The next few days were spent eating too much, working on the rally, eating too much, taking the bike to the moto shop, eating too much, spending time at Erik's moto shop, eating too much, friends coming by, and eating too much.

Erik, who is a friend of ours and is also a Rat Rider, is one of the best mechanics that I have ever met. I had previously arranged with Erik for him to do a service and a complete overall checkup on "Mexican Desire". We took her down to Erik's moto shop where she spent the next 3 days getting the much needed TLC and detailing from Erik. When Erik finished with her, Mexican Desire looked and ran like a brand new bike.

Rally supplies have been packed and ready to load in the truck in the morning. Bike is filled with gas, bags packed, and is ready to roll. Will be doing a 5:00am departure in the morning on our way to Cuernavaca.

And now we start to get to what this ride is actually about, the 2014 International AREM Rat Ride / IBA SaddleSore Rally in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

When dealing with sponsors it seems that they never completely follow through. The t-shirts for the rally were not finished until last night but they did not know when they would be able to get them to Cuernavaca. We made arrangements to pick them up on our way down which meant an even earlier start for us.

We were up a 3:00 am for a 4:00 am start. Six of us would be leaving from Aguascalientes together, Marco, Erik, Moni, Lalo, Yessica, and me.

Mexico does not quite understand the meaning of July. July is a hot month. It is suppose to be hot. Leaving Aguascalientes it was 52F. Before getting to Mexico City and climbing up to around 9,000 feet in elevation, it was down to around 48F.

One rule for riding in Mexico is that you do not ride at night. Sometimes you have to make an exception. We finally got a 4:15 am start and there is just not much daylight then. Once out of Aguascalientes we were on the cuotas which made riding much easier.

Stayed cold riding the bikes until we were through Mexico City.

Sun started coming before reaching Silao. We stopped in Silao and picked up the rally t-shirts and then continue on SE.

Stopped for gas and breakfast in Irapuato.

Back on the road and heading toward DF (Mexico City).

Reaching DF we then had to deal with the traffic. It took us over an hour to get through DF. Traffic would be stop and go, then start moving around 15-20 mph, up to 40 mph for a short section, then repeat.

Leaving DF behind we made our way south to Cuernavaca.

Arrived at Harley Davidson Cuernavaca and they were in the process of preparing for the rally.

We began setting up the area for registration.

Mexican Desire was put on display to exhibit her new 5.7 auxiliary gas cell. The cell was designed by Gallen, aka as our very own thatfixedit from the Stromtrooper message board.

The pilotos soon began to arrive.

Registration was opened and the first pilotos signed in.

Archway for the starting line was being completed.

A few more bikes are arriving.

Piloto's meeting and then most riders go to get some sleep before the early morning starting time.

The IBA Bun Burner Gold is a ride that is 1,500 miles long and must be completed in less than 24 hours. It requires an overall average speed of 62.5 miles per hour for 24 hours. It is one of the hardest rides that the IBA offers. Doing it in the US on the interstate is one thing. Try it in Mexico and it becomes increasingly harder. In Mexico the rider would have to deal with city traffic, livestock on the roads, tool booths, topes, military and policia check points, and poor road conditions just to name a few.

Two riders, Ioram and Gerado bc, entered into a personal challenge to see who could be the first rider to complete the IBA Bun Burner Gold in Mexico. We set up a special start time for the two riders.

Tomorrow we will find out who is the first piloto in Mexico to complete the IBA Bun Burner Gold.

A few hours later and it was time to close up shop and head to the hotel to get a couple hours sleep before the 3:00 am start time in the morning.

Wake up call was at 1:30am, arrived at HD at 2:30 and first bike out would be at 3:00.

Bikes lining up in the garage and waiting on their start time.

The pilotos move forward one at a time to have their picture taken. Afterwards they are sent to the top of the ramp at the arch and receive their start time from the judges.

I was working in the garage sending the bikes up to the starting judges so no start pictures.

3:44am and 68 bikes are on the road.

Around 4:30 we are back at the hotel to get some sleep and later breakfast (lunch).

A few shots of Cuernavaca from the restaurant on the top floor of the hotel.

After a few hours of personal time we are back at HD at around 4:30pm. Things look a little different than they did earlier this morning.

Now we just wait until the bikes start returning.

Our first rider to finish the Bun Burner Gold (1,500 in less than 24 hours) is now returning. He is in front of the white truck.

The HD shop is on ground level at the front of the store. The garage is below the HD shop and is on ground level at the back of HD. The bikes start by the entering the garage from the back of HD at ground level and then ride up the ramp to the arch at the front side of HD. They also finish by entering the garage from the back, and ride up the ramp to the arch to get their finish time from the judges.

Ioram, who was the first piloto to finish the Bun Burner Gold in Mexico, entered the garage and started up the ramp.

What happened next was totally unexpected. I was waiting for him to stop at the top of the ramp with the judges and I going to take his picture there. Then I realized that he was still running at full speed. Instead of stopping, he jumped the ramp. Before I could move he passed by me in mid air missing me by only a few inches.

A third rider had also entered the challenge of the Bun Bunner Gold and arrived only a few minutes behind Ioram at the front of HD. This made him the 2nd piloto to finish the Bun Bunner Gold.

We finally got Ioram stopped under the arches.

Yamaha's Super Ténéré proved that it was up to the task.

Now it was back to waiting for our regular scheduled pilotos.

Next morning and time for breakfast before returning to Cuernavaca HD.

Marco hard at work

Tables are set up for tonight's dinner.

AREM rally souvenirs for sale.

Marco taking delivery on a Yamaha FZ 250.

Interesting story on this bike. Just a few weeks previously, Marco and Lulu completed a Rat Ride 2-up on this bike. During the ride, one of the worst weather systems in Mexico kept them company for most of the ride. Hail, hard rain, flooded streets, and strong cross winds were their companions. Not only were these guys "bad to the bone" but by the time that they finished the ride, they were wet to the bone and exhausted. Most important thing is that they did beat the 24 hour clock. Tough bike, tough riders.

Unveiling of next year's logo.

Dinner was served, and awards were given out. Eventually all of the pilots left and prepared for their journey home the next day.