airheads and the Iron Butt

ultracyclist · 11-07-2009, 08:31 AM

In the current issue of Motorcycle Consumer News there is an article about the 2009 IB.

Joel Rappaport entered with (by the standards of today) an ancient R60S, and he finished quite well!

How does one modify the electrical system of a bike that old in order to accommodate laptops, GPS's, heated gear, the aux driving lights, fog lights, et al?

I know that the IB is as much of a mental challenge as a physical one, but is sure nice to see an "older" bike compete.

TIA

20774 · 11-07-2009, 09:27 AM

Joel's bike was an R60/6 which was fitted with R75/6 jugs, slugs, and possibly a camshaft. He also fitted an updated charging system from Motorrad Elektrik. Read about Joel's bike here:

http://rappoport.ws/

zoridog · 11-07-2009, 09:53 PM

Gold Wings ? ... we don't need no stinkin Gold Wings

ultracyclist · 11-08-2009, 10:28 PM

I visited Joel's website.
I am duly impressed!

jamesdunn · 11-09-2009, 06:30 AM

Joel had a DNF which makes his story more interesting to me, due to his positive attitude. Great tale. Great guy! I truly admire him, and appreciate the fact he did the IBR on his trusty one owner R60/6. Quite a feat

PGlaves · 11-09-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesdunn

Joel had a DNF which makes his story more interesting to me, due to his positive attitude. Great tale. Great guy! I truly admire him, and appreciate the fact he did the IBR on his trusty one owner R60/6. Quite a feat

Just to clarify - in 2007 Joel arrived at the finish on time, but didn't have enough points to be classified as a "finisher" thus he was DNF. But in 2009 Joel arrived at the finish on time with many more than enough points to be classified a "finisher". And the bike performed almost flawlessly, except for the factory weld that broke, leaving him without a sidestand and foot peg until AAA could dispatch a mobile welder to his location. All fixed, all better!

He rode 10,554 miles and obtained 82,957 points (75,000 points needed to "finish")

Photos at the Spokane finish by Voni

11-07-2009, 08:31 AM	#1
ultracyclist Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Whitefish Bay, WI, 3mi N Milwaukee Posts: 1,187	airheads and the Iron Butt In the current issue of Motorcycle Consumer News there is an article about the 2009 IB. Joel Rappaport entered with (by the standards of today) an ancient R60S, and he finished quite well! How does one modify the electrical system of a bike that old in order to accommodate laptops, GPS's, heated gear, the aux driving lights, fog lights, et al? I know that the IB is as much of a mental challenge as a physical one, but is sure nice to see an "older" bike compete. TIA __________________ "What is beautiful is simple, and what is simple always works"....Kalashnokov, inventor of the AK-47. Current Bike: '01 R1100RL

11-07-2009, 09:27 AM	#2
20774 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,264	Joel's bike was an R60/6 which was fitted with R75/6 jugs, slugs, and possibly a camshaft. He also fitted an updated charging system from Motorrad Elektrik. Read about Joel's bike here: http://rappoport.ws/ __________________ Kurt '78 R100/7 & '69 R69S mine-ineye-deatheah-pielayah-jooa-kalayus. oolah-minane-hay-meeriah-kal-oyus-algay-a-thaykin', buddy!

11-07-2009, 09:53 PM	#3
zoridog Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 198	Gold Wings ? ... we don't need no stinkin Gold Wings __________________ 85 K100RT Winter bike 94 R100R Summer bike

11-08-2009, 10:28 PM	#4
ultracyclist Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Whitefish Bay, WI, 3mi N Milwaukee Posts: 1,187	I visited Joel's website. I am duly impressed! __________________ "What is beautiful is simple, and what is simple always works"....Kalashnokov, inventor of the AK-47. Current Bike: '01 R1100RL

11-09-2009, 06:30 AM	#5
jamesdunn Mountain King Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 940	Joel had a DNF which makes his story more interesting to me, due to his positive attitude. Great tale. Great guy! I truly admire him, and appreciate the fact he did the IBR on his trusty one owner R60/6. Quite a feat __________________ 1994 R1100RSL, '78 R100RS "Time to get low. Time to get fast." ( Will Smith, "Independence Day".)