Is the Iron Butt Rally now relegated to riding history?

Doesn't really say it's over... just not happening for 2025. Someone else may take it over, or it may truly be done with.
 
Comes down to whether they can get insurance, apparently.

But not to watch the updates and rally scribe installments will be a blow this go-round.
 
It feels like there's more to the story.

I've been waiting since that was announced a couple weeks ago. And nothing from Michael Kneebone which I'd expect there would be - or have I missed it?
 
Jeff F said:
And nothing from Michael Kneebone which I'd expect there would be - or have I missed it?
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I haven't seen anything on the ldrlist (open to anyone, even with no IBA number) since June 10 when Lisa announced. That is the same letter in the email, as was printed on ADVrider in my link above. Word for word.

IBR finishers have a separate, private email list and a private forum that the rest of us mere mortals cannot access, which is fine. I suppose there is a lot more conversation behind closed doors. I don't do much on farcebook, but there's an IBA community there also.

My impression is the IBA can't get insurance, at virtually any price, that will keep the entry fees at an affordable price point. (I know, "cost" and "affordable" are relative terms.)

IF 2025 doesn't pan out (basically one year out, at this time), I wouldn't hold out for future events either. Rhetorical question: how often do we hear of large insurance premiums being lowered?

EDIT: as for Kneebone himself, I imagine that Lisa's statement was agreed to by all the principals in the IBA leadership, so I wouldn't expect to hear public comments from the others. We have the official word.
 
Just curious: What is such an organization responsible and/or liable for that insurance is needed to cover?
 
I've never done an Ibr event, never plan to since I might get foolish and I'm not a scavenger type guy anyway. Had some girls when I was16..17 try to get me into "scavenger hunts" if I wouldn't do it with them I surely ain't doing it for status, or anyone else. I will miss watching foolish people trying to get homer or tuk and back in a few days, those who won't go home, those living on roller dogs, and enjoying the shear daring of it all.......hope it's just a bump in the road.
 
I'm basically a home-body when it comes to long rides. I have a home, a cat, and a business to manage.

The five days away for the two STOCs I regularly attend are about my limits, financial and physiological.
 
My only Iron Butt event to participate in, was a SS1000. The big rally was never in my dreams.

One of the things I saved off my wrecked XR was the license plate frame. No one has to know I earned it on a 34 hp scooter.

Chris
 
Larry Fine said:
Just curious: What is such an organization responsible and/or liable for that insurance is needed to cover?
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They need coverage for lawsuits from people injured or suffer other types of damages, e.g., property, by riders in the IBR or actions of the IBR or from riders that claim damage due to negligence on the part of the IBR, e.g., improper clues leading to a dangerous place. Insurance is not just for paying out legitimate claims but also to provide protection against non-legitimate ones. Cities that host or hotels might also insist upon it in addition to any indemnity agreements they might require from the IBR.
 
( riders that claim damage due to negligence on the part of the IBR, e.g., improper clues leading to a dangerous place. )

Late to respond butt this is my experience concerning the above statement. Starting in 2001 a participant is video recorded stating they are aware of dangers of the rally thus freeing the IBR from participant lawsuits or at least making lawsuits harder to prove. I am not a lawyer and I know anyone can sue anyone for anything now a days.
If the rally never runs again that will be a shame butt endurance rallies have been fewer and fewer compared to the heyday in the 1990's . I am glad I took the time to ride the rallies I did , rode some great areas of the US , met some good folks and a few jerks ,, made life long friends but everything has an end .
 
I've never ridden an Iron Butt or Endurance ride, although I have ridden 942 miles in a day, with my wife pillion to boot, however I always liked that there were guys that would challenge themselves to do things out of the ordinary. I'm risk adverse (sounds funny coming from someone who rides a motorcycle 300 days a year in all kinds of weather, I know lol).

I always thought the 1000 miles a day for 11 days in a row was a bit over the top, but like I said I can appreciate those that would attempt such a thing.

If it is discontinued, that's too bad.
 
I'm glad I did mine when I did. I did it, believe it or not, on a 2008 Suzuki Burgman 400 scooter. Yes, it had all of 34 hp...probably at the engine, not at the rear wheel. Yet it did just fine.

I made a couple of mistakes. like leaving going eastward on I-90 with the morning sun to rise over the sky into my eyes...followed by a return into the sun. And then at the end of the ride when I was tired, really tired, I hit Snoqualmie Pass. It was in construction with temporary detours everywhere, no lighting except my headlights, and in rain. It was a lesson in pushing myself too far.

I survived. The bike acted like nothing happened. But in the end, I got my license plate frame. And no one ever realizes I got that on a 34 hp scooter.

Chris
 
Daboo said:
I made a couple of mistakes. like leaving going eastward on I-90 with the morning sun to rise over the sky into my eyes...followed by a return into the sun.
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I try to plan my day-rides to go (south)west in the morning, north during the day, and east going home.
 
I understand. To do something like that would've meant some kind of loop going across one of the passes (North Cascades, Stevens, Snoqualmie, Chinook), then going south in Eastern Washington or Idaho, then coming back west probably along the Columbia River, then back north. Traffic on the passes and going north on I-5 could slow a rider down enough to miss the time limit.

I just took the simple answer and went out 500 miles on the fastest road available and returned the same way.

The biggest lesson for me though, was how tired I let myself get to have a license plate frame that means very little in the end. I don't mind riding long hours in a day, but not on a freeway. I've had far more capable bikes since that Burgman scooter, but I've never had the inclination to ever repeat that ride. Now to ride up to Beartooth Pass on a twisty two lane road...I'm up for that any day! :)

Chris
 
Speculation, speculation ... As a rally master myself I can attest that insurance is getting very hard to find since the AMA stopped insuring moto events that take place on the streets. A 36 hour rally was able to obtain AMA insurance for $500, and for our most recent event I was able to find an insurer only after being told flatly no by twenty other companies. And that was $2500.

The problem with insurance/liability isn't that the riders will sue the event/organizers. There have been some casualties over the years including rider deaths but the rally/organizers have never been sued. The problem is the general public. If an injury occurs to a non-rider either their insurance covers it or the rider's insurance covers it. All riders in the IBR must carry a minimum of 300K CSL insurance. When those insurance companies discover that the rider causing the injury was involved in some speed contest/endurance beyond limits/cannonball craziness they may sue trying to recover the costs they paid out for the claim. So I might be sued by John B. Smith of Cooterville, OK for an injury sustained when a rally rider plowed into him while he was jaywalking his dog.

Rallymasters like Lisa don't relish their lifesavings/retirement being taken because they organized a moto event (usually at no renumeration) for the enjoyment of others. Let's also point out that even if insurance were available for the 25 IBR this was going to be Lisa and Jeff's last year at the helm. New event leadership was going to be necessary for 2027 in any event.

That being said, I firmly believe the IBR will be back, altho there may be some modifications to appease the insurance gods, such as tighter speed monitoring, more forced rest, etc.

Bob
 
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