Administrator

Original Article:
<a href="http://www.motorcycle.com//products/against-the-wind-a-riders-account-of-the-incredible-iron-butt-rally-3953.html">Against the Wind: A Riders Account of the Incredible Iron Butt Rally</a>

Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article Against the Wind: A Riders Account of the Incredible Iron Butt Rally in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

longride

"For most riders, the object of the Rally boils down to basic, brute survival."

Sounds like a pretty stupid reason to ride right from the get-go.

__________________
I'm a knucklehead

Buzglyd

Isn't that what riding a '47 Knuck is all about?

seruzawa

The Ironbutt served a very useful purpose last year by exposing the serious BMW drive hub problems. BMW might have gotten away without addressing the issue for years otherwise. Come to think of it Goldwings had nearly the same 40% failure rate while the V-Stroms and Buell flew through. Sort of separates fact from PR ad copy doesn't it?

__________________
"Make no mistake, Communism lost a big argument - one we know today as the 20th century."

The_AirHawk

It also served to show that "the Honor System" no-longer seems to be working. The fact that outside help was allowed, and completely unregulated - it was just a matter of time before a "cheating scandal" would raise its ugly mug.

__________________
Parfois, on fait pas semblant
Sometimes, it's not pretend
Oderint Dum Metuant
Let them hate so long as they fear
политики предпочитают безоружных крестьян
Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants
Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now...

longride

Well yeah it is! But you looked so damned cool on the thing you have it up on your My Space!

__________________
I'm a knucklehead

longride

Those Beemers were blowing up without the need for the Iron Butt. If you read the BMW web sites, they talk about faiures alot, and none of them participated in the 'race'.

__________________
I'm a knucklehead

The_AirHawk

Dude! It's not a RACE! - It's merely a COMPETITION!

__________________
Parfois, on fait pas semblant
Sometimes, it's not pretend
Oderint Dum Metuant
Let them hate so long as they fear
политики предпочитают безоружных крестьян
Politicians Prefer Unarmed Peasants
Nothing to see here, Citizen. Move along now...

sachiwilson

That's right. It isn't a race.

People who do the Iron Butt (and similar events) make it very clear that success is due to planning and time management. It's not speed or sleep deprivation. Because the event is not about how far you go, but how many bonus points you get, the trick is to plan a route that you can achieve given the weather and traffic, as well as your own physical abilities. Then of course making quick stops is a huge key. The fewer times you have to stop, and the less time you spend at a stop, the better off you are. I won't ever do a multi-day rally (I know my own limitations) but I can make huge miles without speeding (well, the usual 7-10 mph over) because my gas stops are usually 4 minutes, maybe 7 if I need a pit stop. That's the sort of concentration that makes miles within the time allotted.

I have not read the book but I would be very surprised if Ayers had described the rally in the same terms used by the article.

__________________
Frappé LaRue
*Safety Queen*
Are you a Rounder?

Sarnali: "what could be more useless than arguing with a deaf female lawyer????"

mscuddy

Hey, isn't that a Bob Seager song? Bob Seager (Seger? cee-gar?) songs comprised the background music of my days as a motorized squid, '76 to '80 on everything from honda 100's to wreched 750 cee cee twin kawasakis (purple ones). I got monkey butt when I rode my '78 XL250S from Virgina Beach to DC one fine summer weekend. WFO all the way...ahh, the sea stories never end...

__________________
A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.