I had knee replacement surgery in March, was still able to do about 6k this year, but no major rides. Hoping to do Whitehorse this year, just because.
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New Year's moto resolutions
- Thread starter TK4
- Start date
I want to do an Iron Butt Saddle Sore 1000. Stretch target - do one on a scooter.
I'm game anytime for a SS1000 if you want a mentor, I've done a few. Only ever registered one, paying more $$ and getting another virtually duplicate piece of paper short of a few different words never made much sense to me, meh.
Now, a scooter, well, that may be...interesting lol. Are we talking something like a Burgman, or something like a Vespa?
I will definitely PM you!
I was thinking of trying one on a Vespa GTS, a 250cc scooter, because I have easy access to one, and because it seems just so loony.
It actually may be easier as the seat is so much more comfortable than my regular ride.
The biggest problem I see is that both bikes have a limited range (around 250km).
Sounds good, I'm happy to share all of the knowledge that makes a successful Iron Butt run, how to setup tools like Spotwalla and how to make sure you record everything right (fuel receipts etc) for verification etc.
250 km fuel range isn't really a problem, I did my first iron but on my old VTX which was pretty much around the same range, and 2-2.5 hours is a good "stop and get off the bike for a few minutes while you're fueling up" range anyways. Some guys with extended tanks go 5-6+ hours, but I can keep a fuel stop to under 2-3 minutes so I'm ok with stopping a little more often usually.
So long as that Vespa can maintain 120-ish (?) it's totally doable as long as fuel stops remain tight etc. I generally make one 20 minute stop at about 3/4 of the way through the run for a longer leg and back stretch, actual hot food, and keep the rest of the ride to rapid fuel stops and essential bathroom breaks - I pack food in my tank bag for nibbling along the way, and drinks. It's better to ride hard on an IBR ride at the beginning and relax if all is looking well around the 70-80% way (within reason), and finish comfortably a few hours earlier than the deadline at worst, vs the alternative - a lot of first timers make the mistake of stopping for too long or pacing too slow, or planning passes through major cities at the wrong time of day which can really wreck your required pace, and then the last 3-4 hours can be panicked (with pressure to ride faster) as the deadline looms and the mileage remaining is still high.
All in all it's a hell of an adventure! I love it.
Out of curiosity, do you have a screenshot of your route you may have done for any of of your Iron Butt runs?
I'll see if I can dig up some of my old Spotwalla tracks. I never ran it on most of my "unofficial" iron butts as there was no need to prove anything to anyone except myself honestly, but I know I have a few from at least my very first ride, and maybe some others I thought about submitting but never bothered. Some people collect certificates but once I got my first SS1000 cert I never cared about more. If i do a BunBurner 1500 or something one day I would submit again as its a different certification at least.
There's a few fairly common options in our area for the regular Saddlesore 1000 however - around Ontario and Erie for example is a basically perfect 1600km loop which is a saddlesore 1000 win.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
I've never done an 'official' ride that would qualify for the badge. I have done a few unofficial -- probably 3 as I rode coast to coast a couple of times when I moved.
I think it's easiest (and most common) on a large ST bike. You have the best combination of power, range, element control, and ergonomic comforts for ticking off the miles. Choosing slab routes through states with higher freeway speeds (75mph) makes a difference in your time.
As for a Vespa, I suppose anything is possible -- but it won't be easy. 10-minute rest/fuel/pee break every 250km, bump your average speed will be over 70mph. You'll also be maxed be in the slow lane on highways with transports barrelling past you all day long, riding buddies not on Vespas may not enjoy the pace.
The last Solstice ride I did (at excited speeds) was on secondary highways. The 16-hour ride only got me only got me 825 miles.
I think it's easiest (and most common) on a large ST bike. You have the best combination of power, range, element control, and ergonomic comforts for ticking off the miles. Choosing slab routes through states with higher freeway speeds (75mph) makes a difference in your time.
As for a Vespa, I suppose anything is possible -- but it won't be easy. 10-minute rest/fuel/pee break every 250km, bump your average speed will be over 70mph. You'll also be maxed be in the slow lane on highways with transports barrelling past you all day long, riding buddies not on Vespas may not enjoy the pace.
The last Solstice ride I did (at excited speeds) was on secondary highways. The 16-hour ride only got me only got me 825 miles.
I would have to concur, if ones absolute max speed is 120 or so, assuming favourable headwinds and not much drag (good windshield and aero), it would be workable, but from what I've read, something as little as a stiff westerly wind (when a huge portion of the around the lakes IBA1000 is headed west) can drag the smaller engine bikes down to under 100 easily. 5 hours of 100 vs 120 and you've lost 100km, which adds an hour to the ride. That can spiral fast and next thing you know you may very well be scraping in under the line at 23-24 hours instead of completing it a SS1000 comfortably in 19-20 hours, or maybe a bit less depending on the "flow of traffic" lol.
I rememebr when I was out west in 2019 we were clipping along at <*ahem*, somewhat brisk speeds> headed across I90 towards SD and at one point the headwind was so brutal that even my 1300 vtwin was running out of ponies at some points - I had it cranked to the pin a few times and it was all she had just to maintain the speed we were travelling at, much less accelerate. Headwinds can suck sometimes.
Nothing fancy. I was already kinda nervous about taking that long off work (I'm not on salary), so, I went for a cheap and boring but reliable 650cc single, 2011 BMW G650GS. No regrets!
More info here: Shipping my bike to Italy, riding across the country, ask me anything
There's one for sale right now for $7k, that person is out to lunch. When I came home I bought a second G650GS for $4k. Same mileage.
The idea is to have the same bike here so I can tweak the setup a little bit.
I found the suspension needed adjusting when I had the missus on the back + our sixty pounds of luggage + stuff.
I also found the gearing had an gap between the top of 1st and 2nd gear, and the top of second gear, and with the crazy hills and hairpins I was facing riding cross-country (Italy basically has a mountain range running down the entire center of the country, like a spine), that gap between the gears was really annoying in some places where I was constantly having to shift up and down (Amalfi Coast). So I'm hoping I can mess with suspension and gear ratios here where I have all the time and tools I need, and then bring sprockets or whatever knowledge I gain with me on my return...
Overall though, based on my financial situation, my F700GS would have been better, but.... the 650 was still the right choice for me.
Check out this thread: Vespa on the 401, totally do-able but...
It shows what it's like riding a Vespa GTS 250 on the 401 (totally do-able, but...)
There's also some talk in there of the Scooter Cannonball which runs every two years. People ride their Vespas across the USA. It's basically nearly an Iron Butt every day for almost a dozen days.
It only seems ridiculous until you meet more Vespa people and really what an absolutely eccentric band of ******* nutjobs we are.
For perspective: I was in a mankini at a New Year's Eve party with my in-laws two nights ago. My Vespa made me do it. This is the way.
It shows what it's like riding a Vespa GTS 250 on the 401 (totally do-able, but...)
There's also some talk in there of the Scooter Cannonball which runs every two years. People ride their Vespas across the USA. It's basically nearly an Iron Butt every day for almost a dozen days.
It only seems ridiculous until you meet more Vespa people and really what an absolutely eccentric band of ******* nutjobs we are.
For perspective: I was in a mankini at a New Year's Eve party with my in-laws two nights ago. My Vespa made me do it. This is the way.
Any issues on the I-90 closer to home? We go to Cleveland once a year and take the I-90 for what feels like the better part of a day. Only done it in a pickup truck so far though.
Nope, one of my favourite highways to travel honestly - well maintained, lots of services at regular intervals, and the sections that are tolled are actually very cheap compared to the highway robbery we're used to here with the 407.
Yes! I've read that thread of yours - I'm interested in the Cannonball as an aspirational goal but right now the SS is my target. There's a shorter run for scooters that is also mentioned in that thread, and might be an intermediate goal for me.
This year, I might be aiming at an SS on a bigger bike and if I can do that, maybe go on to tackling one later on a scooter. I've been eyeballing used R1200RTs, which are widely hailed as a near ideal bike for this sort of ride.
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Does having two border crossings introduce a big wildcard? If you get pulled over for an inspection that could kill a big chunk of time.
I've been thinking about trying to run from one end of the 401 to the other, staying in Ontario. Which leads to thinking about when the best time to do this would be - if you have to go through Toronto twice.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
If you look at the scooter cannonball, the daily ride is about 40% of an IB distance at an average speed of 75kmh.
The border crossings are always a wild card. If it’s not traffic, it can be being pulled over.
I’d never admit to doing an endurance race (or any other type).
When I did mine with a group from GTAM (I was on a CBR250), we just said we’re going for a casual ride of the Finger Lakes.
Mississauga - Finger Lakes - just outside of NYC - Mississauga for approximately 1700km within 21hrs or so.
I think I fell asleep for a second on the 401.
Border crossings at both 4am and 11pm with no issues.
This is my all-Canadian (mostly ON with a little bit of QC) route:
Mainly 400-series highways > 100 km/h limit except for a couple of spots on the 17 where it briefly dips down to 50 km/h in a couple of towns.
And you do go in and out of Montreal, so try to time it during non-rush hour. I ended up sitting in MTL rush hour for 45 minutes and still completed the SS1K in less than 18 hours. No border crossings.
Wrote an article about it:
www.yumpu.com
Edit: If I was to do it over again, I would probably skip Montreal, cut up to the 417 before you cross the bridge at Vaudreuil-Dorion, and then head west past the Sault, all the way to Espanola, get the gas station receipt there for auditing purposes, then turn around and go back to Toronto. Exact same mileage as above, but no Montreal...
Google Maps shows it can be done in 16.5 hours:
Mainly 400-series highways > 100 km/h limit except for a couple of spots on the 17 where it briefly dips down to 50 km/h in a couple of towns.
And you do go in and out of Montreal, so try to time it during non-rush hour. I ended up sitting in MTL rush hour for 45 minutes and still completed the SS1K in less than 18 hours. No border crossings.
Wrote an article about it:
WRITTen BY Gene Lee PHoTo
WRITTen BY Gene Lee PHoTo WRITTen BY Gene Lee PHoToGRaPHS BY WILL Lau anD kaM nonG 5:48AM – Mile 0: toronto I slide in my credit card
www.yumpu.com
Edit: If I was to do it over again, I would probably skip Montreal, cut up to the 417 before you cross the bridge at Vaudreuil-Dorion, and then head west past the Sault, all the way to Espanola, get the gas station receipt there for auditing purposes, then turn around and go back to Toronto. Exact same mileage as above, but no Montreal...
Google Maps shows it can be done in 16.5 hours:
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Doh. I stand corrected. Thanks MM, sorry all!
Thank you sir. We haven't done it two up yet because the pup is like having a kid at home.. But the pup is 14.5 now and I don't know how many more annual trips to Cleveland we'll need to find a sitter for her
PS: GTA insurance heat map in your sig is a dead link, any idea where it's gone to now?
Timing is key. You try to make things work out so that you're crossing border and big cities at quiet times.
Borders have never presented an issue for me, the one time I did get sent to secondary it was literally a 5 minute event, they looked in saddlebags and sent me on my way. In hindsight I'd forgot I was wearing some patches that day when I pulled up, I am sure to not accidentally do that anymore when getting to a border.
Coming back via Michigan is good because you have options. Ambassador bridge or the tunnel in Detroit, soon to add the Gordie Howe option as well. Or go a little north and cross at Sarnia instead. I always look online a half hour or so out and see which one has the shortest wait and go there.
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