Help put the Blackbird in the World Record books!

Warchild · 06-06-2007, 12:17 PM

I wrestled quite a while trying to decide to post this or not, but... if I don't do something soon, the event may not happen at all.

Here is the deal:

I intend to establish a new World Record for Endurance Riding, and I intend to use the Blackbird to do it. This ride has been almost a year in planning.

One of the Iron Butt Association's "Extreme" Rides is known as the Bun Burner GOLD, which is a documented ride that covers 1,500 miles in less than 24 hours. There's also a "BBG3000", which is two back-to-back Bun Burner GOLD rides. In 2003, I was rallymaster for such a ride, and myself and 25 other riders set a new World Record during that event.

Since that time, several adventurous souls have tried to better this mark by attempting 3 (and even 4!) back-to-back BunBurner GOLD riders. As of this writing, a very small handful of riders have been able to complete three (3) documented back-to-back Bun Burner GOLD rides, and one has managed to complete four (4) consecutive Bun Burner GOLD rides. The latter is the current record as of this writing.

Fron June 30 - July 6, I will shatter that record by completing an ENTIRE WEEK of documented Bun Burner GOLD rides! That's seven (7) consecutive days - riding 1,500 miles per day - which will result in a combined 10,500 miles in one week's time!

Now here comes the problem.....

When I first started planning this project almost a year ago, I budgeted gasoline at $2.70/gallon. Now that it is closing in on $4.00/gallon in some of the regions I'll be riding in, this is turning out to be a huge issue. I am endeavoring to mitigate the problem by introducing steps to increase my MPG range (throttling back a little, doing painfully slow starts, and going up to a 18T countersprocket, etc).

However, I now calculate that I am several hundred dollars short on my fuel budget.

It's demoralizing, in that I have actually garnered quite a bit of sponsorship for this event already.... Avon North America is providing tires (3 sets of Storms), Western Power Sports has donated a case of Silkolene 10-50W Race Synthetic and 4 K&N oil filters: BLM-Accessories.com built and donated the extra fuel cells to allow me to carry 21.6 gallons of fuel, VancoSport has donated chain and sprockets, etc, etc, etc.

Yet, I'm unlikely to find a oil company that's going to give me a unlimited fuel card, so... fuel cost I must bear alone.

I will need approximately 375 gallons of fuel strictly during the event itself As fuel is going for $3.50 to $4.00 per gallon, event fuel cost alone is going to run me anywhere from $1400 to $1500!!!!

ONLY IF YOU FEEL SO INCLINED, you can donate to help me put the Blackbird in the World Record books buy tossing some $$$ into a PayPal account set up strictly for this "Bun Burner GOLD Hell Week" event:

bbghw@superblackbird.com

No amount is to large or too small; all amounts are graciously accepted. I will be using these donations for a single purpose only: to purchase pre-paid gas card from Shell, Chevron, Mobil One, etc. This way, I don't have to be concerned of a credit card/debit card going offline due to the bank seeing heavy number of fuel purchases every day from June 30-July 6.

If you don't (or won't) do PayPal, you can certainly send donations by snail-mail and/or purchase fuel cards directly and send them my way! You can score pre-paid gas cards at svmcards.net. Just drop me a PM if you need a mailing address for me.

Well, there it is folks...... if I'm going to bring glory to the Blackbird, I need a little help from my forum brethren.

Again, any donation at all is TREMENDOUSLY appreciated!

Web Site for this event: BunBurner GOLD Hell Week

HANKSXXX · 06-06-2007, 12:24 PM

Dale, while my previous attempts at helping you failed, thats not gonna happen this time...
This is a mind boggling endeavor and I wish you the very best.
Paypal going out today.
Hank

ConqSoft · 06-06-2007, 12:25 PM

PayPal Sent!

Warchild · 06-06-2007, 12:50 PM

Youse guys are the best!

I was toying around with stepping down one tooth in back (in addition to going up one tooth in front) in an effort to further lower my RPMs at speed and thus increasing the MPG figure, but... I don't know if I want to take the power loss coming off the line. I can already detect a noticeable loss of "snort" going to 18T up front (though many others 18T players do not seem to notice it all that much), and I fear that I will find a 18T/44T combo generally unacceptable.

This event will not be all straight-line burning; I have several 1500-miles routes to choose from on any one day, and all have a goodly amount of sweepers and the occasional set of hard twisties. Thus, I still need the ability to get a good drive out of the corners.

Still, I have a 44T rear I could try out, I suppose.... I have another BBG3000 "warmup" run planned for June 15-16, perhaps I'll slap the 44T on for that training run, and see how it goes...

Taetor · 06-06-2007, 1:07 PM

how does the bird feel with all the weight of the fuel? That's got to be really heavy. Did GPsuspension set you up for the load?

best of luck to you on completing this goal, Man it's a good day when I can do a 400 mile day

, can't image doing 1,500!! you 'da man!

ConqSoft · 06-06-2007, 1:14 PM

Warchild, you should add a masseuse into your plan. Full body massage while you sleep.

Warchild · 06-06-2007, 1:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taetor

how does the bird feel with all the weight of the fuel? That's got to be really heavy.

I thought it would have been too, but surprisingly, once I am above 20-ish mph, I can't even tell the fuel is back there. HOWEVER, during low-speed parking lot maneuvers, yes, the extra weight definitely lets itself be known.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConqSoft

Warchild, you should add a masseuse into your plan. Full body massage while you sleep.

This actually is being looked into right now. The problem is..... each 1500-mile day will start more-or-less around 5AM, and with good fortune, end around 1-ish AM.

So my masseuse would need to be available between 1am-5am.... that's a good time to find a "masseuse" at the Mustang Ranch, etc, but finding an actual, professional masseuse that would work those hours is making it tough.

wayoutthere007 · 06-06-2007, 1:54 PM

Uhm - what state(s) are you riding in that allow that kind of speed? 1500 miles per day squeezed into 20 hours - an average of 75mph will be required. Good gawd. You should consider ForwardAir - it may be cheaper!

ConqSoft · 06-06-2007, 1:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayoutthere007

Uhm - what state(s) are you riding in that allow that kind of speed? 1500 miles per day squeezed into 20 hours - an average of 75mph will be required. Good gawd. You should consider ForwardAir - it may be cheaper!

When/Where: BunBurner GOLD Hell Week

Taetor · 06-06-2007, 2:01 PM

WarChild- what made you choose the XX for this type of ride. I only ask because lord knows there's more comfortable bikes, and you own an FJR too. Is there certain class of bikes you want to be in for the competition or are you really just that comfortable on the XX? Hope I'm not thread jacking your cause here, I was just wondering about this.

John01XX · 06-06-2007, 2:08 PM

Dale would you consider adding Bike Bits to your sponsorship list for a donation of say $200.00 ?
I could write it off on my taxes I believe !

Warchild · 06-06-2007, 2:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taetor

WarChild- what made you choose the XX for this type of ride.

Several reasons (in no particular order):

The FJR is fast, but the XX is faster.
The XX has superior aux lighting to my FJR, which is critically important, given my LASIK-ed up eyes.
The Ride will be even more notorious on the Blackbird than it would on a purpose-built touring rig.

To say I am more comfortable on the XX than the FJR is a bit of a stretch, but the fact is, with the Rick Mayer seat, Heli-Bars, Lowered Footpegs, etc, I am actually not far off the mark. As long as I engage in appropriate stretching/isometric exercises on a periodic, ongoing basis while underway, I'm fairly well off (ergo-wise) on the Blackbird.

davesxx01 · 06-06-2007, 2:16 PM

What, no peg lowering brackets?

Edit: Oops, we posted at the same time!

davesxx01 · 06-06-2007, 2:22 PM

Just sent ya a little sumpthin!

Warchild · 06-06-2007, 2:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John01XX

Dale would you consider adding Bike Bits to your sponsorship list for a donation of say $200.00 ?
I could write it off on my taxes I believe !

Hmmmm..... perhaps I should have a cocktail first while I think about it......?

How about..... HELL, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Warchild · 06-06-2007, 2:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davesxx01

Just sent ya a little sumpthin!

Thanks, My Brutha!

Fast.Eddy · 06-06-2007, 2:38 PM

Wish I could help, the wife just yelled at me about spending to much.
Good Luck, thats a hell of an endeavor.

XX4me · 06-06-2007, 2:39 PM

PM me your address and I'll snail mail something.
Oh and let me add, I think you're ****ing nuts.
See you at HOOKERSXX.

Warchild · 06-06-2007, 2:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XX4me

PM me your address and I'll snail mail something.
Oh and let me add, I think you're ****ing nuts.
See you at HOOKERSXX.

PM sent!

Yes, I am considered disturbed for even attempting this....

Aurora · 06-06-2007, 2:51 PM

Dale,

Did you contact Honda for any corporate love and support?

Just curious.

ConqSoft · 06-06-2007, 2:52 PM

We all know that Honda doesn't give a shit about the XX.

Warchild · 06-06-2007, 3:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora

Dale,
Did you contact Honda for any corporate love and support?

Just curious.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConqSoft

We all know that Honda doesn't give a shit about the XX.

I thought about it... briefly. But Conqsoft sorta nailed it; it should be obvious that Honda doesn't really care that much about the XX or the Blackbird community.

It follows, then, that I really don't feel inclined to receive any assistance from a corporation that has essentially abandoned us 4 years ago...

Unless, of course, they would like to import a 2007 CBR1100XX for me to run this event with... heh.... don't really see that happening....