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BBG Help From the IBA Guys

3K views 33 replies 14 participants last post by  kniterider 
#1 ·
I did my 2nd SS1000 this past Saturday. Again in just under 17hrs. I haven't rushed during these rides and don't plan out my gas stops. Just kinda start looking for a gas station at around 185-200 miles or so when getting low. After I fill up using cc I pull up to the station and go inside to get me a bottle of water. Drink my water, eat a little beef jerky, pee, then back on the road for the next 200 or so miles. My gas stops are 20 minutes or less. I never stop for a meal.....just repeat the above scenario until the end of the ride.

Although I feel like I'm making good time while riding when I get back home and crunch the numbers the next day I find I've never been on BBG pace. I would like to maybe try a BBG this fall and would like some advice on making better time. The speed limits during my past two SS1000 have been 70mph with some 65mph mixed in. I usually travel about 3-5mph over. I'm just trying to figure out how to cut enough time off my pace to do a BBG??? I don't really "dilly dally" just eat, drink & pee then back on the road. I've read where most BBG riders have every gas stop pre-planned out but in my mind I don't see how this would make a huge difference.

Any advice from you successful BBG riders?

Thanks much,
Dan
 
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#27 ·
<...>I've read where most BBG riders have every gas stop pre-planned out but in my mind I don't see how this would make a huge difference.

Any advice from you successful BBG riders?
Well, how about advice from someone that's got the plans to ride one - as early as this fall... :D

8 minute stops max. If you do a bit of searching on this forum, you'll find a recent post from travel_man (Greg Rice) who just accomplished (pending) four consecutive BBG's

The general comment from amy who have been successful in this ride seems to be, simply put, how effecient you are when the bike is moving *and* not moving. There should only be a couple of reasons why the bike is stopped (bio-breaks and fuel); everything else should be accomplished as much as possible while the bike is moving.

I've got a ~1560 mile BBG planned in the computer. The roads I'm on, the fuel stops planned (with no aux tank) means I should be able to pull this off in ~23 hours, traveling no more than ~4% faster than the speed limit.

It's true when the big dogs preach "plan the ride, then ride the plan" - especially on a challenge like this. Obviuosly, the consolation prize is a BB1500, but that's not what we're after.

Luck to you on your ride!
 
#28 ·
Well, how about advice from someone that's got the plans to ride one - as early as this fall... :D

8 minute stops max. If you do a bit of searching on this forum, you'll find a recent post from travel_man (Greg Rice) who just accomplished (pending) four consecutive BBG's

The general comment from amy who have been successful in this ride seems to be, simply put, how effecient you are when the bike is moving *and* not moving. There should only be a couple of reasons why the bike is stopped (bio-breaks and fuel); everything else should be accomplished as much as possible while the bike is moving.

I've got a ~1560 mile BBG planned in the computer. The roads I'm on, the fuel stops planned (with no aux tank) means I should be able to pull this off in ~23 hours, traveling no more than ~4% faster than the speed limit.

It's true when the big dogs preach "plan the ride, then ride the plan" - especially on a challenge like this. Obviuosly, the consolation prize is a BB1500, but that's not what we're after.

Luck to you on your ride!
Just as a stress releaser.. I would carry at least one of those emergency fuel canisters from REI supply.. Amazing how much comfort that can help with when you are pushing thru a 30 MPH headwing in Texas. That can and has cut my Wing MPG down to 28 mpg.

That is why I had my custom AUX tank built for me to max out the IBA rules to include plumbing values
 
#29 ·
Big Bird, excellent advice.....I will plan a 1500 mile ride at BBG pace that way if I don't quite get there on my first try I will at least have a regular BB (haven't done one of those yet either) for my effort.

I'm getting prepared for this ride. I'm researching large capacity (2.5gal) hydration systems. I want something I could fill with ice/water before the ride and never have to refill again. It will need to have a bite valve as I wear a ff helmet. I think this will greatly improve/shorten my stop times because I will be eating/drinking on the bike not at the gas pump.

I will be doing an out & back ride. Leaning towards going to Hays KS and back via I70. Hays is 777 google map miles from my starting location. Only big cities would be St. Louis and Kansas City. If I recall much of I70 in KS is 75mph while the rest is 70mph. Thought about going South via I65 to Mobile (about the same distance) but leaning toward KS because I've traveled that way several times on trips to CO.

I'm struggling with purchasing a GPS. Mainly because I don't expect to do very many of these "extreme" rides in fact I may be perfectly content with just the one. I just want to knock the BBG off my bucket list and to be able to say that I've done one. I love long rides but gotta feeling I will mainly stick to the SS1000 rides. That Garmin 590 sure does look nice but dangggggg. That's a lot of jack!

Thanks to everyone for their tips. I'm getting psyched about this ride attempt.


Dan
 
#30 ·
I do water in a Butler cup (the big one). Also use those little MIO energy drink bottle things that you squirt into water for flavor (and gives a bit of a boost). Doesn't make me wired, tastes good (some are better flavors than others - but don't get the kool-aid brand drink flavoring - yuck!!). I have a camel back - never used it on the wing though.

While I'm not a big fan of using them - the 5-hour energy drink things do come in handy at times.

Regarding rest stops vs. the gas station for pee-stops - I agree with the no lines comment, but I've only had a delay occasionally, and if I really have to go - well the women's stall has a toilet and a door that locks - works for me. Besides - how many people are going to bitch to a 6 foot plus guy in a motorcycle suit and helmet? And it saves me an extra stop at the rest area - get gas, pop into the store and use the facilities, refill the butler with ice and water, away ya go.

For the gas pump - I pull in with the pump on my right side so I can lean the bike to the left onto the stand. I have a radio-knob key in the gas tank door so I don't have to pull the ignition key out. Open the door, my gas cap velcroes onto the bottom of the lid, my credit card is in the cubby, swipe and fuel. Get the receipt, write the bike odo and gps odo on the receipt, stuff them into my ziplock baggie in my jacket pocket - done.

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#31 ·
Just as a stress releaser.. I would carry at least one of those emergency fuel canisters from REI supply.. Amazing how much comfort that can help with when you are pushing thru a 30 MPH headwing in Texas. That can and has cut my Wing MPG down to 28 mpg.

That is why I had my custom AUX tank built for me to max out the IBA rules to include plumbing values
If this was to become a regular occurrence, I might consider an extra tank; I can't yet justify the expense.

On that jaunt, I will consider an extra gallon on board in a couple of MSR bottles.

I did read an interesting experiment that, once I have the bottles, I will do and that is verify the distance the bike will run until it runs out to accurately know capacity and range...within limits.
 
#32 ·
If this was to become a regular occurrence, I might consider an extra tank; I can't yet justify the expense.

On that jaunt, I will consider an extra gallon on board in a couple of MSR bottles.

I did read an interesting experiment that, once I have the bottles, I will do and that is verify the distance the bike will run until it runs out to accurately know capacity and range...within limits.
I just bought the 4 gallon aux tank from summit racing. for 125.00,, that and some help from a buddy in his shop and I have a new setup for my CTX that i will plumb in to the bike over the next couple of weeks .. Total so far about 150.00
 
#33 ·
That is why I had my custom AUX tank built for me to max out the IBA rules to include plumbing values
kniterider you seem to know this, but for folks who don't and might be spurred to action here.....there are rules and then there are rules. The rules for a cert ride require a stop every 300 miles. But if you're going to spec and build a tank, I wouldn't go with those. There are other rule(s?) for rallies. The one that springs to mind is 11 gal capacity, including all lines, etc. Don't trust my memory, check that, but don't build a tank for 300 miles capacity. Build it for the spec'd volume, then just stop every 300 if you're on a cert ride.
 
#34 ·
kniterider you seem to know this, but for folks who don't and might be spurred to action here.....there are rules and then there are rules. The rules for a cert ride require a stop every 300 miles. But if you're going to spec and build a tank, I wouldn't go with those. There are other rule(s?) for rallies. The one that springs to mind is 11 gal capacity, including all lines, etc. Don't trust my memory, check that, but don't build a tank for 300 miles capacity. Build it for the spec'd volume, then just stop every 300 if you're on a cert ride.
That is why the tank I had on my now deceased wing was exactly 4.2 gallons including the safety foam inside plus plumbing to keep just a wee bit under the 11 gallong rule sir.

Thats the tank that used while towing RAILS CT90 up from texas to Wisconsin... Lord i would have had to stop every 165 miles in some of those windy areas if I did not have that aux tank

Now on my CTX 1300 my new 4 gallon tank is no where close to max for IBA because main tank is only about 5.4 I believe but MUCH better MPG on this bike
 
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