Quest for the Iron Butt

Quest for the Iron Butt
Or Kansas City - Moab in a day (and then some!)

CLICK TO VIEW AS PDF​

To tell this story, I have to go back a little ways and do some backstory so you'll have to bear with me. Back in 1973 my dad used to put me on the tank of his CB350. Just kidding. I'm not going that far back. For the last couple years I have been looking for a new bike. Those of you that know me well know that I ride a fair amount. Most of that riding is on my 98 VFR 800 that is called Scratch. (Originally it was a joke, but it kind of stuck). Anyway, Scratch has over 90,000 miles now and does not run as good as she once did. I pretty much only considered a few types of bikes seriously.

1. Sport touring like the VFR View attachment 24192

2. Dual-sport but more road oriented or what lot's of folks call an 'Adventure bike'. (Think Ewan MacGregor and Charley Boorman in Long Way Round. View attachment 24193
3. Touring bike like the GoldWing from Honda. View attachment 24194

I looked at several Wings and new VFRs, but the cost kept coming out a little more than I wanted to spend. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I wanted something I could ride all day and all over the place including on dirt and gravel or maybe even light trails. That left me only one category, the adventure bike. And that is where this story begins.

After months of grueling internet research on searchtempest and ebay and cycletrader I located a nice BMW F800GS. One of several, but this one looked to be in pretty good shape and had lots of farkles pre-installed. Those of you who don't know farkles think 'accessories'. Just one problem, this specimen happened to reside in Missouri. 'No problem' you are probably thinking because I am from Missouri. Well, yes and no. The bike is from Kansas City, MO which is about as far from my family in Missouri as it can be and there was no way I was going to ask them to drive all the way up there to look at and possibly buy a bike for me.
As fate (some would say) would have it, a friend from work was in my office one day when I was looking at the bike. He happens to work all over but reside in Kansas not far from KC and he was willing to go take a look and do the deal for me. Thanks, Greg. His assistance was instrumental in making this happen. He met with the owner Ed. I still have never met Ed, but he seemed really nice and more importantly trustworthy on the phone. Those of you who have done long distance trading know the anxiety of finding someone you feel comfortable dealing with.

Skip ahead and the deal is done. But, how to get it to Cali? I'd love to ride it, but that's around 2000 miles give or take. That's a fair piece on a moto you have never seen. I start checking into shipping and get several quotes. This goes on for a week or two and then Jason (aka Derstuka) suggests he can fly to KC and ride the bike back for me. This is nice but it is the last straw! I decide to take off one day from work (a Friday), fly to KC on Thursday night, and ride the damned thing back myself. No way Jason was going to have all the fun. I had my ticket the same day Jason made the offer!

Okay, now you have the back story (or at least enough of it). I know you are eager to hear the real story and, for those of you on the illiterate or just plain lazy side, see the pictures. <grin>

CLICK TO CONTINUE STORY

 

I tried to put the content in a message but it was too big. Try loading the PDF and see if you can read it that way. This one is pretty long.

 

Yeah load the pdf. The site won't allow as many pics as I had

 

The conclusion in the PDF reminds me of the acousting we got from that 85yr old man in the Vail McDonalds; "I've got 10 bikes and a gixxer I jumped 2000 feet and you couldn't get me to ride in this weather at gunpoint."

 

Yeah, I forgot him in the story didn't I?

What a looney toon... I hope I don't turn into that guy!

 

I wonder if Long has figured out how to read the PDF yet...

 

Great writeup Reg...wish I coulda been there...oh wait?

 

Yeah something like that

They say it could take 2 months

 

Had no idea they were a gov't run office?

 

Kind of like the mods on this site. They have day jobs.

 

At least you have Your work priorities straight....

 

I'm thinking either the PDF has really thrown off our members who like the in your face pictures, or it's just too long. I try not to be so wordy, but there is just so much to say.

p.s. I still think Long hasn't figured out how to read the PDF.

 

I do be an edumacated people, but it is more gooder with purty pickers

Nawwww Reg.....I guess peeps on here lately don't seem to be diggin' ride reports considering we just put up two loooong ones with only a handfull of comments. :unsure:

More "bikers vs SUV threads," or "how to torque your swingarm with a 3lb sledgy" perhaps? :rofl:


If that doesn't work, more health reports might be beneficial.