Iron Butt Guzzi Winner

[Murray]

And the newer bikes, as we've seen, with their complexity, aren't necessarily more durable than the simpler machines from a bygone era.

How much do you really gain with a bike that will do 200mph when speed limits are 80?

No they are typically better as someone said on this forum if you can fix it on the side of the road you probablly will.

Quiet a bit actually in intial acceleration engine response, gear changes, better brakes and handling.

[wirespokes]

There was a guy named Fred Tausch who rode his R60 over 600,000 miles, supposedly without any engine work. There are quite a few stories about him. One that I recall went something like this. A group of sport riders blew by him, all heading to a BMW rally. Several hours later, they blew by him again. Later in the day, they again overtook him and kept on going. When they got to the rally, there he was sitting next to his tent, smoking and reading a book.

[oldbike54]

There was a guy named Fred Tausch who rode his R60 over 600,000 miles, supposedly without any engine work. There are quite a few stories about him. One that I recall went something like this. A group of sport riders blew by him, all heading to a BMW rally. Several hours later, they blew by him again. Later in the day, they again overtook him and kept on going. When they got to the rally, there he was sitting next to his tent, smoking and reading a book.

 I knew Fred , we compared notes on a couple of occasions . The legend of his R60/5 has grown over the years , and yes , it had some serious miles . However , ask any old BMW mechanic , there is no way the engine ran for 600K miles W/O some major work . Still , Fred was an interesting character, one of those people who made the BMW world fun back then .

 Dusty

[Roebling3]

BTW: Fred didn't smoke. Fred was the most frugal of all. An honest assessment regarding 600K miles? His bike never overnighted in a repair shop. Low speed, <than 40 mph, got him escorted off the MA Turnpike. Burnt valve. THAT valve was replaced. Another time it was a clutch, disc only.
When I 1st got the Daytona, 2000, Fred knew more about it than I. He was one of the kindest people I've known and brilliant. PhD in Physics, iirc. He taught at MIT.
At a local bike show the vintage bikes all looked pristine. People were marveling. I couldn't stand it and suggested they look in the parking lot - at Fred's bike. Fred had a way of engaging people in conversation, if they were 1st to speak. You would have the most engaging conversation ever and be treated as an equal. His bike is at Bob's bmw, museum, Maryland. As is with an accessory oil catch basin.
 
The only mc gear Fred wore was his open face helmet. Typically he would be wearing a suit jacket, pants that didn't match and black dress shoes, water proofed by oil soaking.

The legend (he would simply ignore that), lives on in many minds. R3~

[kirby1923]

I knew Fred , we compared notes on a couple of occasions . The legend of his R60/5 has grown over the years , and yes , it had some serious miles . However , ask any old BMW mechanic , there is no way the engine ran for 600K miles W/O some major work . Still , Fred was an interesting character, one of those people who made the BMW world fun back then .

 Dusty

Its the enthusiasm that counts..

Some time back I was on my way back from AR to CA on my Beemer and I stopped one morning at a McDonalds for a bite.

In the parking lot was a giant Goldwing+trailer rig. I walked in looked around and didn't see anyone that looked like a rider.

Just as I started my Mc something an old gentleman walked up in just street garb('bout mid 80s' And introduced himself w/smile.

He pointed to a lady of similar vintage,(she gave a smile and wave), across the room and said "My wife and I are on the Goldwing traveling and we saw you ride up. I remarked to her... now that is a real rider...BMW!"


Kept smiling the rest of the day.

:-)

[oldbike54]

 Just a data point , Kirby has done 1,000 miles a day on his CX 100 more than once coming from Tehachapi to Cedar Vale 

 Dusty

[wirespokes]

I don't think it's too tough doing 1,000/day on the interstate. Several years back I rode the 100GSPD 3,000 miles from Portland Oregon to eastern PA for the 90S rally in 3 1/2 days. One of the days was close to a thousand miles. Rode till dark, set up the tent, slept till dawn, packed up and moved on. Wasn't even tired or sore when I got there. Didn't really push any speed limits either. Took it nice and easy, stopped at rest stops for my breaks and meals. Nothing to it. Those GSPDs are better tourers than RTs.

Back roads - that's different. Four or five hundred miles is a long day. But then again, it's a different purpose, and definitely more fun.

I mentioned Fred as a counterpoint to those who say the faster newer machines make it easier. I say it aint necessarily so.

[kirby1923]

Well, having done the trip between SoCal and AR about 30 times in the last 10 or 12 years I'd say its hard to do 1000 miles in 24 hr.

I've done it all on the interstate and most on back roads and it takes a hard piece out of you to do 1K in 24.

If you take a couple of meal breaks of 30 min and 5 or 6 gas stops in a 0500 to 2030  day would require an average speed of about 78 mph.

I've done it and by taking no meal breaks just snacks and doing a gas and go on every other fuel stop.

Oh, and running at least + 10 when ever possible (or more).

That's on a R1150R.

Try it on a '81 CX100 with rear sets and clip-ons w/14" from the pegs to the seat (and it rides like a buckboard).

You have to be damn committed to getting there.

[Moparnut72]

I did a run once in my younger years from Denver Colo to Mystic Conn in my younger years. It was 1848 miles at least by the odometer in 46 hours. This was on a naked R75/5. I also got close to 6 hours sleep on the side of the road, a coupIe of quick naps. I sure couldn't do it today almost 50 years later due to age and probably couldn't maintain the speed I did due to traffic. I was in the Army at the time so I was in pretty good shape.
kk

[wirespokes]

The GSPD has a 9 gallon tank, so that saved quite a bit of time. Two gas stops/day was about it. With plenty of food in the luggage, hit a rest stop, kick back for a bit then move on. Not at all stressful with the tank, wind screen, tank paniers and hand guards deflecting most of the wind. Can't imagine doing that kind of mileage on a LM3. Attwood must have an immunity to pain.

[kirby1923]

The GSPD has a 9 gallon tank, so that saved quite a bit of time. Two gas stops/day was about it. With plenty of food in the luggage, hit a rest stop, kick back for a bit then move on. Not at all stressful with the tank, wind screen, tank paniers and hand guards deflecting most of the wind. Can't imagine doing that kind of mileage on a LM3. Attwood must have an immunity to pain.

Not going to flog a dead horse but, that moto of yours gets 50+ mpg is pretty good at 75 mph..wow. (have not a clue what a GSPD is but frugal is an understatement.)

And as grizzled as I am and motivated to get to destination I can't do much more than 3 hours,(one tank), w/o a stop but then I'm a boomer (among the first group).

A huge factor is the wx conditions as in tail wind, head wind, or worse of all a stiff crosswind.

Attwood has nothing on you!!

[Roebling3]

A 4L fuel bladder with a hemostat on its fuel line to the main tank can keep you going through the nite; when fuel stops are scarce.
Wish I could still do that.  R3~

[rocker59]

 . (have not a clue what a GSPD is but frugal is an understatement.)

 

BMW R100GS, Paris-Dakar replica...

[kirby1923]

BMW R100GS, Paris-Dakar replica...

Ah!
Thanks mike. Lots of leg room there!


I've done the run from Tehachapi to Rogers 30 or more times almost all on the slab and its tough to make 1000/24 even in mid summer ,no wx and the rare occasion w/20 kt average direct tailwind and riding from before sun up to well after sun down..still a test of your ability to withstand pain.

:-)

[rocker59]

  its tough to make 1000/24 even in mid summer ,no wx and the rare occasion w/20 kt average direct tailwind and riding from before sun up to well after sun down..still a test of your ability to withstand pain.

:-)

I've done 1000/24 three times.  Always needed a day to recover.  Getting worse with age. I don't know how those IBA-types can do it for ten days straight! 

[wirespokes]

Not going to flog a dead horse but, that moto of yours gets 50+ mpg is pretty good at 75 mph..wow. (have not a clue what a GSPD is but frugal is an understatement.)

And as grizzled as I am and motivated to get to destination I can't do much more than 3 hours,(one tank), w/o a stop but then I'm a boomer (among the first group).

Attwood has nothing on you!!

Seems like most of my bikes get 50mpg on the highway. Some do a little less, but somewhere in the high 40s. I've heard of guys getting less, and some of mine were in the high 30s when I got them, but I stumbled through the tuning process and eventually brought them up to what seemed right to me.
I don't normally stay in the saddle three hours either. A lot of people think you don't need a larger gas tank if you can't ride all the way to the next fill up. Truth is, time is wasted at gas stations when the same amount of time could be spent resting and snacking, so the fewer times at the pump means more time resting. I think a couple hours is about my limit before a break.

Hey, I was taking it easy and not pushing it at all! I've done close to 1000 mile day, but it was a very long day. Didn't help that it was over 100 through the San Joaquin valley and was stopping at every rest stop to wet down the T and jeans. They'd be totally dry by the next one. Nah, Steve has it all over me! No way I could pull off a stunt like he did. He did close to another 50% more miles per day than most of mine. If you don't stop at restaurants, save on gas stops and keep up a steady pace the miles roll by. Doing something like Steve did takes some real determination, stamina and pushing the limits. I have no intention of doing things like that - the only reason I bombed across the continent like that was because I had work that had to get done so was delayed several days. Once I was on the road Sunday afternoon I realized I couldn't take the back roads and make it there by Thursday. At that point, the slab was the only answer.

Thanks for posting the photo of a PD, Rocker.

[Roebling3]

And then there's Randy Tefft, NH MGNOC Rep. Coast to coast on a Rokon and smiling all the way.  R3~

[ITSec]

By the way, while I wouldn't put myself in Attwood's class, I did a rather demanding Ironbutt ride some years ago on my 2008 Norge.

The details are here - http://www.ironbutt.com/rides/spacerace3600 - although it looks like the association's server is having some issues right now.

Basically, I rode just over 3620 miles in 70 hours and 20 minutes.

The big block is an excellent mount for long-distance riding, and I have done many 1000 mile days on my Norge, my Stelvio, and even one on my Griso. I also did two on my Breva 750 while I had it...

[lazlokovacs]

^^^^^^^ 


RESPECT!!!

 

[Roebling3]

As Count Basie was heard to utter: 'One more Once'.

The January 1994 issue of MGNOC News (MG 500cc V8 on cover),
page 4. "Iron Butt" by Steve Attwood, the man himself for 2-1/2 pages. BTW: Bob Higdon mentions Steve Attwood several times in his recent book "The Higdon Chronicles".  Enjoy,  R3~