Africa Twin at altitude
 

Hi All,

Here's a question for Twinkie owners who've ridden their ATs at altitude. Did the bike cope OK with the thinner atmosphere or did you re-jet the carbs and if so, what size jet did you use? Also, what are ATs like on crap fuel?

Thanks in advance. Derek.

That is a difficult question. I have ridden @ two up in high alltitude on crapy fuel, and the peformance is piss poor. But adequate, compared to the work to change the jets. One up was much better. I only changed the air filter for a foam one, for more air. I felt a clear performance loss going over 3600 m.

The @ can handle quite low octane in its low tune.

Frode

I agree with everything said before, I used 'crappy fuel' aka the cheapest I got in the usa down south somewhere, THe alien highway (extraterrestorial highway) and run out of gas 15 miles before I should have.

Just some thoughts, since then put in the best I could

Paul

even with 15% alcohol
 

I took the AT to 5000 meter and it did fine. Yes, loss of power, no ideling, but running smoothly compared to many other bikes.
Also I run it on Brazilian fuell which contains 15 % alcohol. It idled a bit rough, but rode fine. After ajusting the idle-jet's (1/2 turn out) it ideled as if it was an alcoholic. (I mean good ;))

I have a K&N airfilter.

Maarten

12,000 foot off-road, one up worked, but I could feel that there was less pull than at sea level (both from me and the bike).

Should find out how 15,000ft on tarmac, two up feels in a couple of weeks.

Thanks
 

Thanks Fellas,
Nice to know I can get away without fiddling about changing the jets!

Excellent website Mark:thumbup:

Cheers Derek.

Last summer 3 @ from Poland took a part in a journey to Tajikistan. Highest altitude was 4655 m. Fuel was very poor, about 76 oct. Bikes were weak, lost a lot of power. Pamir is a flat plateu, but max speed at altitude 4200 was about 100 km/h. We didn't opened air filters, we didn't re-jet carbs.
But this year we will go higher, and we will re-jet carbs ;)

Did you cut the foam shape yourself? Or this is something available as replacement? And how do I know that particular foam actually allow more air? Thanks in advance

Foam air filters
 

Hello

I made myself one from a Twin Air unit for an Yamaha tenere 88-89. I do not know know for certain that the foam one let more air through. But i think so, from the look of it. I was driving with another @, hi was one up, I two up. His bike lost power on an lower altitude than mine, he ended up taking out his standard airfilter. But this may be just diffrences between acceptable power preferences between the two of us.

The main reasin for getting an foam, is the fact that it is washable. Then you are shure the filter aint clogged when entering high altitude. And a spare one thake no room, since you use the same "cage".

Frode

Many thanks . So you are saying you put the foam inside the metal "cage" in the airbox (RD07 of course) and this is all. Typical air filter (paper of KN?)was removed at altitude and replaced with this shaped tenere foam until descent Am I right?

Foam air filter for @
 

Hello

I use the filter cage. I cut away the paper from the original airfilter. Used a Dremel to grind away the glue. Then I used epoxy to fill up the filter to the correct sice for the Tenere air filter. It make sense, I hope, when you see the @ air filter.

Frode

Still ok....
 

4,516 m just completed the other day. It was loaded, two up and still going strong. What a great machine...
:scooter:

Great news :D ! Glad all's going well with the bike, keep up the good work with your website Mark:clap: ! All the best for the rest of your trip.

Derek.

I'll second Delboys comments on your website - its really good!!

Good roads!
Buen viaje!

Cheers lads, I really appreciate your comments.:mchappy: