Bikesales tackles the Iron Butt challenge

This time next week three Bikesales staffers will probably still be in bed, recovering from riding three luxury touring motorcycles at least 1600km in 24 hours.

On December 5-6 we’re hitting the open road from Melbourne, all in the name of meeting the criteria to become bona-fide members of the Iron Butt Association through completing a ‘SaddleSore 1000’ (as in, 1000 miles – 1600km – in a day).

The certification process is quite simple: complete the required distance, with at least two witnesses verifying the start time, location and odometer reading, followed by the same process at the completion of the ride. In between, riders keep a track of fuel receipts and rest stops, which all have to be included in the documentation submitted to the Iron Butt Association for ratification.

Why?
What’s the inspiration for the eyeball-straining ride? Well, one of us – Bikesales senior scribe Rod Chapman – has already completed the deed, and has been smug as hell about it ever since. This author and Geoff Middleton, the editor of trucksales.com.au, have subsequently been caught up in the ‘emotion’ – and there are your ‘three wise men’, as such, for the 2017 ride.

Rod completed his first SaddleSore 1000 in 2004, but in far more extreme conditions than he’ll experience next week. Thirteen years ago, Rod rode from Cambridge in England to Inverness in Scotland return – on a Honda Deauville and all in the middle of a UK winter.

This time, the route will be far quieter: from Melbourne to Silverton and back. Silverton is located in far west NSW, just a stone’s throw from Broken Hill, with its most famous landmark being the local watering hole. That’s where we’ll be devouring a parma before we turn around and begin the trek home.

The weather can be extreme in those parts, but if the bureau proves correct it should only be about 26 degrees when we lob in Silverton around midday next Tuesday.

And what if it gets all too much? Glad you asked… We’re all adults, and if anyone’s fatigue levels get too high we’ll simply pull the pin and check in at the closest hotel – or lay our swags out on the side of the road for a rest. Either way, if our safety – or that of others – is being compromised, we’ll stop.

The bikes
Greatly assisting our chances will be three of the most long-haul friendly bikes on the planet: the Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited, Honda Goldwing and Indian Roadmaster.

Comfort levels don’t come much better, so our bums should be able to cope between fuel stops. And storage capacity isn’t an issue on those bikes, so we won’t have any problems tucking away extra food and water, spare riding gear, a 12-volt compressor, first-aid kit and miscellaneous bits and pieces.

Keep abreast of our ride via the Bikesales Instagram account (bikesalescomau) or at our Facebook page.

The American-based Iron Butt Association began certifying long-distance rides in the 1990s, and started supporting Australian riders in 2000. These days this internet-based organisation also has its own Australian site.

As well as the SaddleSore 1000, there’s also the Bun Burner 1500 (1500 miles in less than 36 hours) and the Bun Burner 1500 GOLD (1500 miles in less than 24 hours), along with countless other rides with varying themes and levels of masochism.

There are also other organisations, such as the Aussie-based Far Riders, which also certify long-distance attempts.