Overland Journal Winter 2012

Old School Tire Tubes I read the article in the latest edition and had some questions and comments. My father, born in 1897, and I traveled around the West a lot back in the day. Now tires had tubes in those days, where they are tubeless today. When I travel now out in Eastern Oregon and Northern Nevada, I still carry tubes for my tubeless [tires], and I carry a “boot” to patch a big hole if one appears. Dad and I put “boots” in tires all over the West. Now I know what you’re thinking, ‘it now has a tube.’ Well, looking at your photos I would say it will be a lot easier to break down the tire and patch the tube, than trying to suture, plug, glue and…

Michele Dallorso Michele is a freelance cartoonist from the School Of Comic of Milan who specializes in drawing Land Rovers and 4WD vehicles. He lives and works in northern Italy between Lake Como and the rocky trails of Emilia-Romagna. Among other things, he loves to sketch, draw, and portray anything mechanical. He drives a Land Rover Defender 90 (a.k.a. “The Cube”) and is slowly rebuilding an ex-military SIIA 109. His passion for overland travel has taken him to England, Germany, Tunisia, and Colorado and Utah in the U.S. Michele is an enthusiast of beer and tea. Leonardo and Daniele Pinheiro Caught up in the daily grind of traffic, long commutes, and a mundane professional existence, Brazilian architects Leonardo and Daniele decided that settling for a normal life was not in their cards. Their…

Doing the right thing is notalwayseasy, and often comes with a price. Earlier this year I received a number of emails from readers, all of whom felt the need to comment on my Good Old Boys Journal Entry (Winter 2011). The common message was a heartfelt appreciation of Overland Journal’ quest for transparency in our product reviews and editorials. One letter referenced “the character of the magazine,” and it got me thinking. Our gear review for that issue was on roof racks. I was the lead on the review and went to great effort deliberating on how to create a test environment that would be both objective and subjective. Our goal was to provide you with an honest assessment of a product on which you may spend a significant amount of money.…

Touratech 38L Zega Pro Top Case $571 If you’ve ever wanted secure storage for your full-face helmet, Touratech’s new 38L Zega Pro might be the answer. This waterproof, dustproof top case is crafted from 1.5 mm aluminum and measures 12.4 x 15.75 x 12 inches (L x W x H). Bolt on, easily replaceable plastic cups protect the corners and bottom, and the single rear-facing lock will accept an integral lock cylinder. Incorporating Touratech’s RAPID TRAP system, the Zega Pro can be removed with a turn of the lock, and snaps back in place with a click. Available in anodized black or silver. (CC) touratech-usa.com, 800-491-2926 Noren Films UTBDR and Butler Map $25 and $15 Grab a coldy, pop in the Noren Films UT Backcountry Discovery Route (UTBDR) DVD, and take a mini…

When BMW Motorrad expanded the GS family with two new dual-sport offerings in 2007—the F650 GS and F800GS parallel twins—the riding public embraced the newest members of the BMW lineup. Both provided plenty of power, a comfortable ride on long trips, and positive control on uneven surfaces. This year, BMW continues this chapter in the GS success story by updating a number of features and adding several others. Enter the F700GS and F800GS. Beginning with the front wheel, both variants are now fitted with dual 300 mm disk brakes and twin-piston floating calipers. The rear retains the single, 265 mm single-piston configuration. In keeping with the BMW Motorrad principle “Safety 360°,” the latest generation, two-channel ABS—which is lighter, more compact, and with self-adjusting sensors—will be standard equipment for the first time. Unique…

The Abenteuer and Allrad show continues to impress the overland world with its annual celebration. It has become a mecca for overland and 4WD enthusiasts, who migrate to Bad Kissingen, Germany, to pay homage to the deities of expedition travel. It is easily the largest event of its type in Europe and likely the world. This year’s festivities hosted 240 exhibitors and attracted 52,000 visitors from more than 30 countries. Walking through the gate was like walking into an “amusement park for overlanders.” Expedition vehicles lined the dozens of “city blocks” between vendor booths, training displays, and product demonstrations. For the history buff, the show was peppered with an array of perfectly restored Defenders, Land Cruisers, Jeeps, Unimogs, and G-Wagons. For the kid in all of us, there was an RC…