The Iron Butt Rally is something you may have heard of but, like many riders, you may not be familiar with the details. The name makes it obvious you’ll be riding one helluva long distance but, other than that, what’s involved? When I got a note from Dean Tanji (himself a competitor) about a film he had produced covering the last Iron Butt in 2007 (it’s run every 2 years), I figured it would be worth a look and I certainly learned a lot.
Like many events, this started years ago over a few beers and the realization that riding from New York to LA had been done many times. Creating a longer route was the next step and setting up rules so it wasn’t simply a speed contest was important, too. It’s evolved many times since beginning in the mid 1980s and every time it runs it’s different, but the basic goal is the same, it’s sort of a timed scavenger hunt on steroids.
Winning the Iron Butt Rally is really very simple, you complete a series of tasks, which includes choosing from a huge list of destinations, each worth varying numbers of points, locating them, arriving within a limited time window and getting your verification of arrival to be awarded those points, and after gathering as many points as possible, showing up back at the start, again within a limited time window, all the while traveling through every type of weather and amassing more points than any other rider. That’s all. Nothing to it, except for one more thing, … the winner will need to cover about 11,000 miles in 11 days!
The specific points along the way can range from Key West, Florida to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Maine to southern California and almost any other state plus some regions of Canada in between. The list of locations and how many points each is worth is handed out the day before you leave, there is no specific path, you may pick any series of locations and plan your route any way you choose but the limited time available means you simply can’t go everywhere so your strategic planning skills are paramount. Distance, time, points at each location, all of those things must be considered and will it be enough to win?
Of course, the next question is, can you actually ride that far in that amount of time? If you can, how about your bike? Motorcycles range from the obvious big touring rigs, Gold Wings, BMWs and Electra Glides to a variety of smaller bikes. The winner, Martin Leir rode a BMW R1200GS 12,460 miles in the 11 day rally. The big surprise was Brett Donahue who rode a Harley Davidson Sportster XLH1200R 11,283 miles for a third place finish. The highest placing female competitor was Vicki Johnson, BMW F650GS, 9,868 miles, 14th overall. The highest placing two-up couple’s team was Reiner & Lisa Kappenberger, Honda GL1800 Goldwing, 9,849 miles, 23rd.
Not surprisingly, current competitors are often well equipped with multiple GPS units, computer mapping software, cell phones, radios and any other electronic gadgets they think might help, but at the end of the day, the rider’s skill, planning and perseverance, the bike’s mechanical reliability and just a little bit of luck determines whether he or she even finishes, let alone, wins.
The Iron Butt organizers choose destinations far off the interstate highways so you’ll see a lot of interesting scenery and at some destinations you have to get off of your bike and walk a little distance to the spot where you need a photo, helps keep the blood flowing and there is some enforced rest, but it’s a long hard ride under any circumstances and the winner will need some downtime at the end.
2009 is an Iron Butt year. The rally starts August 24 at a yet to be disclosed southeast state.
If this sounds like your idea of a good time or if you just want to know a little more about it, check out the DVD.
Link: Hard Miles
Link: Iron Butt Association
gafe03 says
Ouch!! It hurts just thinking about it! Time to get an air seat rigged up.
rafe03
Phoebe says
These kinds of things have always intrigued me. I’d love to watch that dvd.
Dean Tanji says
I’m Dean Tanji producer of “Hard Miles”. I’d be happy to answer any questions about the DVD or The Iron Butt Rally.
Don says
The Iron Butt has been a dream of mine since I heard about it, and is on my Life To-Do list!
Lisa Landry says
Hi Don- Then you really must get a copy of Dean’s amazing DVD. He did such a terrific job of not only telling the story of the 2007 Iron Butt Rally, but also including an interview with IBA Chairman Michael Kneebone covering the history of the rally in detail. In addition, each rider is introduced with a little of their riding history. I was the rally master of the event and I am really pleased to see it chronicled so beautifully! It’s very exciting and great entertainment, even for non-riders.
hoyt says
Manufacturers could get a lot of mileage out of this type of sponsorship (pun intended, sorry).
Have any of them helped with sponsorship money? This event is testimony of how motorcycle reliability as progressed dramatically.
Nicolas says
11,000 miles in 11 days, it makes an average of 1,000 miles a day ?!? It says that you have to reach destinations far off the interstate highways, so if we consider an average speed of 50 mph (speed-limited road, engine and biker refueling, biker flushing, and so on …) you have to ride 20 hours a day ? Damn, that kills the idea of a fun ride …
I rode once 1600 km in one day crossing 3 countries, but I was young and fearless, with no respect for the speed limits either, in Europe at a time where speed was not enforced as much as in the US now, and I used more than 4 hours at night to rest …
I need to try that stuff 😉
todd says
Are there records for extremes? Like, what’s the smallest capacity bike to compete (or finish)? What were the highest or lowest temperatures / worst conditions? Who used the most or least gas? Who had the most welts on his a…
-todd
Bruce says
I’ve wanted to try this for a long time.
I used to do fairly frequent 1000-1200 mile days on an FJ1200 many years ago in California, and I’ve done a couple x-USA & x-Canada rides on the big FJ without much strain.
I wonder if it’s possible to pair up with an experienced rider just to tag along for the experience and learn how everything works, prior to doing the Iron Butt solo the following time (?).
I currently have a highish mileage VFR750 that I’d really like to stack some hard miles on, as much for the mechanical test as for the personal accomplishment of having done the full Iron Butt.
I kinda would like to try it “Old Skool”, with as little electronics and extraneous equipment and gear as absolutely necessary.
Dean Tanji says
Hoyt,
The DVD “Hard Miles” covers all the questions. At this time visible sponsor promotion is not allowed, no pit crews, no prize money, no umbrella girls, no chase vehicles; the original concept was one rider, one motorcycle, and one incredible task.
Dean Tanji says
Todd,
Go to the following website that answers many of your questions about extremes, records and lists the participants of all recent Iron Butt Rallies except for the last rally, 2007. The Hard Miles DVD covers this in great detail.
http://www.ironbutt.org/intro/ibrfacts.html
Recently, the quest for the smallest cc to complete the Iron Butt Rally has been eliminated for safety reasons.
In 2003 Leon Begeman rode a Kawasaki EX250, 11,186 miles for a 12th place finish.
In the 2001, there were 3 finishers in the “hopeless class”.
2001 Kieth Keating Suzuki GN125 (no repairs – stock!), 7,460 miles
2001 Paul Meredith Cagiva 125 (one engine swap), 7,712 miles
2001 Bob Ray Honda Reflex Scooter (250cc), 8,783 miles
Two of the hardest bonus locations has been Prudhoe Bay AK and Goose Bay, Newfoundland.
If you’ve ever dreamed of riding in the legendary Iron Butt Rally, the DVD Hard Miles gives you the best in depth look at competitive long distance riding.
Dean Tanji says
Bruce asks, “I wonder if it’s possible to pair up with an experienced rider just to tag along for the experience and learn how everything works, prior to doing the Iron Butt solo the following time (?).”
Team riding is allowed but not recommended because of the advantage of two individuals working together in planning a route. If you plan and ride as a team, you suffer the negatives of a team. i.e., if one can not continue both are out of the competition! If one suffers a mechanical, the other rider must stay with the broken cycle until fixed. If not fixable, both DNF.
Bruce also asked: “I kinda would like to try it “Old Skoolâ€, with as little electronics and extraneous equipment and gear as absolutely necessary.”
There were several “Old Skool” attempts. Get the DVD to see how that worked! 🙂
Mark F says
Interesting. I once rode straight from Fargo, ND to Denver, CO straight through and then from Denver, CO to Mandan, ND straight through. This was on an older CX500 Deluxe. That was about 1,000 miles each way. I can tell you that was not an easy trip so to do it 11 days with 1,000 miles each day is a hell of a difficult task.
Lisa Landry says
Mark
I agree that was one tough ride on the CX500!! One of the things covered in the DVD is how riders prepare themselves and their bike for 11 long days in the saddle. You also see many different set ups on different types of bikes – GPS, custom seats, hydration systems, aux fuel, etc. A whole new world of options to make long miles much more ‘doable’ no matter what bike you ride.
Rich Peabody says
I wonder when the IBA began….In 1982 (maybe-’83 for sure) Gary Patterson ran a 1000/24 ride from his shop (Montgomeryville Cycle Center [PA]). He called the event “Ironbutt”. I had supported three 1000/24 rides from my shop in Bedford, Ohio, but the people that verified the miles and issued a patch / certificate was the Forest City Riders from Illinois.
In my youth, I rode back to back toback to back 800 mile days on a 1981 GW…but the thought of 11 days @ 1000 per daunts the Hell out of me.
I may buy the book!
Jeff says
All,
If anyone is interested in getting their feet wet in this type of competition there are many groups around the country that sponsor 1000 in 24 rides that follow the same format as the Ironbutt. Also, I believe that the successful completion of such an event is a must to be considered for the Ironbutt.
hoyt says
thanks, Dean….
all of the “no’s” below is what I was hoping for and expecting.
“Hoyt,
The DVD “Hard Miles†covers all the questions. At this time visible sponsor promotion is not allowed, no pit crews, no prize money, no umbrella girls, no chase vehicles; the original concept was one rider, one motorcycle, and one incredible task.”
chris says
No girls?!?!?! I’m not interested.
Kasey says
As an active motorcyclist and with my 65th Birthday rapidly approaching I’m going to buy myself a present… and I can’t think of a better one than the Hard Miles DVD. No, I don’t aspire to do the IB but I have enormous admiration for those who “have the stuff” to do this ride.
I don't go "5" over. says
Didn’t another rider just do 7 Butt Burner Gold’s in 7 days? I read it in one of the rags recently. Some dude named Child? I read that he took donations for gas, food, bike parts to make his all possible. Did you do that or did you fund it all yourself? Nice work…you seem like a real stand-up guy.
Jason Meyer says
Talk about missing some of the best riding/scenery in the world by skipping the hwy 101 up the pacific coast and through Redwoods……!!!!!!