The Original Vstrom was purchased in August of 04 specifically to be the bike to use for the 2005 Iron Butt Rally. Here is a picture taken the day of purchase on the trip home from New Mexico.

This bike immediately started to receive upgrades to prepare it to be a suitable mount for such a big ride. First was hard bags (Happy Trails), a custom Auxilliary Fuel Tank by Ron Smith, a custom seat from Rick Mayer, and a full remake of the cockpit area.

Finally the finished bike was ready for serious rallying. It was tested on a "Four Corners" ride in May of 2005. A four corners ride requires the rider to travel to the four furtherst corners of the 48 states and to send back a picture of a particular landmark (Postoffice) which will provide a postmarked envelope dated as proof of the accomplishment. The trip to San Diego, a stop in Omaha for an Iron Butt Conference, then finishing by going to Key West, Fl, Madawaska, ME, and Blaine, WA with the finish back in Fernley Nevada was a little over 10,000 miles and other than changing a chain in Michigan the bike worked flawlessly.