Thought I'd share some "lessons learned" about the C14 on my recent Iron Butt 1K certification run (although I did 1100 miles straight).  PLEASE feel free to add tips or your lessons leraned as well. Also I put pics in the rides section along with a serious thread. But this thread topic is not about a ride or trip please keep it on "Iron Butt C14"



Tip #1) The stock seat is very manageable.  There may be better seats, but the stocker allowed me to do 1100 miles then day after another 400 with zero issues.

Tip #2) KiPass works as well on an Iron Butt ride as it does on all other rides.

Tip #3) The waitress at Cracker Barrel in Tupelo, MS with raise an eyebrow at you if you say you rode all the way from Tampa, FL straight. However, she will make it very clear she doesn't believe your going all the way to the other side of Arkansas.

Tip #4) For my bike, never worry about panniers taking flight. This is after hitting some major bad backroads with the bike loaded to the hilt.  Of course I would never exceed speed limits, but a couple of instances I did wave at the birds as my Connie was landing. Someone needs to suggest to the Alabama government to fix those roads and RR crossings.

Tip #5) Its HOT in AR/OK!!!

Tip #3) The waitress at Cracker Barrel in Tupelo, MS with raise an eyebrow at you if you say you rode all the way from Tampa, FL straight. However, she will make it very clear she doesn't believe your going all the way to the other side of Arkansas.

  I know the feeling!

A local buddy and I arrive at a gas station a minute apart, we strike up a conversation:

"Say, aren't you so and so?"
"Yes, sure am."
"I'm Rick, you heading to the so and so Iron Butt rally in ?? (make sure it's at least 500 miles away. Mentioning  "Iron Butt" seems to pique the ears of some too.)
"Sure am, looks like I'll get there about time for the banquet tonight. You?"
Yada yada yada...

People get back in their cars right quick, lock the doors and zoom off w/ the gas cap door still open...

Rick

Congratulations on the ride!  That's a lot of riding.

I have a question though...what are those two circular symbols in the lower right side of you display?

I know the feeling!

A local buddy and I arrive at a gas station a minute apart, we strike up a conversation:

"Say, aren't you so and so?"
"Yes, sure am."
"I'm Rick, you heading to the so and so Iron Butt rally in ?? (make sure it's at least 500 miles away. Mentioning  "Iron Butt" seems to pique the ears of some too.)
"Sure am, looks like I'll get there about time for the banquet tonight. You?"
Yada yada yada...

People get back in their cars right quick, lock the doors and zoom off w/ the gas cap door still open...

Rick

Congratulations on the ride!  That's a lot of riding.

I have a question though...what are those two circular symbols in the lower right side of you display?

Thank you sir, and those circles show the brakes are linked up. Usually there is a "ECO" on my display but I had just gassed it up for the night and rode to hotel across the street to crash.

If you don't know the circles, you didn't have a NEW C14!  BTW, I was wondering about the circles.

Iron Butt...the best tip for me to anyone is to do it yourself!  Don't do it with anyone!  You ask why...because sometime you will have to:

1) go faster than your partner
2) go slower than your partner
3) you need to go bathroom
4) you just need a break when your partner fly at light speed infront of you...
5) your partner need gas and you don't

There are more reasons I like to do it myself.  B@t#h, I'll do what I want!

If you don't know the circles, you didn't have a NEW C14!  BTW, I was wondering about the circles.

Iron Butt...the best tip for me to anyone is to do it yourself!  Don't do it with anyone!   You ask why...because sometime you will have to:

1) go faster than your partner
2) go slower than your partner
3) you need to go bathroom
4) you just need a break when your partner fly at light speed infront of you...
5) your partner need gas and you don't

There are more reasons I like to do it myself.  B@t#h, I'll do what I want!

VERY GOOD ADVICE, glad I did it by myself too

I am proud of you.  Especially when you do the Bun Bunner Gold (1500 miles in 24hrs), make sure you do it yourself...

...I know for a fact someone here or Iron Butt riders going to disagree with me....guess what...DILLIGAF!   

Iron Butt...the best tip for me to anyone is to do it yourself!  Don't do it with anyone!  You ask why...because sometime you will have to:

1) go faster than your partner
2) go slower than your partner
3) you need to go bathroom
4) you just need a break when your partner fly at light speed infront of you...
5) your partner need gas and you don't

There are more reasons I like to do it myself.  B@t#h, I'll do what I want!

      Agreed!!

One exception, I will ride with someone if they have a BLACK bike...he is got to be COOL.
 

One exception, I will ride with someone if they have a BLACK bike...he is got to be COOL.
 

 

One exception, I will ride with someone if they have a BLACK bike...he is got to be COOL.
  

Cool?  Hmm.  He would actually just be HOT (as in temperature)

Congrats on the ride and welcome to the club (be sure to get it documented).  I have done several on my 2010 and found that the low Sargent Seat was much more comfortable than the stock, but you are right, the stock is manageable.

I love the look on the faces of people that you meet along the way when you tell them what you are doing during these rides.  Sometimes, it is priceless.

-David
Athens, GA

Tip #3) The waitress at Cracker Barrel in Tupelo, MS with raise an eyebrow at you if you say you rode all the way from Tampa, FL straight. However, she will make it very clear she doesn't believe your going all the way to the other side of Arkansas.

Nice job Steve!   

Just wondering if the waitress you mentioned above had real eyebrows or where they those painted/drawn on things?

Great tips. I have been seriously considering it myself lately.

Congratulations on your ride. If I would do something like that I would not go it alone. But thats just me. What if something was to happen to you, who would be there to call for help, or help you if you broke down?  I have 2 friends that I have rode with for about 25 years, we know each others moves before we do them.  But some people like to ride alone as you do.

Carrying a SPOT helps.  I carried one with me out to Reno and back.  It's a little pricey but your loved ones can follow you online and you can press a button for 911 help or mechanical services.

Congrats and welcome!

I have a black C14, I'm from Canada, so I'm always cool, must be something to do with the permafrost!

One exception, I will ride with someone if they have a BLACK bike...he is got to be COOL.
 

Congratulations on your ride. If I would do something like that I would not go it alone. But thats just me. What if something was to happen to you, who would be there to call for help, or help you if you broke down?  I have 2 friends that I have rode with for about 25 years, we know each others moves before we do them.  But some people like to ride alone as you do.

Most of my friends in FL do track days and wouldn't consider riding a bike any distance, I was on my own!  Glad I did it that way too, always folks around to help when broke down, and Kawi has a better dealer/warranty netowrk than Beemer!

But in all seriousness, I was not alone.  KIPASS was with me and protected me and the bike the whole way

Since we are talking about Iron Butt, who has done the 'Border-to-Border' ride?  If so, any advise on this particular ride?