First Iron Butt Ride
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 627
Likes: 195
From: St. Louis
First Iron Butt Ride
I did my first iron butt ride yesterday after leaving Sturgis. I rode to Casper, Wyoming and spent the night. Yesterday, I left at 4:00 AM and rode home to St. Louis. got in about 10:15 PM and clocked 1,050 miles. Having ridden 935 miles in one day in the past, this was a little easier than I thought--still tough, but doable. Here are the stats:
Avg speed including stops 60.79 mph
10 fuel stops (could have been less)
33 gallons of gas (approx. 32 mpg ouch!)
2 cups of Joe
2 bottles of water
3 diet sodas
Breakfast sandwich
Corn nuts
Jerky
Snickers
Subway meatball sandwich
My head is still a little foggy today. Learned important lessons. Go west and follow the sun. I did it backwards. Pick good weather. Got that one right. Don't tell your wife until you have done it safely. Got that one wrong. Stop when you're tired. Got that one right.
At 880 miles, I thought "This is stupid." At 1,000 miles, I thought, "This is awesome." This morning I thought, "Why?" Two answers:
1. To quote Sir Edmund Hillary of Mt. Everest fame, "Because it was there."
2. Why not?
Avg speed including stops 60.79 mph
10 fuel stops (could have been less)
33 gallons of gas (approx. 32 mpg ouch!)
2 cups of Joe
2 bottles of water
3 diet sodas
Breakfast sandwich
Corn nuts
Jerky
Snickers
Subway meatball sandwich
My head is still a little foggy today. Learned important lessons. Go west and follow the sun. I did it backwards. Pick good weather. Got that one right. Don't tell your wife until you have done it safely. Got that one wrong. Stop when you're tired. Got that one right.
At 880 miles, I thought "This is stupid." At 1,000 miles, I thought, "This is awesome." This morning I thought, "Why?" Two answers:
1. To quote Sir Edmund Hillary of Mt. Everest fame, "Because it was there."
2. Why not?
Novice
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
I did my 1000 on a 2003 Sportster 1200. It was really the first long ride I did on that bike. Riding that distance was a HUGE learning experience for me. You don't really know your bike until you've spent that kind of quality time on it. You'll discover that things you considered minor annoyances on local rides can become major issues on distance trips. You'll get to know yourself better, as you have little to do then to "think". . .you'll learn about your own physiology, and the importance of things like hydration and eating right--your batteries run out quick if you don't recharge them on the road.
I don't have the Sportster now, but in retrospect I wouldn't want to do it on any other bike--anyone can do 1000 / 24 on an E-Glide. . .but when I tell people I did it on my Sportster I get instant respect!
Oh. . I forgot to mention. . .I lost the feeling in the left three fingers in my left hand for over a week from the vibrations!!--Good stuff!
I don't have the Sportster now, but in retrospect I wouldn't want to do it on any other bike--anyone can do 1000 / 24 on an E-Glide. . .but when I tell people I did it on my Sportster I get instant respect!
Oh. . I forgot to mention. . .I lost the feeling in the left three fingers in my left hand for over a week from the vibrations!!--Good stuff!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,230
Likes: 12
From: Mount Holly, NC
i wanna do an iron butt but i have a nightster. 640 miles is my daily best and i just don't think i can top that. the bike sucks, despite being so pretty.
congrats on your long ride. i envy your achievement.
congrats on your long ride. i envy your achievement.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Brownsburg, IN
Good to hear you made it ok. If you only avg. around 61 mph I wonder why your gas mileage was so bad?
rowemesp, you mentioned you did yours on a Sportster. Have you seen the final stats for the 2007 Iron Butt Rally. Third place to a guy on a Sportster. Over 11,000 miles in 11 days. Hell I couldn't do what you did on a Sportster let alone 11k miles. Now that is kick ***...
Position First Name Last Name Make Model Miles Points
3 Brett Donahue H-D XLH1200R 11,283 316,707
rowemesp, you mentioned you did yours on a Sportster. Have you seen the final stats for the 2007 Iron Butt Rally. Third place to a guy on a Sportster. Over 11,000 miles in 11 days. Hell I couldn't do what you did on a Sportster let alone 11k miles. Now that is kick ***...
Position First Name Last Name Make Model Miles Points
3 Brett Donahue H-D XLH1200R 11,283 316,707
Last edited by fatvette; Aug 6, 2009 at 06:34 PM.
Novice
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 24
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Fatvette. . . .I couldn't imagine doing the Ironbutt Rally on the Sportster. . .but it really demonstrates that the Sportster is a capable motorcycle in the hands of the right person. I've always been a huge Sportster fan, and I'd love to have another one someday. . . .
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 627
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From: St. Louis
Awesome on a sporty. Got to admit tougher than my geezer glide. And you do learn a lot about the bike and your limits. I was prepared to stop if it got too much for me. BTW 640 miles is no slouch. Most people won't attempt more than 500 per day. It's all good.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,788
Likes: 2,222
From: Texas
Good for you!
........ I did the 1000+ mile in a day thing one time, in 1995. From centeral Texas to Pheonix, Az. It was a long hard day back then, but I wouldn't take anything for it now.
........ I did the 1000+ mile in a day thing one time, in 1995. From centeral Texas to Pheonix, Az. It was a long hard day back then, but I wouldn't take anything for it now.
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Novice
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 24
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From: Nebraska
Congrats professor- great accomplishment, glad you made it home safe to your family, hope to try it myself someday
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: NJ
Congrats Professor. Did my first and I suspect my only iron butt last year coming back from Nova Scotia. Wasn't planning on it, just tired of riding in the rain so I said I'm outta here. Road all night across the TransCanada and all day down 95 to NJ. Rain didn't stop till Conn.
Was a surreal experience riding the TCH all night and into the morning just me, my harley and maybe my guardian angel. Sure wish I had thought to take some pictures along the way.
Dumbazz thing to do, worried the wife sick, but there was a bit of magic in that trip I can't quite explain but will always remember. I suspect you need no explanation.
Was a surreal experience riding the TCH all night and into the morning just me, my harley and maybe my guardian angel. Sure wish I had thought to take some pictures along the way.
Dumbazz thing to do, worried the wife sick, but there was a bit of magic in that trip I can't quite explain but will always remember. I suspect you need no explanation.