2009 Iron Butt Rally... on a 33 year old rotary Suzuki

[Tony T]

I'm considering renting a U-Haul one-way to Spartanburg. The trouble is, I cant see how one would safely tie down a motorcycle in a U-Haul. does anyone have experience with doing that?

Same as with a pick-up truck, get 4 red ratcheting tie down straps from an auto parts store (or borrow them from a friend.) Push the bike as forward as you can in the truck and keep it centered left to right. Wrap a strap around each hand grip and then to the board on the truck wall. Then do the same for the rear of the bike using different boards.

Alternately, is there anyone in the area who would be willing to haul the bike and I to Spartanburg from Estil Springs for about $350?

You should start a new thread in the appropriate region for that, I bet you will find someone quickly.  

[Slonishku]

True on all counts. My worry re: a U-Haul is the strength of the tie down points along the walls of the cargo area. I'm not so sure that they're up to keeping a 600lb bike in place in a snug turn, such as a freeway cloverleaf or something of that nature.

[Tony T]

Then take more straps and overdo it using different boards. The key is having then applied in pairs going to the same points on both sides of the bike / truck. (I was a C-130 Loadmaster and therefor am anal about securing cargo.   )

I moved my Trophy in the back of a Uhaul truck from SW-PA to Chicago this way, 800 miles of interstate. The bike was placed behind all my other stuff aft of the wheel-wells. (A lot rougher ride than what you will have in a box-van.) I used two straps for the handle bars, 2 on the rear luggage rack, and to be anal, 2 more off the luggage rack run directly to the side using my third side-board. The bike never moved.

You'll be fine.  

[jwhite518]

Four straps worked for me. Did I say two yesterday? Oops. Note the Rally Placard in the photo - this pic was worth points!!  

[Slonishku]

OK then... I guess UHaul it is!

[Davo]

It's how Jerry does all his rallies, he even has one booked for this ride  

Oh no, that's right he isn't on a fail safe beemer now.

[Ignacio]

Owen to win, Earls to place......and Slonishku to show.  That would be a great trifecta!

Looking forward to seeing this beast in Sburg.

[Slonishku]

I'll be happy with a show... show up in Spokane as a finisher!

As a safety net, any of you along the route who have or know of any 70's or 80's vintage beaters for sale in the sub-$1200 range that are good strong runners... well, be ready!

PS: By along the route, I pretty much mean the entirety of Southern Canada and the Continental US.

[Slonishku]

By the way, Chili and I are going out of our minds. Less than a week until we fly out to Nashville to pick up the Beast in the East. In Spartanburg on the evening of the 19th, if all goes to plan.

[jwhite518]

I'll be happy with a show... show up in Spokane as a finisher!

As a safety net, any of you along the route who have or know of any 70's or 80's vintage beaters for sale in the sub-$1200 range that are good strong runners... well, be ready!

PS: By along the route, I pretty much mean the entirety of Southern Canada and the Continental US.

You can borrow my BMW free if it will help you get to the finish line. It's in SF and has good tires, but the battery might be a bit discharged.  Maybe I'll throw it on the trickle charger before I go - I might need it too!

[Slonishku]

Thanks, Jerry! Charging up the battery never hurts... it could end up helping either of us! You might want to put any miles between now and your departure on the Beemer rather than the rally bike!

Best to keep the option open either way... you never know!

[Slonishku]

I just spoke to Jess Stockwell. He's a lot happier with the bike now. He tore into the motor and sorted a few things out. My carb is in the ultrasonic tank now (in pieces) and getting re-rebuilt.

It turns out that the metering oil wasn't flowing to the carbs as it should have been. Having no frame of reference, I didn't realize that the previous flow rate was way too slow. Apparently, this would have killed the motor well within a thousand miles. Bullet dodged!

Odd thing. Jess expressed concern over the ability of the spoked wheels to carry 230lbs of me with gear +50lbs of gear +38lbs of fuel cell and suggested that I stick with the cast wheels for the entire rally. While ideal, I'm not sure I can unless I set up an actual tire change in Santa Ana, which I was hoping to avoid. Given, the spoke count on the RE5 wheels is low, but I would think that the bike would be designed to handle at least two people weighing in at 160 each with gear... anyone have experience with such wheel issues?

[Ignacio]

Have you explored choice of tires as an option yet?  Us FJR folks can't hope to make the whole rally on the typical tires we run daily....so we either stage a second tire or change or with a harder compound choice like Metzler ME-880s (tried and true) or Michelin Pilot Road 2s (several are trying this year).

I rode 10K in '07 on a single rear tire and although it cupped and made noise it had at least 5K more more tread after that.  I rode and won SPANK 2008 on an ME-880 as well.  And, I'm running the same thing again this year.  Not sure about the choices for your bike, but maybe worth checking?

[jwhite518]

Great advice.

Besides, does that thing even lean over? Heck, run a car tire.

[Ignacio]

Besides, does that thing even lean over? Heck, run a car tire.

Don't tempt Luke with going to the dark side!  You see how it worked out for his father...the man lost most his limbs, had to wear a breathing suit, and got talked about behind his back constantly.

[r77toy]

I'll be at the checkpoint in Santa Ana with some drainpans. If you want to change tires or wheels PM or email me.

[Slonishku]

Way too late to think about going to the dark side now!

I'm doing my last bit of packing tonight and tomorrow morning. It's hard to believe that I'm leaving home for the IBR in just a few days... I'm getting excited, anxious, nervous... you name it. Hopefully I'll have my bags ready to go by tomorrow afternoon. I was making some adapters to fit a set of Givi E36's to the RE5 instead of the old school fiberglass sidebags, but decided to ditch that plan given that I would have no way to road test the new mounts ahead fo the rally.

I just got word from Optics Planet that my final order has been delayed, so I won't have my back up set of Etymotic ER6i headphones. Nor will I have a power supply for my back-up GPS (A Garmin 2610). Cie la vie, I suppose.

Other than that, everything seems to be shaping up nicely!

[Orson]

 

[Explorer]

[Black Ice]

Give 'em hell, bro!  I'll be following the IBR dispatches with great interest.