Has anyone ever put any numbers on the amount of power lost at higher altitudes? I know it is significant, just wondering if there is any formula or figures.

I bought a new 1098 last spring and broke it in at 6500-7000 feet. Seemed to be fast enough, but when I took it to Laguna Seca in July and rode it around at sea level it was noticably quicker. Free horsepower!

At Bonneville(4400ft. or thereabouts) they say the power loss is 10% compared to El Mirage(2500ft. or thereabouts). Your obvious answer is to move to Laguna Seca.LOL!

I have a better solution in my dreams - just go get the 1098R and be done with it...

Wouldn't mind living close to Laguna Seca, though. Perhaps I can start a new career picking lettuce or catching fish or being a guide at the Steinbeck museum. Or better yet, be a pro Superbike rider.

DARBY - 01 April 2008 08:06 AM

Has anyone ever put any numbers on the amount of power lost at higher altitudes? I know it is significant, just wondering if there is any formula or figures.

I bought a new 1098 last spring and broke it in at 6500-7000 feet. Seemed to be fast enough, but when I took it to Laguna Seca in July and rode it around at sea level it was noticably quicker. Free horsepower!

Air density and hence power decrease by about 3% for every 1,000 ft of altitude (assuming constant temperature) so at 7,000 ft asl you would be down around 21% on power. In terms of flat out speed it may not make too much difference as there would be a similar reduction in air resistance it would just take longer to get to the max. speed.

This page here has all the info you need to get all the information you need. If you know your exact altitude you can calculate everything else.

http://wahiduddin.net/calc/density_altitude.htm

r60man - 27 May 2008 01:14 PM

This page here has all the info you need to get all the information you need. If you know your exact altitude you can calculate everything else.

http://wahiduddin.net/calc/density_altitude.htm

I was just giving an approximation as few riders know either the dew point or the altimeter setting at a given time or location.

heritage32 - 28 May 2008 04:52 AM

r60man - 27 May 2008 01:14 PM

This page here has all the info you need to get all the information you need. If you know your exact altitude you can calculate everything else.

http://wahiduddin.net/calc/density_altitude.htm

I was just giving an approximation as few riders know either the dew point or the altimeter setting at a given time or location.

No problem, but this will allow people to dig a little deeper into the issue. Bike set up is tricky depending on where you live. Here I only range between sea level and about 1800 ft. above, so I really do not get into feeling a problem. However, if I go to the mountains I know it.