I see you guys are looking for me.
I did do an Iron Butt Saddlesore 1000 on my Bullet. I haven't ever bothered to send in the recipts so it's up to the individual reader whether it counts to them or not...having been through it, it certanly counts to me. (And now I may just get off my butt and send the folder to IBA)
Here's the write up I did at the time....the trip was a lot longer than the original 1000 miles...I'll post the whole thing.
Chapter 1. SaddleSore 1000 - NY to MN
First things first. Sorry for the delay in sending this. I returned Friday but just couldn't get my mind around writing it up till now. The report may ramble a bit, so if I miss anything or if anyone has any questions, please send them. I decided to break the trip report into three parts as it was getting kind of long. This is the Saddlesore 1000 part.
I would be seriously remiss if I didn't start by thanking Peter Askey at Uncommon Motorcycles and Kevin and the whole gang at Classic Motorworks.
Without their generous support (and my knowing that I would disappoint them if I didn't give it my all) this trip would not have happened. Special thanks to Jim at Classic for the wrenching assistance.
The Plan: Travel from my home in Rochester, NY to Classic Motorworks in Faribault, MN in under 24 hours to qualify for a "Iron Butt Association" certified Saddlesore 1000. This is the 'entry level' qualification for this organization which promotes safe long distance motorcycling. After completing the SS1K, travel north then east along the top of the Great Lakes till I reach the end of Lake Ontario then turn south and then west for home. Do it all within 100 hours to also qualify for a "Great Lakes Challenge" from the IBA.
The Preparation: Bike was purchased from Uncommon Motorcycles and delivered July 3, 2006. A careful break-in followed with progressively longer rides for the first 1800 miles. Bike is stock Bullet Classic with solo seat, free flow muffler and rejetted 28mm Micarb, windshield (thanks to Peter), home-brewed throttle lock and full size headlamp.I added a tankbag and saddlebag/pillion bag setup all from Nelson Rigg. I carried the basic toolkit, spares for the cables and a tire tube, rain gear and an extra quart of oil. A sheepskin 'buttpad' from Alaska Leather topped the solo seat.
The Trip: At 3:30 PM East Coast Time I left Rochester and headed west towards Minnesota. I traveled on I-90 almost the whole way, staying in the right lane and traveling between 55 and 60 mph. I wore a yellow/black rain jacket with a bunch of reflective tape on it to keep from getting run down from behind. It worked but it was a less than perfect plan. One eye on the road, one eye on my mirrors for the next 22 hours. Trip got off to a less than auspicious start as I noticed oil on top of the crankcase after about 30 minutes on the road. No reason to stop could be seen when I shut her down and took a look at the situation but it was to concern me most of the trip.
Weather was great for the first roughly 500 miles and traffic was very light. I kept a close eye on my oil level and added about 1/10 of a pint at each stop. Gas consumption ended up around 55mpg for the first 1000 miles and top speed attained was 63mph. Bike could have gone faster but I want to keep her beyond this journey. Heavy rain outside Chicago tested my resolve and I did take a nice 1/2 hour breakfast break at a rest stop in Belvedere, IL. Rain got me again in Wisconsin and I was in and out of it until the Minnesota border. A quick run past Rochester, MN and up I-35 from Owatonna to Faribault and I was there. I got gas to get an ending receipt and had Jim at Classic sign my end verification at 1:15 PM Central Time. Some minor wrenching on the bike and we agreed to meet the next day at Classic when they opened. Kevin put me up for the night at a hotel with a Hot Tub. He is a Man among Men.
Things I Learned: *That* wasn't easy. Bike ran well despite the oil leak that we sorted at Classic (plugged breather line). Bike got 55 mpg fully loaded. A chain stretches significantly in 1000 miles if it's relatively new. Oil leaks, while scary, shouldn't stop you-just keep it topped off, press on and fix the problem when you are able. The RE design, while dated, is capable of amazing endurance. Don't be afraid to take your Bullet on a long journey...I'm typing this from home and it got me here.
Next: The Journey round the Lakes.