How does the voyager run in high altitudes?

[electriccruiser]

I’m going to tour in the Colorado mountains. Will my 2002 Kawasaki voyager iI run alright in the high altitudes?

[vxiirider]

I had a '98 and an '03 and they both ran just fine on the way to Durango from Michigan and in Estes Park, you will not have any problems with your '02, enjoy the trip. We also rode to the top of Pikes Peak two up with no problem.

[electriccruiser]

That’s great to hear. Thank you...

[Nails]

I live a bit below 8K ft in New Mexico. I often fuss with the slow-jet screw when I come off the hill, but don't really have to. And since the last time I got back home, I haven't adjusted it back. Seems to be a bigger deal going down to the flatlands than coming into the mountains.

So, if you have a reasonable way to adjust this, I'd suggest bringing it. But since there really isn't any reasonable way (I fabricated a tool, which is still a PITA), maybe just plan on messing with the idle adjuster.

In the manual, MaKa describes a high-altitude jet (> 4K ft, as I recall); but as mentioned that's not necessary. Keihin carbs are pretty tolerant, I think because they rely on air mass rather than air volume.

I suspect it'll run fine even approaching 14K. Are you coming to SW CO?

[electriccruiser]

I will be covering a few national parks and tour other places. I’m looking forward seeing more of Colorado.Thank you, ill watch my idle and adjust as needed.

[cranky]

... just went over Monarch Pass on rt 50 on the way to Deadwood, SD,
long way around!!! GBG 11,318, IIRC, nary a problem!!!

https://cranky16804vroc.blogspot.com/20 ... ly-20.html

[ekap1200]

Don't worry about a thing, give it clean fuel and good roads, its all a voyager needs. I have over 107K and never had to remove the carbs. Just a routine of draining the bowls and keeping up on fuel filter rpl. I have been known to go from sea level to several mountain pass's and never noticed a change in power or mileage.
Gene Kap

[HMB Don]

My 2 cents, living in California but being from Colorado i made many trips to Colorado. Every time I'd travel over Independence pass at 12,200 ft. I never had a problem with jetting. Many times I'd be pulling our Time Out trailer over Independence pass. The 1200 wouldn't pull as hard at that altitude, so I'd just run it in a lower gear through the turns and hold it in each gear way higher into the rev range.

My best mileage was at higher altitude.

[HMB Don]

that picture was taken with 220,000 on the odo.

[electriccruiser]

Thank you for the replies. I do appreciate it.

[SgtSlag]

Last year, we trailered our XII to SW Colorado. We rode it all around, up/down the mountains in that area. The only issue I noticed, was that I had the throttle wide open, a couple of times, climbing a hill. I dropped it into a lower gear, and she ran fine. I'd never had the throttle wide open before -- it was quite a shock to twist, and find that I was at the end...

Other than that, she ran fine. I guess I did notice a loss in power, but it was subtle.

I will say that we based out of a house we rented for the week. Every night, we would come "home," to a house, fully furnished, and RELAX! It was amazingly better than a hotel (same cost!). It was really hot some days, so we took our car, instead of the bike. It was an amazing trip: saw the Continental Divide, played in the snow, there, in short-sleeves, the wife was in capris pants and sandals; visited the tourist trap known as, "The Four Corners Monument" (actually, we found it quite enjoyable, and worth our time); visited a few ancient Native American sites, as well. We had a BLAST! The temporary "home" we had, was incredibly relaxing to come back to, nightly, after a long, draining day of sight-seeing.

Call us 'trailer trash,' but we love the long-haul comfort of the car, with riding an option. In the past, we would ride hard to our destination, and when we finally arrived, we were tired and worn out! Riding in our car, we are able to make better time, and we are not nearly as tired. Then we can ride more relaxed, and alert, and we enjoy the rides much more.

When the heat gets too high to be comfortable, we ride in the A/C car. It is also nice as we had our fuel pump die on us, in Arkansas, a few years ago, 70 miles from our hotel. Had to ride back with a tow-truck owner/operator, pulling our bike on his trailer. We had towed our bike down there, as well. It all worked out: loaded our bike onto our trailer, and used the truck for the rest of the trip. We have some excellent stories to tell, and memories that still make us smile. YMMV. Cheers!