Harleys and the Iron Butt?
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 14
From: Seattle
I thought about this too, but I'd rather do 48 in 48...or maybe 24. 1,000 miles in a day was fine and I was able to scratch that one off the list, but I like to check out new environments and stay off the interstates as much as possible.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Started reading this on page 1 and realized it's a pretty old thread.
Not quite an IB for me, but I'm planning on a coast to coast and back from Charlotte to L.A. for a vacation with a couple of buddies this summer. For me it might feel like an IB as my longest trip was from Charlotte to Orlando last summer. I probably could've done the SaddleSore (1K in 24) 'cause I felt pretty good when I got to Orlando.
I'm way past being a young gun now, so these longer trips aren't getting easier.
Not quite an IB for me, but I'm planning on a coast to coast and back from Charlotte to L.A. for a vacation with a couple of buddies this summer. For me it might feel like an IB as my longest trip was from Charlotte to Orlando last summer. I probably could've done the SaddleSore (1K in 24) 'cause I felt pretty good when I got to Orlando.
I'm way past being a young gun now, so these longer trips aren't getting easier.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 39
From: Everywhere
I've been fascinated by the Iron Butt for a long time. I recently saw a statement that said very few HDs enter and the main reason is that 'the ergonomics of most HDs" won't support true long distance riding. I am planning a 1000 mile day next summer (bucket list stuff) and think my Ultra is well up to it. But I'd be interested in others views on the statement and the fact that more HDs don't get involved.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,624
Likes: 13
From: Fort Worth
I agree, I'd love to do 50 states in 50 weeks or something along those lines for the sightseeing; maybe in retirement....
But, I have been to all 50 states and most territories more than once already. I'm looking at it more for the challenge than anything else....
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Bellevue Ia
I rode out to Sturgis a couple of years ago, bought a t-shirt, and came home, to do my SaddleSore 1000. Piece of cake on an Ultra.
Now, the Iron Butt Rallye....that's a whole different thing.
Note the 3rd place finisher in 2007, and what he rode.
http://www.ironbutt.com/ibr/2007.cfm?DocID=45
1 Martin Leir, BMW R1200GSA, 12,460, 344,122
2 Jim Owen, BMW R1200RT, 11,137, 333,471
3 Brett Donahue, H-D XLH1200R, 11,283, 316,707
Now, the Iron Butt Rallye....that's a whole different thing.
Note the 3rd place finisher in 2007, and what he rode.
http://www.ironbutt.com/ibr/2007.cfm?DocID=45
1 Martin Leir, BMW R1200GSA, 12,460, 344,122
2 Jim Owen, BMW R1200RT, 11,137, 333,471
3 Brett Donahue, H-D XLH1200R, 11,283, 316,707
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
i have done an iron butt on my softail custom. just for the long hours in the saddle i replaced the stock with a more firm corbin seat to help ease back pain. The ride takes careful planning ahead of time and lots of concentration during rhe ride, and I loved every second of it. I plan on another iron butt this April.
Jason
Jason
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Castle Rock, CO
One of our customers, a gentleman named Chris Comly, has just completed the Iron Butt 100CCC event on his Harley Sportster. The 100CCC is literally a Coast to Coast to Coast ride (Jacksonville FL to San Diego CA and back to Jacksonville) in 100 hours or less. He made it in about 96 hours. Think about it: 4700 miles in four days. That's an average of 1175 miles per day. On a SPORTSTER. There are very few riders who would attempt this ride. Even fewer have completed it successfully and as far as we know they have all been riding Gold Wings, very fast Japanese Sport-touring bikes, and some BMW's. We're trying to find out, but we're pretty sure this is the first time the 100CCC has been completed by a rider on a Sportster. And oh, yeah, that Sportster had over 100,000 miles on it before Chris left on his trip. We have known for a long time that a properly set up Sportster can be a great distance motorcycle; this just helps to prove it. We are so excited for Chris we can hardly stand it.
Not to take anything away from your rider because it is one helluva ride - especially with the limited fuel range of a Sportster - but well over 200 have completed the 100CCC in a couple of different flavors (JAX>SDO>JAX, NY>SFO>NY) and a fair percentage of them have been on Harleys. A quick scan of the list doesn't show any Sporties, but a quick post on one of the IBA discussion forums would get an official answer in short order.