I think you are lucky and perhaps haven't been riding the same places I have. The worst places to pick up the sort of detritus that causes punctures is farm yards (where small tracks pass through) and service stations that serve trucks. Thorn punctures in warmer places are a pain, but it's a while since I had one of those.

I've looked at the IBA and talked to a few members. I'm a sales rep, so turning in 1000 miles in 24 hours or whatever doesn't worry me. I've done similar trips on a bike for the simple reason I decided to try and make a ferry after staying too long in Sweden. What worries me with IBA is that they first of all promote this as something to aspire to and they promote it in Europe where travel is a lot more complicated than sitting on a paved highway and watching the diner adverts go by for hours at a time.

If you want to practice this sort of riding in the UK try the National Road Rally. 600 "official!" miles in 18 hours, plus whatever run you make to the start and home and whatever you cover while lost. The control structure makes speeding and not resting pointless, unlike IBA where it is rewarded unless you get caught (you could get an award from IBA so long it wasn't a real copper who did you in the UK, what's the chances of that!). I did the NRR last year and with the weather only about 1/3rd of riders finished. This to me shows the sort of restraint required to do this without risk, you have to be prepared to change plans as well as having a plan to start with.

I'm guessing we'll never agree over the IBA, so lets call it ?

Andy

having tried daft distances in the whole two years ive ridden bikes i'd say 1200miles is the limit on a comfy bike. its more like 800 if you want to wake up the next day though.
I've done Essex, England to Bad Grund, Germany in a day each way including ferries & it was a full day. i think on the way out i left about 5am & got there around 6pm. i was on my gsx1400 so not hanging about either - also it gets drafty holding 120-140mph without even a flyscreen down the autobahns

There does seem to be alot of the knocking here, and that is not necessarily a good thing. I suggested that the poster split his ride up to two 500 mile days not because I think the IB is not a good thing, but for the riders intended purpose, which was to see Latvia for a few days and ride back for his one week off.

The Iron Butt is obviously for the ride itself--to test one's personal limits over time/distance and some ego thrown in, not to sightsee or getting to a particular destination. I would consider doing one just to see if I could do it, not to get anywhere in particular.

If you don't have much time and you want to go somewhere far I think it's a good idea to combine IB and a holiday. I've done it (well not officially, just ridden the distances) for a few times and at least for me it suits fine.
For example: I start my trip in Finland by riding to Helsinki. From Helsinki I take a ferry to Estonia and arrive there, let's say, 7 P.M. From Estonia I ride 24 hours in which I cover at least 1600 km, find a place to stay overnight, eat, have a , go to bed and wake up the next morning fully rested at 7 A.M. to start a normal day rhythm. Now I'm closer to my destination and that gives me extra time to go sightseeing something that I really want to.

I can't say that it works for everyone but for me it does.

Jami

Hey, Baluchiman. If you're going to be in Riga for the weekend of 7-8-9 August, I'll buy you a ! I'll be there for the Latvian Sidecar Motocross Grand Prix in Kegums, very close to Riga.

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Paul "Every county of England, every country of Europe and every (part of every inhabited) continent of the Earth" 94% done! What's left? Central America, East, Central and West Africa, Australia & New Zealand

I must be completely lazy, because I never underestimate sleep. The more, the better for me. Maybe that is why the IB would be such an accomplishment for me--I would have to stay awake longer than sleep, LOL! From my (non-motorcycle) trips to Europe in my college years, I could never understand how people could drink all night,and be awake for the breakfast that usually came with the bed and breakfast!!

Hey baluchiman,

Last year we (2 up on a africa twin) went from the midlands to romania in just over 2.5 days. We made the same decision as you, e.g. rush to the spot you want to look at and slow down there! Day one we went from home via the tunnel to just outside linz (total trip: day one was about 900miles). It was do able and we decided to not ride at night. I do have to say by the time we ended each night i was completely exhausted and each day I got tired earlier. By the 3rd day (in Romania only 4 hours of riding) I was so tired that all i wanted to do was get off the bike, we checked into an 5* hotel (which we never do) and collapse. So one up and if you are willing to ride after dark you should be able to get a lot farther then us. So go for it and have fun but be careful, and there are tones of roadside good/cheap/clean hotels so stop when you want to (a schedule is no fun if you are exhausted)!

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2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com

1000 miles or thereabouts on a modern bike on proper roads is no big deal, really. But, as several posters have pointed out, you'll need have a really good sleep after that. In order to prevent snoozing off and wasting a day, perhaps scheduling the trip carefully would be a good idea, ie, departure at 7 pm, so as to arrive at the same time or before at your destination. You will miss out on one day (or is it night?) of nightlife, that's all.

Careful scheduling and planning is the key here, you should know whether you are on time or behind schedule, and know how much time you have to burn at any point of time. You should also be comfortable sitting on the saddle for hours at a stretch - the biggest enemy of high average speeds is not low speeds, but frequent stoppages.

Unless you are grossly unfit (or have never ridden for 20+hrs at a stretch), you'll be firing on all cylinders the next day. You'll have much more time in Riga as opposed to taking two days each way, and you just might meet more interesting people there than on the motorway.