| Author | Message | ||
     Bienhoabob |
Wow, what a week. Got home last Saturday after putting on 7,495 miles in a week. Organized by the Motorcycle Tourers Forum, 17 riders signed up for an Iron Butt Certified ride across the US. Starting in Eastport, Maine and ending in La Push, Washington State. To earn the certification, the riders must complete the event in under 3 days. Witnesses where at the start and ending points to check odometers and sign the witness forms. All the stops in between the points had to be documented with gas receipts. I prepped my Uly with a belt change, rear wheel bearing replacement, fluid change and new Dunlop Roadsmart tires. The first task was to make in the start of the event. I rode with a friend to Maine, he has a Honda ST 1300. The first day was on and off thunderstorms through Indiana and Ohio. Rain was heavy enough that cars were pulling off under overheads to get out of the rain. We, of course, kept going. It was a warm rain, not to bad. We arrived in Maine the next day, met the other riders and had a supper at a local restaurant, the Chowder House in Eastport. The riders were a seasoned group. All were IBA members, many had just rode the National 2007 IBA rally. A prerequisite for entering the ride was to either have completed a Bun Burner Gold, 1,500 miles in 24 hrs), or a multipule day IBA event. Day 1 of the event, for me , started at 3:51 am with a ATM receipt from an Eastport bank. (no gas stations were open). The day was gas and go. You eat what you brought in your tank bag. A combination of Cliff bars, trail mix and water. I ended the first day at 1:25am, back home in Zion, Il, after 1,450 miles of riding. I took a four hour rest, eat and change oil, was back on the rode by 6:30am. Day 2 was from Zion, Il to Bozeman, Montana. Same routine. Gas and go. We did stop once for a sit down meal at a Subway sandwich shop. The day had heated up to 93 degree and we needed a break. Day two ended after putting on 1,360 miles. Day 3. Same thing, we finished in La Push, Wa. after riding a measly 864 miles. We even stopped to eat at a Wendys, because we were ahead of schedule. We arrived at La Push, which is on an Indian reservation, a little after 9:00 pm. The witness was not scheduled to arrive until 10:00 to sign our forms, so we just chilled. Final results for the ride: 17 riders started---17 riders finished. 3,624 miles for me in under 3 days. Two Buell Ulysses by the way. Me and Jeremy (Loveall13) Bike ran perfectly. Wifes calling, got to go to lunch. Later, Bob | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Bob: Great ride report. Waiting to do our BB Gold till the weather cools a bit. Buells to Alaska ALCAN 5000 2010 | ||
| Court |
Too cool! . . I love it! | ||
| Blake |
Unbelievable! Way to go Bob and Jeremy! You da men! | ||
| Curly |
great ride, can u comment on the roadsmarts. i'm trying to decide between those and the pilot road II's. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
The Roadsmarts are my new tire of choice. I hit about 200 miles of hard rain and they never lost traction. Always rode with confidence. Some twisties, they stuck like glue. Looks like they are going to provide the longevity also. I've been trying to post some pictures, but am having trouble. Will retry when I get some help. | ||
| Crusty |
Bob, Congratulations on the Ride. It was a pleasure meeting you at Homecoming. Have you tried the Diablo Stradas? I like them, but I'm curious how the Roadsmarts compare to them. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
great report Bob! and that 2006 Uly is rock solid again! I'm glad I bought mine after seeing yours, I just had to have one. We'll have to go riding some day soon, maybe a short ride (for you anyway) Peoria to see the TT races. catch up with you later. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Roadsmarts after 8,000 miles, mostly highway   Top speed occurred when I was playing around with a Helmetless Harley rider with Ape Hangers. For some reason, he didn't want me to pass him. I was going one handed, his cheeks were trying to rap around his ears.  Some pictures of the West Coast along the Pacific ocean.    | ||
| Bienhoabob |
(Message edited by bienhoabob on July 26, 2008) |
