IBR Question, for those in the know

[TriggerT]

I was reading some of the reports from the 2007 IBR, and one persons reports mentioned how he purchased a new bike to run in the IBR. That got me thinking about how new / old is the ideal bike to run in the IBR? I would think you would want to have over 10K miles on a bike before you tried to run it in the IBR, but at the same time, I don't think I would want to be entering on a bike that had over 100K miles on it. So I was just wondering what the sagacious people here who have done the IBR's feel is the ideal mileage to start out with on a IBR.

Just another stupid random thought brought to you by TriggerT.

 

[jwhite518]

So I was just wondering what the sagacious people here who have done the IBR's feel is the ideal mileage to start out with on a IBR.

I'm an 09 IBR rookie so strictly speaking I shouldn't be answering your question. However I plan on riding my 12 year old BMW with over 100K on the odometer. My rationale is easy: It's the bike I own. I'm the original owner and I know its entire history. I have no reason to think it can't handle the IBR. I wonder if I can handle the IBR. :blink:

I believe many riders have completed the IBR on bikes with >100K on them. WC can fill in the blanks here.

 

[Ignacio]

It's not miles....it's maintenance.

There are some bikes (especially BMWs) with over 300,000 miles and anecdotally may be more trustworthy than new BMW's with final drive issues.

That said...some of the bikes that are 30+ years old that may have basic metal fatigue questions and electrical systems of questionable integrity might be an issue. Those folks balance the nostalgia and personally nuanced knowledge of their creaky beast the best and may be just fine.

The question is whether FJR's are going to be able to hold up over time. To the positive Skooter has the high mileage FJR and hasn't failed yet we saw some wire corrosion on an '03 that was troubling. Or some of us learned the aftermarket alternators need to have extra specail attention to the wiring to make sure they're as hearty as factory alternators.

I'd still rather have an FJR with 150,000 miles than a 10,000 miles BMW with a flawed final drive design.

 

[dougc]

It's not miles....it's maintenance.

That answer right there hits it squarely on the head.

Bikes that have finished an IBR run the gamut in manufacturer, model, and age/miles. Certainly there are preferred makes and models and you'll see plenty of them listed as finishers but the ideal bike is any worthy machine, no matter age or miles, that has been maintained in top condition.

dougc

 

[Warchild]

When I pulled up to the Start Line of the 1997 Iron Butt Rally, my ST1100 had close to 90,000 miles on it.... but as others correctly observe, it's the maintenance history on the bike that is most important.

It's generally considered ill-advised to run a relatively new/young bike in the IBR; you want one with enough miles on it to have adequately demonstrated steadfast reliability. Even the normally ultra-reliable Hondas can develop a problem or two; I know, I've seen them at Tech Inspection.

I would think that 10K mile guideline would be as low as you'd really want to go.....

 

[LDRydr]

How new (mileage) was the Victory Vision that ran last year?

 

[rickcorwn]

How new (mileage) was the Victory Vision that ran last year?

I heard some one say it had 40K on it, I could be wrong :blink:

 

[Warchild]

How new (mileage) was the Victory Vision that ran last year?

I heard some one say it had 40K on it, I could be wrong :blink:

I seem to recall Andy saying they put a fair number of miles on the bike just prototyping stuff, etc, before the event. Don't remember the specific mileage, but it was noteworthy, IIRC.

 

[Ryan]

That got me thinking about how new / old is the ideal bike to run in the IBR? I would think you would want to have over 10K miles on a bike before you tried to run it in the IBR, but at the same time, I don't think I would want to be entering on a bike that had over 100K miles on it.

My K75 started with 122,600 miles, but it was the last of the old BMWs with a simple final drive.

I would think the ideal would be a bike you've spent a year or more with, and 15-30,000 miles. It gives you time to set up the bike to fit you ergonomically, and to learn about what kind if maintenance/attention it needs, tire life, et cetera.

John

 

[TriggerT]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I just assumed that all of the IBR rally entries would be fanatical about the maintenance on their bikes.

Like I said, this was just a random thought that occurred to me the other day, while dreaming about riding instead of the doing the work my employer pays me to do.

 

[jwhite518]

while dreaming about riding instead of the doing the work my employer pays me to do.

You just described my life.

 

[SkooterG]

My 04 FJR had just shy of 112,000 miles at the start of the 07 IBR. Tobie Stevens' 03 FJR was just a few hundred miles below that on the starting line.

I even have a 2nd 04 FJR that at the time had less than 20,000 miles on it. Many thought I was crazy for not riding that one in the IBR, but the Dirty Ol Whore high mileage FJR is my primary steed, the one I prefer, and I had complete confidence in it. '

I have been fortunate enough to be selected for the 09 IBR. My intentions are to once again ride the Dirty Ol Whore FJR and not the lower mileage one assuming it has not given me any reason to doubt it's reliability, or my confidence in it. I figure by the time the 09 IBR rolls around, it will have somewhere between 160,000 and 180,000 miles on it. Would love to be able to turn 200k during the next IBR, but I am just not going to be able make that mark.

 

[Brian R]

My 03 Vstrom had over 50K on it when I lined up last year. It took me 23K to figure the bike out before 05 and then I totaled it. The next 30K were spent getting it ready and shook down properly before 07. As Ignacio said - it is the maintenance history and I do my own.

Brian R.