Author Topic: 2017 Iron Butt Rally (Read 7045 times)

Byrdman · « **on:** June 23, 2017, 06:56:36 pm »

Sucks that I had to miss this year's NAT' COG Rally, I am now here at the Iron Butt Rally Headquaters in Minnesota. Rally begins Monday morning. There was no way I could afford both Rallies nor would I have been able to get that much time off work. In the past, the IBR has had a heavy field of BMWs, FJRs, and Wings, along with a small assortment of other makes/models. Usually not too many C10/C14s, I was the only C14 earlier in the week, however they keep trickling in. Up to a count of 6 that I've seen so far. All C14s. I've met a few of the other owners so far, and am happy not to be the Lone Connie in a field of 100 long distance motorcycles. Hopefully will represent Concours Owner Group well in this 11,000 mile 11 day day madness. See yal at next years National or maybe sooner. Byrdman
(most likely won't be on the forum again til after the finish of the Rally)

fred-houston · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2017, 07:02:09 pm »

Good Luck and ride safe.

WANDRNG · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2017, 07:04:54 pm »

Wow. Sharp looking ride tricked out for the distance.

Have fun and safe travels.

Ranger Jim · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2017, 07:14:26 pm »

Any link where we can keep up with the rally?

Swampcat · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2017, 07:18:17 pm »

Quote from: Ranger Jim on June 23, 2017, 07:14:26 pm

Any link where we can keep up with the rally?

Spotwalla has a page like the one we did for the National. It's at https://spotwalla.com/locationViewer.php?id=429

Byrdman, fine looking rig there. Good luck and ride safe.

Ranger Jim · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2017, 07:23:39 pm »

There is usually a link where someone is keeping a running commentary on who's doing what, where different folks are heading and what their stategy appears to be.

Jeff Kerkow · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2017, 07:33:35 pm »

Here is the link

http://www.ironbutt.com/ibryear.cfm?y=2017

Starting and stopping very close to me a few of the riders are good friends. Sadly one of them switched from a Connie to a BMW GS

MAN OF BLUES · « **Reply #7 on:** June 23, 2017, 07:34:15 pm »

Best of luck to you Andrew, and be safe, you have to finish, to win.
Also, make sure to have your COG book with you, I'm here in Ohio north of your place, and can offer emergency assist to you, and our other fellow COG guys this year, please share that with them.....
Please.....

I'll p/m you with my cell, just in case you ar they have an ememrgency when and if you are crossing thru here, share that with them also...

Again, best of luck, I'll be following you guys.....

Victor Salisbury · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2017, 07:35:25 pm »

On the interweb at http://ironbutt.com/2017ibr.cfm

MAN OF BLUES · « **Reply #9 on:** June 23, 2017, 07:48:10 pm »

Andrew...
Check your p/m box

Sailor_chic · « **Reply #10 on:** June 23, 2017, 08:02:06 pm »

Im by no means a IBR candidate, nor capable, but I am jealous of your upcoming adventure. Best of luck to you and be safe

Sport Rider · « **Reply #11 on:** June 23, 2017, 08:23:01 pm »

Ride Safe Andrew! See you at RWTW if you make it this year!

MAN OF BLUES · « **Reply #12 on:** June 23, 2017, 11:48:54 pm »

From the initial 'notes" today...

"Most of the eight Kawasaki’s entered are the Gen2 C14 Connies, with a couple of Ninja’s
rounding out the group. Some might consider a Ninja 250 a hopeless class bike, but in 2003,
Leon Begeman’s 12th place Gold Medal finish proved what could be done by a determined rider
on a quarter liter parallel twin."

Volcantour · « **Reply #13 on:** June 26, 2017, 11:42:28 pm »

Represent well, and, above all else, TCARS
(Take Care And Ride Safe)

MAN OF BLUES · « **Reply #14 on:** June 27, 2017, 07:01:23 pm »

Annnnnd they're off......

Per the list of Conni riders, we have the following to watch....
2 veterans,
Mike Riley from OK on a '12 C14
Robert Bolger from TX on an '08 C14
We have 3 rookie/first timers,
Tim Hyosh from TX on a '12 C14
Andrew Byrd from OH on a '12 C14
Sjef Vanderaa from Nova Scotia on an '09 C14

Best of luck to all of them,

I'll add, I think this is the first year in a long time, I didn't see an "old girl" C10 in the starting list....

Volcantour · « **Reply #15 on:** June 28, 2017, 12:49:41 am »

Any way we can track them? I don't have a spotwalla number for any of them.

smithr1 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2017, 03:42:35 pm »

I think this link is from the daily blog page. It is spotwella for all I think.

https://spotwalla.com/locationViewer.php?id=429

fred-houston · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2017, 03:49:18 pm »

Quote from: Volcantour on June 28, 2017, 12:49:41 am

Any way we can track them? I don't have a spotwalla number for any of them.

You can track them on the IBA Spotwalla page, but they do not list the names of the riders. Also the riders numbers change on a daily basis.

MAN OF BLUES · « **Reply #18 on:** June 29, 2017, 10:29:37 pm »

Leg 1 standings ain't too shabby, didn't realize Tim Hyosh teamed up with 2 others to make a "team effort", that could come back to haunt as everyone in the team must stay together, and finish together...
Birdman is close behind, and also Rob Bolger...
They are all putting in good miles, but seem to be missing "high scoring" points shots.. its a long rally, hope to see them all do welll...
Best Kaw rider is riding an old Ninja 250... and he's rolling awesome, top 20 right now...

Leg one results here...
http://ibr.wvi.com/ibr/_2017/2017IBR-Thursday-June29-Day04.pdf

MAN OF BLUES · « **Reply #19 on:** June 30, 2017, 07:18:24 pm »

Todays link for reports...
http://ibr.wvi.com/ibr/_2017/2017IBR-Friday-June30-Day05.pdf

MAN OF BLUES · « **Reply #20 on:** July 01, 2017, 06:58:31 pm »

Todays link for reports...
http://ibr.wvi.com/ibr/_2017/2017IBR-Friday-June30-Sidebar4.pdf

Seems like Rob Bolger succummed to the dreaded mysterious loos bolt on the lower tripple tree syndrome, causing him to only be able to turn left...
He found it, and fixed it... whew....
So check those lower tree bolts on your 08's folks....

BDF · « **Reply #21 on:** July 01, 2017, 07:28:58 pm »

Great to hear that six C-14's are in the field!

For a long time, the C-14 was not getting any traction in the long- distance riding community; not sure why that was but the smallish fuel tank was not helping. Maybe KiPass, or "The KiPass Terror" held a few back also?

There were no C-14's participating in the 2011 rally that I saw so this is a really nice improvement IMO.

Brian

Quote from: Byrdman on June 23, 2017, 06:56:36 pm

Sucks that I had to miss this year's NAT' COG Rally, I am now here at the Iron Butt Rally Headquaters in Minnesota. Rally begins Monday morning. There was no way I could afford both Rallies nor would I have been able to get that much time off work. In the past, the IBR has had a heavy field of BMWs, FJRs, and Wings, along with a small assortment of other makes/models. Usually not too many C10/C14s, I was the only C14 earlier in the week, however they keep trickling in. Up to a count of 6 that I've seen so far. All C14s. I've met a few of the other owners so far, and am happy not to be the Lone Connie in a field of 100 long distance motorcycles. Hopefully will represent Concours Owner Group well in this 11,000 mile 11 day day madness. See yal at next years National or maybe sooner. Byrdman
(most likely won't be on the forum again til after the finish of the Rally)

MAN OF BLUES · « **Reply #22 on:** July 01, 2017, 08:39:20 pm »

Quote from: BDF on July 01, 2017, 07:28:58 pm

Great to hear that six C-14's are in the field!

For a long time, the C-14 was not getting any traction in the long- distance riding community; not sure why that was but the smallish fuel tank was not helping. Maybe KiPass, or "The KiPass Terror" held a few back also?

There were no C-14's participating in the 2011 rally that I saw so this is a really nice improvement IMO.

Brian

Quote from: Byrdman on June 23, 2017, 06:56:36 pm
Sucks that I had to miss this year's NAT' COG Rally, I am now here at the Iron Butt Rally Headquaters in Minnesota. Rally begins Monday morning. There was no way I could afford both Rallies nor would I have been able to get that much time off work. In the past, the IBR has had a heavy field of BMWs, FJRs, and Wings, along with a small assortment of other makes/models. Usually not too many C10/C14s, I was the only C14 earlier in the week, however they keep trickling in. Up to a count of 6 that I've seen so far. All C14s. I've met a few of the other owners so far, and am happy not to be the Lone Connie in a field of 100 long distance motorcycles. Hopefully will represent Concours Owner Group well in this 11,000 mile 11 day day madness. See yal at next years National or maybe sooner. Byrdman
(most likely won't be on the forum again til after the finish of the Rally)

Actually 5 this year...
And there were a couple in 2011. iirc.. maybe I'm wrong? Oops,.yes, I am wrong, I know two were registered, but never "started"... but there was a C10 finisher..
Most of them have all added additional.capacity tanks, remotely, to accommodate also....
Once the "first year" bikes proved they could actually handle this task, they began to add up each year,
Hopefully they show well this year...

Its been a long trek for the C14 since the first entrants, Davo Jones (RIP), and close personal friend Roger Sinclair, debuted the beasts..
As I noted, I think this is the first time a C10 hasn't made an appearance....

BDF · « **Reply #23 on:** July 02, 2017, 12:19:19 am »

OK, I was just going by what the OP said he 'saw'.

I was at the start of the 2011 IBR and did not see a single C-14 participating. And none in the parking lot either; mine was back in Tacoma, resting up after its long ride. I was with my son, traveling in his car to Seattle where the start was that year. I left Tacoma for home the following Monday and ran into two IBR riders on the way; they were scrambling around, hunting for points while I was riding straight east and so caught up with them.

What was at the 2011 IBR start was Craig Vetter, in the flesh. Spoke with him at length, really nice, pleasant guy. He had long given up on fairings of course. He told me that he knew his market was done when he found out customers were backed up waiting for Honda to make more fared Gold Wings. He was spending his motorcycling interests at that time (2011) trying to increase the efficiency and ultimately, range of motorcycles; his goal was to conjure up a motorcycle, a regular motorcycle a human could sit up straight while riding, of reasonable size and comfort, that would cross the US without refueling. He was working on a KLR he had converted to diesel and added significant fuel capacity and was close to reaching his goal, approx. 3,000 miles on one 'load' of fuel, not necessarily all in one tank but all stored gracefully, not in a typical aux. fuel cell.

But back to it, yep, good to see C-14's running long distance events. The C-10 did have a following in that arena but with them out of production for over a decade, it is understandable that usage would fall off.

Brian

Quote from: MAN OF BLUES on July 01, 2017, 08:39:20 pm

Actually 5 this year...
And there were a couple in 2011. iirc.. maybe I'm wrong? Oops,.yes, I am wrong, I know two were registered, but never "started"... but there was a C10 finisher..
Most of them have all added additional.capacity tanks, remotely, to accommodate also....
Once the "first year" bikes proved they could actually handle this task, they began to add up each year,
Hopefully they show well this year...

Its been a long trek for the C14 since the first entrants, Davo Jones (RIP), and close personal friend Roger Sinclair, debuted the beasts..
As I noted, I think this is the first time a C10 hasn't made an appearance....

MAN OF BLUES · « **Reply #24 on:** July 02, 2017, 04:24:49 am »

I had a brain fart about '11 as I knew my pal Roger, who placed 12th in '09, was riding again then... but he ended up running his old GS instead of his C14, as he had issues in '09 with bad fuel filter en route... ir cost him from plafing higher than 12th, and it was his rookie year... spent 2 whole nights "keeping him awake" from 1 a.m to 5 a.m, while he babbled on about how much the area he was riding thru looked like Mars.... he really needed some sleep..

His ride in '11 earned him a 4th place, super duper job, after it was done, and we spoke, he said.. "that's it, I'm done, got the shirt.... not doing it again...."

Wise choice.