IBA – Concert 1000 Platinum

We're pretty proud of this one. The CONCERT 1000 PLATINUM. When Bill and I were planning the August 2024 riding trip we had an idea of what we wanted to do, including the 4 Corners and the Trans Canada rides, we'd also kept an eye out to see where Los Lonely Boys were...

SC-MA USA 4 Corners challenge

The Southern California Motorcycling Association offer a USA Four Corners Tour - which is a challenge issued to riders to visit and document their arrival at the four corners of the USA. The points designated to be the Four Corners are: Madawaska, Maine. Blaine,...

Measuring the volume of the Aux Tank for the C14

For those following along, today I re-pressure-tested the tank after using JB-Weld Silicon Gasket maker (the petroleum resistant type), along the top of the fuel-sender, and its screws, I gave it close to 36 hours to cure, it said it needed an hour. I didn't want to...

Building an AUX tank for a Concours 14

Background There is truly an enormous amount of knowledge and wisdom within the IBA community, about everything to do with Long Distance Riding and a lot more aside. When it comes to my history and touch-points with the USA based community my contacts run reasonably...

63 days and counting…

9 weeks today, we leave for the USA to compete in the Iron Butt Association's - Iron Butt Rally (IBR). For those of you who don't know much about this, it's arguably the pinnacle of long distance rallying in the world. This is an 11 day event where we'll be on the...

Kawasaki Concours 1400 TPMS Replacement

Today I had first hand success replacing my intermittent TPMS (battery was dying on my 2017 model, it's now 2023)... A few things to note..: The TPMS is programmed using an 8 digit hexadecimal code. You can only programme the bike to a new sensor using KDS -...

Getting ready for the Senior Butt Rally, Sept 2022 – Allen, TX, USA

It's been a very busy few months. When we entered the Iron Butt Rally (2023) kicking off in June next year, we thought we had a pretty decent amount of time to prepare for it. Being based outside of the USA comes with a fair number of additional challenges above and...

Making a Shoei pinlock fit properly

I’ve had two friends struggle to get their Shoei pinlock anti-fog visors to fit properly. When they don’t fit snugly they can be dangerous as they’ll trap moisture droplets or just condensation between the layers and it’s almost impossible to get it to clear when that...

Further progress with the tank riser.

Further progress: A 7mm brass pipe fitting created with a bent 6mm insert, soldered then inserted through the latest riser design. Measuring how long the brass tubes need to be before they start to interfere with tank bag flange. ~23mm 1/4 inch fuel hose fitted onto...

Concours 1400 fuel cap innards. – Disassembly

To provide a cleaner, better inward pathway for fuel to be sent into the tank via the primary breather tube, and to avoid having to drill the tank, I disassembled the tank's cap and removed the extra bits which normally provide resistance and a valve type of mechanism...

Success! – Fuel pump test into the Concours 1400 tank, without drilling it!

For the Senior Butt Rally 2022 and the IBR 2023, I want to fit an Aux Tank to my Concours 1400, and aim for a fuel range of around 400+ miles ~650km. I have some wider plans in terms of what tank, how to mount it etc, and all of these are contained by not wanting to...

TT2000 2022 – a brief report.

Having not had much spare time since we returned from the TT, I’ve been remiss and haven’t written a report yet. In brief summary: we had a fantastic time, enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, nailed our goals to the letter. We also used a Garmin Zumo XT GPS and had no...

Hydration system… (2 Up).

Jug: $29 https://www.bunnings.co.nz/esky-blue-5l-hybrid-soft-cooler-jug_p0138505 Cap: Chris 3D printed Elbow: $11 https://www.repco.co.nz/en/safety-workshop-consumables/valves-fittings-hoses/fuel-oil-hoses/champion-vacuum-hose-90deg-elbow-6mm-cvc8/p/A1013147 Tee:...

IBR Planning – notes (brain dump)

This will be edited and added to as we get further prepared. Policies and provisions absolutely make sure we've got sorted out before we go: Insurances, especially the MedJet equiv options. Canada Insurance card SpotTracker National Park Pass AAA coverage GPS map...

Our entry for the IBR-2023 has been accepted!

It's been a fairly busy and full on start to the year so far; work was busy through Jan and Feb for both Stella and myself, leading up to leaving for the South Island on the 16th Feb for 2.5 weeks to attend the TT2000 Long Distance Motorcycle...

Introducing ‘IBA-Ride Bonus-Bombing’

You may never had heard of this, and you'd be forgiven because it's new, we just made it up. Here's what it's all about: Last weekend I was following a friend's (Doug Vance's) IBA Ride on his SpotWalla track as he rode a BBG - Spring Equinox ride in the USA. Having...

Thoughts on the Garmin Zumo XT (Jan 2022)

The first comment I’d have about this is aimed towards people who are already used to operating Garmin GPS units. This unit does not work in exactly the same way which you will be used to, and there will be a number of changes which you’ll need to be willing to get...

Adding in a bug-filter to my upper air-vent on my Shoei Neotec II helmet

I'm sick of bugs getting into my helmet through the upper air-vents on my Neotec II helmet, so it's time to take the vent apart and to fit a screen filter to the air-intakes. This Youtube video shows the process and how I've managed to do it. - It was a success and...

Garmin Zumo XT – Theme file: showing route and tracks overlaid

This theme file can be added to your Zumo XT, and will make your active route line thinner than any track which you might also choose to have actively shown, in this way, the route will be over-laid, and you'll also still be able to see your pre-defined track...

Content to email for an IBA NI1600 certificate

PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS INTO AN EMAIL, COMPLETE IT AND THEN SEND TO: support@ibapremier.zohodesk.com Subject: NI1600 Ride Application (**your name**, NZ - SS1600K) For what ride are you applying: SaddleSore 1600K - New Zealand NI1600 Date of ride start: 9-Oct-2021...