To the surprise of many, the oldest motorcycle to have completed an Iron Butt ride isn’t a Harley-Davidson. Prepare to be amazed by a true testament to vintage engineering and Finnish grit.
A front view of the vintage Royal Enfield motorcycle, showcasing its age and character.
It’s a 1931 Royal Enfield 976cc, and incredibly, it hails from Finland!
A close-up of the Royal Enfield’s engine and mechanics, highlighting its robust construction.
Yes, Finnish! Not “finished” as in worn out, but Finnish – a crucial distinction. In fact, it embodies “Sisu,” a Finnish concept of extraordinary determination, resilience, and hardiness in the face of adversity. For those unfamiliar with “Sisu” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu), it’s worth exploring to understand the spirit that perhaps propels Finland to achieve a remarkably high number of Iron Butt rides per capita globally.
While photos taken at a crowded motorcycle fair in Lahti, Finland, back in 2010 on a simple camera might not fully capture its glory, they offer a glimpse of this remarkable machine.
A side profile of the 1931 Royal Enfield, demonstrating its classic motorcycle design and lines.
The bike itself, while not pristine showpiece material, possesses a unique beauty.
A detailed shot of the Royal Enfield’s fuel tank and vintage controls, emphasizing its age.
Another angle showcasing the Royal Enfield’s engine and frame, illustrating its well-maintained condition.
A rear view of the Royal Enfield, showing its classic taillight and overall vintage motorcycle aesthetic.
It stands as a testament to careful maintenance and consistent use throughout the years. Likely forgotten in a shed for decades like many old bikes, it was lovingly brought back to life. Instead of being over-restored to beyond its original factory condition – a fate that often befalls vintage motorcycles destined for museums – this Royal Enfield was preserved with its history intact.
The usual destiny for a shed-find bike is either scrap or an overly zealous restoration leading to museum confinement, devoid of ever experiencing the open road again. This bike defied that fate, continuing to roll and ultimately displayed in the very condition it achieved after completing an Iron Butt ride.
A closer look at the Royal Enfield’s chain drive system, highlighting its complexity and need for lubrication.
It features three distinct open chain transmissions, demanding regular lubrication, even during a timed 1,000-mile ride. The ingenious mustard flask, conveniently integrated into the tank, serves this purpose perfectly, allowing for on-the-fly chain maintenance. The bike’s authentic, used appearance is no facade; it’s a working machine, kept alive by diligent oiling and care.
Functionality is paramount on this classic. For safety, the taillight has been upgraded to enhance visibility for modern drivers, often more engrossed in their phones than the road.
The headlight, however, remains original and adequate, especially in the land of short, bright summer nights.
The Royal Enfield’s fuel tank with an integrated mustard flask, used for chain lubrication during long rides.
The Royal Enfield’s front headlight and vintage instrumentation, showing its functional and classic design.
It even boasts relatable “farkles” (motorcycle accessories)!
A detailed view of the Royal Enfield’s handlebars and controls, revealing some added accessories or “farkles”.
This understanding of the bike is based on impressions and snippets, as language barriers between Swedish and Finnish speakers can lead to misinterpretations. However, the essence of this incredible machine and its achievement remains clear.
A ride report exists online (http://gw2.kareltek.fi/~tippanokat/tarinat.htm) in Finnish, offering further details, though translation may be required. It’s mentioned that the rider initially aimed to complete the ride in period clothing, but freezing temperatures necessitated more modern gear partway through.
Jari Vuorela, the rider and owner of the Royal Enfield, pictured in his riding gear.
A closer portrait of Jari Vuorela, owner and rider of the oldest bike to complete an Iron Butt ride, standing next to his Royal Enfield.
To the right in the picture is Jari Vuorela, the owner and rider. Notably, Jari is also the mastermind behind the world’s fastest Royal Enfield.
A highly modified Royal Enfield engine, showcasing its performance enhancements and twin-cam conversion.
This speed record Royal Enfield, originally a 1930 model, was boosted to 1140cc and converted to twin cam. The modifications, particularly to the tank profile to accommodate the timing chain, are reminiscent of innovative engineering solutions.
Now, for the exciting challenge: the Iron Butt record of Jari Vuorela and his 1931 Royal Enfield is being challenged! And by a Swedish bike and rider duo.
A scenic landscape image, used as a placeholder, before showing the challenger bike.
Oops! Wrong image. Here is the challenger:
The 1926 DS motorcycle, the challenger to the oldest bike Iron Butt record, pictured in anticipation of the ride.
Seven years later, we’re going back five years further in time to 1926. This time-trip brings us to a 1926 750cc DS.
“DS”? Simply DS.
DS stands for David Senning, a veterinarian who relied on motorcycles to traverse the vast, road-challenged inland Sweden of his time.
A vintage advertisement or catalog image of a DS motorcycle, highlighting its rugged design for professional use.
Motorcycles were undeniably superior for navigating such conditions. However, dissatisfied with commercially available options for his demanding professional use, veterinarian David Senning took matters into his own hands.
“I can build a better bike myself,” he declared. A sentiment echoed today, but revolutionary in his era.
And build he did – approximately 500 to 600 bikes.
A portrait of David Senning, the veterinarian and motorcycle innovator behind the DS brand.
Still practicing veterinary medicine, Senning utilized his district as his personal proving ground, acting as constructor, engineer, test rider, and evaluator. A true visionary!
The specific DS bike attempting the record has its own captivating history. Magnus Fransson first encountered it 40 years ago, and it has resurfaced periodically, passing through different owners and caretakers, though sparingly ridden. It underwent renovation and spent time in a museum.
This could have been the end of its story – a static museum piece, labeled as a once-great motorcycle. However, a dedicated “rescue patrol” intervened, liberating it from museum stasis and bringing it back into the light.
The DS motorcycle being retrieved from storage, showing the initial stage of its revival and preparation for the challenge.
This revival began in May of last year, with preparations ongoing since. While in better condition than many museum-rescued bikes, its “good running order” was still a question.
The ambition was high: a 1,000-mile Iron Butt ride within the time limit, demanding modern-day reliability from a vintage machine. The DS, with a top speed around 55mph and a more comfortable cruising speed below 50mph, makes this SaddleSore 1000 attempt a profound test of rider and machine.
At its heart is a Swiss Motosacoche engine, a 750cc unit producing around 15 horsepower, also found in other motorcycle marques of the era. Magnus faced challenges achieving smooth engine performance, experimenting with Linkert
The DS motorcycle with a Linkert carburetor installed, part of the engine tuning and optimization process.
and SU carburetors.
The DS motorcycle fitted with an SU carburetor, another carburetor option tested for engine performance.
Significant improvement only came after opening and balancing the engine, revealing an astonishing 1.1 kilograms of imbalance in the crankshaft! This substantial correction dramatically improved engine smoothness.
A close-up of the DS motorcycle’s engine after balancing, showing improved running condition and performance.
Further test runs showed continued progress.
The DS motorcycle during test runs, demonstrating its readiness for the Iron Butt challenge.
A primary concern remains the engine’s total-loss oiling system. Unlike modern recirculating systems, this engine relies on a constant feed of fresh oil, with excess simply escaping naturally. This and countless other factors weigh on anyone attempting to push the boundaries of what’s deemed possible, or by some, impossible, foolish, or even dangerous.
Adding to the challenge, Magnus chose a symbolically significant route for his record attempt.
The “Spirit of Hultsfred” lettering on the bike is a tribute to Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight, with Lindbergh’s sponsor being based in St. Louis. Magnus, from Hultsfred, Sweden, aims to link his ride to the 90th anniversary of Lindbergh’s flight, hoping to reach Le Bourget airport in France by the jubilee.
The DS motorcycle with “Spirit of Hultsfred” lettering on its side, referencing Charles Lindbergh’s flight.
For Magnus, riding a 90-year-old bike 1,000 miles one-way is a perfectly reasonable endeavor. No safe loops, just a straight shot towards the horizon. What could go wrong?
Plenty, as Magnus is well aware. He estimates a 40% chance of engine failure and a 40% chance of being stopped by authorities across the five countries he plans to traverse. That leaves a 20% chance of success – enough for an adventure of this magnitude.
The bike has been test-loaded onto a pickup, ensuring transport capability if needed.
The DS motorcycle being loaded onto a pickup truck, testing logistics and transport readiness for the long journey.
Importantly, no support truck will shadow Magnus. He rides solo, with just a few fellow riders accompanying him for the initial hours out of Sweden. Crossing five borders on a 90-year-old machine presents logistical and mechanical uncertainties.
Bags are packed,
Magnus’s packed bags on the DS motorcycle, ready for the Iron Butt challenge and long-distance ride.
and pre-flight checks completed.
Magnus performing pre-ride checks on the DS motorcycle, ensuring everything is in order before departure.
Bon voyage, Magnus!
He departs Saturday morning, May 20th. Follow his journey via Spotwalla: https://spotwalla.com/embed.php?id=144a75919c7eec01b7&scale=on&zoom=default&refresh=no and https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=144a75919c7eec01b7.
Show your support!
He’ll need all the encouragement he can get!
These are the Spotwalla links: https://spotwalla.com/embed.php?id=144a75919c7eec01b7&scale=on&zoom=default&refresh=no https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=144a75919c7eec01b7.
It remains uncertain which Spotwalla link is preferable, but tracking should commence this evening, with movement anticipated from 08:00 CEST Saturday morning.
