Your Questions, Answered
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<img src="http://www.atlasrider.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/FAQ-Logo.png" width="240" />
</p><ul>
<li>How can you afford to travel for so long?</li>
<li>Can you ride on plugs?</li>
<li>What GPS should you use?</li>
<li>Are you crazy?</li>
</ul>
<p>These are all things I’ve been asked pretty frequently. Check out my answers below or ask your own question!</p>
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<h2><strong>Have a question?</strong></h2>
<h3>Leave a reply below and I’ll get back to you.</h3>
</div>
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<p class="faq-catname">Motorcycles</p><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-many-miles-do-you-have-on-your-ninja-650r/">How many miles do you have on your Ninja 650r?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>55,000 miles as of March, 2012. I’ve had her since 2006 and the miles are a mixture of touring and commuting. Keep up on regularly scheduled maintenance and your ride will last just as long!</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/whats-the-top-speed-of-the-ninja-650r/">What’s the top speed of the Ninja 650r?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I can only speak for myself and my 2006 Ninja 650r. I got it up to 135MPH as indicated. The speedometer is thought to have a 7% exageration.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/i-weigh-x-and-i-am-y-tall-will-i-fit-on-the-ninja-650r/">I weigh [X] and I am [Y] tall. Will I fit on the Ninja 650r?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I don’t know. I am 5’9″ and 130 pounds and the Ninja 650r fits me fine.<br />
Best advice I can give is to go to a dealer and sit on a bike for at least 20 minutes. Keep your arms on the bars and feet on the pegs. If it is uncomfortable or cramped, you will feel it even if you are in the showroom.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/dont-you-get-hot-wearing-all-that-protective-motorcycle-gear/">Don’t you get hot wearing all that protective motorcycle gear?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>Yes, but I’d rather sweat than bleed.</p>
<p>Staying cool often relies on what you are wearing underneath. I wear a spandex-like, quick-wicking shirt and with my vents open sometimes I am freezing! Take advantage of evaporative cooling and drink lots of water.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-much-did-your-klr-650-cost/">How much did your KLR 650 cost?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I bought her used for $2500 and she was <em>bulletproof</em>.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/do-you-have-any-advice-for-novice-riders/">Do you have any advice for novice riders?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><ol>
<li>Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider safety course.</li>
<li>Start off with small distances and gradually build up.</li>
<li>Don’t get cocky when you start gaining confidence. You always have something new to learn.</li>
</ol>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-long-can-i-ride-on-a-tire-that-has-been-plugged/">How long can I ride on a tire that has been plugged?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>It all depends on the type of puncture. If it looks bad, don’t ride on it. If it looks good, continue with caution. No excessive speeds. I’ve ridden on plugs for thousands of miles, but I always checked them on a regular basis along with my tire pressure.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/was-the-klr-650-too-tall-for-you/">Was the KLR 650 too tall for you?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>The KLR was too tall for me…at first. I was on my toes if I tried to get both my feet on the ground. I quickly got acustomed to the height by sliding my butt to the right or left side so I could put one foot flat on the ground and my other foot rested on the peg.</p>
<p>It was weird at first. After a couple weeks it was natural.</p>
</div><br />
<p class="faq-catname">Travel</p><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-do-you-find-the-time-to-travel/">How do you find the time to travel?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I’m not rich. I’m just a guy. I find long weekends or take time off from work. For longer trips I had to quit my job and live off my savings.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-much-did-your-trip-through-central-and-south-america-cost/">How much did your trip through Central and South America Cost?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I spent an average of $40 a day for eight months while I lived on the road. This includes fuel, food, lodging and motorcycle maintenance.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-do-you-secure-your-motorcycle/">How do you secure your motorcycle?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>The location of where you park is more important than wat kind of locks you use. If I don’t have a private enclosure to park my motorcycle, I find the most public place available. The more eyes on a motorcycle, the less likely someone will try and take it. </p>
<p>Don’t be shy about asking for secure places to park. Most people are very accomodating and sympathize with your concern. Ask if it is ok to roll your bike indoors, or out of sight.</p>
<p>A big ass chain doesn’t hurt too.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-do-you-secure-your-belongings/">How do you secure your belongings?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>The hard cases on my motorcycle are plenty enough for deterring thieves but I travel with soft bags as well for camping supplies.</p>
<p>With a soft bag on my passenger seat a “slash and grab” is pretty easy. Even if it doesn’t happen, the anxiety associated with the possibility is enough to ruin an afternoon where I leave my belongings unattended on my motorcycle.</p>
<p>I use a steel mesh bag (PacSafe makes them) to put my soft bag in and secure it to my motorcycle. </p>
<p>I keep my most valuable things (electronics) in my tank bag. Whenever I am out of sight or reach of my motorcycle I carry that with me. I specifically bought a tank bag that doubles as a backpack for this reason.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/what-driver-licenses-are-recognized-in-central-and-south-america/">What driver licenses are recognized in Central and South America?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>All of them. I never had a problem with licenses. AAA offers an “international drivers permit” that you can buy for $30 (last I checked) and it was accepted everywhere I went. Also doubles as an expendible license should an officer confiscate it and ask you to return to the station to pay the fine.</p>
<p>Also, they never checked to see if there was a motorcycle endorsement.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/ive-been-dreaming-about-taking-a-trip-through-latin-america-too-how-can-i-make-this-a-reality/">I’ve been dreaming about taking a trip through Latin America too. How can I make this a reality?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>As with most things, it comes down to time and money. I’ve addressed the issue of cost <a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/?qa_faqs=how-much-did-your-trip-through-central-and-south-america-cost"here</a>, <a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/?p=1615">over here</a> and <a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/?p=1636">over there</a>. It is more attainable than you might think. Once you’ve decided you are going to do this, look at every purchase in your life and turn it into a tank of gas, a roadside meal, or a stay in a hotel. Every time you unessarily spend your money instead of saving it for your dream, you’re getting farther away from it.</p>
<p>Time is tricky. Some people have been able to arrange sabaticals, but it seems unrealistic. If you work for an enlightened employers who understands the need for a prolonged break, great! Good luck though. Always remember that an employer will never treat you with the same level of loyalty you give them. In the end, you gotta quit your job, and figure it out when you get back. </p>
<p>Everything is going to be ok. Just trust me!</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-do-you-find-internet-access-while-you-are-on-the-road/">How do you find internet access while you are on the road?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>Internet access is everywhere. It is hard to find places without it. Speeds may vary, but even those seem to be increasing. </p>
<p>A good indicator: if you see a tall antenna tower, chances are there is internet access in that village.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/what-do-you-do-for-personal-protection/">What do you do for personal protection?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>Situational awareness is the biggest factor that keeps me safe. I am always looking at my surroundings and keeping things in check. The second best factor is making yourself look like you are aware of your surroundings. In other words, look confident in what you do. You may not know where the hell you are, or where you are going, but act like you do. I don’t ride at night too.</p>
<p>These are all preventative methods for personal protection. For more proactive measures I always carry a knife on me, sometimes mace, but luckily I have never had to use it.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/any-plans-for-another-big-trip/">Any plans for another BIG trip?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I would like to spend a year traveling through Eastern Europe and Asia on an XT250. I am shooting to make this happen in 2014.</p>
</div><br />
<p class="faq-catname">Technical</p><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/what-kind-of-camera-do-you-use-for-videos/">What kind of camera do you use for videos?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I’ve used a few over the years. I started with a Kodak v570, then moved onto a Pentax Optio W80/W90 and a VIO POV.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-do-you-handle-the-storage-of-all-your-photos-and-video/">How do you handle the storage of all your photos and video?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>With internet access everywhere my preferred method for storage is online. I use a bunch of SD cards to store data from cameras. I travel with a small netbook to offload the data when my SD cards fill up. </p>
<p>For long periods without internet access, I burn DVDs with an external curner connected to my netbook. I make two copies. One goes in the left pannier, and the other in my right. If I crash on one side, the other side is safe. Redundancy! <img src='http://www.atlasrider.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>Ultimately I will mail the DVDs home to keep my data in more than one place in case my netbook is damaged or stolen. No matter how you do it, keep multiple copies in multiple locations.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/what-gps-do-you-use/">What GPS do you use?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I use a Garmin 60CSx. It is indended for hikers but doubles as a great waterproof GPS for motorcyclists. I don’t mind the small screen because it makes it easier for me to put it in my pocket and easily plan routes away from the motorcycle.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-do-you-keep-all-your-electronics-charged/">How do you keep all your electronics charged?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I like using electronics that have removable and recharable batteries. I have at least three battery sets for each device. I have a charger on my motorcycle and roate the batteries so I am always charged up. For equipment with higher power use (like my video camera) I run it off my main battery while the motorcycle is running.</p>
<p>I didn’t bother upgrading the stator on my KLR650, but I did install a volt meter so I could always see the health of my motorcycle battery.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/any-advice-for-aspiring-motorcycle-video-loggers/">Any advice for aspiring motorcycle video loggers?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>You are a rider first and a filmer second. Be safe!</p>
<p>Do a lot of test runs with your recording equipment before you try to start talking and narrating.</p>
<p>Common things to consider:</p>
<ul>
<li>Tangling cords that can become hazardous. Keep them clear of the handlebars.</li>
<li>Fasten your equipment securely. If you think it might fall off, tie some string to it and make sure it can’t swing close to any moving parts.</li>
<li>Practice your first talking video on calm roads to get used to talk and riding at the same time.</li>
<li>Share what you love.</li>
<li>Practice makes perfect.</li>
</ul>
<div>Keep recording and you will get more and more comfortable with the camera. You might find it is like a kind of invisible companion on the road!</div>
<div>Film and Ride Safe.</div>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/are-there-cheaper-alternatives-to-the-vio-pov-for-shooting-video/">Are there cheaper alternatives to the VIO POV for shooting video?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>For years I used point and shoot cameras inside my helmet. Different heads and helmets require custom solutions though. There are cameras that have a pretty short height. I used a Pentax Optio W80 and it didn’t block my view. Check out the dimensions of cameras, and try finding one that is “short”. </p>
<p>The VIO POVs are becoming less expensive, especially the older generation. Check on eBay, that’s where I got mine.</p>
</div><br />
<p class="faq-catname">Personal</p><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/do-you-accept-guest-blog-submissions-on-your-website/">Do you accept guest blog submissions on your website?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>Yes, only if it is relevant to motorcycle travel. Email me at <a href="mailto:dwyer.bill@gmail.com">dwyer.bill@gmail.com</a> and we can chat.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/what-do-you-do-for-a-living/">What do you do for a living?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I am a software developer.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-tall-are-you/">How tall are you?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>You might be curious because you are looking into buy a Ninja 650r and wondering how you might fit relative to my size.</p>
<p>5’9″<br />
69 inches<br />
175.26 centimeters<br />
1.7526 meters</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-do-i-convince-my-mom-to-let-me-get-a-motorcycle/">How do I convince my Mom to let me get a motorcycle?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>This is a tough one. My Mom also rides a motorcycle so I never had that problem. </p>
<p>Convince her to ride first? </p>
<p>You’re on your own with this one.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/are-you-crazy/">Are you crazy?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>Little bit.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/are-you-sponsored-by-anyone/">Are you sponsored by anyone?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I have no official sponsorship for my rides or journeys. I found a way to travel on the cheap so I can wander independently and not be tied to a schedule or demands of a sponsor.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/how-do-you-live-without-a-car/">How do you live without a car?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>Happily.</p>
<p>But seriously folks… </p>
<p>Everyone’s situation is different. I fortunately don’t need to move a lot of large things around. I don’t think a lot of people have to either. I rent a truck or car when I need it and the costs are a fraction of a car payment and insurance.</p>
<p>Also, don’t underestimate what bungie cords can and cannot do when strapping stuff to your passenger seat.</p>
</div><div class="faq-title"><a href="http://www.atlasrider.com/faq/have-you-changed-after-all-your-travels/">Have you changed after all your travels?</a></div><div class="faq-answer"><p>I’ve definately changed, especially after my Latin American trip. I feel I’ve changed for the better. I’ve been exposed to so many different experiences that have changed my perspective in so many ways, it’s hard to really pin it down. </p>
<p>There is one idea that has consistently grown stronger throughout my travels: The world is not so scary of a place as I thought it was and I fear it less and less after each trip.</p>
</div></p>
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