Back from the IBR - Want to say thanks

[tel]

Now back home from Spokane and just want to say a few words.

I want to say a really BIG thanks to Mike Collins, who rode his identical '08 FJR from Portland to the second check point (1000 miles) to exchange wheels so that I'd have almost fresh tires for the last leg. That's going the extra mile. Tires were mounted by Jeff Earls and where perfectly balanced, the first set were put on in Spartanburg and I had a low speed wobble after about 3,000 miles.

Also, thanks to Hal who provided equipment at the check point and also helped Mike with the wheel change. Brian, also from this forum, who I'd never met before, changed my oil and filter.

Many, many thanks guys. You are what makes the FJR community so special.

I was truly wasted in Santa Ana. The heat through the desert for the last 3 - 4 hours was the worst I've ever experienced. At times my gauge read 117 degrees, anything over 111 was burning my mesh covered shins. Rode with Turbo for an hour in the heat, he was nestling a bag of ice in his lap and tossing cubes down his neck as he rode.

Quick congrats to all the FJR riders - Skoot was a machine and is definitely a contender, Iggy was right up there too and I wouldn't bet against him for a top 10 in any future rally.

The bike was flawless - never even gave me a hint it would do anything than what I needed. Dropped it on the ferry coming back from Chappaquiddick, just a few scratches and embarrassment for the rider.

It was also good to see other FJR riders at the checkpoints.

What memories.

Terry

 

[johnny80s]

We have a good group of people here.

 

[escapefjrtist]

What j80's says. Great group of folks here and always willing to go beyond the call. Witnessed the IBR finish in Spokane...glad I was there (surrounded by forum friends) to see the riders come in.

--G

 

[Bokerfork]

My hat's off to you and the other IBR riders. Not being even remotely familiar with the rally itself, I followed the link that Warchild posted and read every word with rapt attention. I'm not saying it lit a fire under my ass to join in the "fun", but it sure looked like an adventure I'd be interested in getting my feet wet in.

Congratulations to you and the fellow riders. I'm simply in awe of what you guys are capable of.

Mark

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

My hat's off to you and the other IBR riders. Not being even remotely familiar with the rally itself, I followed the link that Warchild posted and read every word with rapt attention. I'm not saying it lit a fire under my ass to join in the "fun", but it sure looked like an adventure I'd be interested in getting my feet wet in.
Congratulations to you and the fellow riders. I'm simply in awe of what you guys are capable of.

Mark

Fuzzy Balls!

 

[ssfd110]

Talking about tires. I mounted a set of PR2's in Spartanburg. I ran 11,535 corrected miles and then another 500+ on the way home and still have tread. They performed well in hot, cold and wet. I see no reason to ever purchase another tire.

Just an FYI

BTW, congrats to all the FJR finishers and I would also add my thanks to Hal.

 

[RenoJohn]

Terry,

It was great to see you at the finish. With all the fun chaos, I"m sorry we didn't get to share more dialogue -

AWESOME rally, It was a thrill to get the updates on you and then to see you at the finish and knowing you were certainly a finisher! That is awesome.

Congrat's and I can't wait to hear more details. I hope we cross paths soon.

...john

 

[turbodave_98]

I am back home in rancho

cucamonga and among the living after the IBR. want to thank all of you for the rooting and support, best wishes for safe riding during the 11 day adventure of a lifetime for me. I shall never forget the start of the rally, when full of P&V and raring to roll and the finish at Spokane when I thought the odometer on my AE was working in reverse.

I concur with Tel about the heat 4 hours prior to Santa Ana. It too wiped me almost completlely out of the remainder of the rally. I had severe heat exhaustion including cramps and nauseau which required me rehydrating for a full day before returning to the riding at hand.

could not regain the lost bonus hunting time which resulted in my riding the whole event but not gathering enough points to be a finishier. Life sometimes deals us a hand that is not what we want but what we earn. I feel good about my ride and did it safely. I was truly humbled to even get an opportunity to ride in the rally.

Thanks to all my friends and fellow FJR riders greeting us at the checkpoints. the support and smiles were very welcomed.

Specialthanks goes to KaitsDad for his special attention to final inspection and tweeking of my AE. It performed perfectly. got the whole rally done on one set of Metzler Z6s and no oil changes using Yamaha synthetic. the guys at Yamaha of Cucamonga get a great thanks for the prerally inspection and tuneups.

Looking forward to more rides on the greatest bike I have ever owned, my 06 AE, "Flicker"

 

[Niehart]

Dave, Terry, Mike, you guys just rock. Congrats :fan_1:

 

[jwhite518]

I am back home in rancho cucamonga and among the living after the IBR.

Turbo, it was an honor, a privilege, and a shitload of fun riding the IBR with you. One of my best memories is when we rode together to that bonus in Mississippi, or wherever the hell it was, and took each others pictures. Also I enjoyed seeing you roll out of Austin, MN as I was rolling in. How can I forget the time you saved my bacon at that courthouse? Best of all, I remember our conversation at the Santa Ana checkpoint, in the early morning. I count you as one of my best LDRiding friends. Was sorry to see you didnt make the points to finish, but you did the RIGHT thing by taking care of yourself. Now you are here to ride again another day.

Best regards,

Jerry

 

[ChrisW]

I remember this one. It was dark when I got there. I walked up to the tree line to take a leak and I swear something growled at me. I held it til the next fuel stop

It was good meeting a bunch of you folks.

 

[kaitsdad]

First, Congratulations to all of you who rode in the Butt - it's an incredible feat, bar none.

Second, I'm saying a collective "You're Welcome" to those I helped in Santa Ana. I'm proud to have done so, and am just amazed by your abilities.

Turbo, I'm so glad you made it safe. You looked like S*&T on a shingle in Santa Ana, I don't think I've ever seen you that whacked. Glad you did the safe thing on Monday, and did what you needed to do. That's why you were able to complete the ride.

Watching youse guyz roll in there, all of you no doubt extremely tired, and then focusing on getting those wheels changed out. And not one of you got "lefty loosey, righty tighty" confused, and no extra parts afterwards, and nothing fell off.

Here's to 2011 !! :fans:

Hal

 

[NMdcporter]

Gang,

It was a lot of fun and glad I did it. I had a blast and was glad to see everyone that made it to the finish. I also wanted to thank everyone that was helping at the check points. I was all set myself but saw a lot of people helping get bikes ready for the last leg. That was awesome.

It was also cool seeing everyone at the checkpoints taking pictures, riders walking up and asking how you were doing and if there was anything they could do to help. When I got to Santa Ana, I must have looked bad because after I stopped several people walked up holding plastic bottles of ice cold water (not sure who all handed me one but thanks) just shows what a great org we have.

Thanks again to everyone that was helping it really helped us I know.

 

[BIODSL]

The bike was flawless - never even gave me a hint it would do anything than what I needed. Dropped it on the ferry coming back from Chappaquiddick, just a few scratches and embarrassment for the rider.

Terry...I dropped my FJR twice during the '07 rally. The first was during a supercell thunderstorm while riding frantically to get out of that storm. The second was on top of Independence Pass when I literally forgot to put my side stand down. I had to wave down a passing car to get some help getting it back on it's tires. "You sure have a lot of stuff on your bike" the Good Samaritan said. No kidding...

Congratulations on your accomplishment...and low IBA number.

 

[101stpathfinder]

The bike was flawless - never even gave me a hint it would do anything than what I needed. Dropped it on the ferry coming back from Chappaquiddick, just a few scratches and embarrassment for the rider.

Terry...I dropped my FJR twice during the '07 rally. The first was during a supercell thunderstorm while riding frantically to get out of that storm. The second was on top of Independence Pass when I literally forgot to put my side stand down. I had to wave down a passing car to get some help getting it back on it's tires. "You sure have a lot of stuff on your bike" the Good Samaritan said. No kidding...

Congratulations on your accomplishment...and low IBA number.

Congrats to all! And thanks for taking some of the humiliation from me. I just returned from a simple 100CCC.

I dropped my bike near Pine Valley, CA trying to hydrate on a slanted shoulder. Fatigue affected me during a

simple slab run. I can only imagine the fatigue factor during an event such as the IBR! In 2011 I'd like to make

the check points, and watch the event from a different position. Once again- A Big Congrats!!! :clapping:

 

[Maura]

Congrats Terry!

 

[Bounce]

I remember this one. It was dark when I got there. I walked up to the tree line to take a leak and I swear something growled at me.

it was probably your gut; constipated after all those days of cliff bars and trail mix.

 

[Hello Kitty]

I met a ton of cool FJR riders and have some great memories of you guys. Jerry and Turbo at the motel in OH comes to mind. The clerk thought we all had more than a few screws loose. I'm not sure who she thought was the kookiest. Jerry and I took each other's picture at the library in GA where someone tried to ban Harry Potter. It makes children practice witchcraft ya know!

I'm at my mom's in Jersey right now and we just went to the local Yamaha dealer. The only FJR they had was the automatic, which I don't want and they had no brochures. As the salesguy told me - the brochures are free, the bikes are not so they go first. This is Monmouth Cycles on 35 in Middletown. Anyway, I was VERY impressed with the amount of women's gear they had in the store. I suppose the fact that there's so much still there (summer stuff) says that it doesn't sell very well - which is why many places don't stock much. Maybe some day...

I was so glad to see that I'm not the only one with a bike that likes to take little naps. It's been a while for me, and lowering it helped heaps. I think the only drop since I lowered it was in some deep, soft sand during the Cape Fear a couple years ago.

However, when I read the one about forgetting to put the sidestand down, I had to share this one. When I first got my license in 2000, I had a CM400T. LOVED that bike!! My husband had a KZ400. We stopped at a gas station - I was right next to the pump, he was on the other side of me. He got off his bike, I got off mine, but forgot to put the sidestand down! What a nice pile that created! He was completely helpless, under two bikes AND me! So I squirmed out and got my bike up and secure WITH the side stand down this time! As I start working on his bike and he's squirming out from under, the crowd of people watching the show FINALLY ask if we need some help! Uh, not now but thanks for watching!

This is but one episode in the (re)naming of my husband as Saint Walt. He puts up with a lot and rarely gets fed up with me.

 

[ChrisW]

I remember this one. It was dark when I got there. I walked up to the tree line to take a leak and I swear something growled at me.

it was probably your gut; constipated after all those days of cliff bars and trail mix.

That reminds me. Never accept the gift of leftover Chinese food from the clerk at a Super 8 motel. Trust me, even if all you had to eat in 36 hours WAS Cliff bars. :dribble: