Iron Butt UK's End to End

[thrang]

I've been thinking about joining the Iron Butt Assoc, UK, and their entry level event is the Lands End to John O'Groats End to End. I'm toying with the idea of doing it in August, and was wondering if anyone else had done it what advice they can give in relation to paper work etc, or if anyone was mad enough to be interested in joining me?

http://www.ironbutt.co.uk/end2end.php

Given how much motorway basing would be involved, although I'm not afraid of taking the Bimbo I don't think I'd like to put her through 850 miles, 400 of which would spent on Motorways it, so currently I'm looking at taking my R1200.

Thanks
Tony

[montmil]

Didn't Edward Turner and friends once do this ride on small caliber Triumphs? Of course it wasn't done in 24.

Go for it Tony. Your R1200 is well suited. You? Take a good supply of what USA Iron Butt veterans use... Monkey Butt powder. Yes, there is such a product.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

I'm also told that Boudreaux Butt Paste is also pretty good stuff.  www.buttpaste.com
The distance from John O'Groats to Lands End is just a bit shorter than the distance from Brownsville, TX to Texline, TX at 896 miles.
https://www.google.com/webhp?source=search_app&gws_rd=ssl#q=distance+from+brownsville+to+texline
That's on my bucket list to ride, but not at this time of year.  Temps are running close to 100F daily.

[motoboy66]

Kinda has me interested but I do only have the r65 in brat trim at the moment! Shame i still don't have the GSXR1000. Or the VFR. Oh well.

[thrang]

I've been toying with the idea of doing doing an IBA-UK ride for a couple of years, but in the past I've usually been tied up with OU summer school teaching during July & August. Now I only work part time I am in the happy situation that I can (assuming she who is to be obeyed's gives her approval) just bugger off an go for it when the weather looks good for 60 hours.

I'd be tempted to go for it on the Bimbo with some company Craig. The Bimbo might be getting on in years and miles but she's more than capable of doing the trip and in many respects probably in better condition mechanically for it than she was when she left the factory. Having done 20k miles since the rebuild she's fully run in and with modern material technology, and fluids she runs like a Swiss watch so the most likely component to fail would be my arse trying to sit on an LS seat for 1800 miles....

[motoboy66]

Mine is just running in after the rebuild with only about 150 miles on the piston rings. Biggest question is are you prepared to spend the journey listening to my obnoxiously loud pipes Tony?!

[thrang]

I don't mind loud pipes, that's what ear plugs are for However I would not recommend a 900 mile pretty much no stop trip including 450 miles on motorways on a motor with anything less than 2.5 K on it, just in case something goes tits up. When you think that that once you get North of Stirling phone reception gets pretty crappy and in places its a long walk  up a hill to get a signal if you need to get recovered.  

[motoboy66]

Better get her run in then! I have a few trips in and around my neck of the woods planned so hopefully won't take too long.

[motoboy66]

So my 250 mile round trip didn't go well. I lost count of the amount of times I had to stop on the way down, including taking a non motorway route due to high speed fuelling problems. I had managed to resolve it by the way back but it was still not fun over just the 80 odd miles of motorway. I will have to get back to you when a more suitable machine comes my way!