and you think you take long rides

[kman458]

Here's a way to enjoy a long weekend.


Yamaha Rider Breaks Record For Traversing North America

Jun 12, 2009, ©Copyright 2009, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From a press release issued by Metzeler:

Click to enlarge

John Ryan and his record-setting Yamaha FJR1300.

Rome, Georgia: On minute Zero, John Ryan was in Prudhoe Bay, on the North Shore of Alaska. 5,191 minutes later, Ryan was in Key West, Florida, having traversed the entire North American Continent, the long way, on his 2005 Yamaha FJR 1300, outfitted with Metzler Z6 Interact sport-touring tires. And with those 5,191 minutes, or, if you prefer, 86 hours and 31 minutes, Ryan totally destroyed the existing time record for this trip, of 96:01, by a clean 9.5 hours!

The adventure began before the adventure began when Ryan ran into a blizzard on the Dalton Highway north of Fairbanks, while trying to get to the starting point for his continental crossing. The snow forced him to return to Fairbanks and try again a few days later. Then, when he was finally able to reach Prudhoe Bay and began his trip, Ryan cut a tire on the sharp rocks of the 400-mile long gravel Dalton Highway, repaired it, and continued to Fairbanks for a replacement. Beginning all over again on try number two, (or is this try number three?) a rock punctured Ryan’s oil pan 26 miles from where he was to start his journey, forcing him to stop in Prudhoe Bay for repairs. Local mechanics, used to working on heavy machinery, welded his cases,
fabricated a case guard, and Ryan returned to the start, ready to set the clock and begin his adventure without further interruption.


Yamaha Rider Breaks Record For Traversing North America News Article // RoadracingWorld.com

[acalliste]

Now THAT's a ride!

[Justin726]

Heard about that last week. Very cool indeed.



Much respect given.

[TejasRider]

And if I remember right, John is a diabetic so even more props to pulling this off.

[kman458]

Originally Posted by TejasRider

And if I remember right, John is a diabetic so even more props to pulling this off.

That is impressive added to the fact he did the haul road on a fjr and not some big duel sport, had to start over several times, and had to average almost 22 hours a day riding at an average speed of 70 mph.

[bzb]

Good lord. I'll give it up for the iron butt, but what an incredibly boring ride once you get back into the states.

[TejasRider]

Originally Posted by kman458

That is impressive added to the fact he did the haul road on a fjr and not some big duel sport, had to start over several times, and had to average almost 22 hours a day riding at an average speed of 70 mph.

Like one of the guys on an FJR forum posted:

Dalton in the rain. How? Everything I have read says that rain makes the road slicker than snot due to the 'stuff' they put on it. I have been told that rain makes it damn near impossible for a dual sport to ride it, much less an FJR.

[kman458]

Originally Posted by TejasRider

Like one of the guys on an FJR forum posted:

I have read a couple stories from people that have ridden it and they all said to ignore what they were told the road conditions are farther up the road as it will never be the same when you get there. The gravel is always changing and no way to even guess in what ways.

[Moses]

I heard about that a couple days ago as well. Makes my ass/body hurt just thinking about it.

A couple friends did an iron butt this past weekend...ran into almost everything but snow and alot of rain. I've ridden long hours for great distances, but doing an iron butt really doesn't interest me. When and where I ride I like to enjoy myself and not have to do insane speeds to finish on time.

[kman458]

Originally Posted by Moses

I heard about that a couple days ago as well. Makes my ass/body hurt just thinking about it.

A couple friends did an iron butt this past weekend...ran into almost everything but snow and alot of rain. I've ridden long hours for great distances, but doing an iron butt really doesn't interest me. When and where I ride I like to enjoy myself and not have to do insane speeds to finish on time.

I talked to one of the iron butters that's doing like 3 1500 mile rides this summer. I am thinking heck I will be luck to do 1500 miles all summer in this heat.