Latest Fuel Cell

This is my latest iteration of a two up fuel cell for a K1200LT. This is an early look so don't mind the fact that the aluminum is not polished.

Here are some of the features that have been incorporated (some original some borrowed):

• retains pillion seat for 2 up riding
  
• 5.15 gallons (just under Iron Butt Rally maximum for the K1200LT)
• fully baffled
• mounting system and platform are separate entities from the fuel cell
• customizable platform both in size and configuration for any type of case or luggage system desired
• bar on side of mounting system allows for bungee cord or velcro attachment point

I welcome opinions, feedback, and suggestions.

BMW K1200LT Powered Hydration System

I rigged this hydration system up without power for the 2007 Iron Butt Rally and found out that having to suck water from down by my foot got very tiresome. I converted it to a powered system using a automotive windshield washer pump. Wow, what a difference! I found out that there were many other benefits besides getting a drink without sucking my brains out: (there may be more but this is to date):

• can pump water into my jacket and helmet
• can get water to wash my hands, face, etc.
• can water my windshield for washing
• can spray water at cagers that are following too closely
  
  More detailed pictures can be found on my web album.

Hello all,

It's been a long time since I've posted or updated my blog. I guess it's time to get back into it.

Here is a quick summary of events since my last post:

• 9/2009--Rode the 2009 Iron Butt Rally unsuccessfully. I didn't acquire enough bonus points to be a finisher. Lots of contributing factors but perhaps the biggest was that I am too competitive and bit off more than I could chew. I vow to get back to a "have fun" mode.
• 9/2009--Moved to San Diego (the IBR was my cross-country trip (on steriods)).
• 10/2009--Bought a house and moved in.
• 10/2009--Hauled the moving trash to the dump and fell off the truck incurring a back, neck, and hand injury--this put a major cramp in my riding.
• 12/2009--Attended the midnight Ride-to-Eat at Pink's in Los Angeles. That was my first ride since the injury and it was a killer (~200 miles round trip).
• 2/2010--tore down the bike and replaced the clutch.
• 4/2010--rode the LowCal250 in San Diego to get back into the swing of riding (hand and neck are getting better). It was a lot of fun and my son (his 1st rally) took 1st place--some detail is here.
• 6/2010--needed an update on my MSF endorsement to get a base sticker so I enrolled in the Military Sport Bike Riders Course. The fastest enrollment was at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, only 250 miles away. Up on Friday, attended course on Saturday and came home. This is a GREAT course, they are teaching real world riding. If you ever get chance to get this course I highly recommend it. That 500 miles over 2 days really took it out of me and I had to spend more time in the saddle.
• Mike Kneebone sent a request for volunteer for the Redmond 1000 ride-in to the annual BMW MOA International Rally. Since I'd never attended one of these rallies, and since it was only 960 miles away, I jumped at the chance. It was a great weekend and I really enjoyed the rally, sites, and scenery of the Redmond, OR area. This was my proximate location in the IBR that my stamina gave out and I bailed on trying to get more points. It was a bit of a homecoming albeit with some not-so-great memories of last summer. On the trip back I rode to San Jose to visit with a nephew and get some rest. U.S. 1 was the route home. Don't ever take this road on a nice summer Sunday! Traffic was horrible.

This brings me up-to-date on the history. I am off next week to ride in the 2-day version of the Spank Rally. This will be my first big dog rally since last August. I fully plan to enjoy the trip and not be so competitive. The rally ends at the IBA National Meet this year in Denver, CO. I am looking forward to visiting all my IBA buddies and then taking a sightseeing trip home.

Stay tuned in for more, I promise to not be so quiet. :-)

IBR check in is completed, rally packs have been distributed and the game is on.

There were a couple of final rules and regulations that come out.

First off is that my SPoT tracking page has been made private. What that means is that it is not public and you need a password to view it. You can post a message here requesting access (include your email) and, if my wife approves, she will provide you with the password.

Second, is that this blog will not be updated during the rally. The rationale will be explained after the rally but for now we will have to be silent.

Again, you can post questions here and Patty may or may not reply privately.

Thank you for your understanding,

IBPete

This is Patty testing to verify that I am still able to post to this blog. Age has a way of making one just a wee bit forgetfull! :-) All of us in San Diego will be following closely and we will try to update the blog for everyone. Good Luck Mike (aka Pete)!!

Pictures of my bike preparation.

http://picasaweb.google.com/IBPete/2009IBRPrep#

T minus 3 days and a few hours to the start of the "Big Show", the 2009 Iron Butt Rally!

I am so ill prepared it is unbelievable. The stress of having a house on the market this year, coupled with getting it sold (certainly a blessing but stressful nonetheless) has left me with little time to prepare myself for this rally. I have gone from shooting for a big dog finish to just hoping I can finish.

We went homeless 2 weeks ago. Patty got her good friend Sarah to drive her and the dog to San Diego and I got my good friend Bill to let me camp out at his house these last 2 weeks. All I can say is that Patty and I are both blessed to have friends such as these that will willingly disrupt their lives to help us out. Life doesn't get any better than that so my performance or lack thereof in this endurance rally is of no importance at all. I just hope that in some small fashion we can repay the debt we owe these good friends that helped us in our time of need.

I rode the bike a bit this last weekend. Mostly to acclimatize myself to the heat and to take a bit of a farewell tour of the state. While moving to San Diego and being closer to our grandchildren is exciting, I have mixed emotions. My Saturday and Sunday journeys took me into the eastern side of the state where I sauntered around the outer banks. In many ways it was a sentimental journey, a final fare-thee-well to the state that has become home. Our 23 years here have the longest of all. North Carolina is a beautiful state and there are many things I will miss. Especially the friends and acquaintances we have made.

I took vacation from work this last week to take care of getting the bike ready. After a trip to Capital BMW for some expert tuning and thorough pre-IBR checkover by Jon Ross and his team of experts, I mounted my spare tires and made some last minute adjustments and modifications to the bike. It is far more well prepared than I am.

I will head out to Spartanburg in the morning. I want to give plenty of time to the check in process and the tech inspection. My custom fuel cell will have to be given a thorough once over and checked for its maximum capacity.

Expect more updates from me up to the start of the rally and then I hope Patty will be able to make posts as she did in '07. It was very interesting to me to come back from the rally and see her interpretation of my daily voice reports.

Later,