| Author | Message | ||
     Bienhoabob |
I've signed up for two Iron Butt events. The first one is in May and is called the RAT run. It's a 3112 mile ride around Texas (http://www.mctourer.com/rides/2006FFRAT/index.html) I'm going for the RAT Insanity Gold award. That's the 3112 miles in under 70 hours. Cann't wait to sleep on picnic tables in the middle of nowhere. The other ride is called Buttlite IV event that will be held in Aug. (www.teamstrange.com) It's a seven day event that promises 1000 miles + for each of the seven days. Of course I'm going to take the Uly. Here's how I prepared the bike so far.  Typical buell-ti-ful black Uly  Garmin 2610 with RAM mounts, that plugs into the dash power outlet  Set of Motolights for night driving  Vented 3.5 gal Tourtank, It's mounted inside the Buell tour pack. 3.5 gal @ 6lbs = 21 lbs. There is a warning inside the tour pack of not exceeding 11 lbs. I reinforced the bottom of the tour pack with steel strips. Hopefully my creativity will do the trick. I don't see anything working loose over the long hauls. Everything is rock solid. There is not any safety foam to prevent sloshing at the moment. My theory is the tank will be filled or empty during the events. Once the reserve light comes on, I'll switch to the Tour Tank and fill the frame up again. It's gravity fed and should take about 10-15 minutes to become empty. I aux tank feeds into the Buell drain plug (Thanks Bison and Loveall13) I also installed a set of quick disconnects to the fuel line above the drain plug. This way I can connect/disconnect the tour tank whenever I want to. I've only had one little test drive at the moment, and everything worked perfectly. Now I'm in an Arctic blast and wonn't be doing any riding until the weather breaks.  View of the front with 16" CeeBailys windscreen and Motolights.  Underneath the tour pack. Drilled a hole for the fuel line, bottom mount braces and fuel filter.  Another view of the tank. I like the tank locked and out of view of thieves. I do loose some luggage space, but the side bags have plenty of room for me.   On/off petcock positioned under the left leg. The unwrapped tube is the overflow line that is tie to the stock vent tube. That's about it. I'm still a novice at this long distance endurance events and any comments are welcome. Bob | ||
| Lowflyer |
Looks awesome. | ||
| Cygnus_x1 |
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| Biker_bob |
You overflow tube will have to go out the back behind your rear wheel to pass the Iron Butt Inspection. I don't know if those rides do the same inspection as the Iron Butt Rally or not. Simple reason you don't want to wreck running over your own gas. This is how I understand it. Nice looking install. | ||
| Odie |
Very nice! | ||
| Rubberdown |
Yer gonna need some longer wearing tires. | ||
| Brotherbuell |
Bob, You did a great job with this set-up. My only concern is that the 11 pound weight limit for the top case is not structural but CG related. I read somewhere that Erik dropped a Uly that he tried to wheelie because he was unaware that the top case was full of bottled water. Hopefully you will get some good weather to ring this out. Good luck with the rallies. | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Looks great. Might want to get some foam block to take up interior space in the extra tank. As the fuel level loweres, the blocks will as you know, keep the fuel from sloshing around. Ride Safe | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Thanks for the comments. There is not a formal inspection for the RAT run, but there will be one for the Buttlite IV run. Tires are a concern. I have to get a minimum of 10,000 miles or else I'll be changing tires during a rally. Biker Bob: I have the aux overflow tube tied together with the stock overflow tube. That should pass inspection. I think IBA rules are that overflow tubes can not drain over the exhaust or rear tire. If the stock set up will pass, then this way should also pass. Fuel in the top case is still a concern. If I don't use the top case, just mount it to the top case rack, I'll eliminate the warning label issue, but still have the sloshing issue. If there is a sloshing issue. When the weather breaks, I'll do some fuel sloshing tests. I'm all for safety. I do enough stupid things when I'm fully rested, let alone when I've been riding 20 hour days. I've sent pictures to Mike Kneebone, President of the IBA. He's going to take a look at the setup and provide some feedback. The last thing I want is to be eliminated at the start line. | ||
| Rhinowerx |
The fork mounted motolights look slick  | ||
| 2old2bfast |
I may be off base, but I think 21lbs up and in back probably still do far less to alter the CG than putting a passenger on the back seat... Assuming that you are not doing both at the same time, I could foresee a difference in handling, but really don't think it would be dramatic enough to make if unsafe... Awesome job nonetheless on all your prep efforts! Just my thoughts... | ||
| Henrik |
Looks great. A couple of comments; if at all possible, I'd suggest adding foam to the aux tank. Even when full, there will be just a tad of "slush". Now imagine yourself in a situation where maximum stability is key, and that tiny bit of slosh puts you over the edge. Far fetched, I know, but LD riding is on the edge, so anything you can do to improve safety ... Also, is it possible to route the aux fuel lines inboard of the frame/tail section. I'm thinking for added protection. If not, I'd suggest securing them further with long wire ties or similar. Henrik | ||
| Biker_bob |
Did you install the motolights yourself or have someone else do it? If yourself how easy was the install and any tips. I'm about ready to spring for them. Thanks. great looking setup. I think the reason they put the overflow in the back, is the most that could run out of the overflow in your tank is the part above the frame. With an auxiliary tank you could get the whole auxiliary tank running under your rear wheel. | ||
| Eor |
10,000 miles on a D616? I think you'll be doing quite well to get half that. I can't get more than 2500 out of mine. Hopefully with that kind of riding, they will last longer than I think they will. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Biker Bob: I did the Motolights myself. I'm a retired bean counter with mechanical interest, but not much skill. The Moto kit is well done. The harness is wrapped like the stock harness. Very heavy duty. Lights and relay switch are all plug in's. Very easy. One connection to the positive battery terminal, one to a ground, and one to a power source. I crimped into the red/white line that runs to the back power plug. I also ran the light wire harness up the inside of the forks and they plug into the main harness behind the windscreen. (Lots of room there) And the main harness runs along the same lines as the stock wiring on the left side of the bike under the air cover. I'm very pleased with the look. I finally understand the aux tank overflow tube, and will redirect it. Also the foam recommendation is making more and more sense to me. I'll change that too. I've had good luck with Avon Venom tires and have heard that Metzler 880's are also good. I'll make a decision when my tires start showing more wear. I'm only at 2,500 miles at the moment. | ||
| Soloyosh |
Eor's just doing too many burnouts.  I've got 4000miles on my original 616. Its at 5/32, new is 9/32. | ||
| Jim_sb |
I measured my D616 rear last night. 5/32" remaining in the center. A bit less remaining 3/4th's of the way to the shoulder. No burnouts. 1244 miles on the bike since new. First 500 miles ridden per the manual (very boring). Ridden normally since then. Using book air pressure spec. Not sure if I'll make 3k or not. The tires are okay on gravel roads so I may have to stick with them. I would gladly give up a little grip for longer tread life since I'm not planning on track days with this bike. If I were I could just slap on some M-1's and have fun. SOMEBODY needs to come up with a rear tire that we can ride for 5,000 miles and that has equivalent off-pavement capability. Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Aeholton |
I have 6700 miles on my original D616's. The rear is about ready to be replaced. I'm now deciding what to put on. Maybe I'll go with some of those orange and black Tomahawks! | ||
| Buelldualsport |
The Avon's are a good mileage tire with better than average wear life. We have used them on Sportsters, X1 and X3 Buells as well as couple of other touring type bikes. Ride Safe | ||
| Reepicheep |
JimSB... have you tried the Sync's on gravel? They do "better then I expected" on my 9sx, though that may be a long way from "good enough"... | ||
| Crusty |
I put a set of Avon AV45/46 tires on my M2 last spring. They've got almost 10,000 miles on them, including a 5,000 mile trip to Colorado & back, and they've got LOTS of tread left. I'm pretty pleased with them. However, I plan to try the Scorpion Syncs when the stock Dunlops wear out. | ||
| Loveall13 |
Bob, Great pictures, you did a great job. I wish I had thought of mounting my fuel cell like that. Too late now, my cell is already paid for and my mounting bracket is just about finished. I wander if whiffle golf balls will reduce the slosh everyone seems to be worried about. Fire trucks use something like that on a larger scale (basketball Sized). Just a thought (My cell has foam). jeremy | ||
| Rubberdown |
I only got about 4k on an Avon. | ||
| Stevenknapp |
I could get nearly 8k out of a set of pilot roads on my RT. They should last forever on the Uly. Also beware of the 880s. There are two versions, one is bias-ply and lasts forever. The other is radial and doesn't last as long. A friend found this out the hard way. | ||
| Chauly |
Bob, I wouldn't put the 880 on the Uly, if I were you. I have one on the back of my ST1100, and while it is wearing like iron, it sticks like nothing else---I mean Nothing Else! Everything else sticks better...  I have had excellent results with the Z4's in the past, now replaced by the Z6. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
I've been making some modifications to the original post, based on feedback. 1) I moved the Motolights up, to where the reflectors were. Originally they were mounted lower. The concern was that doing a wheelie/jump/pot hole the front brace may break off or the Motolights themselves.  2) The tank in the top case was also a concern. An enclosed top case may trap gas fumes. I have now provided ventilation. Two vents in front and two in the back. The vents are aluminum from a local hardware store, painted to match the case.    Tires are next, after I wear the originals out. Thanks for the feedback. Bob C. | ||
| Jim_sb |
Reep, No - I haven't tried the Sync's yet. We'll see. I'm not as upset about the rear tire wear as some of the other guys. I only got 3k or so out of a rear tire on my S2 as well. Some say it's my riding style but I blame the road.... Jim in Santa Barbara | ||
| Flynuly |
Bob, Look forward to hearing how your Iron Butt rides go. I have done a couple of certified IBA rides on the FLH but still working on the break in miles on the Ulysses. One week after delivery had to go on a 45 day business trip. Don't know why but I have been having a hard time concentrating on work this time. Thanks for reporting on your modifications. Tim | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Tim, Yes, I'm looking forward to getting out on the road again. I just ordered some end bars. There have been some good reviews on BWB. I'd like to see what exactly is behind me, not just that something is back there. I also ordered some tourtech handguard spoilers (?) in January,but have not received them. It's been so long that I forgot what they are called. Tires are still a concern, but I'm not getting the wear that other people have been reporting. After 2,700 miles the front still looks like new, and the rear is holding up well also. I'll be heading to Texas for my first IB/MTF event after the first week of May. It's almost 900 miles to the start, then at least 3,115 miles for the event and then back home. That should be a good longevity test for the tires. I plan on doing a ride report after the trip. At the moment, the Uly and all of the add-ons are working just the way they should. Hope to see other Uly riders at the events. | ||
| Jersey_thunder |
SWEET!!!...GOOD LUCK !! JT | ||
| Mb182 |
"I wouldn't put the 880 on the Uly, if I were you. I have one on the back of my ST1100, and while it is wearing like iron, it sticks like nothing else---I mean Nothing Else! Everything else sticks better" Try Dunlop Elite II's. Next to them, the 880's are superglue. I like the 880's on my cruiser but then can can't lean it very far without it dragging. Good wet road performance. that said i don't think i would want them on a Uly MB | ||
| Flynuly |
Bob, Wow 7615+ miles on a 616. When they are toast would love to hear how many miles you get out of them. I'm thinking, hoping to do a Alaska (UCC) ride on this bike possibly in '07 and right now tire wear is a issue. I don't have unlimited vacation time...yet, and as reported wear on the 616's leaves me looking for a replacement that will only require one tire change at most. Two extra days at a stealership waiting on tire replacement is a lot of missed miles down the road. Tim | ||
| Chadhargis |
You could strap a couple to the bike like some of the long distance adventure guys do. They bring tools and irons and take care of business on the road side.  | ||
| Flynuly |
That might be an option. Should I rekindle the centerstand debate.  Just kidding. Was actually thinking of putting a new set of Dunlops, Sync's, Avon AV45/46 (or something else if they become available) before hitting the haul road. If wear looks good might consider waiting until return to Fairbanks from Prudhoe Bay and then swap before returning home. 2,500-5,000 mile Dunlop 616's isn't going to cut it on a 10,000+ mile ride. Dear Santa I promise to be good this year if...*echo*SOMEBODY needs to come up with a rear tire that we can ride for 5,000++ miles and that has equivalent off-pavement capability. | ||
| Aeholton |
I got 7800 miles out of my rear 616. | ||
| Jim_sb |
Hello Chad, I have changed sportbike tires using "tar arns".... FUGGEDABOUDIT!!! For a long trip just buy some long lasting tires - OR - figure out WHERE you're going to need new tires - and find a dealership in the area in advance. Anyone who can change a sportbike tire should be able to take care of you. Adrian, if you ever got that Uly off the sandy beaches and onto pavement your tires would wear out sooner! 
Amen!!! Jim in Santa Barbara} | ||
| Lowflyer |
"I got 7800 miles out of my rear 616." Wow! I thought I was doing well at 5k. I just put Syncs on and cannot tell a difference in off-pavement performance. I am optimistic about tread-life, but I should know in about 6 months whether they last longer or not. I like how they ride on pavement. The bike handles better than new. | ||
| Chadhargis |
I got 1900 miles out of my D616 before I hit the wear bars. The front was badly cupped too. No burnouts, very few wheelies, and no long straight rides (mostly twisties). Not happy with the Dunlops. Now I've got Diablo Stradas mounted. I'll see how they fair, but they used to give me 5000 miles on my FJR, which was heavier, more powerful, and had a boat load more torque than the Ulysses. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Looks like I will have to put some LD tires on before the ButtLite rally. I wish that the D616 would last 12-15m miles. I wanted to pick up some bonus points on the dirt roads that most touring bike riders avoid. My mechanical ability does not warrant roadside tire changes. I'd spend more time changing tires then riding. Adv riders has a post going on longevity tires for the Uly. I'll keep monitoring that site as well as BWB site. It looks like I'm on the same wear pattern as Aeholton. That should work for the May RAT run. If not, I'll have to pick up some tires after the event to get back home. |
