Long Rides or Iron Butt

bikerbillone

3000+ Posts
Sep 28, 2012
3,002
1,405
Lakeland, FL
Name
Bill
I've not seen any posts about iron butts, or long rides on three wheels. I'm not interested in making an iron butt, but I find it interesting to read about them, and long rides as well. I'm a flower sniffer pretty much. Trikes have been around for a while now, and getting more popular, so I'm thinking those riders must be out there. Maybe trikers are so busy enjoying the ride, not much time to write about them.
 
I agree. The trikers I've met on the road tend to be older (I know, it's a stereotype) and more interested in the sights than a fast trip from point A to point B. Maybe at a younger age I would take the challenge, but only because the youngsters always seem to be in a hurry anyway.

I have ridden several thousand miles on the trike on a single trip, but spaced out over 5 or 6 days. Personally, I think it would be less tiring, physically exhausting, and stressful to iron butt on a trike than a two wheeler.
 
John and I have ridden right at - or over - 1000 miles in 24 hours (or less) a few times, but never pre-registered for an Iron Butt certification; we didn't know exactly that we were going to do it till we did it. On our 'big trip' out west, we rode from Grand Junction, CO, to Killeen, TX, cause we wanted to sleep in our own bed that night. Last summer, after the Rally in Maggie Valley, we rode up to Pittsburgh, PA, to visit family. From Pittsburgh, we rode to Louisville, KY, spent the night there and came on into Killeen. Not certain, but figure that second leg had to be around 1000 miles, and most of it was at night. Had a great time!

Usually we ride about 14 or 15 hours a day. Don't smell many roses, but I take lots of pictures! Don't mind leaving home after dinner, riding all night and going until it gets just too hot to go any more. (Sometimes we are still in Texas! LOL!) Rain, snow, sleet, hail, tropical depressions, tail ends of ice storms - we've hit em all!

Ah, the tales we could tell - and probably will, at the Rally!
 
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John and I have ridden right at - or over - 1000 miles in 24 hours (or less) a few times, but never pre-registered for an Iron Butt certification; we didn't know exactly that we were going to do it till we did it. On our 'big trip' out west, we rode from Grand Junction, CO, to Killeen, TX, cause we wanted to sleep in our own bed that night. Last summer, after the Rally in Maggie Valley, we rode up to Pittsburgh, PA, to visit family. From Pittsburgh, we rode to Louisville, KY, spent the night there and came on into Killeen. Not certain, but figure that second leg had to be around 1000 miles, and most of it was at night. Had a great time!

Usually we ride about 14 or 15 hours a day. Don't smell many roses, but I take lots of pictures! Don't mind leaving home after dinner, riding all night and going until it gets just too hot to go any more. (Sometimes we are still in Texas! LOL!) Rain, snow, sleet, hail, tropical depressions, tail ends of ice storms - we've hit em all!

Ah, the tales we could tell - and probably will, at the Rally!

That's pretty cool. We also have put a lot of miles on in a day & have rode in a lot of different conditions. Hope to meet up with you two , maybe this year in Eureka Springs?
 
My straight high mileage in one pop was 1612 miles in 32 hrs. On the opposite side of the coin, I went 200 miles once, ran across a town that looked interesting with a national park and stopped for night there to see the sites and hang out. In short, I don't always plan point A to point B. I change routes as I go along also. If I remember correctly, the town was Medina, ND. The ND Badlands are there (Theodore Roosevelt National Park). Was well worth the stop and loop through park.
 
I have done several back to back 1000 mile days on my trike. I also have custom Russell Day Long Saddle which makes it much easier. Last May I took a 21 day 7600 mile ride from Oregon out to The Tail of the Dragon, down to the Barber Motorcycle Museum, over to New Orleans, on to San Antonio, up to Carlsbad Caverns, then to Four Corners, on to Moab, UT, up through Salt Lake City to the Bonnieville Salt Flats, over to Winnemucca and back to Bend, Oregon. We put in three 600+ mile days to start the trip. We averaged over 470 miles a day. We also stuck in four rest days where we visited friends and did not ride. Doing that on a two wheeler would be tough for most of us who are getting up there in age.
 
I have not only done an IronButt on my trike but have the SaddleSore 1000 certificate from the Iron Butt Association to prove it! They talked like I was the first V8 trike to get one. When I get a chance I'll write about it. A LOT of planning & a lot of PAPERWORK!
 
I do a few long distance trips each year and this year I'm planning on doing a Saddle Sore 1000, if I can squeeze it in between my other trips.:)

I ain't young either - I'm 69 and still working 40+ hours a week which also limits my riding. :gah:
 
When I hit the road for a long trip, I usually do between 5-700 miles a day and usually try to stop before 5pm before the hotels fill up. I have done several days over 700 up to 950 when in the weather was great a early start on the first day. After that I don't usually leave until the local traffic has lightened up.
Tomg
 
Here's a tip if you are staying the night around a city. Stay at a motel on the opposite side of a city you have to drive through so you don't have to drive in morning rush hour traffic when you leave.

If I can, I usually try to stay at a motel a few miles past a city.
 
Last yr I did a 1345 mile day at the age of 69 an a couple of 1000 mile days.....love the high mile days.......did this on a Honda 12 RS Hisst
 
I have not done an Iron Butt however I have rode long rides just not certified. I have thought about it many times and just the other day told my wife that this year I was going to do one. I have mapped out the ride form central Louisiana to Dallas and down to Houston and then back to Louisiana and home which is a little over the 1000 miles. So, it is in the works and would love others to join me in the ride.
 
I have the details of a ride called "smell the Rosses" it is the Blue ride parkway from end to end starting off in VA. This ride was directed by a dear departed friend of ours. My wife said many times this 5 day ride was the best vacation She has ever had. Never made many miles in a day but we saw things that were a blure in the past. Jim set up interesting lodging all a short distance off the park way some even had chefts as owners who would cook what ever you wanted just call him and tell him your arival date and supper time. Yep my Phesent was great ! Some day soon we will do it again and if any one likes gental "smell the rosses rides " Your welcome to join us.:10:ThumbUp
 
I did the whole ride. Skyline Drive/BRP/Cherahola Skyway last summer on my way back from Rolling Thunder. I'm planning on doing it again this year since I had so much fun. Hope the weather will be the same. I had nothing but blue skys and warm temp - except the last 15 miles in which it POURED.


Everyone was pulled over on the overlooks, but since I was on my TriGlide, I motored on - a little slower but still moving. Even then I really enjoyed the ride. ThumbUp


Was a little concerned reading about the road being washed away in a couple spots, but they said the road will be passable during the repairs.
 
The summer before last I did a 9,200 mile ride in 30 days. Rode from Brevard, NC to Charleston, SC then to San Francisco down to El Paso back to New Orleans and around the Gulf coast down to Key West back to Charleston, SC up to Myrtle Beach and then back to Brevard. I called it my " Some day is here ride" I really didn't want to head home !
 
I have mapped out the ride form central Louisiana to Dallas and down to Houston and then back to Louisiana and home which is a little over the 1000 miles. So, it is in the works and would love others to join me in the ride.

Figure about 17 hours, + or - as that seems to be the norm. Limit gas stops to 10 minutes and a short lunch.
 

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