Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Pike's Peak

Anybody ride their BA or Speedy there? Some trip planning in the works and wondering how bad it's going to get. 7k in AZ was absolutely not fun trying to stay out of everyones way. HP figures look to be down around 25 or so at 14k.

Please, not a bunch of grand technical ideas or expert opinions if you haven't done it or crossed a pass at about that altitude somewhere. I'd like to know from first person experience on this type machine.

I just say that because it seems some guys have to comment in every-single-solitary-thread as often as they can even if they don't have anything useful to contribute. But I guess there's nothing wrong with that... it just gets tiresome cutting through the fluff.

I assume you're talking about the Pikes Peak Hillclimb? I've gone to the race the last three years, although never on my bike.

I'm debating going this year, but haven't committed yet - if I do go, it will be on my Speedy. I wouldn't hesitate to ride it up there, although if I do go (to the race that is) the odds of actually going to the summit are slim. You really don't want to watch the race from the summit.

I can't really comment on what your bike will be like at that elevation, but that road is a pretty slow speed road - so you shouldn't have to worry about staying out of anybody's way.

I may take my ride up to Mt. Evans in the near future - which is just as high. That should be a learning experience.

Not sure of timing but if he does it first Ramsound should be able to give you some ideas when he gets back. His trip takes him from sea level to 10,000 feet.

As to the BS about only want o hear about this machine. Well this machine has a carberated internal combustion engine just like tons of others and all the same tricks hold true. Open the intake if possibile , lean out the mixture screws , etc...

No, not going for the hillclimb, just to take in the view, get the photo, and move on.

And I guess I expected the rest.
Didn't know asking about other's experience was BS... I guess I know now. Maybe if I'd post more and read less I'd learn something. And I wasn't looking for tricks. I guess I also learned that I should tinker in the middle of a road trip for one stop along the way. But I don't think I will.

Of course I'm no expert, so I'm sure I'll suffer the slings and arrows of ignoring sage advice.

Tricks are all you have unless you want to rejet.The only BS was making the implication that what applies to other internal combustion engines somehow wouldn't to these.

I wasn't implying anything.

So you're telling me based on your personal experience a 2004 BA won't make it to the 14k foot summit without tricks or jet tinkering?

Maybe I'd just better skip it and go around.

I'm sure the power drop curve is similar for every carbed engine, but since most have something different in the way of hp, load, etc... asking about a similar type would get me closer to what I'm riding, or so I thought.

Unless of course there's someone who actually did it and could tell me about it, which is what I was asking about in the first place.

In my opinion, this kind of worthless back-and-forth is pretty much a waste of space which is why I tried to ask for a specific response.

Well I am speaking from experience riding Triumphs over the Rockies not to mention 30+ years working on bikes so I do have some idea what I am talking about. Your bike will make it unless you foul a plug but you will notice a power loss. The "tricks" I mentioned will help but nothing will work great short of rejetting for the altitude but then you run lean prior to going up the mountain. So that leaves us back at the "Tricks" and those tricks work and are not hard to do. I am not talking about doing them along the road. Do them prior to the trip up the mountain. Very easy to pull the filter element and tweek the mixture screws. I was giving you a specific response having done it many times. If you choose not to listen that is entirely your decision and I don't personally care I simply tried to help you out if you don't want it thats fine. I said my piece I'm finshed and won't be back to this thread.

Thanks

Might want to ask over on TriumphRat.net, seems to me I remember someone posting last year riding the mountain on standard Bonnie. I also believe a regular poster there lives in Denver, that fellow would give you some specific data.

I say go for it. Maybe I'll make it out there one of these years.

Denver is home, when I am not in Afghanistan. I have not done Pikes Peak, but last year I did several 10K passes on my stock '04 America with A/I removed. Absolutely no problems at that altitude. Ate several Harleys on Monarch Pass, near the crest.

That's the sort of thing I was looking for.
From one retired soldier to another, thanks man.

And keep your head down.

I haven't done Pikes Peak either, since it is gravel a good portion of the way to the top. But I did do Mt. Evans (14,200 ft) on Sunday, no problems on a stock 04 Speedy. Sure you loose power at that altitude, but you won't be racing up there anyway.

We did get a little snow while we were at the summit.

Take warm clothes, and go early, the storms move in up there around noon time.

Later
Joe

Cool, thanks.

JJ -

Home base is Grand Junction, CO, around 4700 elev.

Have done Monarch Pass (11.3K), Lizardhead (10.2K), Loveland Pass - Snow (11.9K), Red Mountain Pass - Snow (11 K), and make numerous trips on the Grand Mesa (10.5K), all w/o problems, all stock, AI on.

Do dress warm. Layer, layer, LAYER!! In August of 2005, temps ranged from 35 - 80 on I 70, from Loveland to Denver, in 75 miles and in two hours.

Thanks Bob, good info.

Haven't heard from you in a while. Any long rides since that Iron Butt SS1000?

I've tried to document my rides with pics on Fotki.
The same guy I rode to PEI Canada with is working up a ride from the Atlantic to Starbucks #1 for a cup of coffee, then coming back home. Pikes Peak would be a photo op along the way. As for layering, it will be a summer trip and I depend on Gerbing to reduce the need for layers (hopefully the electrics won't fail).

I was trying to get some idea of how the bike would do and a several of you have first hand experience at going it (PP or similar) stock and I appreciate your sharing.

My daughter and I did Pikes Peak a couple of years back. Dog33 is right. Just lean your carbs out before you start up the mountain. We talked to a couple of Harley riders and they had no problems with caburated engines........ANGELIS

Based in Parker (south of Denver), like Bob, have been on many 11k passes on a no mods 2005 SM. No problems. Had to drop down a gear now and again, but other than that, it just ran great!
Not been up Pikes Peak (except on the cog railway!) so cannot comment on that. All I can say is it was 95F when we got on the train, 32F when we reached the top, so take some warm/rain gear!
Did go up Trailridge Road by car (12k) and saw many other motorcycles up there. They all appeared to be running fine!

Cheers!
Clive

Sounds good. That's about what I was thinking, but good to hear from those who've done it.
Always carry rain gear. It will be a summer run, but still will take the Gerbings on the trip.
Thanks.

Don't know if it matters to you any more, but I took the Speedy up Mt. Evans (14,000 ft) yesterday with no issues what so ever.

Thanks for the update. Always good to hear of a stock setup making it to 14k with no problems.

I did Mt. Evans in CO. on a rented B.A. if I remember correctly thats 14K and had no problems,plenty of power.

Skip

Thanks man.
A rented BA? Haven't heard about many of those. This trip is planned for next summer so I just wanted to get an idea how a stock would do and it's sounding better all the time.