I Wanted That License Plate Holder...

[boogahboogah]

After seeing the IBA license plate holder, I realized I just had to have one. Decided to go visit Ma & Pa in Colorado after the BMW get together in Lima Ohio, so what better time to drive & drive & drive & drive ...

Started in Greenfield Indiana at 7:22 AM EDT, finished in Northglenn Colorado (North Denver) at 2:07 AM MST. Route 70 all the way to Denver, then North on I25. Finished the paperwork today & sent it in to the IBA folks.

Took my time with a lot of rest/smoke/soda stops, an hour for breakfast, hour and a half for dinner, and of course the mandatory six gas stops. My approach seemed to be more relaxed than most folks, I had somewhere to get to but was under no schedule to get there, so I tried to make the ride as low pressure as possible. Since I'm normally a night owl, finishing late at night was no big deal, except for making sure the night clerk at the hotel would witness for me. If I had driven another hour I could have had my sister witness for me, but since it was getting pretty late I wanted to err on the side of safety rather than chance getting groggy.

Miles: 1144 according to the odometer on the Feejer

Observations:

1) The further West I went, the more willing the drivers were to pulling over for a fast bike

2) Actually had to fight to stay calm in lousy Indianapolis traffic/construction/cager flood. I should've known better.

3) I got a free light show for the last 1/3 of Kansas and the first 1/3 of Colorado, seems a storm front was stalled on the Colorado front range & the lightning show (the massive 'out West' kind) was visible for all of that distance. The rain that followed as I got closer to Denver alternated between drizzle & light rain, so it was no real problem.

4) Family all gave me the 'you're really crazy' look. Even my sportsbike nephew!

5) Realized that a Russell would be required after the third gas stop (Kansas). Also probably the highway pags, as my knees got pretty stiff during the ride. I'll tell Santa about it this winter...

6) Peterbuilt trucks throw off the biggest bow wave

Would I do it again ? Yep ! Probably will plan a BunBurner for October or April '06.

Hope the IBA folks process that paperwork quickly (and the witnesses are stand up)!



[edit]

Oh yeah, I picked up the bike on May 3 and have 7900 miles on it so far... It's been great fun compared to the cruiser I used to have. Every cruiser owner should be _required_ to drive an FJR for 30 miles before being allowed to buy the cruiser.

 

[Ignacio]

The next dilemma you'll have is doing something like a Bun Burner Gold and putting on that plate, but hoping people know what "IBA" stands for or to somehow stack the 1,000 and 1,500+ plates like hashes on a uniform.

Congrats.

 

[Randy]

Congrats!!! You picked the right bike for eating up the miles.

 

[Toecutter]

Observations:1) The further West I went, the more willing the drivers were to pulling over for a fast bike

A lot of them probably think it's the HP. But it is cool. I have found the democrats alot more willing to step aside than the W's. YMMV

 

[radman]

I want one too. I am formulating a plan for this fall, super-slab to Dickenson,ND from my home in Rosemount,Mn, there and back should be 1100 and change. It's a cheater, but I am not up to more than that yet. You did well, and should be proud. I know I would be.

 

[snikr]

I've got one of those plate holders on my FJR and it does look REAL GOOD. Best bike to do it on as well. Got mine back about 7 weeks after I sent in the paperwork.

 

[sks700]

I sent my paperwork in Monday. Now I'm trying to decide which to do next. Maybe the Lake Superior ride.

Lee

 

[bikerbanker]

Congrats! Well done.

I want one too. I've started to assemble the farkles that will make the trip easier. If work ever let's up, I'll try one in September.

Jim

 

[opt8low]

Lee,

Let me know if you plan a Lake Superior ride and I will go with you. I have been thinking about this since last winter, but never really get the drive to do it. I figured that would be a good first SS1000. Something about a 1000 mile ride on a superslab that really don't interest me....

You have my email or PM from this site and I will get in back to you..

Let's do it, :agent:

Dana

 

[meosborn]

A lot of them probably think it's the HP. But it is cool. I have found the democrats alot more willing to step aside than the W's. YMMV

Nice try, being an *** isn't the sole property of any one party (or country, or race, or...).

 

[exocet]

I got mine on a KLR 650 with knobby's. It's long gone but the plate bracket is now on my FJR. Is that cheating? I kind of figured if I did it on the Feejer and then put the bracket on the KLR THAT would be cheating. I've still got the slick, err knobby, hanging in the garage

Jeff

 

[DrEvil777]

I did my BB ride in late June and the only thing that got me to finish was the thought of that license plate rack!

That and the fact that neither of my two older brothers who have been riding and touring for years don't have one!

 

[rogerfjrfaster]

Dr E

My wife doesn't have one yet and never will. Got mine last Oct.

rogerfjrfaster #21261 1k

 

[DrEvil777]

rogerfjrfaster,

I am lucky if I can get my wife on the back to go around the block!

She probably will never appreciate this two-wheeled mentality.

But, lucky for me, she is a great supporter of my passion.

She will actually turn to me on a friday night and say, "You've had a really hard week, you're not on call this weekend, why don't you go ride all day tomorrow."

The first time she did that, I had to look around and see if I was on Candid Camera! As much as I would love to share my passion with her, I am glad she supports me.

 

[zorkler]

you sure she did not crack one of your scrips for oxy and was flying a bit when she said that to you

 

[boogahboogah]

Well I got the official MKneebone email today saying that they have 'accepted' my documentation for the SS1K ride to Colorado back in July. Paperwork to follow in a week or two according to the email. Probably a little slow because of the IBR...

There was a deficiency in my paperwork for the Colorado ride, I didn't get a closing gas stop to validate my stop time (although my end witness remembers the time very well...). It was late & I forgot that one was required. In fact I didn't remember that until AFTER I sent in the paperwork for the Colorado ride. UHOH!

Soooo... since I REALLY wanted that license plate holder...

My business partner was having an anniversary celebration down in Key West the third weekend of August, so I figured I'd turn that into an SS1K ride too (1320 from home to Key West), just in case the IBA bounced the Colorado SS1K. Started in Richmond Virginia & finished up in Key West Florida. I had a good time doing the SS1K to Key West, made OK time, and really had a much more relaxing ride because the first ride let me realize that that 1K in 24 hours is really not a problem. First one was 22 hours & second was less than 21 hours. Stopped when I felt like it on the second ride, still not pressing to get good time, instead making sure I finish the run with no problems. Of course there were no FJR problems.

2nd SS1K observations:

1) Florida in August is hot hot hot! Wetting down the tee shirt underneath the mesh jacket lasts for 90-100 miles before it totally dries out. If I had to ride alot down there I'd get a drenchable vest (or whatever they call those water holding vests...)

2) I get more mileage after the sun goes down in hot weather.

3) Sleepy feeling or inability to concentrate means I have to stop for a break/food/drink/smoke.

4) FJR is a GREAT bike for LD riding. Have a problem with cagers? Just apply throttle & watch them dwindle away to nothing in the mirrors.

5) I need to install the blaster horns that are still sitting on the shelf. A SUV almost pushed me off the road because he forgot about me/didn't pay attention. It would've been great to wake him up instead of hoping the tinny plastic bleat of the factory horns would get his attention (throttle took care of the problem).

6) Freightliner trucks still throw off the biggest bow wave

7) Thanks to all of the LD riders on this forum & others. I now know that 800/900/1000 miles days are not a problem. My playground has tripled in size !

8) Still need to get a Russell...

9) Richmond Virginia is SPEED TRAP city. They mentioned an 'Enhanced Enforcement Area'. The signs didn't lie! There were more LEOs around Richmond with active guns than I saw on the entire trip up and back! They must use speeding tickets to pay their LEO payroll. And yes, I paid the price for not wanting to waste my time in cager bumper tag 'let me pass you so I can then slow down & force you to pass me so I can then speed up & ride your ***' games.

 

[sks700]

I'm still waiting for word on mine. I hope it comes soon.

Lee

 

[Bounce]

Congrats, man! Way to go!

 

[FastJoyRide]

Congrats - I did mine in May on the way to FJRTech and got the (so cool) plate holder in August.