Iron Butt Riders

[gixxerjasen]

I've read some good points on the "Not riding an SS1K with a buddy" argument. Unless you and your buddy are very good friends and very compatible, this can be a bit of a strain. Different folks have different limits. One guy might be bonking and need that stop for rest and the other guy is raring to go and stick with the schedule. This could possibly cause the guy bonking to push himself and end up in a dangerous situation.

Plus, other small annoyances seem to surface while doing these things. When you are trying to gas and go and your buddy needs a cigarette at every fuel stop, or like me, needs to take excessive dumps during the day (TMI?) that can strain things when you feel you are on a schedule. Being able to do this all at your own pace without feeling like you are screwing things up for someone else is a big bonus.

Also, don't get too wrapped up in it all. Be prepared to call it off at a moments notice. Flat tire, weather, feeling just too tired. Pull off, deal with the current situation and then move on and do it another day.

I'll agree that the interstate isn't the best way to do this perhaps. However, I was pretty amazed at how after a few hours I managed to kind of shut down and just ride. It's kind of a release in it's own way I suppose, and the ride was over before I knew it. Of course, having a mile eating machine like the FJR helps. I'm not so sure how that interstate stuff would have worked on my old DRZ, or heaven forbid, a TW200!

[1TallTXn]

I did the SS1k on a '02 VFR. From Alvarado TX (US67 & I35W) to Berrien Springs, MI.
My ODO showed ~1300mi in 23hrs. Official IBA report said ~1180mi.

For me, the hardest part was making sure to document every turn. There was a couple turns that I took that didn't have anything to document it with, so had to turn around, take a photo of the intersection signage, and hope they accepted it. (they did)

If you can ride your bike for two full tanks without wanting to give up riding entirely, you'll be fine.

I did a mix of Interstate and State Hwys to get up there. Avoided major metro areas if possible.

Documentation took the most time and I'm sure added at least 30min to an hr to my trip. I kept a zip-lock bag in the tank bag to keep receipts. Took a picture of the odo at every stop as well.
I may have over documented, but I figured was better to over-doc than under-doc.

I've not seen it mentioned, but you'll need to keep hydrated. Not so much that you have to pee every 10min.
I wore a CamelBak and emptied my bladder and refilled the camel bak at every stop.

Don't over think it, it's just 5-8 full-tank rides done back-to-back

[KenH]

Originally Posted by gixxerjasen

I'm not so sure how that interstate stuff would have worked on my old DRZ, or heaven forbid, a TW200!

Nothing to it. Mount street tires, choose a sprocket ratio that allows an 85mph redline, find a semi running 85mph to break the wind, lie down on the tank, and hold it pegged tank-to-tank.

On the TW I prefer the stock bars for long highway rides. Having multiple sets of footpegs and a long, relatively flat seat allows lots of seating position movement to avoid sore spots. Use the passenger pegs most of the time, left elbow on the grip, left hand resting on the brake master cylinder, chin on the left forearm, slide the butt back and forth to vary hardpoints and back arch to avoid stiffness. Pretty much sit up on the downhills and when you can take advantage of others' draft, then tuck in on the uphills and when breaking the wind. With 15/50 sprockets, ester-based synthetic oil, and a well-tuned engine running on E0 fuel, a TW will maintain 70mph pretty well. With 15/50 sprockets horsepower peak is ~70mph in 5th and redline is ~69mph in 4th.

The main problem with highway riding a TW200 is it's small fuel capacity. Fuel efficiency drops to about 50mpg (less with a headwind) at sustained WOT on the highway. Easiest solution is an auxilary tank mounted on the rear fender. A cheap option is a plastic riding lawnmower tank mounted on the back fender with heavy duty zip-ties. Tanks can be had for next to nothing from mower repair shops with a starage yard full of worn-out mowers. A boat tank looks like an attractive, cost effective option, but tiny air bubbles move up the fuel line every time the float needle opens to allow fuel flow, eventually breaking the siphon, stopping fuel flow. A bottom-outlet tank is pretty much a necessity.

Avoid any notion of carrying fuel in a separate tank and pouring it over at a stop. Highway riding causes a lot of heat radiating from the engine, so consider the fire hazards.

The most difficult part is planning gas stops where E0 is available. E10 will cost 5-7mph and 5-8mpg on the highway. That will pretty much add 1.5-2 hours and an extra fuel stop to your ride.

[Meriden]

Originally Posted by gixxerjasen

I've read some good points on the "Not riding an SS1K with a buddy" argument. Unless you and your buddy are very good friends and very compatible, this can be a bit of a strain. Different folks have different limits. One guy might be bonking and need that stop for rest and the other guy is raring to go and stick with the schedule. This could possibly cause the guy bonking to push himself and end up in a dangerous situation.

Plus, other small annoyances seem to surface while doing these things. When you are trying to gas and go and your buddy needs a cigarette at every fuel stop, or like me, needs to take excessive dumps during the day (TMI?) that can strain things when you feel you are on a schedule. Being able to do this all at your own pace without feeling like you are screwing things up for someone else is a big bonus.

Also, don't get too wrapped up in it all. Be prepared to call it off at a moments notice. Flat tire, weather, feeling just too tired. Pull off, deal with the current situation and then move on and do it another day.

I'll agree that the interstate isn't the best way to do this perhaps. However, I was pretty amazed at how after a few hours I managed to kind of shut down and just ride. It's kind of a release in it's own way I suppose, and the ride was over before I knew it. Of course, having a mile eating machine like the FJR helps. I'm not so sure how that interstate stuff would have worked on my old DRZ, or heaven forbid, a TW200!

During last year's ET 450 one day ride (and in lots of long day rides) I'll take an immodium before I get on the bike. Nothing worse than having that enchilada dinner come back to haunt you half way through the ride.

We were pretty fortunate that day. All four guys were familiar with each other's style and had lots of miles together. We didn't go tooooo fast, but we kept up the pace from before dawn and until dusk with one planned rest stop in the middle. It was a great opportunity since we could bail out and take the highway back to Rusk at any time it got to be too much. That may be something to consider with the out and back SS1000 trips in West Texas: where are you going to stop if you need to?

Still, it's good advice to not overthink it. If you can burn out tank after tank after tank without getting tired of riding, it should be simple to do. Wow, I should have done it when I was thirteen. I never got off the bike that summer.

[Bob Dahringer]

Originally Posted by Texas T

Don't want to scare them off?

If youre gonna dream, dream BIG!!

ps, that UCC is a bit over my head, and now theres a UCCC too ?

[Chuck500]

I've been think about one of these (SS1000) too. Two week ago I did 472 miles in 8 hours flat coming back to Houston from Jackson, MS. In the interim, I changed saddles to a Russell and that made a big difference. Monday evening I completed that same run with no saddle issues.

I make the trip to jackson regularly and can attest to the efficiency of the Interstate system. Running on the slab can cut over an hour off the time and I've been on half the local roads between here and Baton Rouge.

As for planning, I'll likely just haul off and do it. That is how I did my first 500 mile day, 600 mile day and 700 mile day. Those werall pre-Russell. Actually the 500 was on a Suzuki GS500F. I prefer riding solo on these long rides for all the reasons cited above.

Main thing is be safe. IBA says not completing a ride isn't failure, crashing is.

Keep the shiny side up,

Chuck

[KenH]

Originally Posted by Chuck500

Main thing is be safe. IBA says not completing a ride isn't failure, crashing is.

Keep the shiny side up,

Chuck

Best advice of all.

[george-1]

Hmmm, let's see. Right now, one could do the fastest legal SS1000 without paying tolls. 1000 miles at 85 mph = 11 hours, 46 minutes.

82 mile round trip, 1000 miles, a little over 12 round trips.

Note: I don't think the IBA will certify such a ride.

[Texas T]

Originally Posted by Chuck500

I've been think about one of these (SS1000) too. Two week ago I did 472 miles in 8 hours flat coming back to Houston from Jackson, MS.

Did 574 yesterday in 12H 20M which included at least a 30M lunch, and multiple fuel stops, and multiple photo stops (for the Rider Cup Challenge). Mini Ride Report here...
http://www.motorcyclistcafe.com/foru...-the-soda-Dean!

[gixxerjasen]

Originally Posted by george-1

Hmmm, let's see. Right now, one could do the fastest legal SS1000 without paying tolls. 1000 miles at 85 mph = 11 hours, 46 minutes.

82 mile round trip, 1000 miles, a little over 12 round trips.

Note: I don't think the IBA will certify such a ride.

They say on their rules that they won't, however there's been at least one rider who's done such a ride and had pre-arranged it with the IBA ahead of time. I think it was a bunch of loops around Phoenix perhaps. I don't recall where I read/heard of this though.

[neoxaero]

I wish I had known more about this a couple years ago. I made a quick jaunt from Austin to Hot Springs and back on a Saturday. It was a bit over 1k miles from my house to hot springs and back. My average speed for the trip was 110mph. Took me a solid 10 hours of driving to make the trip. Though, I spent quite a bit of time in hot springs once I got there

Try doing that on a seat that feels like it was made out of plywood (06 R1).. All I can say is.. never again... I walked like I made best friends with a prison inmate named bubba for days

[1TallTXn]

Originally Posted by george-1

Hmmm, let's see. Right now, one could do the fastest legal SS1000 without paying tolls. 1000 miles at 85 mph = 11 hours, 46 minutes.

82 mile round trip, 1000 miles, a little over 12 round trips.

Note: I don't think the IBA will certify such a ride.

I think somebody did an unofficial SS1k on the Dragon. Don't think that one got certified either.

[Texas T]

Originally Posted by gixxerjasen

They say on their rules that they won't, however there's been at least one rider who's done such a ride and had pre-arranged it with the IBA ahead of time. I think it was a bunch of loops around Phoenix perhaps. I don't recall where I read/heard of this though.

It was the Lubbock Loop 1000 ride that I posted a month or so ago. John Ryan (Prudhoe Bay to Key West fame) has also done the Washington DC Loop 1000 and I'm sure there have been others. But as Jason correctly states, the IBA will not certify a loop ride without you meeting certain conditions. One of which seems to be IBA members as witnesses at each corner for the entire ride to verify that you did not cut across and did indeed ride the full loop.

Originally Posted by neoxaero

I wish I had known more about this a couple years ago. I made a quick jaunt from Austin to Hot Springs and back on a Saturday. It was a bit over 1k miles from my house to hot springs and back. My average speed for the trip was 110mph. Took me a solid 10 hours of driving to make the trip.

I'm pretty sure that the IBA would not certify that ride since it flagrantly violates speed limits. The last thing the IBA is looking for is publicity that it is endorsing racing on the highways. They will (and have) removed certificates from riders who were later found to have ridden recklessly while on a cert ride. They are not naive to the fact that some rally riders will bust the limits on a ride but a 110 mph "average" will not get you a piece of paper from an organization that portrays itself as promoting safe, long distance riding.

[Cherrybark]

I'm a little late to this thread but how do you document visiting the I-10 / I-20 merge out near Pecos? Looking at a DFW, 10/20 merge, San Antonio, DFW loop, does IBA consider something like a gas receipt in Pecos or Ft Stockton as evidence that any sane person would ride to the merge rather than taking 285 between Pecos and Ft Stockton?

No doubt the IBA rules are detailed but I'm just playing with a map and wondering about possibilities.

[Fort Bend Rider]

Originally Posted by Cherrybark

I'm a little late to this thread but how do you document visiting the I-10 / I-20 merge out near Pecos? Looking at a DFW, 10/20 merge, San Antonio, DFW loop, does IBA consider something like a gas receipt in Pecos or Ft Stockton as evidence that any sane person would ride to the merge rather than taking 285 between Pecos and Ft Stockton?

No doubt the IBA rules are detailed but I'm just playing with a map and wondering about possibilities.

Used to be you would get a receipt at Kent. I went by there in September and saw that the station there is closed. There is another station farther down the road where you can get a receipt.

Getting a receipt at Pecos and then Ft. Stockton would not verify that you went to the merge point of the two Interstates. When the IBA does their verification they always measure the shortest distance, and in the route you are describing that would be 285.

I can't remember exactly how far it is, but there is a station about 10 to 15 miles west of Kent.

[Plane Dr]

This spring there was an organized Iron butt out of The Colony TX. Register and bring back a fuel reciept.

I thought 1K was a big deal. Then I did ~800 on the BMW in 11-12 hours and was relaxed. All my previous distance rides were on torture racks. Yah I could do 150+ but 2-3 hours of that is an introduction to Bubba as noted above, for multiple reasons.

[Texas T]

Originally Posted by Fort Bend Rider

Used to be you would get a receipt at Kent. I went by there in September and saw that the station there is closed. There is another station farther down the road where you can get a receipt.

I can't remember exactly how far it is, but there is a station about 10 to 15 miles west of Kent.

The station I've used in the past is EAST of Kent at exit 181. According to www.thenextexit.com it is still in business.

http://goo.gl/maps/i8pa5

[Fort Bend Rider]

Originally Posted by Texas T

The station I've used in the past is EAST of Kent at exit 181. According to www.thenextexit.com it is still in business.

http://goo.gl/maps/i8pa5

I believe you are correct. Trying to search my memory, and now I think I remember something there. I remember going by Kent and seeing the station closed and thinking that blows the turnaround point, but I also remember another station, but I thought it was west of Kent. I guess old age is kicking in.

Actually that is better than Kent, you don't have to back track as far.

[Chuck500]

Originally Posted by neoxaero

I wish I had known more about this a couple years ago. I made a quick jaunt from Austin to Hot Springs and back on a Saturday. It was a bit over 1k miles from my house to hot springs and back. My average speed for the trip was 110mph. Took me a solid 10 hours of driving to make the trip. Though, I spent quite a bit of time in hot springs once I got there

Try doing that on a seat that feels like it was made out of plywood (06 R1).. All I can say is.. never again... I walked like I made best friends with a prison inmate named bubba for days

I don't think IBA would certify this ride. It was too fast involving much excessive speeding. My understanding is that they will not certify if they think the ride involved excessive speed. I you read the rides carefully, even the extreme ones work out to average speeds well below posted limits.

[Texas T]

Originally Posted by Chuck500

I don't think IBA would certify this ride. It was too fast involving much excessive speeding. My understanding is that they will not certify if they think the ride involved excessive speed. I you read the rides carefully, even the extreme ones work out to average speeds well below posted limits.

The highest they will currently certify is 1800 in 24 miles (75 mph avg for 24 hours) although there is some discussion on the boards about going a little higher for the 85 mph toll road. That would involve a toll tag, a trailer with enough gas to fuel the bike for 24 hours (constant feed), and IBA witnesses. Costs would be north of $250 in order to earn a $40 certificate, but I gaaaaaranteeeee you, someone out there is giving it serious thought right now.

If you currently ride in excess of 1800 miles in 24 hours you may still get certified but the certificate will still read just 1800+ miles.