SpotWalla

Google Map: 1,506 miles

GPS Log Map (Track of Actual Ride )

My objective for this Iron Butt ride was to try to ride fifteen hundred miles in a single day. I've done it before, four times in fact, and this ride was the fifth.

I'm attempting a BunBurner Gold, and this is a tough ride. But I like the challenge, and at the same time, the convenience of riding out my garage to start an adventure, and also returning home a day later with no motel or camping stops required. Google Maps gives a time of 22 hr 24 min for this route, if you ride at the speed limit and take no time for gas stops. Factor in ten gas stops, at 10 minutes each, for a total of one hour 40 min - and you have 24 hr 04 min. But ten minutes is not very much time to fuel the bike, photograph the DBRs (dated business receipts) and grab a bite to eat. And that's what makes a BunBurner Gold so formidable. There is no time to waste, and almost no free time for the rider. Think of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on public highways, and only one driver. Yet at the same time, the riding is fun, the scenery is just amazing, and I always seem to meet nice people along the way.

Why We Ride

Fuel Stop #1: Quemado, NM
4:01 AM

Quemado 4:01 AM MST. Start of my June 18, 2024 BunBurner ride.

Leaving Quemado, headed for my next gas stop, I encountered elk on the highway or close to it, several times. And one of these times was particularly noteworthy, because I had to slam on the brakes while doing 65 MPH and come to a screeching halt - with four elk standing on the road, minding their own business. After I managed to come to a complete stop, the elk were six feet from me. Startled, they ran off.

We live in the highlands of New Mexico where animals abound, and they are one of my greatest dangers on most of my Iron butt adventures. These elk are big and hard to see at night; and a high-speed collision might cause serious injuries to rider, elk, and bike. They are hard to see at night because their light-gray coloring makes them blend in so well. And their eyes don't glimmer in the headlights.

Fuel Stop #2: Socorro, NM

Socorro at dawn.

Fuel Stop #3: Las Cruces, NM

Las Cruces. The day was growing warm, so after getting gas I moved the bike to the small parking lot, and took off my fleece long underwear.

Fuel Stop #4: Willcox, AZ
The numbers 35 and 41 on my dash are the pressures of the front and rear tires, as measured by the TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) inside the tires. The system didn't work when I bought the bike used, but I bought new TPMS units from eBay and installed them myself. Having these readouts on the dash is wholly reassuring throughout the ride when traveling at high speeds typical of a Iron Butt ride.

Willcox

Speaking of fixing things on the bike, the Cruise Control didn't work during my 50CC Coast-to-coast ride; but would intermittently shut off soon after I tried to activate it. So when preparing for this ride, I managed to fix that too. I was watching videos on YouTube about how to repair an Ignition Switch when out of the blue a video popped up on the list about how to repair a Clutch Switch. The video didn't say how to fix a non-working Cruise Control, but pointed me in the right direction, and I managed to figure this out for myself. Turns out, the Clutch Switch has a second switch that cancels the Cruise Control whenever the clutch lever is depressed, and that switch simply needed adjustment.

Taking a rest break mid-way between fuel stops to stretch the legs. The day's temperature is rising and my legs are cramping because the feet are always in one position on the pegs. I need a set highway pegs but the bike is so wide that I haven't figured out how to install them.

Fuel Stop #5: Gila Bend, AZ

Gila Bend, and the temperature has climbed up into the triple digits.

Triceratops dinosaur in Gila Bend. "try-cer-ra-tops" Pronunciation Location

The pumps at this gas station were not busy, and I needed water and shade, so I went into the store and bought a gallon of water. Location northwest of Wickenburg.

I'm carrying seven liters of water, and one in the tank bag for the hydration tube - and they are all now empty.

Fuel Stop #6: Kingman, AZ

Kingman

Rest stop mid-way between fuel stops, to stretch the legs, Ash Fork, AZ

Stop to stretch the legs (I need highway pegs). Its about dusk, and I have a long night ahead of me. The truck traffic on I-40 has been never ending today, and I haven't been able to maintain a good speed. That, and the triple digits temps of Gila Bend and western Phoenix have cost me dearly. So I'm in doubt that I'll be able to make the 24 hour time limit. The next category down the list is the BunBurner Silver = 1,500 miles in less than 30 hours. So I might have to settle for that.

Fuel Stop #7: Holbrook, AZ

Holbrook

Fuel Stop #8: Milan, NM (Grants)

Milan

Fuel Stop #9: Socorro, NM

Socorro

On top of all the delays of today, I had to ride slow (65 max) because of all the wildlife on the road between Datil and Quemado. The first elk certainly caught my eye - an enormous bull elk with a massive rack, standing two feet from the pavement. It was the largest I have ever seen, and seemed to tower above me and the bike.

Further along, I had to do another emergency stop from 60 mph to zero in the blink of an eye, for one large elk standing in the middle of the road. Standing on the brake peddle with all my weight, this was my quickest stop ever; and I came to within two feet of a young but large elk in velvet. That was a close one; and up that close, man, these elk are big!

Fuel Stop #10: Quemado, NM
4:18 AM

Quemado

My finish time was 4:18 AM. 24 hours 17 minutes. Not quite a BBG but very close.

My finish time was 24 hours 17 minutes, which is 17 min over the limit for a BunBurner Gold. So technically that's a BunBurner Silver (1,500 miles in less than 30 hours).

This ride brings a reluctant end to my riding season for the next five weeks while Jenny is hiking overseas. When she returns I'm headed for Alaska, so stay tuned.