Bikes feeling pretty slow...

[kevbroce_imp]

At 9,624 ft elevation on Sonora pass... Road 463 miles Saturday from LA to Sonora County via HW2 (Angeles Crest), HW14, HW395 and HW108/Sonora pass. Basically the Mohave desert to the Yosemite mountains. If you ever want a good ride in California, the 395 on the Eastern side of the state is incredible, I prefer it over HW1 on the coastal side(Whhhhaaaaattttt? Yeah...). Or at least the stretch between LA and the Bay Area, I've yet yo do northern California. So much variation in scenery, its pretty amazing. Also put on a set of Road Pilot 3's the week prior, I'm very happy with them. As far as the sizing being different that stock, I can't say they feel off at all, and they feel worlds better than the stock Dunlop's with 9,500 miles.

 

[HikerToo_imp]

So where does the "slow" reference come into play?
I know when I do longer rides I get used to the movement and speed....

 

[xNE0x_imp]

He lost me at "feeling slow"

 

[flynrider]

At around 10K ft. on a summer day, air density will be about 30% less than sea level with a corresponding drop in power. Maybe that's where the bike felt slow.

The EFI will adjust the fuel mixture to compensate. If you really want to feel slow, try the same ride with an old bike equipped with standard (non CV) carbs. I'm glad those days are behind us.

 

[kevbroce_imp]

Yup, at almost 10000 ft the bike just doesn't have the power it usually does. I started the day at around 500ft elevation in the cool dense morning, 9600ft in the heat of the afternoon is a noticeable change. I wonder what that does tire pressures, I didn't bother to check...

I had an 85 Honda Shadow VT500, that thing was gutless at high altitude. I can definitely appreciate EFI.

 

[kevbroce_imp]

Did 521 miles today. I'm a little tired!

 

[Cormanus]

That's a pretty good day, Kev. Not sure how people do 1,000 mile days.

 

[Pterodactyl_imp]

That's a pretty good day, Kev. Not sure how people do 1,000 mile days.

Yeh, think Sydney to Rocky, via your place. That's tough on four wheels.

Cheers.

 

[the Ferret]

Interesting... My wife and I just rode our nephews NC 700X thru 2 passes in the Sierra Nevadas up to about 9,000 feet and I didn't notice any drop in power at all. Bike ran great. 52 degrees when we started, 85 degrees at peak, but on the mountain top it was 63 degrees.

 

[lukeduck_imp]

Having experienced bikes "feeling slow" in the past I have the solution. I simply go "vroom vroom" louder and more often. Works for me but I am a very simple soul. Hope you get it sorted out. Have fun.

 

[lola_imp]

would love to see photos one day of your trips out kevbroce. sounds fantastic.

 

[kevbroce_imp]

Ride Map

I didn't take any photos of this trip. The whole point was to visit my family and I already felt bad taking such a long drawn out route to see them, every stop would make the visits shorter. There was something awesome every 30 minutes, that would have added up... But now that I've done it I know where is really worth stopping so I'll take some photo's next time. Plus, it's hot stopped in a Roadcrafter...

Really, it's pretty incredible how diverse California's landscape is. Rolling golden hills, foggy redwood forests, coastal beaches, dry deserts, rocky mountain peaks. I wish I counted how many old windmills I saw, there were a lot.

I have a National Street Shield EX. It's nice to keep some pressure off your chest but the buffeting get really old. It's not too bad physically, but the low frequency rumble bothers me with earbuds and earplugs. I took it of for my morning commute, wow, nice and quiet and surprisingly the front end feels so much lighter without all the wind pressure on the screen/forks.