Electronics, Communications and Photography

Electronics:

Spot GPS Personal Tracking Device:

This is by far the most important electronic device that we will be carrying.
We have elected to have one each.
The Spot GPS not only allows you to send off a 911 message when in an emergency, it also allows you to message friends and family to let them know you’re ok. When activated it also tracks your location via the web every 10 minutes and gives a Google earth demonstration of your progress.
Priced at just $100 and with a $100 year subscription to the tracking it will be a well earned addition to the luggage.
www.findmespot.com

Garmin BMW Motorrad Nuvi 660:

By far one of the best world wide map companies, Garmin and BMW teamed up to produce this very bike friendly wide screened navigator.
The side buttons make for easy glove work while the new XM Satellite radio will allows those long hours to pass.
Priced at around $800 including USA maps its expensive but worth every penny
www.garmin.com

Communications Equipment:

StarCom 1 Advance:

It is designed for easy hands free operation and offers value, comfort and safety that is second to none. It provides high quality stereo sound when connected to your Ipod or satellite radio as well as hands free communications with a passenger. This small, credit card size (2” X 3” X 1”) unit when attached to a HF radio allows clear and easy bike to bike comms via a PTT button on the left hand grip.
Attached to the base of our handlebars will also be a volume control.
Add to this package the head camera, which connects directly into the audio, port and records your comms at the time and you have an all in one amazing comms package.
When the storage device is fitted with a 32GB card it can record up to 880 mins at 780 x 640.
The complete kit costs around $1000. But that includes pillion accessories. We took the pillion option so that we had spare parts.
www.starcom1.com

Photography Equipment:

Cannon EOS 5D Mk II:

I have always been a Cannon fan, and as an amateur photographer the 5D with its full frame capability was a great option. Now the new Mk II has blown me away.
The EOS 5D Mark II has a stunning 21.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with DIGIC 4 Image Processor, a vast ISO Range of 100-6400 (expandable to ISO L: 50, H1: 12800 and H2: 25600), plus EOS technologies like Auto Lighting Optimizer and Peripheral Illumination Correction. It supports Live View shooting, Live View HD videos, and more. It can shoot up to 3.9 fps, has 9 AF points plus 6 AF assist points, a new 98% coverage viewfinder, a 3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots/VGA) and a rugged build.
If you then complement this with a 16-35, a 24-105 and a 28-300 lens you have the perfect travel package. You might as well throw in a 1.4 multiplier, some UV and Circular polarizing filters and a flash for good measure.
Do not forget the cleaning kit as the roads will be dusty and in some places the flies and mosquitoes are as thick as fog.

Canon GL-2E - XM2 "PAL" Mini DV 3 CCD Camcorder:

With its 20x Optical/100x Digital Zoom, Color Viewfinder, 2.5" LCD Screen this semi-pro camcorder offers good tv quality without going over the top and still staying light.