As a marathon runner, but not a motorcycle rider, I can shed some light on the “Why?” aspect for you. It’s the same reason people sky dive (a blast, btw), spend weeks climbing huge/dangerous mountains or eat however many hot dogs the record is up to. It’s there to be done. As long as there are challenges to do things,…

I did a lot of IBA rides in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. Never did a 50CC though. There was something about the freedom of movement in the seating postion of an ST bike and the mental engagement that made the miles roll by. I’m also one who regularly only sleeps three hours a night and can hit the ground running in…

Would have been nice to actually hear about the trip.

Agreed, He probably built the bike just how he needed it, and aside from the bummer of losing a potentially expensive or difficult to source unit, his entire run could have been scrapped! That said, poor planning on his part! Maybe mix-in an enclosed trailer on the chase vehicle next time?

Shower always wakes me up, makes me feel alert and ready for things. It’s totally psychological. I’m in and out of it in five minutes, but I’d bet the benefit would more than make up for the lost time.

What was his fuel range with the BMW? Did he add an extra tank(s)?

Exactly, the same reason Ironman and marathons are stupid.

Me n some friends are planning the 1500 in 36 hours Iron Butt this June, from San Diego up to Southern Oregon for the first 1000, get a few hours of sleep and then do a 500 mile loop in Oregon and crash for a full day at my families home, and then take two days to get home.

+1 for the C3 Pro. It’s like having a pillow with a window on your head. After about 12 hours non-stop on a bike, strange parts of your body start to go numb. I did my first iron butt last year in about 16 hours on the Blackbird which was not comfortable. I can’t imagine almost 40 hours though. That is an amazing…

I have done a couple of IronButts, I did them both on a 2006 Yamaha FZ1... A bike not really known for its great range per tank. Here’s how it goes:

I imagine that with the physical effort required to keep going for 18 hours...guy was pretty dirty, smelly, and probably had “swamp ass” lol.

Ive done short long rides.

2hrs on my Vstrom and that was it.
1hr on a GS500 and I was done
11 hours on a boxer BMW? not nearly as bad, especially with the vibrations.

Iron butt to the max! holy crap he had to average a high speed and very short stops to do that.

When I have to work two shifts in a row - especially when the second is overnight, id rather shower than sleep. It seems to create an artificial divider between the time periods. Makes it feel closer to a new day.

His survival is a glowing endorsement of the BMW K1600, too...

Here is a pic of the bike on my way through the keys

i just did 2200 miles from Charlotte NC to Key West FL to Atlanta GA back to Charlotte in 5 days. that was the most riding ive ever done in a week by far and plenty enough riding for me. of course i was on an old CB750f in January with no windshield/fairing and a worn out stock seat. but to go 2800 miles in under 39…

I had a friend that was all about the IronButt rides. My friends and myself didn’t see the appeal. We’d much prefer a day at the track than a day on the slab, but to each their own. Respect for this dude’s ability to suffer that long on a bike.

Why all the snark and put-downs?

The guy set a crazy endurance record, and you seem hell-bent on taking him to task about everything.