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The BMW R80 RT Alan Pease rode to victory was completely stock except for its tires.
Faced with the challenge of
running 8,400 miles in 10 days,
the world's motorcycle makers all
seem to have taken the same
course. They ran the other way.
With one highly notable
exception. BMW Whose R80 RT,
ridden by Alan Pease, was not
only thesole factory-sponsored entry in the "Iron Butt" Rally, but
one of the four first-place finishers, as well. (Another being Ed
Thompson on his privately-entered
BMW R80 GIS.)
Of course, there are those
who might say BMW had an edge
going into this contest. Several
of them, to be specific.
For instance, the R80 RT is
one of the lightest full-fairing _
tourers made. Something Alan
Pease had ample opportunity
to appreciate. Particularly when
running against avery strong
headwind in Indiana, he ran out
of gas and had to push the bike
24 for three hilly miles.
The "Iron Butt" course tooknders from high humidity and winds in the Midwest to freezing rain in Wyoming, to 105 0 desert heat, finishing with al,175-m
