| Author | Message | ||
     Bienhoabob |
I just saw this on a LD forum that I routinely read. www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=467812 Page 1 has the pre-ride narrative, page 2 has some of the troubles during the day. I found it very interesting, and glad I decided not to do it. Hopefully Dave will have a full trip story when he gets back. | ||
| Rotorhead |
Just got in tonight from KS. Worldwind tour from NY to KS dustybutt attempt  back to NY. This was the best Adventure to date on my ULY. For all those that say the ULY isn't made to go off road, it can and did and will continue to do so while I'm driving it. I did this ride to prove the ULY can do the same things KLR's KTM's and other 3 letter bikes can do. I'll post a full run down of my angle of this ride. Will nailed it pretty well. Take notice it was a Super Sherpa 250cc, a brand new BMW 650cc and my 1200cc FRANKENULY that was still willing to be riden. What a spectrum of bikes!!! It only proves that it is the riders adventurous spirit not the bike that makes this ride so much fun. (Message edited by rotorhead on May 25, 2009) | ||
| Rotorhead |
The Dustybutt 1000 is not quite like any other LD ride. On the surface it seems like an entry level Ironbutt ride. 1000 miles in 24 hours all you have to do is keep a 45 MPH pace. RIGHT!! The logistics invloved for such a feat is HUGE. The guy who did all the scouting and leg work for all the gas stations did a remarkable job. He ad a summer of scouting before he ever attempted the ride himself. The route had over 450 points, 8 fuel stops, 8 checkpoints and uncountable turns and spectacular views of the western plains. I wish I had taken some pics of the views but we were kind of pressed for time. It all started in Goodland, KS a cool town in western KS. They have this huge VanGogh that makes a great back drop to a ULY pic in the sunflower state.  | ||
| Rotorhead |
The next morning at 0300 we were all up and ready to take on the dirt roads of KS, CO and NB.  The stock ULY lights were not an option for such a ride. The fields of KS are DARK as in DARK DARK!! at 0300. Navigation is a hole new thing in the dark, off road and trying to keep a pace over 45MPH. I blew the first two turns and had to back track. The second blown turn I ended up in a field with on of those huge sprinklers soaking me and making the little bit of dust on me into mud. Lesson learned, keep the pace down and make the time back up in the light or I won't have a bike or body to make it to the finish. The route passed by Mt Sunflower the highest point in KS. Due to it being only 0400 I was assured by locals it looked just like the rest of the state. As the sun came up we were headed south and the speeds of the other riders were picking up. When I purchased my ULY Never would I have thought of doing 75 on a dirt road comfortably. It felt odd at first breaking the speed limit by so much but after the 4th stop sign I blew at 70 It got easy. Look right 2 miles nothing, look left 2 miles nothing, why even back off the throttle? What a machine we all own. from the curves of the Dragon to the plains of KS this bike really is a the Swiss Army knife of motorcycles. | ||
| Rotorhead |
So to the good stuff. I was on a pace to complete the 1000 miles in about 20 hours. Thats good 4 hours to have an issue. Then the issue showed up. A huge black cloud that had hail and lightning. Two things I don't ride in ice and lightning. Good thing about the plains of CO every miles square there seams to be antoher road to turn down. Thats what we used to ride around the storm to the next gas station. With the storm to our back and headed north the roads turned to crap. Literally almost like a corn poopy. Grandular soil held together with a smooth pastey clay.   A fellow rider did take a few bad spills on this stretch of road. 2 the bike was airborne. He was fine but at 65 I would have called it quits after the first wreck. The above pic was how I parked as fast as I could to help get the bike off him on the 3rd spill. Got to the mud, jamed the front break and rip the throttle. No need for the side stand. He was in a KTM and his left leg was stuck under the bike. He did let me carry his bags out to the next stop. They latched right on.  With the storm and roads going from bad to worse we all threw in the towel. We did the first 600 miles in 11 hours. The last 6 miles took us 1 hour so at that pace I'd still be in NB getting the bike out of the mud. We all had a great time even though the result weren't what we wanted. Things to do different next try (I'm think Goosebay or Deadhorse). Be in better shape. The dirt wears you out much faster than the road. Thiner front tire. The one I have handles just like I have a rear tire mounted up front. Wait I did!! Don't eat Mexican the night before the ride no matter how good it tastes. Scout the ride before I attempt the 1000 miles. If I had a few more days to ride the route prior to the 1000 mile attempt the navigation would have been smoother and the gas stops faster. If your thinking this ride is for you, IT IS!!!! DO it and get ready for next years attempt or make your own ride up. Truly the best time I have had on my ULY to date. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Awesome!!!!  Well written! Captivating! Jealous! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Awesome report! Amazing accomplishment! Wait, you mounted a REAR tire on the FRONT? Doesn't that cause a disruption in the space-time continuum or something?  That's cool about the KTM bags fitting. They look pretty nifty, but I can imagine they're pricey. | ||
| Hooper |
Corn-poopy-tastic! | ||
| Ulynut |
Looks like it was a whole lot of fun. That is the most sinister looking motorcycle I have ever seen. Thank you for posting. Go Amy! | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I think the Uly should feature the CR headlight module from the factory. That is definitely the coolest looking X I've ever seen. The front (errr...rear?) tire screams Mad Max. | ||
| Rotorhead |
The CR light is great and sheds a ton of light the stock doesn't. My wife said it looked like the combine from the CARS movie that chased Matter out of the feilds tractor tipping. My daughter says it gives her angry eyes all the time. | ||
| Royintulsa |
Did you change the ratios when you switched from belt drive to chain drive? | ||
| Court |
>>>>It all started in Goodland, KS a cool town in western KS. Makes me homesick . . . I did a ton or electrical construction work in the Goodland area, you may have seen the huge steel towers crossing I-70. Goodland also has a museum downtown with the world's first helicopter on display. Great folks, great place. >>>>Look right 2 miles nothing, look left 2 miles nothing, why even back off the throttle? How right you are. I actually put a temporary traffic signal on a bridge we were repairing once. The idea was to allow only one lane of traffic to pass at a time. Just for fun. . . I started driving down the road to see how long I could see the traffic signal in my rear view mirror with the flat roads. I lost sight of it at 11 miles. Bottom line is I used to be going 70 and never even slow down for the red light. But. . . .caveat here. . . . don't get in the habit. I was late to meet some guys near Gardner, KS one day and blowing down a dirt road with berms on each side . . . in a hurry I blew through a 4-way stop at the VERY SAME TIME as someone else going about 70 blew through at 900. I was in 1983 Chevy pickup and could see the color of the guys eyes as he passed about 12" in front of me . . . I missed his rear bumper by what looked to be less than 6". It was a lesson that stuck with me.  I love Kansas. (Message edited by court on May 27, 2009) |
