I'll be biking in the Colorado mountains late August and early September and wondering if there would be a problem with altitudes up to 12, 183 ft., which is the highest pass on(from Wikipedia), "Trail Ridge Road...the name for a stretch of U.S. Highway 34 and is the highest continuous paved road in the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States."

I know EFI on a Harley is supposed to adjust for altitude but I wonder if there is a limit.....surely there is, I just hope it isn't somewhere South of the above number.

I'd sure be embarrassed if my bike chokes and the Honda people I'll be with pass me by..... laughing their fat butts off at my expense.

Thanks,

VR

 

I have ridden a couple thousand feet higher than that at Mt. Evans. Nobody told my scooter there was a limit. Just don't tell it and it will be ok.


Dennis

 

No problem.

 

Okay, that's good advice, I'll keep my mouth shut.

Thanks!

 

You should have no problems. Based on your signature I would say your bike will have no issues. Be sure to run premium octane - 91 at most stations. Enjoy the ride!

 

went through Wyoming and Montana mountains never had a problem.

 

Yup, I always pump the premium, even down here at sea level where I usually ride, but someday I'm sure I'll be tempted to try something lesser in grade....but not in Colorado.

Thanks,

VR

 

Took mine to the top of Pikes Peak 14,691 feet
No problems
Love fuel injection!

 

Actually Colorado would be a good place to try lower grade. Not saying you should do it but your octane requirements would be lower.

 

It has been covered in another thread, but you seem to have your understanding for octane backwards. The more air that goes into the engine, the higher is the needed octane. At 10,000 feet, only about 2/3 of the air available at sea level is available so the compression pressure and resulting heat from compression is less. You can get by with lower octane.

When at sea level, you can actually get "extra air" when under a high pressure system with the barometer above 29.92. It would be like very mild supercharging and would increase compression pressure and heat needing even higher octane to prevent detonation.