SBK Japan

This is a challenge for long distance riders. If you feel you can sometimes ride forever and do, then come join the club!

The complete and concise guide to doing an Ironbutt can be found at the Iron Butt Association website  here.

Japan isn't a big country and doing an Ironbutt ride is mostly limited to expressway riding. Considering that a 1600km in 24hr ride requires an average of @67km/h without stops then it becomes obvious that this is a ride that must be mostly done on Expressways. That is not to say it must be solely completed on the expressway but the expressways are the best way to get ahead of schedule before hitting the tighter stuff. Just do the math to make sure your route is possible.

Previous Ironbutt rides have mainly been done to get somewhere before touring the local roads back. For example a 1600k will get you to Kagoshima from Tokyo if you 1st head north to the Japan Sea coast before heading west. Or going to the very north tip of Hokkaido via Niigata from Yokohama. 

Here are the rides

SaddleSore 1600k - 1,610 kilometers (1,000 miles) in 24 hours
SaddleSore 2000k - 2,000 kilometers in 24 hours
Bun Burner 2500k - 2,500 kilometers in 36 hours

The basic outline for certification goes like this:

1. Get a start and end witness to sign your witness forms - witness forms available at the bottom of this page

2. Log all your receipts with date/time and place in English - don't lose any and make sure they are legible

3. Fill in all the forms, provide a legible map of were you've been, add those to the receipts and send it all off to the IBA

Be sure to read and understand all the rules, requirements and recommendations laid out by the IBA before setting off and remember to pack a decent road survival kit, drink when thirsty, eat when hungry, sleep when tired and ride ride ride!

Hope to see more of these around