Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

"Report MRA Iron Butt Challenge 2016: 2571 km in 23 hours and 45 minutes!"

2571 km in 23 hours and 45 minutes… I can already hear some of the readers thinking – it’s irresponsible, dangerous to life and crazy to stay on the motorbike for that long. An average speed of around 108 km per hour and this for an entire day…. Irresponsible and dangerous to life? It’s actually not that bad, it’s possible to stay 100% concentrated for 24 or even 48 hours, but you need a lot of focus for that. And one hundred percent motivation, in case you don’t have that, please don’t try this, because it could get dangerous... It is crazy, though – and that means you need to be a bit crazy to even want to try it out. Well, at more than just a little bit, preferably as mad as a hatter, because it is painful, but the satisfaction once it is done is huge! Within one day, you’re on the other side of Europe… Highlights report • From Roermond to Tarifa with my buddy John who wanted to take a nap on the way… • Eating and having a major hangover the next day… • 43 degrees peak temperature in Sevilla… • An incredibly beautiful ride through the natural park Serra da Estrela… • Picos De Europa in the fog… • Rain and nightmares in France…

Travel overview

0.00 kilometers tracked
0 hours and 0 minutes
0 moments
67 appreciations
42 comments
Travel report

Comments

  • Mooi, zo kom je nog eens ergens..

    2017-11-17 15:16:46 by MTC-Zeilberg

  • Zo is dat, daar doen we het voor!

    2017-11-17 15:20:24 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Excellent report, I feel inspired but I would want to take a month for the route :)

    2017-11-17 16:11:32 by Gwallter Rixon

  • Thanks! And yes, in a month is better.

    2017-11-17 16:51:12 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Petje af, wereldprestatie !

    2017-11-18 18:46:19 by Peter

  • Dank je Peter!

    2017-11-18 18:47:50 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Thank you!

    2017-11-20 18:25:49 by Christopher Hardwicke-Garner

  • Your welcome!

    2017-11-20 18:39:38 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Fantastic! Nothing like showing us how it's supposed to be done. I certainly hope I can do as good a job as you have--- but have no intention of doing 2571km in 23 hours and 45 minutes. Thanks Michel.

    2017-11-20 19:12:21 by Tim Deeming

  • Thank you Tim for your kind words!

    2017-11-20 19:33:28 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Nou dat is nog eens een pittig stukje rijden op dag 1 en 2. Voor mij is 750km open 1 dag meer dan genoeg. Tenzij er een leuke Spaanse dame op me zit wachten. ps. spelen jullie wel eens met de gedachte om de tracker ook een live optie te geven?

    2017-11-21 15:33:34 by Danny Engels

  • Jazeker, dat staat voor 2018 op de planning!

    2017-11-21 15:36:28 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • motorbike and non-sense often go together but drive 2500 km in a day is something more than that. i can't say i'm agree because even with a strong motivation and a deep focused mind i consider it dangerous and even if i feel the insane feeling of competitiveness i'm sure i wont be able to drive for so long

    2017-11-22 11:23:50 by Matteo Codeluppi

  • A human is perfectly capable of holding a long focus. Much safer as driving around Naples in rush hour I can tell you :). But if you do not like, do not do it.

    2017-11-22 13:42:02 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Michel we were talking about naples? dont think so, but anyway im the first to say that cities are much more dangerous than a long trip abroad. Mine it is just an opinion, do not take it too personally, driving for a day long 2500km isnt safe not even for a long-running motorcyclist. that's my opinion.

    2017-11-22 15:20:21 by Matteo Codeluppi

  • Life is never safe, so motorcycling is not too.

    2017-11-22 15:34:22 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Great report. Enjoyed. Photos are top too.

    2017-11-22 20:59:42 by Vinny

  • Thanks Vinny!

    2017-11-22 21:10:18 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Absolut impressive!!! Congratulations and many thanks for the nice pics.

    2017-11-23 21:28:09 by Bruno Mäser

  • Thanks Bruno!

    2017-11-23 21:47:11 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Top Prestatie ! en mooi verslag

    2017-11-24 16:54:30 by sam speyer

  • Dank je!

    2017-11-24 17:58:59 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Dank je.Nico!

    2017-11-24 18:01:57 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Prachtig verslag van een geweldige uitdaging. Gefeliciteerd met het volbrengen. Ik heb genoten.

    2017-11-24 18:02:02 by Nico van der Laan

  • que pasada amigo..es es un record.

    2017-12-05 17:28:52 by carreteraycurvas

  • Gracias!

    2017-12-05 18:51:03 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Michel! Ik heb deze zomer vanuit hetzelfde Roermond met m'n matti op mijn FJR 1300 een zomertoer richting de Dolomieten gemaakt. Roermond, FJR... twee hele goede keuzes! Ik ga nu verder lezen

    2017-12-11 20:37:51 by Henk Theessink

  • Yep!

    2017-12-11 20:43:57 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Mooie reis waarvan dag 1&2 helemaal gekkenwerk zijn.Met de FJR in die hitte moet wel afzien zijn weet ik uit ervaring.

    2018-03-19 16:50:41 by Frank Jordens

  • Beetje gek zijn we wel.

    2018-03-19 16:51:41 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Wij zijn nu in Portugal en gaan hier verschillende routes rijden. Maar wij hebben de motoren achter de camper geknoopt. Mooi reisverhaal!

    2018-07-26 00:18:20 by Jet

  • Dank je Jet en veel plezier!

    2018-07-26 07:39:40 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Het eerste deel van jullie trip doe ik jullie niet na! Leuk verslag.

    2019-07-14 12:33:49 by Rob Verhoeff

  • Dank je Rob!

    2019-07-14 13:20:45 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Juist geregistreerd hier en al een geweldig verslag.Top jongens!

    2019-07-15 23:29:26 by Redgy Decorte

  • Dank je Redgy!

    2019-07-15 23:38:00 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • fantastici avete fatto un bellissimo viaggio e visto posti stupendi....auguri per farne tanti altri....e ogni lasciata e persa

    2019-08-26 20:28:19 by mario

  • Geweldig mooie foto´s en filmpjes. Vlot en luchtig geschreven. Kortom ben enthousiast geraakt voor 2020

    2019-12-14 16:22:28 by Monty Schmieman

  • Dank je Monty, ik word enthousiast van jouw reactie om hiermee verder te gaan!

    2019-12-14 16:33:49 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • Zolang de geestelijke en lichamelijke fitheid top is, is het geen gekkenwerk, levensgevaarlijk of onverantwoord. Ieder zijn ding. Mij zul je nooit op een snelweg zien met de motor, maar ik kan me dechallenge wel voorstellen.

    2023-11-18 14:17:43 by Lex Kloet (RouteXpert)

  • Zo is het Lex, lekker doen wat goed voelt zonder anderen te benadelen.

    2023-11-18 14:39:10 by Michel van Hagen (MRA-Founder)

  • 2023-12-19 21:12:29 by Jet