Ironbutt and xbr

[Tuoppo]

Hi all,

A couple of weeks ago me and my old XBR reached a new level in our relationship. I thought that i could share my wonderful expirience with you fellow thumper riders. Everything started when my friend Sami bought a new 125 kymco agility and he got sick with a obsession to drive SS1000. (1609km at 24h). I wasn`t so very interested but I promised to drive with him until he would bored.

A week ago I packed my saddlebacks and my XBR was ready to go. I checked oil and noticed that chains are little a bit loose but otherwise XBR seemt to be fine. My bike has only 90 000 on a clock and engine orginal so what could go wrong. I deside that xbr doens`t need any maintenance for this little trip so a just add extra footrests in the front so I could drive like choppers bikers with straight legs  

Big morning came and we started our journey with a great weather. Sun was shinning and there wasnt`t even smallest cloud on sky. Our plan was to drove 24h without sleeping and kept only one longer meal brake. Reason for this was kymco`s small fueltank and 65 topspeed. Our maxium range would be 100 miles. XBR had some idle problems for first 100 miles but when the engine reached a optimal temp problems were solved. Maybe been at outdoor and in the rain for week before trip had something to do with it. 

First 400 miles were easy and everything went great. But when we reached 500 miles night started went dark. We arrived in Rovaniemi at 12pm and temperature was +4 celsius. We but some more clothes and drank some coffee. Local service station waitress said that we are crazy when she heard how long we had driven. Sami also started to be very sleepy and tired for riding. He wanted still push on and continue our journey in the night.

at 4pm and 600 miles behind hell broke loose Kymco started make some extra noice from engine. It was good because we were in lappland and most distanced place from home so far. After quick trouble searching we discover that there was nothing to do. Kymcos transmission was gave up. There we stand in the dark. New kymco with 800 miles on a clock and broken and xbr with 90 000 run just fine. We drove slowly drove back to Rovaniemi and Sami called insurence company. Towing truck came to pick up kymco and Sami went to sleep in a hotel. At next day a train would take him home. A deside to ride home with same eyes because I was there to drove not sleep. But I wasn`t in a hurry anymore. Time had cach me up so I would make a 1000miles in a 24h. So i drove to nearest gas station to eat some breakfast and wait for dawn to break.

After couple of hours dawn came but it bring with it also very thick fogg. When I start my journey home I had to slow my speed to 15miles because I could`t see the road. After 100miles fogg dissappeared and a could ride again 65 - 75 miles. After 850 miles a was still enjoying riding my old XBR and bike seemt to work better mile after mile.

Some where after 900 miles a crashed with some big wild forest bird but my luck was that the front weel took the punisment and I didn`t fall. Only thing that damaged was the bird. After a while couple of raindeers where on the road but those didn`t cause any actions.

990 miles ... Here the boogieman got me. Riding without sleep at almost 26 hours my arms and legs wanted to quit. A little bit over 100 miles to home and I saw virtual raindeers in every bush side the road. A last bit was rain what started 50 miles before home.

27 hours and 1727,7 km (1073miles) I was home. Last miles were full of agany. Helmet pressed my ears and it felt like those were on fire. Also my body was like beaten up with a stick. Time seemt to be stopped and I remember when I saw my home street signt I had time to inhale 7 time before it was time to turn. I rested for a while in a sadlle when the bike was stopped and turn off. Then I went to shower and 2 second after I got my bed sandman came. At next day and after 16 hours a sleep a world looked much better again. If somebody wonder was it worth it I can say that this was one of my best trips ever. But still I would`t do it again with XBR.

By the way my XBR is for sale now Over 25 000 miles is enought for one lifetime.
 

 

[OMEGAMAN]

 
       Well done that man!   after my own heart..................

[Dogbad]

Thanks for that Tuoppo. My XBR hasn't had much of a ride yet as I had to do a lot of electrical work on it as soon as it got here.  Glad to hear your's is still good after 90,000

[niblue]

My arse gets sore after about 70 miles on the XBR so I can't imagine the pain in doing a trip that length!

[themoudie]

Aye Tuoppo,

I enjoyed your description of the journey and I'm pleased you returned home safe and well.

The "Some where after 900 miles a crashed with some big wild forest bird", incident sounds as though you killed a Capercaillie, we have a few left over in Scotland from some imports from Sweden in 1920? Taste like eating turpentine, but nice to see about the woods. The cock bird is called the 'Horse of the Woods' over here because of its territorial mating call. I can testify they'll attack if you are in their territory during the mating season.

My regards, Bill.

[Tuoppo]

Hi all,

Thanks for reading my little story. I didn`t take many pictures but i got some from the bird. I`m not sure about the bird "brand" but maybe you can tell what it was. Here is couple of pictures from the trip. There isn`t pictures from the bike but it`s the same than before and in the winter topic.

http://www.thumperclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=1814.msg18050;topicseen#msg18050[\html]

[Mark]

What did it taste like?

Good pics, nice looking roads.

Flies and sunshine....takes me back a bit

[Andy M]

Nice ride and glad the wildlife didn't cause too much hassle.

I hit a wasp somewhere up where Finland, Norway and Sweden meet. There was a bang that pushed me back and the whole visor went a ghastly green/yellow so I stopped. When I took the lid off I found I had a sort of black and yellow "nose" about an inch long where the back half of the beast was still in one piece. Yuk 

It's a great place to ride, just take the bug repellant in the summer.

Andy

[xbruby]

What a great story - Graham, this ought to make the next newsletter.

Completely bonkers but a great tale nonetheless!

[themoudie]

Nice ride and glad the wildlife didn't cause too much hassle.

I hit a wasp somewhere up where Finland, Norway and Sweden meet. There was a bang that pushed me back and the whole visor went a ghastly green/yellow so I stopped. When I took the lid off I found I had a sort of black and yellow "nose" about an inch long where the back half of the beast was still in one piece. Yuk 

It's a great place to ride, just take the bug repellant in the summer.

Andy

Woodwasp, Andy! A large black underslung ovipositar makes people squeamish as they think it's the 'sting'! Usually about 3" long and drills into the cambium of felled Scots pine logs, in the butt area, where the bark is thickest to lay their eggs, singly.

Used to try and lay their eggs in our legs, as we ate our piece at lunch time. Resin covered trousers from felling Scots pine made them confused!

Cheers, Bill.

[Mark]

'When I grow up I want to be a tree'

It must have been good resin those bugs were on.