people have done it on P-150's too

and it is the guys who matters not the motorcycle

Congratulations Guys!

I sure didn't mean 100 or even a 125cc motorcycle, any Indian motorcycle having the cubic capacity of 150 or above is capable and in the hands of an insane rider even a P-135 or Gladiator

^ have done ~450kms on an RX long back and it was fun

^^many guys have P-220's/Karizmas/R15's etc, how many of them have completed IBA, heck, how many of them have even tried?(pointing at the rider here)

lets not take too much away from this thread

Congrats guys.

what was the look on the face of those petrol bunk guys when you were filling up

Saddle Sore rides are endurance rides certified by the Iron Butt Association. You can read up on the association and the various rides they offer on www.ironbutt.com

I will be detailing what one needs to do to successfully complete a Saddle Sore and the best way to document your ride. I followed the same method that Deepak Dongre, the second Indian to do a Saddle Sore 1600k. I spoke to him a day before leaving.

The various Saddle Sore rides are :

1. Saddle Sore 1600k - 1610 kms in 24 hours
2. Saddle Sore 2000k - 2000 kms in 24 hours
3. Bun Burner 2500k - 2500 kms in 36 hours
4. Bun Burner Gold - 2500 kms in 24 hours

To do the Bun Burner Gold you need to have completed one of the rides from 1 to 3 succesfully before. There are many more rides. Check them out on the website

It is not enough to cover the distance on your odometer alone as from personal experince the P220 odo has an error of 3% . We did 1700 kms which on mapping programs (the Iron butt Associaition uses maps to verify your distance covered) came to 1652 kms.

The instructions below are more India specific

The best route is a 4 lane national Highway such as the Golden Quadrilateral as you can drive fast for long distacnes and be rest assured there is very little oncoming traffic. You can chose to do the ride from A to B which is 1600 kms or 2000 kms or 2500 kms away or break your ride into a return trip travelling from A to B to A . so B would be your mid point and half the distance of the ride you plan on taking. this is a good option because you end up home at the end of the ride.

To plan and calculate your distance you can use either google maps or map my india. Now with your route planned. what you need to find and which is very important is a start witness and an end witness who is not with you on the ride. This witness can be the same person if your start and end point are the same. Anybody can be your witness. Even the fuel bunk attendant. Just remember he has to be able to speak english because the IBA will call them to verify their witness accounts. You will find the witness forms on the IBA website.

With your start witness form signed, find the nearest gas station (IBA prefers this) or ATM where you can get a time stamp. It is very important that this a computer generated receipt with the date and time clearly printed on it. This will be your official start time. You basically have 24 hours or 36 hours to finish your IBA ride.

On the way at each refueling point (maximum 600 kms distance between two fuel stops) remember to collect a date stamp. the time is not required by the IBA but just a receipt with your vehicle number and date is good. If you are doing a A to B to A ride then remeber to collect a date stamp at the U turn point from a fuel station or ATM. At the end of the ride get a time stamp just like the start of your ride and get a witness to sign your ride end form. Make a travel log with your odometer readings at each fuel stop.

we wanted to send substantial proof by taking a time stamp using credit card payments at each fuel station or ATM receipts on the way. We also took pictures of the fuel bills with the odometer at each fuel station.

Once your ride is done submit your documentation to the IBA by email or post. The documentaton includes:

1. application form from the IBA website
2. a map with your route charted out and your fuel stops.
3. a trip log as per the IBA requirements. you will find an example form for this on the website
4. copies of your fuel bills. they do not need the originals
5. witness forms

The IBA is an organisation with volunteers so the verification and certification takes ages. Once you have submitted your documents wait for your certificate