RicK G wrote:When I did a few rides with Far Riders the Oz equivilant of Ironbutt we used to do 1600 in 24 hours and the daddy of all was 2500km in 24 hours.

ibjman wrote:Sounds a bit dangerous.....pushing one's self to the point of brain fade.
My max is 100 miles without getting off for 15 mins.

KlaustheK wrote:I find that the twistier the roads are the easier it is to stay in the saddle hour after hour. On my 1200 mile trip through central Colorado this summer I was doing so well that I would stay seated for gas and then be able to ride for several more hours as long as the road was twisty and I was shifting my weight through the turns. The Corbin saddle helps too. When it is just freeway two hours is my limit.

Ken F wrote:I've done several Ironbutt rides, but all have been on the R1100RSL.    The toughest ride I ever did was my first SS1000/24 hours.
the following ones were much easier because I knew how to prepare, and what to expect.  

Last fall, a friend & I did a BunBurner Gold (1500 miles/24 hrs)  It was really not that tough.  

My Dad who is just about to turn 90 in a few days, did a 1000/24 hrs with me two summers ago, and became the oldest man to ever do it on 2 wheels at 88.    His ride is an R1100RT
A gentleman who was about 1 year older than pop did it on a Can-Am Spyder just a few days later, and took the record.

Many say that it is unsafe to push yourself that far.   The IBA is all about safely, and if you would like to read some tips about recognizing fatique, and how to ride safely:   http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/aow.cfm

My wife who is an ultra-marathoner, totally understands my addiction to LD riding!  It's me who doesn't understand her addiction to long distance running!   That's why God invented Michelins methinks.


Ken

Ken, I'm new here.  Had to chuckle at your Michelin remark.  btw, I'm 75 and have been riding for longer than you've been alive (I think)  I like to read about someone like your dad.  Great for him!  I wouldn't count a Can-Am as a record, unless it's separate from a two-wheeler.  I have yet to do a LD ride, but I'm thinking of doing a CW trip San Jose, NV, UT, WY,NE, MO, AR, OK, and on to Houston.  Returning would be NM, AZ and on the SJ.  Except for NM and CA all are gun-friendly states and I can carry concealed (UT).  I'll be taking my K1200LT.  In the meantime I'll be doing 200 - 300 milers for now.  Regards to your dad.
Eddie

Ken F wrote:Eddie, thanks for your reply but you are only 12 years older than me.  

When do you plan to do your trip?   i'll send you a PM with my phone & email so you can let me know when you are planning to be in MO.
Could at least offer you a bed & a meal while you are here.

Ken

ibjman wrote:Sounds a bit dangerous.....pushing one's self to the point of brain fade.

Personally, I am amazed at how my ability to be sharp & feel totally in control fades after about only 80 miles. My max is 100 miles without getting off for 15 mins.
I have a trip planned out from Phoenix, AZ to the national rally in Salem, Or.....about 1200 miles each way.
 There will be 1 overnight at about 600 miles but at least 5 stops along the way......#3 with an extra 20 minutes for lunch!
Leaving Phoenix at 2AM to stay out of the direct sun in July till across the desert. Should get me in to my hotel at 2PM check in time.
My wife thinks I'm nuts.
Regards, ibj....

Well, the wife & I made that BMW Rally trip Phoenix/Salem) the summer before last on the trusty old K100RS.
 We had a great time all in all but by the time we returned to Phoenix, I was pretty frazzled from the heat, the days in the saddle, & especially with the bike just so overloaded with excess baggage (& we didn't even camp out)!
 As I had mentioned above......by the time I returned home I was longing even more for the memorable R100RS airhead that I so fondly remembered.
 I searched around for a month or two and came up with what looked like a nice one with low miles (how many times have we heard that before?) .....way over in Oakland, Ca. 1982, Anthracite Grey with black & only 26,000 original miles on it. Flew out there & picked it up at $5,600 (not cheap) and brought it back to Phoenix.
 I did find a few things out of order on it that gives me suspicions about the completely undocumented history story the seller told......but all in all it turned out pretty good.
 In early March of this year the wife & I again packed it up with all our gear & took a trip out to the "Air Marshal's Airhead rally in Death Valley, Ca. At truly memorable trip. But again, heavily loaded with a lot of "stuff" Including a HUGE 52 Liter helmet box so my wife could have her comfy back rest.
 By the time re returned from Death Valley, I realized that even the stately airhead wasn't just quite as wonderful as I remembered my first one to be  some 35 years ago. I decided that It wasn't suitable for us to pack long distance 2 up on any more that the K100RS had been.
 Looking forward to the upcoming BMW rally of July, 2014 in Minneapolis, MN I needed to find something more capable. 
 I found a 1998 R1100RT on an E-bay sale that I won the auction for at $3000. 76,000 miles.
 Flew out to Long Beach, CA & completed the deal.
 I found that to be my ideal ride......truly the easiest bike to ride & handle that I've ever owned.
After a few hundred miles however, I noticed a disturbing low knocking noise in the engine that eventually turned out to be a defective rear (thrust) main bearing in the engine. (Not such a bargain after all).
  In a day or two I was able to locate what looked like a very nice used engine with only 14,000 miles on it taken from a damaged 1996 R1100RS. I was fortunate to get that for $300 cash n carry.
 I soon learned however that replacing an engine in one of those is quite a complicated labor intensive operation.......especially since I had only just recently completed a complete maint. on lubing the clutch splines and replacing the rear swing arm joint bearings (at the final drive). Obviously, all of that had to come back out a second time to swap an engine.
 A week later it was completed and I'm happy that all seems well now.
 The wife & I packed that up in July and along with 2 9Qt water pumping ice chest controlled cooling vests, + all the excessive gear we headed off once again, this time for Minn. 
 It turned out to be a great trip......as we made additional side trip to South Dakota on out way home to Phoenix. We did have to replace a punctured rear tire while at the rally in Minn. On the way home from South Dakota......the fuel pump started to give up the ghost while still not out of Wyoming, but we were able to continue on to our planned stop over in Denver by keeping the tank near full at all times. We changed out the fuel pump at a friends house in Denver and had an uneventful trip home with one more nights stop in Albuquerque, NM.  About 4000 miles in 14 days. Great trip.
 So now everything is well and we have our reservations made for the 2015 rally in Billings, MT.
In the meantime, I've acquired a 5th motorcycle, a 1977 Yamaha RD400.....that was another poor choice from a money pit standpoint.  I have the little 2 stroker's crankshaft out to the rebuilder as we speak & I expect to have that bike roadworthy in about 10 days!

My health however has seemed to be deteriorating quite rapidly this year so Billings may be our last BIG trip.
 Time will tell.

I can say that traveling in & out of Phoenix in July, we have found that although a bit cumbersome, Our Veskimo water cooled vest systems are now considered an absolute necessity.

More later, Best regards to everyone, Ibjman