On April 14, 2009 I received an E-mail from Lisa Landry of the IBA saying

"Congratulations!  Your application was drawn for entry in the
2009 Iron Butt Rally - The World's Toughest Motorcycle Competition!"

My heart was in my throat! Am I ready for this? I am NOT ready to leave my wife and kids (the older one is out of the house but the little one will have just turned 4 as I shove off) for two and a half weeks. If I go away for a day I'm completely homesick and miss them terribly. What is 16 days gonna feel like?

Here's what my garage (and FJR) looked like when I got the notice.

I signed the application, wrote the check, and addresses the envelope.
All I have to do now is seal it, stamp it, and drop it in the mail box. First I am going to reread the rules for the 2009 rally and make sure I'll really be able to handle this. I have two weeks before my deposit needs to be into rally headquarters. Two weeks now feels like nothing, two weeks in August of '09 is going to feel like an eternity!

I wanted to brain storm about what preventive  maintenance I should do 
to take a 4 year old (with 31,000 miles) motorcycle on a 10,000-12,000 
mile 11 day trip?
Here's what I'm thinking so far.
1.	Change Wheel Bearings
2.	Change Steering Head Bearings
3.	Flush All Fluids
4.	New Tires
5.	New Brakes
6.	Make sure fuel cell will pass tech.
7.	Change as much of old hardware over to stainless as I can access.
8.	 Cut cats out of exhaust? Yes or no? The rally IS in August!
9.	 Mount Hydration System
10.	Clean Injectors?
11.	 New Battery
12.	 New Spark Plugs
13.	 Rebuild Forks
14.	Rebuild Shock	

I just had the valves adjusted about 3,000 miles ago so I think I'm fine there.
I have the PHID's mounted.
I just ordered a Super Pro AVi Autocom system to mount permanently to
the bike instead of the portable Autocom I've been using.
I need a set of wheels that would fit a '04 FJR with ABS.
I'll need extra rims with tires mounted at the midway point.
I can't get 10,000 miles from a rear tire in August on that thing.
I need the rotors too but I can order up some Galfers if I have to.
I'm just looking for ideas.
 

Another option is to strip all the goodies off my FJR, sell it and buy a newer model. Maybe a lightly used generation two. A lot of my stuff wouldn't transfer over to the Gen 2 bike but a lot would. I could either sell my '04 after I stripped all the goodies off or I could part it out while I pulled all the goodies off.
I'd take a bath if I sold it as is with all the goodies on it.
This is the way I'm leaning right now.

Nick and I are going to go check out this used '07 FJR with 4,124 miles in Jersey on Monday the 12th.
Hey Nick, what are you doing Monday the 12th???
It went to $10,200 on eBay and his reserve was $10,800.
He said he was not flexible at all on the price.
I also found a new '07 and a new '08 that were damaged in shipping.
A dealer in Jersey bought them and I spoke with the owner on Saturday.
He didn't want to discuss the actual damage until he had them at his shop and was able to pull them apart and see what exactly was damaged.
Fair enough.
If it's just broken Tupperware I might consider that also.

Update 5/5/08 Cinco DeMayo
I stamped and mailed my signed waiver and check for my deposit today.
In a few days I will be an official entrant in the 2009 IBR!!!

Update 5/12/08

Lisa sent me an E-mail today saying that my paperwork was received and my deposit, deposited!

Update 6/9/08

Nick and I just returned from Jersey where I picked up a slightly used '07 FJR 1300 "Black Cherry"

Sorry for the crappy pictures. I must have been shaking since it was like 98° out today.

4,125 miles and the bike looked perfect!
That is until Nick Conaned the piece that covers the windshield screws off.

I will list the names of anybody that donates somewhere on this site (probably this page). Any amount collected over my expenses will be donated to the Karen Hornbecker Memorial Injured Riders Fund. Or the Roadracing World Action Fund. We're going this pretty grass roots. I would ask that you please do NOT pass this donation thing around. I have gotten permission to accept donations but I promised that I would keep it low key. Thanks for understanding.

1. Ralph L. Angelo Jr.
   Author of "Help! they're all out to get me!
   The motorcyclists guide to surviving the everyday world."

Update 7/11/08

 Today I received a couple of ECM's (Electronic Counter Measures). My new Valentine One radar detector and another piece of very cool electronics that I'm not ready to divulge. I'll get some pics and do a write up during install but I probably won't make it public until after the rally.

Update 8/14/08 

I've been pretty busy working to pay for all the stuff I've been buying in preparation for this rally. I received my custom tank bag from Linda T. of CustomTankBags.com and WOW!!! That thing is AWESOME!!! I promise to post some pictures as soon as I can get the bike out and take some decent pictures of it mounted up.

I also picked up a large Motofizz camping seat bag lightly used on eBay. Might have been used on 2 or 3 rides at the most. Looks brand new. I also received my newly refurbished Garmin 2730. I have one Garmin 2610 that I've used for years and I bought a second, refurbed unit as a backup after I heard they were discontinued. I may just go ahead and sell my backup 2610 now that I have the 2730. It has XM Traffic and Weather and is loadable with custom POI's (points of interest). Ya know, speed traps, school zones, 7-Elevens, the important stuff. The 2730 can hold 2,000 waypoints as opposed to the 2610 holding 500. Better display type and higher resolution screen. Audio book and MP3 player. And a few other things but I have to load my waypoints and play around with it first before I decide to off my backup 2610.

I'm still looking for some spare wheels and a spare subframe that I'm going to need for the rally. Wheels will be used to speed up the tire swapping at the mid point (so maybe I can sleep a bit) and the subframe is for some testing we'd like to do before I shove off.

Well, I've done my first interview so lets call it "exclusive".
Click here to read it on FuzzyGalore.com.

Fuzzy also came up with this logo.

I LOVE IT!!!

Update 8/24/08 

OK, it's exactly one year to the start of the 2009 IBR.
Everybody keeps saying "Oh, you've got a year." "You've got plenty of time." Well I don't!!!
Between fabricating and testing I'm behind schedule already. Here are some updated pictures of my garage.

I have GOT to get my ass in gear!!!

Update 8/27/08 

I've received my bar risers and "Barn Door" Cee Bailey +4,+4 windshield. I just ordered a dozen retractable key holders.

I figure I can use them to hold everything from pens to the bite valve on my hydration system. I also got my name on the list to have my seat redone by Bill "Rocky" Mayer. Should be done in a week or 3 so I need to take some pictures and send that in with my seat.
I need to keep plugging away. 362 and counting.

Update 8/31/08 

I've really been getting into a groove the last few days. I've been ordering parts and making decisions. I've received the 12 retractable key rings. Let's see, in the last 2 days I've ordered

•  Givi Rack and Top Case
•  Autocom Super Pro AVI
•  Bill Mayer Seat
•  Wild Bill Highway Pegs
•  N/ Line Dash Shelf
•  N/ Line Valentine 1 Enclosure
•  N/ Line GPS Brackets
•  N/ Line Garmin GPS Sun Shades
•  Datel Voltmeter

I still need to order a few more things.

• Electronic Cruise Control

•  Tail Dragger Fuel Cell

•  Sonic Fork Springs

•  Littlite Map Light

Then I need to get everything mounted.

The forth running of the Void Rally is October 10th-11th.

Jaime and I are signed up to run the 24 hour rally starting in Harrisburg, PA at 10am on Friday the 10th and finish at 12:30pm (I guess it's actually a 26.5 hour rally) on Saturday the 11th in Lynchburg, VA. We'll leave LI on Thursday after work and get a room in Harrisburg so we can start fresh in the morning. We'll be back around dinner time Sunday. I figure this will be a great shakedown run. Now I just need to see if we can get the bike built in the next 4 weeks. Here's what I figure is mandatory for us to get done by the end of the month.

•  Fuel Cell (It's not mandatory for the Void but we must install that BEFORE we start wiring.)

•  Givi Rack and Top Case

•  Seat

•  Highway Pegs

•  Dash Shelf

•  GPS' Wired and Mounted

•  Voltmeter

•  PHID Lights

•  Heat-Trollers

Problem is we want ALL of the wiring to be done in one session so that means we'll also have to wire up the following even though we probably won't NEED them for the Void. I'm sure it won't hurt though.

•  All the Electronic Counter Measures

•  Electronic Cruise Control

•  Map Light

Update 9/4/08 

Nothing official yet but it looks like the 2009 IBR will start in Spartanburg, SC!!! It seems that the information was "leaked" over several beers at the IBA National Meet a few weeks ago in Tulsa. I, unfortunately, was not able to attend. One of the head muckity-mucks at the IBA has said that we will be notified as soon as everything is ironed out. Spartanburg is near the intersection of 26 and 85 in north western SC. About 90 miles northwest of Columbia, SC and about 75 miles southwest of Charlotte, NC.

It's the little skull and crossbones in the top left of SC. :D

Update 9/6/08 

Well, I've had a pricey week. I ordered a Sampson Sport Touring "Taildragger" Fuel Cell and a Motorcycle Cruise Control electronic cruise control. About $1,800 just for those 2 items alone. I've also received my highway pegs, peg lowerers, Power Commander, and two Fuzeblocks. The pile of stuff is getting bigger, the pile of money is getting much, MUCH smaller!

Update 9/13/08 

Everything seems to be coming together as far as parts showing up. I'll probably end up only adding the bear minimums before the Void since I don't think there will be time to get EVERYTHING added. The fuel cell is due to ship on September 20th so that's cutting it REALLY close. Bottom line is that if Nick thinks we can get it done I'm all in. If he doesn't want to rush it, we won't even bother. If we start it and can't get it finished I can always use the KTM as a backup for the Void.
I mailed my stock seat off to Bill "Rocky" Mayer yesterday the 12th. I don't think the turnaround time will be an issue but I bought another stock seat just in case.
I became a dealer for N/ Line so I have a half dozen dash shelves coming along with some other goodies.
My Givi rack, E46N top case, Wild Bill highway peg brackets (I still need to order the pegs), and Power Commander are all here and will be installed by me in the next week or two.
My Autocom Super Pro AVi is in but I'll use my Active-Plus for the Void and hardwire the Super Pro during the big install for the IBR.
I only wiring I will absolutely need to do for the Void will be for a GPS (or two). I have a Powerlet plug on the left passenger peg so I'll probably just run a temporary wire from that up to the dash shelf and some audio cables to patch it into my Autocom.
That's all the news there is for now. More later.

Update 9/18/08 

So I did a little work to the '07 FJR this Tuesday on my day off. The Void rally is 3 weeks away from today and I have a lot of work to do. The fuel cell shipped today so there's NO WAY it'll be here by the 20th but maybe it'll get here early next week. I got the Givi rack installed.

I aborted the Superbrace install. I'm going to wait until my springs come in and I'll swap out the weak .80 kg/mm stock springs for a nice set of Sonic 1.0 kg/mm straight rate spring.

Here's pretty much a running list I have so I can see what's what.

It's getting late, I'm off to bed.

Update 9/20/08 

I got my dash shelf and a few other goodies from N/ Line in the mail yesterday.
N/ Line Products
Sunshade for my GPS' and brackets to mount them to the shelf. I'm still waiting for the box for my Valentine One radar detector though.
All I need now is the fuel cell and I'm ready for install.
Hey guess what??? I ran by the store today to pick up a regulator for my Suzuki TL1000 and my Sampson Sport Touring Tail Dragger cell was sitting there!!!
That was the one piece I was waiting for to get this whole project started! (By project I mean the install of all these parts.) I think I may have my friend Carmine mount the fuel cell and maybe even the cruise control. He's been finishing a lot of the projects I haven't had the time (or skill) to finish and he's work has been good. He's also been great at fabricating parts as he goes along. His calendar is empty so his turnaround is awesome.

Update 9/21/08 

Thanks to Fuzzy for the logo I set this up today.
RallyFund
$5 from each item sold will go to the Rally Fund.

Update 9/28/08 

10 days until we leave for the Void.
Here's a small list of what I still need to install before actual testing starts.

• Seat - Bill Mayer - Shipped 9/12 should be here this week.

• Dash Shelf - N/ Line

• Comm System - Autocom Super Pro AVi

• Highway Pegs - Carmine's Custom Cycles

• Fuel Management - PC3 Undecided map at this point

• GPS' - Garmin 2610 & Garmin 2730

• Music - XM through the 2730 and iPod mounted

• Tank Bag - Linda T custom

• Fork Brace - Superbrace

• Peg Lowerers - MCL

• Risers - Heli Top Triple

• Fork Springs - Sonic 1.2KG/mm

• Fork Oil / Amsoil Medium Weight

• Map Light - Littlite LED x 2

• Fuel Cell - Sampson Tail Dragger

• Voltmeter - Datel Ordered a month ago still waiting.

• Radar - V1 Waiting for N/ Line enclosure

• HID Conversion Headlights - KB Car Stuff Ordered 9/26

• Driving Lights - PHID's

• Shock - Penske

• Horns - Magnum Blasters

• Cruise Control - Motorcycle Cruise Control

• Heat-Trollers - 4 Single Mountable Coax 2 front, 2 rear

• Ham Radio - Yaesu VX7R

• Top Case - Givi E460N With top rack with AdMore Lighting tail/stop/brake light kit.

• Hand Guards - V-Strom