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Scott Brown
Site sponsor
Username: sbrownfnp
Post Number: 107
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, June 15, 2003 - 07:42 pm: | 
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What do you get when you combine the cities Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; Chattanooga Tennessee, and Washington, DC with intermittent torrential downpours and me with my Honda ST 1100? My Bun Burner Gold trip report.
I wanted to attempt Bun Burner Gold for a little while and since I didn’t have anything else planned for yesterday, I thought I would make the attempt. Because of time constraints and wanting to avoid the traffic nightmare through Raleigh/Durham to Greensboro, NC, I decided on a circuitous route that started in Nashville, NC and went south down I-95 to Savannah, Georgia then west on I-16 to Macon, then I-75 through Atlanta and Chattanooga and Knoxville Tennessee, then I-81 north to I-66 east to Washington, DC then I-95 south back to my start in Nashville. The weather forecast was for “scattered” thunderstorms in all the mentioned cities, but I hoped that the weathermen would be wrong as they often are.
On Saturday morning (June 14) I loaded up the bike, went to the Nashville Police Department for start witnesses, and then to a local gas station for the start receipt. I was on the road at 7:32 am, made good time through my first few fuel stops, and had an overall average speed of 74 mph when I made the turn on I-16 out of Savannah. I was glad that I didn’t heed the weather forecasters warning until I saw the storm clouds approaching in the distance. First there was the occasional drop of rain on the windshield, but I didn’t think it would last long so I didn’t stop to put on the rain gear. Well the drops quickly turned into a deluge, and the traffic, which previously had been moving along at a pretty good clip, slowed to a crawl, as visibility diminished to probably 10 feet. My newly re-waterproofed Tourmaster suit lasted about 5 minutes before I was soaked to the bone. There was a sign for a gas station at the next exit so I thought I would take cover until the storm passed. Of course the station wasn’t right off the exit, but an agonizing 2.5 miles into town. When I pulled under the overhang that “covered” the pumps, water was running 2 inches deep across the cement between the pumps. On the bright side I met two riders from Daytona who were doing their first IBA ride, a Bun Burner 1500 and who sought refuge there as well.
While stopped I tried to make use of my “down” time by refilling the Camelbak with water and Gatorade and eating a quick snack. I also went in and bought a pack of gum to get a receipt for the stop. I had heard of other riders who sucked on hard candy or chewed gum to stay refreshed and I have to say that Big Red came in very handy later in the trip when I was tired and hungry.
Soon the rain let up enough and the lighting stopped so I ventured out again. Amazingly, that 20 minute stop cut my overall average to 67 mph. Now to successfully complete a BBG you have to have an overall average of a least 62.5 mph, so I felt pretty good, but I had a long way to go and I still had to go through Atlanta and Washington, DC.
It was raining lightly when I got back on the highway, and soon I was moving at a good clip with the ST handlimg brilliantly even in the rain. The problem, however, is that others don’t fair as well and I soon found myself in a long line of stopped cars waiting for an accident 2 miles ahead to clear. As I sat there in traffic and watched my overall speed decreasing, I looked up the straight pathway marked by the broken white line that ran between the 2 lines of cars. I wondered if I should go ahead and take my first adventure at lane splitting. After all I was on the clock and couldn’t afford to be sitting here in this mess. Well after a few moments I decided that the left shoulder at 2 feet wide was safer than the middle lane, so I quickly moved to the front of the line where an Army soldier in army fatigues who was directing traffic confronted me. “You know what you just did was illegal?” He asked me. “I know, but I’m overheating and I can’t afford to be sitting in this traffic,” I replied hoping that he didn’t notice that my cooling fan was operating properly. Maybe he thought that I, in all the gear I was wearing was the one who was overheating. Anyway it didn’t matter as he stopped the other line of traffic and let me lead my line around the accident.
The rest of the ride went something like this: downpour, then sun, which would bring heat and I would plan on taking off the rain suit at the next stop. Stop would come and so would the rain. This pattern repeated itself until I got north of Chattanooga, then it rained steadily until I arrived in Washington. So I stayed in the suit until I was almost home.
Anyway, made it home and got my receipt with a 6:39 am ending time, and then went back to the Police station and recruited two more officers for witnesses.
Some stats:
Time: 23 hours 7 minutes
Miles per GPS: 1525
Miles per Speedo: 1533
Accidents: 4 seen.
Performance awards: 0
Gear Report:
Cruiserworks boots: A+ Comfortable, feet stayed absolutely dry
Tourmaster suit: C. If you don’t get the Velcro closed just right, then you will get wet
Aerostich Triple Digit covers: B (they will eventually allow water to seep in)
Wal-mart Rain suit: A. Cheap but effective
Nik wax Glove Proof: F. I got a free sample and applied to my Aerostich ropers and it doesn’t work.
2001 Honda ST 1100: A+++++. 72000 miles and runs beautifully rain or shine.
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Craig Severson
Site sponsor
Username: craig_severson
Post Number: 531
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 01:13 pm: |
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Scott-
You've found your new calling. A BBG east of the Mississippi is a very tough thing, especially going through the cities that you did. Great ride and report, way to go!
I read something interesting lately on a Futura rider's website. He complained to Andy Goldfine of Aerostich about his roadcrafter and triple digit covers both leaking.
Andy's reply about the triple digit covers....he turned them inside out, filled them with water, and then looked for any leaks, which he applied seam sealer to. They are waterproof now.
I am heading out to the Blue Ridge Parkway this wednesday AM. Got some new rainpants and a fog city shield. This gets to be an expensive pursuit!
Craig
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Scott Brown
Site sponsor
Username: sbrownfnp
Post Number: 108
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 05:01 pm: |
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Craig:
1. Thanks for the info on the Triple Digits, will try what he suggested.
2. What are you doing on the Futura website!?! Still coveting that bike eh?
3. Yes, this is an expensive hobby, but I can't see myself doing anything else.
4. Hope you enjoy the BRP. Wish I could have met you guys somewhere, but I do have to work to pay for my addiction...I mean hobby (see #3 above).
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Craig Severson
Site sponsor
Username: craig_severson
Post Number: 536
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 06:48 pm: |
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addiction...
I fear that there may be something wrong with me as riding and working on bikes is all I really care about, other than playing with my kids.
I find that a good long ride really helps get it out of my system for a couple of days. Then it's back like a bad cold.
futura? I get these burrs up my bum every so often that I want something faster and sexier. Did you see any of the guys on the ATL tour when you were around Marathon? You might have missed them by a few minutes. One of them was on a red Futura and it really caught my eye. I sat on one at the local dealer last week and the seat and riding position is perfect for such a wicked bike. It's really more like a VFR.
I just finished the bodywork on my Blackbird and am taking it to the paint shop tomorrow. I should have a fully functional XX within a couple of weeks now. Should be really interesting to see which bike I'll keep, they're so different. I've done SO much to my ST that it would be super hard for me to let it go, though.
Having 150 hp on tap is mighty addictive, though.
Craig
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Scott Brown
Site sponsor
Username: sbrownfnp
Post Number: 109
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 02:26 am: |
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Craig:
I have only seen pictures of the Futura in magazines and it is one sexy bike. Have you taken a ride yet on your Blackbird? Hard to believe that many use it as a Sport-touring bike.
I guess I am just fiercely loyal to my ST. It is only my second bike (first was a 1999 Honda Magna), and I have no desire to even look at anything else. Of course the fact that I have spent alot money in accessories which I would never get back helps keep my eyes from wandering. Kind of similar to my marriage. Actually, I have a very supportive wife who encourages me to do what I want and really enjoys riding pillion as well. |
Craig Severson
Site sponsor
Username: craig_severson
Post Number: 538
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2003 - 12:42 pm: |
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Scott-
I have a 300' long driveway so I've just recently fixed up the XX to be able to zoom up and down it, but haven't had it on the street yet. The ST feels a lot more cumbersome compared to the Bird. The riding position is also a lot more agressive vs. the ST. It's certainly not a 1000 - 1500 mile-a-day slab muncher like the ST is almost out of the box....but it could be modified to be reasonably comfortable for shorter distances.
I think the reason that it works for guys like Warchild is because he's doing 1000 miles averaging something like 140 mph out west. He's also added helibars, a custom seat, a larger screen, PIAA's, etc etc.
Yes, if I sold my ST I'd probably be underwater on it, what with it being a salvage queen with a 40 A alternator. I'm getting dangerously close to that same condition with my Bird.
Craig
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