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horsepower loss due to altitude

4K views 7 replies 8 participants last post by  Andy_7676 
#1 ·
does anyone know how much horsepower you lose as you gain elevation? Ive heard that it is around 3% for every 1000 feet of elevation gain. I live at close 9000 feet and that would make for a 23-27 horse loss. What is the tech guys take on this?
 
#2 ·
I think 3% per 1000 sounds bout right. My gps says I live at 5100ft, where I go to college an hour away the gps says is 400ft. (its pretty accurate, i compared it to a topo map) I definitely notice the difference, except the power seems similar when, its really hot, like 106 where I go to school and then if i ride home at night and its only like mid 60s where I live, the cool dense air evens it out a little.
 
#3 ·
i took a visit to the adirondachs in upstate ny, trailered the bike. i live normally in VA beach. well the altitude made alot of difference, usually here in va i just clutch second a little bit and she comes up or right around 9000 in first just roll on alittle and wheelie away, but up there i tried and all the front wheel did was skip the ground alittle, i had to use a quite a bit more throttle to get her up, and I believe the adirondachs is onlt right around 1000ft were is I am normally at sea level. also alot of humidity and about 85-90 degrees were in the mountains, were very little humidity and about 75-80 degrees, and still notoced a difference.
 
#4 ·
as you probably know the denser teh air going into your engine the more power you make. I don't know if fuel injected bikes have mass air flow sensors or whatever but with fi on a car the more air you put in the computer tells it to put in more fuel to keep the mixture from going lean or rich and more air/fuel=more power.
 
#5 ·
Originally posted by ake leach

Ive heard that it is around 3% for every 1000 feet of elevation gain.
That's about what I've heard. When I get a pipe I'm going to get a dyno in Denver. That's about '5000 compared to my house at '8300, but at least I'll have some kind of idea.
 
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