ld_rider
Elite Member
Rolled to the start hotel this afternoon. Pretty uneventful run from Maine. Weather was fine, but really hot and muggy running I-40 to Albuquerque..It was 47 deg F when I left Maine and I packed all my heated gear..Hopefully there is one huge, giant bonus in like, Inuvik ;-)
Was really surprised to find out how anemic the bike is when running up a grade with a headwind..couldn't pull 6th gear at 70 mph and had to drop to 5th..Had the throttle pinned a few times and still lost speed..I'm thinking of pulling the panniers and just running with the Givi top box and the funk for the first leg. It could work since the first checkpoint is back at this hotel. I probably packed too much stuff anyway ;-)
My 3.5 gal aux tank actually only holds 2.8 gallons usable (I refuel on the sidestand) and running the speeds that are common out here (80+mph) mileage is in the toilet...I would NOT want to try this with just the stock tank. I'm ok with the range I'm getting, somewhere a bit over 300 miles/tank which is about all my butt can take with the stock seat. Bringing the NC to the local dealer tomorrow morning for engine and trans filter changes..Should be good to go for the duration of the rally. Had new chain/tires installed in Maine just before I left.
Motorcycles are scattered around the hotel, there are probably a bit more than a dozen rider here so far. Things will pick up considerably tomorrow and Saturday when tech inspection, odo checks and the paperwork begins. We roll @ 10:00 MST on Monday for where? Won't know until Sunday night....
I'll try to wander around tomorrow when I get back from getting the bike serviced and see if I can take and post up some pics of the long distance mounts some of these guys are running. Pretty impressive stuff. I know that there is another NC 700 running and I'll get some pics of his ride too.
Saturday and Sunday is pretty much balls to the walls getting ready and once the rally starts all riders go dark so there is no posting other than what you find in the official IBR daily reports, the FJR forum, or maybe the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum.
Long Distance Riding/Iron Butt - FJRForum
Iron Butt Rally - 2015
Was really surprised to find out how anemic the bike is when running up a grade with a headwind..couldn't pull 6th gear at 70 mph and had to drop to 5th..Had the throttle pinned a few times and still lost speed..I'm thinking of pulling the panniers and just running with the Givi top box and the funk for the first leg. It could work since the first checkpoint is back at this hotel. I probably packed too much stuff anyway ;-)
My 3.5 gal aux tank actually only holds 2.8 gallons usable (I refuel on the sidestand) and running the speeds that are common out here (80+mph) mileage is in the toilet...I would NOT want to try this with just the stock tank. I'm ok with the range I'm getting, somewhere a bit over 300 miles/tank which is about all my butt can take with the stock seat. Bringing the NC to the local dealer tomorrow morning for engine and trans filter changes..Should be good to go for the duration of the rally. Had new chain/tires installed in Maine just before I left.
Motorcycles are scattered around the hotel, there are probably a bit more than a dozen rider here so far. Things will pick up considerably tomorrow and Saturday when tech inspection, odo checks and the paperwork begins. We roll @ 10:00 MST on Monday for where? Won't know until Sunday night....
I'll try to wander around tomorrow when I get back from getting the bike serviced and see if I can take and post up some pics of the long distance mounts some of these guys are running. Pretty impressive stuff. I know that there is another NC 700 running and I'll get some pics of his ride too.
Saturday and Sunday is pretty much balls to the walls getting ready and once the rally starts all riders go dark so there is no posting other than what you find in the official IBR daily reports, the FJR forum, or maybe the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum.
Long Distance Riding/Iron Butt - FJRForum
Iron Butt Rally - 2015
