maidenfan84 Posted April 10, 2023 Share #1 Posted April 10, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) I’m renting an m10 for a small vacation and going to also use the time with it to see how I feel about an M camera. One concern I have is I do a lot of motorcycle riding. I’ve seen posts about RF going out of calibration due to vibrations, bumps, etc…would a daily commute on a motorcycle cause any issues to the RF or M body itself? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 10, 2023 Posted April 10, 2023 Hi maidenfan84, Take a look here M10 (or any M body) safe for motorcycling?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
hepcat Posted April 11, 2023 Share #2 Posted April 11, 2023 I carried my M4-2 thousands of miles on my '82 BMW R100RT without a problem. The film cameras saw combat, photojournalism, and air drops into Vietnam with Seals. I think you'll be fine. I was never particularly kind to my M8 or M9P and never had issues. If the digitals are that fragile, then they're not worth much... are they. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted April 11, 2023 Share #3 Posted April 11, 2023 Quote M10 (or any M body) safe for motorcycling? Safe for motorcycle riding? Yes. Safe for motorcycle crashing? Uuuuuuh, no... 😳 However - here is the saga of an M240 that fared much better in a motorcycle crash than anyone could have reasonably expected: http://rideearth.net/2016/05/04/leica-m-the-full-review/ 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dugby Posted April 11, 2023 Share #4 Posted April 11, 2023 I’m an ardent supporter of anyone buying Leica products, and encourage you to proceed with buying an M body and the multiple lenses to use and enjoy . However for less than the price of one less M lens, I suggest a two camera strategy, a second one for the times you are wanting to bring a camera regularly motor biking, therefore a less expensive (disposable) Ricoh GR III(x) which if damaged in your vigorous travels, would be less compromising to your M set. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
maidenfan84 Posted April 11, 2023 Author Share #5 Posted April 11, 2023 I do currently have a TL2 which I’d probably designate to really extensive treks on the motorbike, but I use my bike (Moto Guzzi) for daily transportation around a large city. I typically bring a camera with me every day because I have no idea what I’ll come across that I’d find interesting to shoot. There’s always the iPhone camera, but I try to avoid using it all costs, especially if I have a better camera on hand. I’m glad to read that it seems the M bodies will have no issues at all holding up to daily adventures on the motorbike. Thank you all so much for your insight Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted April 11, 2023 Share #6 Posted April 11, 2023 M9 sub-forum has one person using digital M on motorbikes. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dugby Posted April 11, 2023 Share #7 Posted April 11, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) 2 hours ago, maidenfan84 said: I do currently have a TL2 which I’d probably designate to really extensive treks on the motorbike, but I use my bike (Moto Guzzi) for daily transportation around a large city. I typically bring a camera with me every day because I have no idea what I’ll come across that I’d find interesting to shoot. There’s always the iPhone camera, but I try to avoid using it all costs, especially if I have a better camera on hand. I’m glad to read that it seems the M bodies will have no issues at all holding up to daily adventures on the motorbike. Thank you all so much for your insight I guess if the TL2 has survived the vibrations and jolts of Moto Guzziing in SJ , at least you have a fallback body to use, if the M requires attention from extensive travelling on your MG. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee S Posted April 12, 2023 Share #8 Posted April 12, 2023 I’ve taken mine on motorcycle off and on road trips the last three years no problem. Just make sure you have some kind of soft padding / foam around the camera to minimise vibration transfer. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
52K Posted April 14, 2023 Share #9 Posted April 14, 2023 I’ve racked up over 55,000 miles on my touring bike alone across 20 countries and always carry my digital M cameras with me. Sometimes in the tank bag, sometimes in the panniers, sometimes in a backpack or sling pack, and sometimes just slung over my shoulder. I ride in all climates and have never had a problem. I also ride other much less forgiving bikes and have still always got a camera with me. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hossegor Posted April 28, 2023 Share #10 Posted April 28, 2023 i use an M Body for some of my Pro work, i do a lot for the motorcycle industry, and I have been Riding with Ms for years on all sorts of bikes. Yes, they are safe, especially the newer bodies. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramarren Posted April 28, 2023 Share #11 Posted April 28, 2023 I carried Leica M cameras on my motorcycles for roughly 40 years (middle 1970s to 2021). I nearly always put them into a back-of-the-seat bag inside a thin protective wrap or case with all my other gear, and rode many hundreds of thousands of miles that way over the years. Never once had a problem with any Leica M (or any other camera, for that matter) attributable to the motorcycle's vibration and road behavior. G 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCPix Posted April 28, 2023 Share #12 Posted April 28, 2023 Yes safe for motorcycling - never had a problem with M2, M6, M272, M10, M10R. I’ve done many rough road rides including Cape Aghulas to Nordkapp with an Algeria/Niger trans Sahara and full west-east across the Congo (DRC). Put the camera in a soft bag (or wrap it in a dry towel) in a pannier. Pic: Near Watamu, Kenya, 1992. Around my neck an M2, Summaron 35mm f/2.8, loaded with Fujichrome 100. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 5 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/375365-m10-or-any-m-body-safe-for-motorcycling/?do=findComment&comment=4760368'>More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted May 2, 2023 Share #13 Posted May 2, 2023 Depends how you carry it, I guess. I carry an.M camera on my Ducati Multistrada (the water cooled V twin from 2013) all the time - commuting and on trips. I either have it in a tank bag (easier access) or in a Mono-9 bag slung over my shoulder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laharrier Posted May 5, 2023 Share #14 Posted May 5, 2023 Great question! I ride a lot with my cameras in the top case and have yet to have a problem! I think it’s a safe bet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyturk Posted May 11, 2023 Share #15 Posted May 11, 2023 I had an early Canon digital that lived in a padded camera bag that you could wear like a fanny pack. I carried it all the time on my Ducati 916. On one ride, the buckle clasp let loose at about 70mph. I saw the green bag spinning and tumbling in the rear-view. Oops! The codura cover had scorch marks from where it contacted the asphalt. Amazingly, the camera and lens were just fine and I used the same gear for a few more years without any problem. But I made the mistake of putting the camera bag in my topcase while riding in Death Valley (not on the Duc, of course). It was pretty hot and I didn't want to carry the gear on my body. A 30-minute section of washboard completely destroyed the camera and the lens. When I stopped to take a photo, the lens was "drooping" limply from the mount--several internal structures were broken. The camera was toast too. I asked Canon if it was fixable and they said "Nope!" Vibration is the main thing to avoid. My riding friends often put their cameras in tank bags for convenience, but I'd never do that now. I always carry a camera on my body, typically in a Domke F-5XB. That worked well enough for my M8 to survive a 40,000 mile loop from San Francisco to Argentina and back. My avatar photo was taken with that M8 on the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. The main downside with Domke bags for motorcycling is that they aren't sealed well against dust (which will accumulate if you ride off-road). Dust never seemed to affect my M8, but it did get into the 28mm Elmarit I carried. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photon42 Posted May 11, 2023 Share #16 Posted May 11, 2023 I never had any issues with an M on any of my bikes. But then - if you go for a longer trip and/or think of taking important photos, maybe add Visoflex. In case you would note a rangefinder misalignment, the Visoflex is your answer. And it is practical, too, in certain situations. Not too large, either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huss Posted May 12, 2023 Share #17 Posted May 12, 2023 Never had an issue with my Md-A riding bikes. Or any other time really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwimac Posted May 15, 2023 Share #18 Posted May 15, 2023 I have a Can Am Spyder RT Ltd and I just put my cameras in a small camera bag or small Pelican case in the top box and carry on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lanetomlane Posted May 15, 2023 Share #19 Posted May 15, 2023 I've used the M10, M10-r and SL2 on the GS1200 without problems. Usually carried in the tank bag, or on long trips in one of the panniers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted May 16, 2023 Share #20 Posted May 16, 2023 For so long that I have M with me on motorbike travellings, needing some traditional precautions. When on tank bag, I put some foam or even folded towel to cancel vibrations under photo gears. Easy access is important, counting numbers of "good pictures" I happend to take, while sitting on the motorbike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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