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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland




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  #1  
Old 9 Nov 2008
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Bike Sized Europe Atlas
Hello,

I am looking for a good bike sized (map pocket on a tank bag) Europe Atlas. I have read about the "Motrax - The World's Strongest Map" and looked at the Michelin. But i couldn't find the size of the Motrax and think the A4 sized Michelin would be a little too big. Has anyone got a favourite ?

Cheers
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Old 9 Nov 2008
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I've wondered this as well to be honest. Waterstones do a really small one that would fit in the map pocket of a tankbag but the scale and detail are crap.

Think most people buy the usual A3 size maps (see discount book shops) and tear out the pages needed. That's what I do and then buy more detailed OS-style maps when I actually get wherever I'm going.

Anyone got any better ideas?
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Old 9 Nov 2008
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i got one "AA Glovebox Atlas Europe" and it is ok. fits perfectly in the tankbag.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA240_.jpg

hope this helps
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  #4  
Old 9 Nov 2008
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i walked around WHSmiths & found one exactly the right size for my tankbag, ringbound too so easy to get it flat to slide in the map pocket.
its the Collins road atlas of europe ISBN 978-0-00-726784-2
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Old 10 Nov 2008
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The map pocket on my Oxford tankbag is A4 size but the zip isn't big enough to get an A4 atlas into it. What would be helpful is if tankbag manufacturers would make their bags with a zip that went around 2 or 3 sides.

Makes you wonder why luggage manufacturers haven't approached the likes of Grant to find out what features motorcycle travellers actually want on their luggage.
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Old 10 Nov 2008
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Michelin do a good one of france that is small and ring bound. For the 'tricky bits' I scan and print part pages from a much bigger map i carry in a bag.
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Old 11 Nov 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
Michelin do a good one of france that is small and ring bound. For the 'tricky bits' I scan and print part pages from a much bigger map i carry in a bag.
I'd second the Michelin map, and I got one for Europe which is the same size, although thicker.
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Old 11 Nov 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexlebrit View Post
I'd second the Michelin map, and I got one for Europe which is the same size, although thicker.
Is that the "Europe 2008 A4 Spiral" on Michelin Travel Publications - UK road atlas, road atlas France and road atlas Europe
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Old 11 Nov 2008
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Well mine's Europe 2004 in A4, but I guess it's the same thing. One tip if it's just to big to fit, flick through it and check all the "overlaps" you know the bits where it shows what's on the next page? If they're quite large then you can trim a good half an inch off three of the sides, with a scalpel or something similar.
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Old 11 Nov 2008
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Thanks everybody, I now have a couple of different atlases to have a look at.
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Old 9 Dec 2008
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Just for interest sake, I bought the Michelin Europe Tourist & Motoring atlas. It is annoyingly close to fitting my in the map pocket but not close enough.

What I have decided to do is remove the metal spiral and replace it with a plastic one from a clear plastic pocket folder. The type that you can open up and add or remove plastic pockets or in my case map pages that will fit in the map pocket of a tank bag.

Cheers
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Old 9 Dec 2008
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Have a look at the overlap you've got round the edge of each page, you know the bit that shows you what's on the next page. I found I could trim about half an inch off without losing any map just a bit of the double. It means you can keep the binding, and still fit it in.
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Old 9 Dec 2008
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I had a look at that (a good idea you mentioned earlier in this thread) even started writing the page numbers inside the blue border. But then decided that changing over the binding was less effort and I would just work off a couple of pages a day while traveling.

Cheers
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Old 10 Dec 2008
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I decided that the size of the tankbag pocket was too small for a decent map especially if you're picking one up locally as you have to have the size they've got. My solution was to use an Ortlieb A3 document pocket (100% waterproof) and tie it onto the top of my tankbag. You can fold it around the map and make it a good fit as it's really soft rubber like material. It's perfect for a good ringbound atlas. I've used this solution for a few years and it works.

Checking their website they don't seem to do the A3 doc case now but they've got this...

ORTLIEB product description#
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Old 13 Dec 2008
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the scale on the motrax map isnt great, i think its 1:750,000 or something, much better is to get a specific map for each country, the A4 ringbound AA road atlas' are 1:250,000 and have minor roads on them
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