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Firefighter
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« on: January 03, 2016, 06:27:40 PM » |
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You Colorado guys, how do our Valks do climbing Pikes Peak? Where I live is 36 feet above sea level. So I was curious if there is much loss of power? How about down hill, any problems? Thanks
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2000 Valkyrie Interstate, Black/Red
2006 Honda Sabre 1100
2013 Honda Spirit 750
2002 Honda Rebel 250
1978 Honda 750
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Serk
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« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2016, 06:29:34 PM » |
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I'm not a Colorado guy but here in the Dallas area we're around 500 feet above sea level, and my Valk didn't notice the altitude at all all the way up and down Pike's Peak (And the slightly higher Mt. Evans) when I rode her up there several years back.
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...  IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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Willow
Administrator
Member
Posts: 16770
Excessive comfort breeds weakness. PttP
Olathe, KS
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« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2016, 06:34:46 PM » |
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You Colorado guys, how do our Valks do climbing Pikes Peak? Where I live is 36 feet above sea level. So I was curious if there is much loss of power? How about down hill, any problems? Thanks
I'm not a Colorado guy but I've ridden there. If your Valk is well tuned you'll have no problems in the department. Road surface? Is the top seven miles of Pike's Peak still gravel or have they paved it? |
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Misfit
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« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2016, 06:35:26 PM » |
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You will have a definite loss of power at that altitude. The rub is that you will have more power than you are going to care to use. The road to the top of that mountain is far from straight. I doubt that you will want to be running 75 mph on that road.  |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough.  |
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Misfit
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« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2016, 06:36:34 PM » |
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Paved to the top for several years now. |
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If you're lucky enough to ride a Valkyrie, you're lucky enough. |
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Firefighter
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« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2016, 07:04:44 PM » |
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Looks like one of those places I should ride before I'm done, thanks for the responses.
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2000 Valkyrie Interstate, Black/Red
2006 Honda Sabre 1100
2013 Honda Spirit 750
2002 Honda Rebel 250
1978 Honda 750
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DirtyDan
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« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2016, 01:00:47 AM » |
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pikes peak  check dan |
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Do it while you can. I did.... it my way
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Moonshot_1
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« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2016, 02:03:31 AM » |
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You Colorado guys, how do our Valks do climbing Pikes Peak? Where I live is 36 feet above sea level. So I was curious if there is much loss of power? How about down hill, any problems? Thanks
Assuming the bike is in proper working order, the loss of power as you go up Pikes Peak is barely perceptible. But it is perceptible. As Misfit says "...you will have more power than you are going to care to use" No issues as to the downhill aspect of the mountain. Watch out for the speed demons. Always seem to be a couple of them guys on the crotch rockets in a hurry . |
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Mike Luken
Cherokee, Ia.
Former Iowa Patriot Guard Ride Captain
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Flat6Valk
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« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2016, 04:05:22 AM » |
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I was on Pikes Peak in July, This years VRCC August calendar picture. You must dress for cold weather. You bike will go up and down without problems. The speed limit is low anyway. Coming down you will be in a low gear and light brakes.
The top is 14100 feet and if your subject to hypoxia you will be affected. I was. Keep water on hand. somehow that helps.
Greg
Flat6Valk
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RIDE SAFE-RIDE OFTEN........GO BUCKEYES!!!
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Firefighter
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« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2016, 04:21:27 AM » |
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Hey Greg, what happened to you? What kind of symptoms? Thanks for all the replies!
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2000 Valkyrie Interstate, Black/Red
2006 Honda Sabre 1100
2013 Honda Spirit 750
2002 Honda Rebel 250
1978 Honda 750
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sutterhome
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« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2016, 06:12:15 AM » |
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Drove up last summer, dress warm, in august it was 32 at the summit in the early am. Can be windy at top. There most likely be traffic and up/down that will keep your speed down.Too pretty to go fast even if you could, very curvy roads.There is a mandatory stop on the way down where they will measure you brake temp.You can get a pretty good burger at the store next to it.Plan for a longer than expected trip. No need to rush.
Also if you can drive the Estes Park to Grand Lake park road, this is a great drive also.
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« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2016, 06:18:00 AM » |
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My experience 3 times is that it's best ride up in the morning before any afternoon storms roll in to obstruct the view from the top and or soak you as you descend.
DO NOT get distracted by the views. The other road users will be and you need to keep alert for lane drifters of all shapes and size.
Don't use premium gas thinking you will get more power at higher altitudes. Just use regular as usual.
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Serk
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« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2016, 06:21:05 AM » |
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Yeah, I got very light headed from the altitude as well. Drink a lot of water, and don't go up there hungry. Food and liquid seemed to help me a lot, but the system shock, especially if you one shot it (I went straight from Dallas to the top of the peak) can be pretty intense.
If you've got the time, be sure to ride to the top of Mount Evans too, it doesn't have the name recognition, but IMHO was every bit as beautiful of a ride, maybe more so, and is a little higher.
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away... IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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DirtyDan
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« Reply #13 on: January 04, 2016, 06:25:06 AM » |
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Mt Evans  check dan |
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Do it while you can. I did.... it my way
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longrider
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« Reply #14 on: January 04, 2016, 06:44:10 AM » |
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.JPG) Mount Evans at the parking lot in 2008. The Valk ran as smooth as always. |
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« Last Edit: January 04, 2016, 06:46:18 AM by longrider »
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Billinva
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« Reply #15 on: January 04, 2016, 08:57:05 AM » |
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Have done Pikes Peak and Mt. Evans. Both a little over 14,000 feet. I had some loss of power but no problems.
On Pikes Peak I stopped to take a picture on the way up, and one of my gloves blew off the bike and down the mountain. I climbed down and got it. It was 85 degrees and calm at the bottom and 36 degrees with a 33 mph wind at the top.
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CajunRider
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« Reply #16 on: January 04, 2016, 06:01:46 PM » |
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2013 - Bear Tooth Pass on the Valk... little over 11,000 ft. Slight loss of power. Keep RPM up above 2K and you won't have any problems. 2014 - Pikes Peak & Mt. Evans on the Wing... little over 14,000 ft. Same as above. Dress for cold... things get chilly above the 7,000 or 8,000 feet mark. When you first get up to altitude (+10K ft), move slowly... if you try to move too fast, you may get dizzy and be gasping for air. If you feel fine, you can start increasing speed a little at a time. It may not bother you much at all... all people are different. Me?? I felt it while still driving up the road... started around 12K ft. Not a BAD feeling... just could tell something wasn't right. After a half hour or so, I was able to jog/run/jump/etc. for 10 to 15 seconds at a time, then take it easy for 1 minute. More than that and I'd start to get light-headed. Most importantly... enjoy the ride!!! It's an awesome one!  |
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davit
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« Reply #17 on: January 05, 2016, 07:31:19 PM » |
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My Interstate absolutely loves the mountains! I've been through the Rockies and sierras several times in/on a variety of vehicles, and this was the first time I thoroughly enjoyed every mile. The bike has such smooth power delivery it was often difficult to tell if we were climbing until reaching a summit. Interestingly, the best milage of that trip (38 mpg) came on a stretch from Steamboat Springs to Ft Collins riding Hwy 14 - Poudre Canyon Rd; average on the flat was 27. By the way, look for and heed these signs! They're cute but placed based on history:   If you go, these maps are handy little guides as to what a road may have in store:   Sierra Madres east of Santa Barbara:  Just south of Yosemite:  |
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« Last Edit: January 06, 2016, 07:52:15 AM by davit »
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dinosnake
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« Reply #18 on: January 05, 2016, 10:58:46 PM » |
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Yes, pack as if you are going on an almost year-round trip. It was 89 in Denver and about 42 on top of the Peak. If you hit 35mph you're going fast, the switchbacks get tighter and tighter the higher you go. The main issue? No shoulders - screw up and it is the very, very last thing you'll ever get to do.
What's at the top? A gift and donut shop o.O Go up Mt. Evans, more beautiful, less crowded, more "real", but weather can be even worse - it was 92 in Denver and flurrying at the top!
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« Reply #19 on: January 06, 2016, 07:24:15 AM » |
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Yes, pack as if you are going on an almost year-round trip. It was 89 in Denver and about 42 on top of the Peak. If you hit 35mph you're going fast, the switchbacks get tighter and tighter the higher you go. The main issue? No shoulders - screw up and it is the very, very last thing you'll ever get to do.
What's at the top? A gift and donut shop o.O Go up Mt. Evans, more beautiful, less crowded, more "real", but weather can be even worse - it was 92 in Denver and flurrying at the top!
Mt Evans gets 2 thumbs up from me. |
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davit
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« Reply #20 on: January 06, 2016, 07:42:09 AM » |
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Yes, pack as if you are going on an almost year-round trip. It was 89 in Denver and about 42 on top of the Peak. If you hit 35mph you're going fast, the switchbacks get tighter and tighter the higher you go. The main issue? No shoulders - screw up and it is the very, very last thing you'll ever get to do.
What's at the top? A gift and donut shop o.O Go up Mt. Evans, more beautiful, less crowded, more "real", but weather can be even worse - it was 92 in Denver and flurrying at the top!
I would add to the "what's at the top" list: lots of annoyingly loud tourbus-type camera toting trinket buying tourists who rode up on the cog for no better reason than to check the Peak off their bucket list. Get out and get lost, make your own adventure. My .02.  |
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wd40
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« Reply #21 on: January 06, 2016, 08:32:50 AM » |
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Altitude sickness may set in if you exert yourself when up high. I've got it twice: Severe nausea, possible vomiting and severe headache. I live a bit over 4000' now, and am pretty immune.
DO NOT take aspirin! From the research I did back in the day, you want to avoid anything acidic, chewing some TUMS/antacid is recommended.
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Jess Tolbirt
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« Reply #22 on: January 06, 2016, 09:44:42 AM » |
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I would add to the "what's at the top" list: lots of annoyingly loud tourbus-type camera toting trinket buying tourists who rode up on the cog for no better reason than to check the Peak off their bucket list. Get out and get lost, make your own adventure. My .02. hmmm just like all of us that go up there huh? gotta take a pic of the bike in front of the summit sign.. |
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