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

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?

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

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

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.

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.

Is that the "Europe 2008 A4 Spiral" on Michelin Travel Publications - UK road atlas, road atlas France and road atlas Europe

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.

Thanks everybody, I now have a couple of different atlases to have a look at. :thumbup1:

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

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.

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

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#

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

I like the look of that, would be better if the map companies made a decent map that fits but hey I guess I am just wishing..

My point exactly, except I reckon the luggage manufacturers should be taking this into account when designing tankbags. I mean, whats the point of advertising a tankbag as having an A4 size map pocket but producing the thing with a zip so short that you can't get an A4 map into it!

All tankbags (that I've looked at) have zips that go around 3 sides of the main compartment so you can get your gear in. Why not do the same with the map pocket so it can actually fit an A4 map book?

What would also be really useful is a wraparound zip so the map pocket expands just slightly in the same way as the expanding main compartment, as seen on many tankbags. This would allow it to take a 1-inch thick atlas or maybe (for those on a budget, including me) just a car type satnav or mobile phone without it pressing on the touchscreen/buttons.

Anyone from a luggage manufacturer listening??? Thought not :frown:

A4 too big.
 

The trouble with an A4 sized tank bag is full lock turns sound the horn. Motorcycle maps should be A5 sized, as should their tank bags.

Both Hemmas Motorcylce Atalas (Australia, NewZealand) are small, ring bound (so they open to any page flat) .. and fit 'Andy Strapz' tank bag (small) well. And I don't sound the horn on full lock turns with that set up.

Yup got one of those back home (Aus) and it is great. Maybe I should write to them, suggest a Europe edition ???
:thumbup1:

That's a problem I've never had!