HD and Iron Butt
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
HD and Iron Butt
Just curious
Why do you think there are not more HD's or any brand cruiser for that matter, on the Iron Butt rosters?
I think it may be that most cruiser riders just ride more for fun and not to impress.
here is a list I found while surfing the Iron Butt Sight.
http://www.ironbutt.org/intro/ibrfacts.html
Why do you think there are not more HD's or any brand cruiser for that matter, on the Iron Butt rosters?
I think it may be that most cruiser riders just ride more for fun and not to impress.
here is a list I found while surfing the Iron Butt Sight.
http://www.ironbutt.org/intro/ibrfacts.html
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
There is no better bike to run an Iron Butt than a Harley Ultra.
Most of those long distance riders haven't figured that out yet. It's not how fast you go, or how many gadjets you have on the handle bars, .... It's how sore your *** isn't after 1,000, 1,500, 3,000, or the actual Iron Butt rallye.
Most of those long distance riders haven't figured that out yet. It's not how fast you go, or how many gadjets you have on the handle bars, .... It's how sore your *** isn't after 1,000, 1,500, 3,000, or the actual Iron Butt rallye.
Last edited by MNPGRider; Dec 24, 2008 at 05:56 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
My opinion is, while we certainly know that cruiser style bikes can be decent long distance rides, they're not normally looked at from that point of view.
The bikes listed in the link you posted show mainly BMW's, which have a well established reputation as a solid long distance ride. Honda ST1100's are well known for covering long distances without breaking a sweat. I can personally attest to that as I've ridden one for the past 10 years. They've go a 7.4 gallon tank before you ever add anything to them and pushing 300 miles isn't out of the question as often as not. Guzzi's, to me at least, are basically Italian make Beemers, no offense meant to the Italians!
The Yamaha Venture isn't one I would have thought of but obviously that one did Ok.
I don't see why a Harley touring bike couldn't compete but the brand simply isn't usually top of the list when you're talking 1000+ mile days, ridden multiple days in a row. I think they're still suffering from the impression of reliability problems from 30 years ago. I don't think that's an issue any more but some of us have "long" memories.
As for me, the longest day I've put in was about 850 or so. I think I could do 1000 miles in a day but am not particularly inclined to at this point in my life.
FWIW!
Ride Safe,
Steve R.
The bikes listed in the link you posted show mainly BMW's, which have a well established reputation as a solid long distance ride. Honda ST1100's are well known for covering long distances without breaking a sweat. I can personally attest to that as I've ridden one for the past 10 years. They've go a 7.4 gallon tank before you ever add anything to them and pushing 300 miles isn't out of the question as often as not. Guzzi's, to me at least, are basically Italian make Beemers, no offense meant to the Italians!
The Yamaha Venture isn't one I would have thought of but obviously that one did Ok.I don't see why a Harley touring bike couldn't compete but the brand simply isn't usually top of the list when you're talking 1000+ mile days, ridden multiple days in a row. I think they're still suffering from the impression of reliability problems from 30 years ago. I don't think that's an issue any more but some of us have "long" memories.
As for me, the longest day I've put in was about 850 or so. I think I could do 1000 miles in a day but am not particularly inclined to at this point in my life.
FWIW!
Ride Safe,
Steve R.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
i don't see any problems with using an hd for an iron butt. earlier this year, the cvma did a 'finish the mission' iron butt ending in spearfish sd. day one, 750 miles to get to the start point, with day 2 being the actual iron butt. my road king was awesome, had no problems, and i could even walk on day 3 after waking up 
i could imagine how much better an ultra would have been, but i had no complaints at all. okay, i would have liked to have tunes, but comfort wise, and reliability wise, no complaints.
i could imagine how much better an ultra would have been, but i had no complaints at all. okay, i would have liked to have tunes, but comfort wise, and reliability wise, no complaints.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Dallas / Ft. Worth, Texas
A couple of years ago there was an Iron Butt event in Texas that was a charity fund raiser for the Scottish Rite Hospital. It was called the Waltz Across Texas and required a thousand mile ride in 24 hours. I was one of six Harleys that decided to do the fund raiser just for fun. At the pre-event dinner, a BMW-riding doctor got up and had a few words of advice for the "new" Harley Iron Butt riders. He asked the Harley guys to be courteous and stay in the right hand portion of the highway lanes. This would allow the other riders to avoid the Harley oil spills along the route. He also asked that we take the time to kick the parts that rattle off our bikes off the road surface and into the ditch. Everybody laughed, including the Harley guys.
All six Harleys finished the 1,000 miles in just under 18 hours. We got back to finish line hotel at dark-oclock in the morning and started to party in the parking lot. The hotel owner came out and offered us a free room if we moved the party in doors to allow the other guests to sleep. Each Harley rider was at the awards banquet. Oh, and the doc on the BMW blew his tranny in Houston and didn't make the banquet.
All six Harleys finished the 1,000 miles in just under 18 hours. We got back to finish line hotel at dark-oclock in the morning and started to party in the parking lot. The hotel owner came out and offered us a free room if we moved the party in doors to allow the other guests to sleep. Each Harley rider was at the awards banquet. Oh, and the doc on the BMW blew his tranny in Houston and didn't make the banquet.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 793
Likes: 4
From: Beverly Hills, Fl. Swimmin pools. Movie stars
I've thought about it a few times but never too seriously. The difference for me is if I feel like doing an 800-1,000 mile day that's one thing but to "have " to do it changes things. I've always just picked a destination and then "wandered" my way there, time permitting. I guess I'm saying it appears to be the riders choice and apparently most Harley riders choose not to; any touring bike is more than capable of covering those miles/timeframe.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
Intrepid, BMW's may have been a popular bike in the past for IB rides, but their recent history of driveline failures and BMW's reluctance to acknowlege the proplem is rapidly making them a bike of scorn. This past year many failed during the Iron Butt rallye, which really help publicize the problem.
Trending Topics
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,961
Likes: 263
From: Conroe Texas
I think its the nature of Harley riders to avoid having to abide by the rules, receipts and witnesses etc etc. The bikes can definately do it and better than most, especially my Ultra, longest ride for me was 880 only stopped because the downpour got too dangerous at night, 400 miles of the 880 were in pretty heavy rain though, just that at night there were too many trucks and visibility was dangerous. Was not trying an iron butt, just a weekend ride.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,108
Likes: 9
From: Lincolnton, NC
The link posted by bikejockey is to a list of riders who have competed in the official Iron Butt Rally which covers 11 days at 1,000 miles per day. This rally is held every two years. Not an event for the average rider.
But it has been done on a Harley before. In 2007 Brett Donahue, a H-D dealership owner, finished third on his Sportster! 11,283 miles in 11 days. Pretty amazing.
From the IBA web site-
The Iron Butt is a fairly simple concept. The rally consists of five checkpoints located around the perimeter of the United States. In order to be considered a finisher of the event, riders must be present at each of these checkpoints within a two hour window.
No consideration is given for bad weather (during the running of the Iron Butt, riders can expect to ride through rain, sleet, snow, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes and the occasional tornado). Temperature extremes routinely run 125 degrees or more in the desert Southwest in fact, in living up to the name, "World's Toughest Motorcycle Competition", event organizers intentionally route the rally through such places as Death Valley or the Mojave Desert during the hottest part of the day, to extreme cold at the top of mountains like Pike's Peak in Colorado where competitors may have to struggle up a muddy road to reach the peak's 14,110 foot summit.
But it has been done on a Harley before. In 2007 Brett Donahue, a H-D dealership owner, finished third on his Sportster! 11,283 miles in 11 days. Pretty amazing.
From the IBA web site-
The Iron Butt is a fairly simple concept. The rally consists of five checkpoints located around the perimeter of the United States. In order to be considered a finisher of the event, riders must be present at each of these checkpoints within a two hour window.
No consideration is given for bad weather (during the running of the Iron Butt, riders can expect to ride through rain, sleet, snow, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes and the occasional tornado). Temperature extremes routinely run 125 degrees or more in the desert Southwest in fact, in living up to the name, "World's Toughest Motorcycle Competition", event organizers intentionally route the rally through such places as Death Valley or the Mojave Desert during the hottest part of the day, to extreme cold at the top of mountains like Pike's Peak in Colorado where competitors may have to struggle up a muddy road to reach the peak's 14,110 foot summit.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,900
Likes: 4
From: way down upon the Suwannee River
i don't see any problems with using an hd for an iron butt. earlier this year, the cvma did a 'finish the mission' iron butt ending in spearfish sd. day one, 750 miles to get to the start point, with day 2 being the actual iron butt. my road king was awesome, had no problems, and i could even walk on day 3 after waking up
i could imagine how much better an ultra would have been, but i had no complaints at all. okay, i would have liked to have tunes, but comfort wise, and reliability wise, no complaints.
i could imagine how much better an ultra would have been, but i had no complaints at all. okay, i would have liked to have tunes, but comfort wise, and reliability wise, no complaints.