Taking an M10 on a motorcycle trip

[Rogier]

I am planning a long road trip from the Netherlands to Austria to participate in in the Vespa Alp days with my Vespa 300 GTS.

Wondering if I have to worry about the rangefinder getting out of alignment when I transport the camera in my top bag.

 

[Freakscene]

Don’t worry. Just take it and use it and if it gets jiggled out of alignment get it fixed safe in the knowledge that everything would need periodic alignment to work properly anyway!

Your Vespa is super cool.

 

[Rogier]

Thanks for your quick reply.
I just had to send my recently acquired M10-R (used) to a repair person who would do this much faster than Leica still taking 6- 8 weeks. And cost €245 for the CLA.

Also the trip will take about 3 weeks and I don't want to end up out of focus halfway trough this adventure...

 

[Freakscene]

Thanks for your quick reply.
I just had to send my recently acquired M10-R (used) to a repair person who would do this much faster than Leica still taking 6- 8 weeks. And cost €245 for the CLA.

Also the trip will take about 3 weeks and I don't want to end up out of focus halfway trough this adventure...

Periodically check using live view. Easy.

 

[FIegiso]

I took my M10P on a bike tour (Via de la Plata in southern Spain). It was a full suspension mountain bike so maybe somewhat equivalent to a motorcycle. It rode in a handlebar bag for easy access. No problem.

The Leica goes where I go...except in the rain.

Something to consider if you are really worried, rangefinder adjustment is a user adjustment. It takes a 2mm allen wrench. If you can ride all over on an old Vespa, I bet you can do yourself.

 

[Godfrey]

Thanks for your quick reply.
I just had to send my recently acquired M10-R (used) to a repair person who would do this much faster than Leica still taking 6- 8 weeks. And cost €245 for the CLA.

Also the trip will take about 3 weeks and I don't want to end up out of focus halfway trough this adventure...

I don't know the vibration characteristics of your scooter (which is cool and pretty...). But I rode a motorcycle (Ducati 750GT, Ducati 907IE, Moto Guzzi LeMans V, amongst others over a period of thirty-plus years) with a Leica M sitting in a nicely padded shoulder bag enclosed in a regular motorcycle pack strapped to the passenger section of the saddle for literally tens of thousands of miles ... no issues whatsoever. The Leica M4-2 sitting on my desk right now was the last of my cameras treated to a ride like that on the back of a 2017 Moto Guzzi V7III Racer: never a problem.

People worry too much about this stuff nowadays. Pack sensitive gear with due care into a bag with lots of padding space and go. If/when something goes awry, have the gear serviced ... It's only very rarely necessary. Carry reasonable backup if the photography is critical to the success of the trip...

The only issue I ever had with gear failure from such travel use was a Nikon F Photomic FTn that the meter movement was jarred loose on. It wasn't conclusive that the motorcycle vibration did the damage as I think I inadvertently dropped the camera bag to the ground once when in a hurry to get packed and moving, but Nikon serviced the meter after the trip and it worked fine for years afterwards in similar use. In the meantime, for the rest of that trip, I just used the sunny-16 rule of thumb and guessed for low light: worked fine. 😉

G

 

[Out to Lunch]

I've done at least 50.000 km on a Vespa Cosa and a Honda SH with various rangefinders in and around Saigon. Not in a top bag but in a small shoulder bag. No problem. Cheers, OtL.

 

[Ray Kilby]

For the threads it sounds like you will be OK.
Pack it well with lots of padding, for when your just hauling. But a small wearable bag when on the go.
service it before the trip (maybe.)
Take a back up camera, something small and easy. Richoh or Fuji XP100 or similar.
Insure.
Keep your apertures small, 8 to 18 and do some guessing.

Ermmm. Just go, don't worry about it and enjoy.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I've ridden cross country repeatedly on a Harley with either my Leica M2 or M3. The first time I carried the camera in a shoulder bag, so insulating it from motorcycle vibration by using my body as a cushion. After that, I made a foam enclosure out of furniture cushion foam to completely encase the camera and lens, then put that in my tank bag. Worked very well.

There was one guy we used to meet up with in Sturgis, who unfortunately tried carrying his Hasselblad in a saddlebag without proper padding, and it got trashed. Now a Harley probably vibrates more than your Vespa, but I would be careful. But definitely bring a camera, that you enjoy using, on your trip.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Rogier]

Thank you all very much!

OK the M10R with a 50 and 28 mm will come along on this adventure!