TVB wrote:Y'know, I'd try this myself if not for the fact that it'd require violating one or two laws of physics on a stock 50cc, and I can't afford to have that on my permanent record.
and I don't know if you could get a modified 50 to run for 1000 miles straight without blowing up One of us really ought to try though.
That would be pretty impressive, but Honestly, Howard made it with only 20 minutes to spare, with the slower top speeds of the 50 this would be crazy
Kaos wrote:That would be pretty impressive, but Honestly, Howard made it with only 20 minutes to spare, with the slower top speeds of the 50 this would be crazy
I think the phrase you're looking for is "mathematically impossible". 1000 miles in 24 hours requires an average speed of 41.67mph. Stop for just 5 minutes every tankful (I'm assuming once every 100 miles), to put fluids in the scooter and drain fluids from your bladder, and your average speed the rest of the time needs to be over 43mph. Just looking at those numbers, I can already hear a wee Scotsman on the intercom from the engine room, complaining that his bairn can nae produce that kind of power.
To say nothing of blowing up if somehow it did, for 24 hours straight.
Before I rode this, I contacted the Iron Butt Association and asked what the smallest displacement bike was that completed the 1000 mile ride. Surprisingly, I was told that a 50cc bike did it. I don't see how this was possible, but that's what they have on their records.
It was all I could to complete it on my 150. I'm sure a 125 could do it as well, but a 50???
Howard
Iron Butt Association Member Number 42256
Club - The Sky Island Riders.
Publisher: The Scooter 'Zine thescooterzine.com
I think a 50 could probably to it under the right conditions (both rider and scooter)
1) light weight phycially fit rider (I'm neither of these two)
2) really flat terian, like montanna flat.
3) There are 50cc motorcycles that can maintain 45-50 mph so I'm sure you could get a scooter to do 45mph, just don't know if you could get it to run for 1000 miles straight.
4) water bladder and extra fuel tank mounted to pileon seat/rear rack. this would save a lot of those 5 minute times TVB was talking about. (I've heard of folks who can releave themselves while riding, not that I would like to try this myself )
If one was really determined I think its definitely doable with a lot of planning. Hey if one of us decides to try maybe we could get some tips from our resident pro Iron Butt Champion Howard
"Only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling at all" Alastair Reid
jasondavis48108 wrote:2) really flat terian, like montanna flat.
I'm wondering if there's any place that's downhill for 1000 miles. With steady winds from the high ground. That'd work.
once you clear Denver, it's a very gradual decent across Eastern Colorado and the entire state of Kansas. Start off at Pikes Peak to get a surge of momentum, ride with the jet stream as a slight tailwind, and somehow arrange for state troopers to escort and block intersections for you. That just might be the deciding factors.
jasondavis48108 wrote:2) really flat terian, like montanna flat.
I'm wondering if there's any place that's downhill for 1000 miles. With steady winds from the high ground. That'd work.
once you clear Denver, it's a very gradual decent across Eastern Colorado and the entire state of Kansas. Start off at Pikes Peak to get a surge of momentum, ride with the jet stream as a slight tailwind, and somehow arrange for state troopers to escort and block intersections for you. That just might be the deciding factors.
There are a couple of adventurous Italians crossing most of the US (Chicago to SoCal then northwards) on a Vespa 50. They're in Barstow now but are heading back across Death Valley to Vegas then back to LA.
There's a thread on ModernVespa about their ride and they have a blog going—in Italian.
Mike Bobadilla of Vespa Club of America is hanging out with them and says they're doing around 100 miles a day.
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jasondavis48108 wrote:I think a 50 could probably to it under the right conditions (both rider and scooter)
3) There are 50cc motorcycles that can maintain 45-50 mph so I'm sure you could get a scooter to do 45mph, just don't know if you could get it to run for 1000 miles straight.
There are a few that can do even faster. The Aprilia RS50(a 50cc 2T street bike) is capable of around 75MPH, which would be plenty to complete the Iron Butt. So its not at all impossible to do it on a 50cc, but likely would be on a 50cc scooter.
Howardr wrote:I'll be glad to answer questions to anyone wanting to give long distance rides a shot.
Howard
If you did it again, anything you would change? Route, setup, gear, routine, other, all, nothing?
Would you consider the sag wagon essential or would you consider doing another Iron Butt without that as a traffic buffer on a 125cc?
Howardr wrote:I'll be glad to answer questions to anyone wanting to give long distance rides a shot.
Howard
If you did it again, anything you would change? Route, setup, gear, routine, other, all, nothing?
Would you consider the sag wagon essential or would you consider doing another Iron Butt without that as a traffic buffer on a 125cc?
There's not much I would change, other than to try harder to avoid El Paso. I would hurry a bit more on the first few stops, because that came back to haunt me, later. I would also have my sag wagon team fuel up the scoot for me at every stop, giving me more time to walk and stretch. I did all the fueling myself.
Gear was a non-issue because of the sag wagon. If you're riding interstate, I think the other vehicle is very important as a safety issue. If you're not riding interstate, then not so much, however, if you don't ride interstate, it makes the ride much more difficult. Every little town that you go through, your speed drops and you lose time.
I wouldn't hesitate rides of similar distance by myself if time weren't a factor. I've done almost 600 miles by myself.
Howard
Iron Butt Association Member Number 42256
Club - The Sky Island Riders.
Publisher: The Scooter 'Zine thescooterzine.com
ericalm wrote:There are a couple of adventurous Italians crossing most of the US (Chicago to SoCal then northwards) on a Vespa 50. They're in Barstow now but are heading back across Death Valley to Vegas then back to LA.
Back when I was still scooter shopping I ran across the blog of a young couple who rode from Vancouver BC to Barrie ON (not quite coast-to-coast, but still farther than the Jacksonville-to-San-Diego run) on a Yamaha C3 (50cc 4T). Yes that's right: I said "couple" and "a" scooter. They took 11 days to do it.
ericalm wrote:There are a couple of adventurous Italians crossing most of the US (Chicago to SoCal then northwards) on a Vespa 50. They're in Barstow now but are heading back across Death Valley to Vegas then back to LA.
Back when I was still scooter shopping I ran across the blog of a young couple who rode from Vancouver BC to Barrie ON (not quite coast-to-coast, but still farther than the Jacksonville-to-San-Diego run) on a Yamaha C3 (50cc 4T). Yes that's right: I said "couple" and "a" scooter. They took 11 days to do it.
"Only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling at all" Alastair Reid
That is absolutely incredible! I don't think I have made it more than 100mi in a day. WOW:) I think I will need to try that seat cover with extra foam;)
• 171.3cc NCY Big Bore kit
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I think the biggest danger doing this type of ride is riding almost continuously for almost 24 hours. It is not really a very good idea to attempt that in ANY vehicle, much less on 2-wheels. That is the primary reason why my wife felt I was foolish for doing it.
If you cannot stay alert for long periods of time and/or are not used to staying awake all night, please do not attempt this type of ride.
Howard
Iron Butt Association Member Number 42256
Club - The Sky Island Riders.
Publisher: The Scooter 'Zine thescooterzine.com
One of us really ought to try though.
