Cross country - rejetting required?

[jcoukos]

Talking with my fellow Wing owner, I was saying how many people enjoy the Valk over the wing for touring.   He quipped "yeah, but if you want to go cross country you can't on the Valk because you'd need to rejet the carbs at altitudes when going cross country"

Doesn't sound right, any input?

Thanks

JC

[Skinhead]

If you were to relocate to say Frisco, Co.  I would consider rejetting, but to travel through the area, it isn't necessary, your bike will run rich at altitude, but the time you will spend there will be relatively short.  You will definitely notice a decrease in performance at altitude, but that is due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure (100 kPa at sealevel, about 73 kPa in Frisco).

[fudgie]

No problems with mine in the Apps or Black Hills.

[BigAl]

If you live constantly above 6000 feet in elevation of course above sea level, you would want to consider it.

But for short duration like across the Rockies, the bike may or probably will not perform as recomended by the manufactureer.

But I don't think you will be staying in that elevation so you do not need to rejet, replug, or remap anything.

You just for that short duration will not have the full power or efficiancy that the machine would produce at that higher altitude.

If you lived there it would be worth it.

But for a tour of the countryside why bother.

[..]

Not needed.

My Valkyrie started wheezing at about 12,000 feet with a drop in power. At the top of Mt. Evans, 14,250 feet, there was a noticeable drop in power and a need to substantially increase revs and hold in lower gears.

[NCGhostrider]

I have driven my valk over a large part of the U.S., from the coast of NC to Texas where I live now, and many times into the mountains of Colorado.   You will see a slight drop in power while at high altitude, but not enough to worry about from my experience. 

When I took my first cross country trip on the Valk many years ago, my friends worried me to death over all the things I needed to do, or should take.   My experience was, make sure the bike is in good shape, take a couple of things to make yourself comfortable, and RIDE.   

Have fun.

Craig
NcGhostrider
99 I/S

[R J]

MGM has been in all the lower 48 states 3 times and I'm still running the same jets and carb settings as I use here in Iowa.

Now, if you were running an old Model A, T, or Chevrolet, you might want to consider changing the jets at altitude.

But to pass through or spend a few days in the mtns, changes are not needed or required.

Not to get off the Valk situation, but a Fuel Injection outfit on the new Wings will automatically change itself when needed.

Take what clothes ya need, your check book and Credit Card and have fun.    Quit worrying, it will only turn your hair GREY.

I'll admit, I lost some ponies, but I had the gears to play with to make up for it in the mole hills.

[eric in md]

+1 what they said good look over . splines splines , drive shaft driveshaft , service it up air up tars and ride baby ride .. its all good

[9Ball]

typical wing owner...thinks their bike is the only one you can tour on.  You have CV carbs that can adjust to most changes in atmospheric conditions.  As others stated, you'll notice decreased performance above 11k feet, but no flaming death.

[Strider]

Yeah, what the others said - no need to rejet anything for cross country touring.  Been up to Mount Evans and even chased Misfit down off of it - no problems.  Check the air pressure in your tires every morning before taking off.  I found that more affected than anything at altitude.  Been running through the Rockies many times and I live in Louisiana - you don't get any closer to sea level than where I live.

You may notice (or may not) a slight loss of power at altitude, but the Valkyrie has plenty in reserve anyway.  Plus, if you are at high enough altitude to notice loss of power, you are probably more busy checking out the sights anyway!  



Just give the bike a good "once over" and ride er baby ride er - she won't complain.

I found I had more problems with my OWN carburation at altitude than the Valk did.



I think my brother noticed more of an issue on a V-Twin than the Valk did.  He said you could definitely tell the difference between his carbureted Harley and his wife's fuel injected one.  Don't worry about the Valk - she won't give you any problems.

[hotglue #43]

I live at sea level..... well..... 31 ft above.  On my 97 Valk I shimmed the needles .020" to eliminate the midrange studder I was having...worked great!.  On the 1st trip on the Valk to Colorado, it ran fine til I got to the 11k plus range.... then it was running so rich it smoked like a diesel..LOL... Got to Montrose, pulled the shims, and the K&N prefilter, and it ran GREAT again.... There is a definate power loss at altitude... but that effects EVERYONE. I got WONDERFUL mileage in the mountains.... maybe I was just going slower, taking it all in.. Sure like the way my bike runs at sea level!!!  
And as Strider said.... I ran out of air before the bike did!!!!!!

[Sharkey]

+1 With Strider

Inzane 9 VRCC Valkyrie Motorcycle Colorado	powered by Aeva

all over Colorado 2 up

[Pete]

As I remember the manual says to tighten the pilot jets 1/2 turn for continuous altitude riding above 6,000 feet. It is called the high altitude adjustment in the manual.

I have encountered one IS that had that adjustment and it was to lean at sea level.

Just for crossing the mountains, way to much bother.

[Spirited-6]

Talking with my fellow Wing owner, I was saying how many people enjoy the Valk over the wing for touring.   He quipped "yeah, but if you want to go cross country you can't on the Valk because you'd need to rejet the carbs at altitudes when going cross country"

Doesn't sound right, any input?

Thanks

JC
Not worth the time to do !!! Ride it / Drive it, what ever you do, enjoy it, because she will still amaze you.  In 06 on a trip to Colordao, I was told to change plugs at high altitudes to stop fouling on a 02 1100 Spirit. At 11,000 the bike started cutting out and I thought, damn, they  were right. Pulled over the side and waited for son to catch up, he was on a "WING". I found I was out of GAS. Ride On.   

[RoadKill]

I seen a couple Valkyries with car tires doing burnouts on top of Mt. Evans (14,000 ft ) with no modifications.Them dorks were from Ks (900 ft above sea level)  

[Skinhead]

The loss in performance at altitude can only be eliminated by turbo or supercharging, fuel mixture can be improved by rejetting if you live there.  The problem is the available ambient air pressure, 100 kPa at sealevel, 65-70 at altitude.  This affects manifold pressure or MAP, at sea level and wide open throttle, MAP~=ambient or 100 kPa, at altitude Max MAP would be 65 or 70 at WOT, which would be like limiting your maximum throttle opening to about 75% at sea level.  But add a blower, and you won't notice much change in performance.

[Willow]

... You will definitely notice a decrease in performance at altitude, but that is due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure (100 kPa at sealevel, about 73 kPa in Frisco).

You may have to be pretty sensitive to notice a decrease.  Mine ran like a scalded dog up and down Mount Evans and across Rocky Mountain National Park.

No need to rejet.  travel the country in confidence and enjoy it.

[highcountry]

I live at 6400' and my Valk and others that I know about around here are running stock jets.  No problema.  If we changed to leaner jets then we would have bigger problems at lower elevations running too lean.

[Hoser]

I seen a couple Valkyries with car tires doing burnouts on top of Mt. Evans (14,000 ft ) with no modifications.Them dorks were from Ks (900 ft above sea level)  

I see you two are still gettin high. I had no trouble getting up there with the missus on the back, except for her complaning about the cold.  85 at the hotel and 47 at the top.     Hoser