turn by turn directions with a big sharpie and pput them on the tank bag.

that tank pad idea is a great for the streets when on stop lights.

thanks.

Write down the directions and Scotchtape them on the gastank. Pretty simple.

tank bag map pocket for me.

For endurance rallies, I also write out brief notes for each bonus location on my route, for example: (actual notes from the 2005 AB2000 rally.)

Fort Sask - #21S - go east on TC16 to Vegreville VP Bonus(fuel here)
TC16E - South on 36 to 26W - South on 36 to Hanna (fuel)
9W to 9S - Drumheller - Bonus DD (fuel)

These sort of directions are very easy to memorize at each bonus location/fuel stop. I can be memorizing the next leg while I'm fueling up, and if I have to take an alternate route (detour, extra unplanned bonus, what have you) I still have the map in the tank bag that I can glance at to get my bearings again.

If using a map, it's handy to put it in the pocket upside down, so that your destination is towards the front of the bike - this way any turns that you have to make are in the right direction (if the map shows a right turn, you turn right). you don't need to have to mentally flip the directions.

Last Toy run I went on there was a guy who just used electrical tape to tape the map to his bag.

I opted to follow the guy in front of me.

I'll be picking up a Garmin Street Pilot i5 in a week or so (whenever my tax refund deposits to my account) and Cycle Gadgets carries a whole line of motorcycle-specific mounts for pretty cheap.

I normally make a copy of the map and then highlight the route with neon magic marker. If I am not sure then I slow down to 120 or so and get it out of my pocket for a quick look.