Anybody done Iron Butt type rides?

Im thinking of dipping my toes in with a 800k in 12hr ride soon. 

Anybody else done this kinda riding on the 1250s? 

Any tips?

Not really ,but my best was 1300 kls in a day on a bike . 800 plus ks stacks of times .
Best tip is a tank full used BEFORE breakfast .
Move around on the seat BEFORE you get a sore butt .

NZspokes wrote:Im thinking of dipping my toes in with a 800k in 12hr ride soon. 

Anybody else done this kinda riding on the 1250s? 

Any tips?

My longest days have been:

Home to Melbourne 4 times - 750km
Brisbane (Eatons Hill) to Scone, 2 up - 735
Moranbah to Gayndah, 2 up - 725
Coonamble to Injune, 2 up - 705
Hay to Coonamble, 2 up - 680
Home to Hay twice, both times 2 up - 670


When I was younger I used to stop when I need fuel, about every 2 1/2 - 3 hours

Now I stop every 1 1/2 hours for a quick stretch (5 minutes) and a longer one when I refuel after 3 hrs

The last 2 years I've also started wearing compression base layers (skins), the one day I decided it was too warm for them I struggled with back stiffness and fatigue

I did a Farriders 1000kms in 24hrs ride. It is probably a very different ride to the 800kms in 12 hrs. With the 1000/24 you have to finish between 11.30am and 12.00pm at the designated finish point, which means you must start no earlier than 12.00pm the day before. I did 700kms in the afternoon of Day 1, slept o/night and then got up at about 6.00am and did 308 kms to arrive at the finish point on Day 2.  The piss poor headlight on the 1250S can be an issue and HIDs or additional spotlights are recomended if you are riding in the dark (whether the 800/12 or the 1000/24). Additional kms will need to be allowed for to get back home, unless the designated finish point just happens to be your hometown - in my case it was 308kms away so that meant a total of 1316kms for the ride over the two days. I was pretty knackered.

The FR officials basically trust you to act honestly in terms of your start times and distance covered on the 1000/24 (well if you're going to cheat you are only cheating yourself and why bother?). This is probably the same on the 800/12. 

As for clothing, just assess what you need to wear on the weather forecast.

Best of luck - watch out for roos and wombats. 

Ewok1958 wrote: in my case it was 308kms away so that meant a total of 1616kms for the ride over the two days.

Looks better 

Ewok1958 wrote:I did a Farriders 1000kms in 24hrs ride. It is probably a very different ride to the 800kms in 12 hrs. With the 1000/24 you have to finish between 11.30am and 12.00pm at the designated finish point, which means you must start no earlier than 12.00pm the day before. I did 700kms in the afternoon of Day 1, slept o/night and then got up at about 6.00am and did 308 kms to arrive at the finish point on Day 2.  The piss poor headlight on the 1250S can be an issue and HIDs or additional spotlights are recomended if you are riding in the dark (whether the 800/12 or the 1000/24). Additional kms will need to be allowed for to get back home, unless the designated finish point just happens to be your hometown - in my case it was 308kms away so that meant a total of 1316kms for the ride over the two days. I was pretty knackered.

The FR officials basically trust you to act honestly in terms of your start times and distance covered on the 1000/24 (well if you're going to cheat you are only cheating yourself and why bother?). This is probably the same on the 800/12. 

As for clothing, just assess what you need to wear on the weather forecast.

Best of luck - watch out for roos and wombats. 

Im in NZ so safe. 

Forgot to say I get Sciatica. Thats going to be the hard bit. 

Yes I have LEDS that are better than the headlight on my FA. I may re-pad the seat as its too soft.

Ewok1958 wrote:Best of luck - watch out for roos and wombats. 

I did a 1,550 km ride from Phuket to Chiang Mai earlier this year when I bought and picked up my V-Strom.  Ride back was over two days though.

In my case I have to look out for wild elephants and king cobras (and Thai drivers of course).

NZspokes wrote:
Forgot to say I get Sciatica. Thats going to be the hard bit. 

So do I, regular stops to stretch, even if only for a minute or 2 and get yourself some compression skins

Chook wrote:

NZspokes wrote:
Forgot to say I get Sciatica. Thats going to be the hard bit. 
 

So do I, regular stops to stretch, even if only for a minute or 2 and get yourself some compression skins

My track leathers shrunk over winter, will they work as compression skins?

NZspokes wrote:

Chook wrote:

NZspokes wrote:
Forgot to say I get Sciatica. Thats going to be the hard bit. 
 

So do I, regular stops to stretch, even if only for a minute or 2 and get yourself some compression skins

My track leathers shrunk over winter, will they work as compression skins?

Must be an auto-correct problem... I'm sure he meant wine skins!

I did 1230 km over around 16 hours Easter before last.  I was in no hurry.  Moderate to heavy rain the whole way. (sub 80 kph for long stretches)  I had 4 LONG stops, 3 of these coinciding with food and fuel. At least two hours would have been taken up by these.  I had a set of highway pegs on the Rennsport crash bars.  Without these, the trip would not have been possible.  I could change the position of my legs significantly and often.  I have osteoarthritis in my left hip (replacement this week). No amount of pills (that you'd be game to take while riding a motorbike, anyway) will make any difference to the way it feels. Changing position is about all there is, and is only as effective as it can be.  

I used the stock seat, have heated grips and used thin gloves. They provide me with better feel, access to the controls and are no colder with the heated grips.  No dramas really.  I could walk when I finished and woke up fine the next day with no sign of stiffness or soreness.  I was way over being tense about the conditions.  Staying relaxed is very important.  The most comfortable gear that you can manage is nice. Back in the 70s when I did many epic weekend transits across the land, my most comfy riding gear was a one piece leather suit with just merino thermals underneath. It was like riding naked, and didn't make me feel like the Michelin man when I put the rain gear on.     

I think for me, the most important thing is in taking the long breaks and walking around during them, staying well fed - real meals at breaks.  No more coffee than can be "held in" until the next fuel.  Hydration was no issue - no need for a camel back - I think I may have gained water by osmosis.  I don't recall any special preparation in the way of resting up for the trip.  It was the return trip from a Rally FFS, I would have had a "light night" the night before and did need to pack up a tent in the morning.  On the road by 7.  In bed by 11:30. 

With stops, I've always felt that fewer and longer have less effect on travel time for more benefit.  Lots of little stops to check routes, or whatever, add up. This trip would have been significantly shorter in time had the weather been more favourable, and of course, without the amusing breathalyser stop in Forbes. They don't like doing this to motorcyclists in the rain - it was pelting.  He was getting very wet.  Didn't matter to me.   A "clear wipe" in my pocket kept setting off his alarm, but my breath was reading .00.  Lots of repeats.  He never did check my licence.  It was the first thing he asked me for.