MTF  50/100CC Iron Butt Association Ride Chuck Wilkins 50CC Ride Report March 2003

R1200C COMPLETES A 50CC

It was my great pleasure to complete a Coast to Coast Ride in less than 50 hours (50CC).

The ride sponsor was THE MOTORCYCLE TOURER’S FORUM (http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTourer/) on March 10 and 11, 2003, following rules of the IRON BUTT ASSOCIATION (http://ironbutt.com/).  This was a successful attempt to set a record for the most motorcycles completing this ride, with most going on to a consecutive 50CC to complete a Coast to Coast in less than 50 hours!  Check site for more information.

THE MOTORCYCLE:  1998 BMW R1200C    TROUBLE:  None

THOUGHTS ON A CC50 ON A R1200C

The BMW R1200C is not the best possible choice for this type of riding.  That is not to say that it cannot be successfully used with some degree of comfort.

TO BMW:  Fix the damn speedometer!  Its purpose is to tell you how fast you are going, not how fast you are not going which is all it is now doing.

THINKING SAFE:   I planned on NOT making it all the way on this ride!  I know some will think it bad not to have a positive attitude about finishing.   I was so concerned about safety, that I wanted to stop at any point I felt I was starting to slip.  Had I found it hard to maintain a steady speed, was not aware of where I was, etc. I determined to abandon the ride.   I urge anyone doing this to prepare themselves to not complete the ride.  If you think only about success, you may press on past the point you should!  When you start thinking about this type of ride, you do so with the thought that you can do it.  And you can, if all goes well.  If it does not, you should be PREPARED and LOOKING to stop.  I can say that I consider not going on when not up to speed would have been a greater success than finishing!  It would be much more important to know that you are smart enough to stop when you should.  Success in not to push through, endangering yourself and more important, others!

I did not advertise my going on this ride before I left.  Just a handful of people knew that I was going for it and most of them would have been happy to see me abandon!  They (and to some extent myself) would have found it a better success if I showed the intelligence to quit if I felt in anyway unsafe.  Any pressure to finish could lead to poor decisions.

SPEED/STOPS:  You want to average the highest possible speed that is comfortable for you, without attracting attention from law enforcement or riding unsafe.  This is a tough two day ride and you need to get on down the road.  Most of the riders on touring bikes rode faster that I did even though I was traveling faster than I normally ride.  They passed me a number of times.  I twice tried to pace myself with them, but it was just to much moving weaving through traffic for me.

Stops are a large part of your speed - stops cost average more than you will be able to add by going faster.  I saw a number of people who were riding faster than I was but were clearly stopping longer.  Their average was not much higher than mine!  The first day I passed the same 18 wheeler at least 5 times.  He did not stop, but I had to have fuel ever 130 miles or so.  I do not know when the first rider arrived in San Diego, but I do not think it was much more than three hours before me.  Three hours over two days is not so much!

I would have slept at least two more hours in my San Antonio motel had I known that I would have arrived in San Diego with seven hours left to spend.   Many long distance riders write about "power naps" but for me a nap needs to last 3 hours to be helpful.  I had picked six hours sleep from reading all the information available on the great IBA site and now know that 8 would have been better for me.  It would have me starting  riding at 6:30 am instead of 4:30 when it was rather cold.  I was pleased with my decision to have a motel reservation less than half way.  It was a goal that I could do and I was well ready for it when I arrived.  It was easy to find and I knew I had a room.

PLANNING/MENTAL:  You need to have a plan.  The plan should be flexible.   I decided very early in planning that I was not going to try to go to far the first day.  The reason for this are several:

• In reading about others ride on the IBA site I noticed that most did not get a good nights sleep before they started.   I thought this to be important.  I knew that I could sleep after 15+ hours on the bike, but did not want to chance trying to go long the first day and not being safe.  SAFE was a major part of my thinking for this ride.  By my planned stop  it was enough for me, even knowing that most riders were going farther.  I was 200 miles short of halfway, but it was the right decision for me.  I did make a reservation for a room, but planned to loose the cost of a cheap room if I later decided that I needed to go further.  Several others advised me to get to, at least, the halfway point before stopping.  I stuck to my plan.  It was right for me.
             
• Have a map, list or other means to know where you are and how you are doing on time.  At a gas stop, another rider on this ride asked me if we were to turn onto I-8 soon.  It was two states away!  I think he was in trouble.  Knowing that you have several minutes/hours to spend at a stop is key.  Looking forward to points underway helps.  Crossing the California border was a key for me.  The best riding was just ahead and I knew that if I could continue as I was, slower, stop for a nap or what ever.  I was going to make it.  I used a four page listing of places and mileage.  As the entire trip was on two interstates, a map was not necessary for me.  If you do not know where you are at all times, you may very well be riding unsafe!
             
• I rode East to West.  The second half is the "easy" half in my opinion.  After San Antonio the speed limit is 75 most of the way, until California.  Very little traffic and you can see great distances.
       
• On a R1200C, you will have to plan on getting fuel where you can in the West.   The Motorcycle Tourer's Forum provided a list of all gas stops on I-10 and I-8.  This was very helpful and I think I would have had some trouble without it.   With a small tank it is necessary to know where gas is available and to pay close attention.  In the East you can simply go until the light comes on, not so in the West!

COMFORT:  I think that the saddle should be improved before riding 15 + hours a day.  Rick Mayer's saddles work for me, but it is not 100% comfortable all day.  It does get hard at points and in hindsight I believe that the best way to have a seat done is to go to the makers and get a 100% custom fit.  Their experience in fitting would make for the best possible comfort.   I know that Mayer's and Russell do this.

I simply could not do this ride without a throttle lock.  Hand and wrist would not have held up.   I have a R12Cruize-lok that is available through www.Chromeheads.org.  At first it was very stiff and locked the throttle a bit to well.  After use I found it adjusted to just right.  Holds but it is easy to make adjustment to speed and very possible to shut off the fuel with a twist.  This is a inexpensive item that does the job.  If you have not used one, care and training are necessary and in a pinch, it could be a liability.

You need as many positions on the bike as possible.  Moving the back rest position, even a little, helps. Moving forward or back on the saddle give a feeling of have a new seat and can be helpful.  I have the ILIUM Sportboards and they work very, very well for me.  Them and using the passenger pegs  provided a lot of help, but I still wish for more positions and would work like a set of "hiway pegs".  I am seeing a new type comes out near where the spark plugs are and I am hopeful they might fit the bill, but the pricing seems steep.  As with most items I will wait until some others have tried them.

AREOFLOW:  It worked.  I used a set of their lowers along with a regular BMW screen and did OK.  While in California I got the rest of AREOFLOW’s set up  to use on my way back to Tennessee and it is very noticeable better.  Not at all cheap, but when you handle it and take a really close look, you see there is value here.  Some have said that a R1200C driver with a full AREOFLOW set is better  protected than on a RT.  I have never ridden a RT, so I could not confirm that.  I could not spend the $ that AREOFLOW demand until I had tried one.  One ride was enough to get me hooked.  If I never do a long, long ride again it will be overkill, but on a long days, it is well worth the cost.

I noticed that most of the motorcycles that are set up for this type of riding have music (Radio, CD, MP3, etc), GPS is very standard, radar detectors are common.  I am sure all are useful.  I did it without any of this, but mostly because I don’t own any of it.  Not much use for me to have, as I am not going to take this us as my normal type of riding.  I would like to get a GPS, but first have to learn a lot more about them than I know now.  Would also like to learn more about satellite radio.

THE NUMBERS:

OVERALL:  Jacksonville Beach, FL to San Diego, CA;  March 10 and 11, 2003

Total Hours:  43 Hours on the nose!  0604 ET Mar 10 to 2204 PT Mar 11
Total "on bike" Hours:  32  hours 24 minutes
In Motel Hours:  6 hours 45 minutes

Overall Average Speed:  54.74 mph
"on bike" Average Speed:  72.65  mph

Gallons of Gas used:  61.67
Total Miles Rode:  2354
Overall MPG:  38.17 mpg
Number of Gas Stops:  16

Day 1  Jacksonville Beach, FL to San Antonio, TX;  March 10, 2003

Total Hours:  16 Hours 41 minutes
Total "on bike" Hours:  15 hours 8 minutes

Overall Average Speed:  64.05 mph
"on bike" Average Speed:  70.6 mph

Gallons of Gas used:  27.79
Total Miles Rode:  1069
Overall MPG:  38.47 mpg
Number of Gas Stops:  7

DAY 2  San Antonio, TX to San Diego, CA;  March 11, 2003

Total Hours:  19 Hours 32 minutes
Total "on bike" Hours:  17 hours 14 minutes

Overall Average Speed:  65.80 mph
"on bike" Average Speed:  74.58 mph

Gallons of Gas used:  33.88
Total Miles Rode:  1285
Overall MPG:  36.89 mpg
Number of Gas Stops:  9


ADD ONS I FOUND VERY USEFULL:

Rick Mayers Saddle
ILIUM Works Sportboards
AEROFLOW Lowers
R12Cruise-lok

ITEMS I WISHED FOR ON THE RIDE:

A speed odometer that tells your correct speed
Full AEROFLOW set
"Better" back rest (more support)
Smaller diameter grips
Additional range fuel tank (2 Gallons?)

RANGE:  176 miles without fuel.  I then put in 4.64 gallons!

TICKETS:  None