K11 Owners Group

SugarHillCTD

Looking to go to my nephew's wedding in Colorado in June.

Mapquest and Yahoo Maps puts the distance right at 2000 miles each way. But the MAX time I can be out of the office will only allow for 5 days- 2 days going out, wedding day, 2 days back.

I know that most will be on the superslab. Years ago we used to live in the midwest and made frequent trips back east, so I know how boring it can be.

SO MY QUESTION IS................

Anybody done this on an RS?

Cathy thinks I'm slightly nuts. I'm thinking of it as a cool trip.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:52 am Post subject:

BTW, it will be a 1-up trip- 2-up REALLY would be nuts.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:59 am Post subject:

Sounds like an "Ironbutt" run to me. Isn't that like 1000 miles in 24hrs?
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Saltcreek · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:23 am Post subject:

Take more time off. Life is short.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

owrstrich · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:26 am Post subject:

mental fatigue and physical fatigue is you enemy...

the most miles we have ridden in 1 day was 720 miles... the longest day we have ridden was 18 hours... it was the same day... no slabb though... we were completely wiped out...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

larryb22 · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:44 am Post subject:

I have done 800 in a day(fell asleep once too). Lots of folks do 1,000. But IMO it can be a hazard to your health. Fatigue will make you careless and you're likely to get hurt. A friend of mine did the four corners in less than six days. Then again he's a bit insane. I can't see as how you could enjoy the ride if you're beating yourself. Then what about bad weather? Ride 80 to 100 miles per hour in the rain? Don't think so. Do the math and figure rest and gas stops and see what you average speed has to be. To get a thousand miles, you would have to average 63 miles per hour for 16 hours! Not impossible but you would have to be above the speed limit all the time to get that average.
You should add three or four more days to the trip and enjoy the ride.

Be safe,
Larry
_________________
2008 Yamaha XV250
S/W Michigan USA

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:47 am Post subject: 2,000 miles

So much is dependant on multiple factors.

I've done many days / trips like that on my 81 R100RS, but not yet on the K.

Your physical conditioning will ultimately be the limiting factor barring mechanical issues.

Pray for the best, plan for the worst. Fresh oil change & tires with 5K left on them.

Do you have an Aero Flow large shield, that may help a lot.

If you don't and you get near SE WI. and think you need one, gimme a call. I'll ride to you and mount it on your bike so you can complete the trip.

If you have the opportunity & you don't try, will you be able to live with yourself?

Think hard, it's a big trip, plan harder, it'll help, then ride hard & you can do it!
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

LordGondor · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:58 am Post subject:

I'd be most concerned with the trip back. One day's rest wouldn't be enough. Plus, you should check into road construction. I used to drive to Nebraska from New Jersey every summer and there would always be construction on the major interstates in the midwest. This cut down on our average MPH.
_________________
93 K1100RS
60K miles now. 30K by me.

HoosierStu · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:53 am Post subject:

I don't really see the point in doing over 500-600 miles a day. It's one thing if it's in a car and about getting to the destination, but it's another thing when you are on the bike. You are supposed to enjoy the ride.

It is very true that you are pushing some safety envelopes when you are covering that much ground in one day. My life motto is "Will I regret it?"

I don't think I will ever regret my choice to ride (even, God forbid if I'm in a bad accident). I might, however, regret having an accident while pushing myself to cover 800 or 1000 mile in one day - because it clearly adds unnecessarily risk.
_________________
"Still can't find 6th gear" 94 K1100LT

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:33 am Post subject:

Go for it. I did 2,400+ miles in 36 hours straight when I did my Iron Butt 50CC.

Go to the Iron Butt site and read their tips.

My .02:

Ride as far as you can the first day. When you start ti to feel sleepy, STOP AND REST. Even a couple of hours of sleep makes a HUGE difference.

Stay well hydrated.

Speeding is not the way to do LD riding. In the end, it only fatigues you more.

Take some sour candy with you. It is not a substiture for sleep but it does as amazing job keeping you awake.

Plan ahead that if you get to a point where it doesn't feel right for whatever reason you'll give up. It's just not worth dying.

Good luck.....
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:33 pm Post subject:

OK, so I guess I should have made this a poll- go or no go.

Thanks for everyone's input so far. Anyone else? The decision is far from being made.

I do have an extra tall aeroflow

And a Throttlemeister on order (OK, FD?)

Just mounted a new PR2 front and will be putting a new PR2 on the rear next week- so tire tread depth should not be a factor.

BTW, being an old Geezer- I do not "speed" but I do keep up with the traffic flow. I am NEVER the fastest vehicle on the road.
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Phil Marvin · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:36 pm Post subject:

Hi, John,
Drake says he has done 2400 miles in 36 hrs. I have done 1700 miles (Mt. Dora, FL to El Paso, TX) in 29 hrs. It can be done. In my case, it was in January (heat was not an issue) and I had rain for the first 8 hrs. In your part of the country it would be more difficult (lower speed limits, denser population, etc.) than for me (75 and 80mph speed limits, desert, etc.) You also may need some time to recover at both ends. If possible, I would try to get another day off for R&R. Good Luck!
Ride Safe,
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

Sonu · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject:

[quote="SugarHillCTD"]OK, so I guess I should have made this a poll- go or no go.

No go

Given your schedule constraints this does not sound like a fun ride to me. Personally I'd be stressed out about missing the wedding on the way out and worried about making it back to work on the way back. No time to decompress in your plan.

Now if you could add a couple of days.....

Sanjiv
_________________
1997 K1100LT "Ziggy" _GarminGPS_Corbin saddle_K Guards _Hyperlights_Fog lights_Eastern Beaver Relays_Cee Bailey_4"speakers_Michelin PR4's_MoS2_Spiegler lines_TPMS_VDO

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

Maybe the question should be Ride or not ride as opposed to flying.
You want to be able to enjoy yourself at the function as well as be functional at work when you get back.
That short on time I don't think I would push the envelope to ride.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Stoked Steve · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:42 pm Post subject:

I don't know Sugar, sounds like a bit much in too short a time, can you add a weekend on either end of that?

I'm no major long distance rider, my longest weekend was about 450 miles one day up to Hungry Mother last year and then 450 miles back after one day of mountain twisty riding in between. I was whooped by the end of the weekend. The RS is just not a great major long ride machine, the LT would be a lot more comfortable. But you do have an areoflow windsheild don't you? That would help a lot!

Like the others have said, doable, yes, enjoyable, hell no! You'll be a wiped puppy by the end of it. If you could add at least one day, preferably two to the equation, I think it would be a lot safer and more enjoyable.

Ask Shogs about what happens when you push it too far on an RS, ...not good things. Crying or Very sad

(and she could ride Arctic circles around my noob ass!)
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject:

I've done 1050 miles in 18.5 hours and thought it was great, but to do 4 of those in 5 days? Hmmm.
_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:20 pm Post subject:

Klinker · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:32 pm Post subject:

I rode back straight through from Hungry Mother last year (around 1100 miles in 20 hours) and once rode from Seattle to Sauk Rapids, MN (1722 miles) in 23.5 hours. I rode j o's bug-eyed motoheap from Minnesota to Californica (2300 miles) in 48 hours. BUT - I didn't turn around and do it again two days later.

The Seattle trip was across western states (Montana, North Dakota) superslab on an ST1100 with a 7.4 gallon tank - even at my elevated rate of speed I could go 230 miles between fills. Unless one is just puttering along, most K-bikes require refueling every 180 miles or so.

My dos pesos: A trip like this should only be tried by an experienced Iron-Butt rider. If you haven't tried 1000 miles in a day, I'd try it once before you decide to attempt 4000 in five.
_________________
tlp
1994 K1100RS

Only the Reasonists. They believe in an evidence-based world, something called Rationalism. But it's a tiny group, not so influential.
- Page Griffin

endoman100 · Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject:

I read on this forum that the k-bike are known to go through oil so be sure to take enough with you and check it atleast every 500 miles
I read something about every 1000 mile it can go through a quart.
oh yes and don't forget to check the tire pressure when you fill up..
Good luck and please be safe. Very Happy

_________________
In the words of the stones
Time Is On My Side
Yes It Is
1993 K1100RS

k11gaz · Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Posts: 22

I have done several IRON BUTT challenges but the most mental one I did was from Barcelona in Spain to Portsmouth in UK. 3 countries Smile

1200 miles in 24 hours, 2 up with luggage on a CX 500 unfaired.

I agree with everything that has previously been said. It is fatigue that gets you. However, there are things you can do to help.

Firstly start your ride late evening. That way you will be riding the most difficult bit (in the dark) when you are most refreshed.

No coffee or red bulls etc as these will artificially think you are more awake than you really are but keep fluids up.

Fill up the tank to a known set mileage so you get known break periods. ie not necessarily full every time.

Wear an i-pod or similar because boredom sets in and sends you to sleep. I have fallen asleep several times on a bike and i dont recommend it. Even though only for a second or two at a time but thats all it takes.

But go for it, and do it. It will if nothing else give you something to talk on the boards about for years to come.
_________________
1984 CX650 Turbo 48k miles
1993 K1100LT 63k miles

Ride it like ya stole it !!