Mark Kiecker's Honda VFR-800

Jim Winterer's Yamaha SR500

The VFR's office includes a StreetPilot GPS, ValentineOne radar detector and hard-wired map light

The Yamaha office includes a Sigma bicycle speedometer, volt meter and battery-powered light. Speedo and tach stop much sooner than on the VFR. Don't laugh. Jim has ridden this bike to the Arctic Circle. Three times.

The VFR carries a 5-gallon fuel cell, bringing total capacity to roughly 10.5 gallons. Fuel is pumped into the main tank via a high-volume Holley electric pump. Total range should be approximately 400 miles at speed. Cool sticker does absolutely nothing to prevent vandalism.

The Yamaha carries a 1.6 gallon fuel cell, boosting capacity to about 5 gallons. At a staggering 75 miles-per-gallon in good conditions, range is around 325 miles at "speed". Maxed out, the Yamaha will cruise around 75 miles per hour. The VFR is just topping out in 2nd gear at 70.

The business end of the VFR. The long stretches of night riding required in the Iron Butt should be brighter thanks to a pair of PIAA 910s downgraded from the standard 110 watts each to 85 watt bulbs to conserve power, PIAA superwhite 45/45 watt main lights hide behind a clear stone shield and a pair of cute little ditch lights serve no practical purpose whatsoever.

The business end of the Yamaha is too ugly to photgraph. Or maybe I just forgot. The SR's rear is as ugly as the front, but worth noting because it is likely to be shown to more than one competitor on far more "capable" machinery. Single headlamp and "wattage-challenged" electrical system provides slightly less illumination than a decent flashlight. Riding this thing for 11 nights across some of the darkest, most remote roads in the US should be, um, interesting. PIAA superwhite bulb may provide peace of mind, but questionable benefit.