ST1300s in Ironbutt Rally

[Biggles]

This is the Rally webpage header photo



Here's one of the ST riders at the first Check-in:



And here are two others:



Great to see these heavily-farkled STs doing all owners proud in a harsh environment.

If you would like to learn more about this year's Rally (which is at the halfway point), go to
http://ibr.wvi.com/
and read the reports and see the photos.  There's a lot to see there.

[Sicman]

Great Post Biggles - Great machines at their best   

[Biggles]

The results are in.  The STs did very well.  The most common bike is the FJR1300 with BMW R1200GSA second, but at least 2 of them had major breakdowns, a feature of every IBR- usually final drives.
There were 100 entrants, with 4 not even starting.  There were 25 who didn't finish for all sorts of reasons, sometimes health, a few accidents and some breakdowns.  In a Rally this challenging, just to be a Finisher is extraordinary.
The sole ST1100, a 2002 model, came in a very laudable 42nd.
The ST1300s were:
3rd (2012)
16th (2007)
24th (2012)
47th (2012)

Three were DNFs, a 2006 and a 2012 model.

Of the four  Australians participating, only one was a DNF, and that wasn't because of a low score, as she had more points than last and second last.  They came in 37th, 63rd and 64th.  It was the second attempt by the one at 37th.  Undertaking this challenge in a foreign country adds a whole extra level of difficulty.

You can read the details here:  http://ibr.wvi.com/ibr/2019/2019IBR_Friday28_Finish.pdf

[alans1100]

I'd sure we could do something like this over here and probably better than the US

[Biggles]

I'd sure we could do something like this over here and probably better than the US

We do.  I've competed in three.  I won one here in Queensland in September 2015.  That one was organised by the FarRiders.  There was one last year in NSW in October run by IBA that I missed out on participating in.

[STeveo]

Credit would have to go to entrant Dylan Spink who placed 10th riding a 1983 Silverwing (CX500 with a fairing) and second oldest bike entered after the 1974 Suzuki GT750 (but DNS).
Well done to all.

[Williamson]

Iron Butters must be a hardy bunch, certainly with a harder butt than me.  But I don't understand the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and so on business, sounds like (to me) that it is some sort of competitive event, which is not prudent to me.

Perhaps Bill can explain the ranking system.

[ST2UP]

Great read thanks Bill....

[Biggles]

The ranking is based on points scored.  You earn points in many ways, not least of which is documented rest stops.  The most common ones are photos of nominated locations, often in designated time-slots.  Others include"phone-ins", again at specified times.  The Rally staff (and there are dozens of them, it's an expensive venture) monitor SPOT movements and speeding will incur disqualification.  It's a matter of skill to piece together the routes that score the most bonuses in the timeframe.  There are programmes that help plan these convoluted routes, such as Basecamp.  People develop massive spreadsheets with macros that operate in iPads on their tankbags or purpose-built mounts.  It pays off much better to be efficient than quick.

[alans1100]

The Rally staff (and there are dozens of them, it's an expensive venture) monitor SPOT movements and speeding will incur disqualification. 

Not having or needing a SPOT thing would leave me out then

Credit would have to go to entrant Dylan Spink who placed 10th riding a 1983 Silverwing (CX500 with a fairing) .

I looked at a Silverwing (more like a mini GL1200 Goldwing of the time) in the early 90s and ended up taking it's sister the CX500TC (Turbo) which was sitting next to it.

[Biggles]

Not having or needing a SPOT thing would leave me out then

A SPOT isn't a prerequisite for the Australian ones I have been in.

For the Ironbutt Rally in the USA, the cost of a SPOT would be the least of your expenses.  The entry fee, as I recall is US$2500 and riders spend thousands setting the bikes up with long-range tanks, top-of-the-line lighting and sophisticated electronics.  Just getting there, getting a suitable bike, and riding around familiarising yourself with the country costs a bomb.  Most foreign riders participate in one of the many rallies on offer to build experience.