Baggers and Power Commander installed!

[Depmodeche]

I installed the Vance & Hines Baggers and Power Commander III USB on my 2003 Nomad. Pipes went on easy, great quality, look great, sound great, substantially louder than the stock pipes and they give a nice throaty roar--I will definitely be heard. I actually prefer a quieter pipe--the stock pipes were fine--but I wanted to get rid of that heavy ugly catalytic converter and the Baggers were the best alternative. Also wish they came in tapered ends like the stock ones do.

I downloaded the proper fuel map for my bike and loaded it into the Power Commander. The 9 volt battery adapter I got with the Power Commander meant I could do that at my desktop: very cool. Power Commander was over-all quite easy to install, but I did get frustrated a few times cause I was working in some really tight places. Snaking the wires through the frame was tough, I accidentally pulled one of the wires out of a connector and had to resolder it.

But after I got it all hooked up and went for a ride the bike sounds great and runs like a charm. It seems to be faster and seems to have much faster throttle response. I say "seems" because I know that putting new loud pipes on your bike makes you FEEL like you're going faster....but I'm pretty sure about the throttle response. Noticeable difference.

I'm really curious to see how this will effect my fuel mileage. Does anybody know about that? I'll be riding from Philly to Alaska and back in May & June and I might even consider leaning out the Power Commander for the trip. At highway speeds my Nomad gets me about 125 to 135 milles between fill-ups and I'd hate to decrease that, especially on a 15,000 mile trip.

Thanks.

[2WheelFun]

Good report there! I have the carb'd 1500 classic so cannot offer anything on your upgrades...but if you have time and want to show off your upgrades I'm sure many of us would enjoy drooling over your work!

[Paco]

Good job, with the price of gas, I'd hate to mess with the fuel system.
Fuel economy is very important these days. Thinking bout getting
a scooter and leaving the bike for longer trips.

[Scotty Luv]

Nice post Dep! I plan on doing the same to my Nomad someday. That's quite a ride you have planned. Make sure you tell us how it went when you get back.

Scott

[Phatboy]

If you're running the stock map from the PCIII website, then chances are you will be running a little rich. It shouldn't hurt to lean it out some, especially if your mileage drops. I think they make their maps rich because that only causes carbon deposits, while running lean could cause valve damage- so they err on the side of safey IMHO. Pour some Seafoam in the gas every third tank and that will pretty much take care of any carbon deposits.

The only was to be sure is to put it on a dyno and have them check the f/a. The tuning would pay for itself if you look at the 111 fillups it will take you to get to Alaska.

I lived in AK for nine years btw. Go up there and see the mountains and the wildlife. Go see a glacier and go catch some salmon or halibut. Then- get the heck out of dodge cuz winter is coming =P

[centerpunch]

Phatboy, Where did you live in Alaska. I lived in Junea during the 80's and really enjoyed it. Came back in 89 because rainfall hit 130 inches. Just a little too much for me and the family. Came back to Central Oregon where we get 11 inches a year.

Dep.
I am also thinking of heading for SE Alaska in June and July. Looking at about 5000 mile round trip. Still have some convincing to do with the wife and kids. I am thinking about taking the Chev crew cab with trailer. That way they can take turns riding with me and if it starts snowing or something I can trailer it. Still working out the bugs. I travelled up the Alcan Highway two years ago and it was the best vacation I have taken so far. The roads were awesome and the weather was in the 80's most of the time.

Have a good one.
DJ

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by centerpunch

Phatboy, Where did you live in Alaska. I lived in Junea during the 80's and really enjoyed it. Came back in 89 because rainfall hit 130 inches. Just a little too much for me and the family. Came back to Central Oregon where we get 11 inches a year.

Dep.
I am also thinking of heading for SE Alaska in June and July. Looking at about 5000 mile round trip. Still have some convincing to do with the wife and kids. I am thinking about taking the Chev crew cab with trailer. That way they can take turns riding with me and if it starts snowing or something I can trailer it. Still working out the bugs. I travelled up the Alcan Highway two years ago and it was the best vacation I have taken so far. The roads were awesome and the weather was in the 80's most of the time.

Have a good one.
DJ

DJ...What time of summer did you ride the Alcan? I have a sister in Fairbanks and she keep asking me to come and visit...maybe a ride up on the bike would be enjoyable!

Thanks!

[ispeed77]

Depmodeche
congrats on the new mods. just so you know, Cobra makes a tapered end exhaust system for the Nads that is even quieter than the Baggers, i had one before my Baggers. as for the PCM, did you change the intake ? the thing with having a fuel processor is that it won't full difference without having more air flow. you may just be running it rich right now without having an aftermarket intake. just my $0.02 and i am no mechanic ! enjoy the new power though !

[Depmodeche]

I did install the map for baggers and a stock air filter, although as Ispeed mentioned, I was thinking of changing to an aftermarket air filter. I had read someplace that some folks didn't think it made a difference, but maybe I should get it anyway.

As for traveling to AK, from what I've read June is the best month for minimal rainfall, minimal tourists, and minimal bugs. Temps should be in 60's or 70's and that's just fine with me.

Thanks to all for your 2 cents worth.

Dep

[T-man]

I also installed the Dynojet map on my PCIII on my 1500 Classic. I did lean out the idle portion a bit cause it ran too rich at cold idle. Mileage dropped a couple MPGs compared to stock pipes. I also run stock intake but could "feel" the increased response. I have run this map long enough to believe it is close to optimal but every once in a while I consider going to the dyno. I don't care about the top end HP, but it would be neat to see the torque curve.
My map from Dynojet actually reduces the fuel amount compared to the ECU at lower engine speeds and large throttle openings. It's just a function of the pipe dynamics. Mine are not an optimal pipe design...I have them for looks and sound anyway!

[centerpunch]

Whistle,
I think the best time to go is the end of June and beginning of July. The reason being the RV's start coming out pretty thick on the Alcan from July on. I think I lucked out on the weather on that trip. A lot of the highway is in the interior so I dont think they get a whole lot of rain compared to the coastal roads. The roads are in great condition up to the Yukon Territory, I didnt go any further north than that, They have the timber and vegitation cut way back from the roadway for most of it so you can see any animals along the way and it would be harder for one to jump right out in front of you.
When I lived there I would take my vacations to Oregon and there were plenty of places to stay the night. I bought a Milepost magazine and it lays out the entire route with mileage, gas, lodging, the whole nine yards.

Everyone should see Alaska and BC once in their life

Talk to ya later
DJ

[2WheelFun]

DJ....Thank you for the excellent information! A few other questions I have...if you don't mind answering them are:

1. Gas stops...close enough together for motorcycles?

2. Camping in a tent...good or bad idea with possible animal problems?

I just did a mileage checker on milepost website and it said from Cour d"Alene Idaho (about 100 miles north of me) to Fairbanks AK is 2456 miles. Now that's a ride!

Thanks again!

[Phatboy]

I lived in Anchorage for nine years. Very nice place to visit- but get the **** out afterwards. I beleive their is a VROC ride in Alaska this year- might want to check it out.

[centerpunch]

I think the longest gap between gas stations was about 80 miles, definately not more than 100. Be careful though when you are riding because if you are riding late they might be closed. I would not camp in a tent when I get further north into BC. I stopped at a place called Laird Hotsprings and as we were walking on the boardwalks my wife told me it looked just like a place she saw on the Discovery Channel. Two people got killed by a rogue Grizzly. When we got home I saw the same show and we were right there where they got mauled. I would definately carry bear spray if I was camping out. People camp up there a lot and don't get killed but I don't know if I would get any sleep at night.
DJ

[trikebubble]

I have wanted to travel up to the Yukon and Alaska for years now. I lived in Prince George (middle of BC) when I was young and loved the wilderness. I have always wanted to get to the Real North.
What a road trip, Vulcans to Alaska!!!!

[centerpunch]

All this talking about an Alaska road trip is starting to make up my mind for me. Maybe I'll stop by Montana on my way back. I don't have to be back to work until July 13th.
That gives me 21 days on for the road
DJ

[ispeed77]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

I have wanted to travel up to the Yukon and Alaska for years now. I lived in Prince George (middle of BC) when I was young and loved the wilderness. I have always wanted to get to the Real North.
What a road trip, Vulcans to Alaska!!!!

hmm, i think i would need a month for a trip to Alaska.....ok, now i just need to find a new job, cause if i told them that i would be fired !!!!

[Depmodeche]

Usually my planning for a road trip consists of stuffing some clothes in a bag and going wherever it's not raining, but for Alaska I have done my homework! It is a very do-able (and from what I hear, AWESOME) trip on a bike. The Milepost is THE bible, and provides a mile by mile description of gas stops, lodging, restaurants, etc. along the Alcan Highway, and every other major road you pass along the way.

The longest stretch without fuel is about 100 miles, and it's in British Columbia. I have marked my map with my scheduled fuel stops so it shouldn't be a problem. I understand that finding lodging during the warm months can be tough, so I booked all my hotels in Alaska already, but along the Alcan Highway through BS, Albert & Yukon I'm going to chance it. Since I don't camp, however, chancing it means calling ahead when I stop for the night to a town 4 or 5 hundred miles away and asking if them have a room for tomorrow. If it's going to rain the next day I call to a hotel 3 or 4 hundred miles away!

I also booked two ferry rides back to the Seattle area and I'll ride home from there. I understand that the ferries sell out quickly, too, and missing a place on them would simply mean that I'd have to ride back overland, BUT it also means that I'd miss the "Inside Passage", the sea route through the glaciers with stops in paces like Valdez and Juneau (places that are only accessible by air or sea).

I emailed a dealer in Fairbanks and will have a new back tire waiting for me when I arrive, and I hope to ride my bike from Fairbanks up the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle.

I will be gone for six weeks (I'm a plumber and self-employed so I can swing it) and I expect the trip to cost me about 8 grand (the two ferry rides cost $1800.00 for a total of five days onboard, but that includes cabins, which aren’t necessary. If you want to camp out on the deck you can and save about a grand.)

I have a good tire plug kit, jumper cables, a cell phone with a national plan, ROK road service AND Progressive Insurance Road Service (which is good in Canada), an air hose that gets air from one of the cylinders to fill the tires, LED turn signals and a four-way flasher (LED’s are important because I can leave them blinking for many more hours than regular bulbs before wearing down the battery), good cold weather gear (not heated, though) and assorted odds & ends like a hose for siphoning gasoline, and a few of those things that provide instant heat to stick in your gloves or socks, and I have a 12volt lighter socket to charge my cell phone if needed and to power a 12volt drop light.

I may also take a longer route from Philly to Alaska by going up through Michigan and riding across the Mackinac bridge and across the UP of Michigan into Wisconsin. I’ll avoid the whole Chicago area, which is always a good thing, and I’ll finally get to ride the Mac… the 3rd longest suspension bridge in the world, 250 feet above the water, STEEL DECKING on the inside lane (yikes!) and guard rails that are about two feet high (double yikes!). It sways up to 35 feet in the wind, but I’d imagine that they won’t let bikes across if that is occurring (I certainly hope not). This route will also bring me right by the Aerostitch Store in Duluth, MN, where I can stop and spend money that I shouldn’t be spending. Another stop I plan is Rugby, ND, the geographic center of North America.

My route home will be take me down through Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota, into Nebraska and through Iowa to get back to Philly. I’ll be riding through Yellowstone, The Black Hills, and the Mt. Rushmore park

Any suggestions from folks out there would be most welcome.

[MK592]

Originally Posted by Depmodeche

Any suggestions from folks out there would be most welcome.

I have a suggestion... LOAN ME 8 GRAND AND TAKE ME WITH YOU!

Sounds like a great trip. I'm very envious.

[centerpunch]

Rock on Dep. Sounds like you have it all planned out.

By the way, I have driven the Alcan 9 times and never had trouble finding a place to sleep. Most travellers on the Alcan are in motorhomes and you just need to make sure your stopping in some of the more populated towns along the way. One of the only ones I can think of that you might want to call ahead on is Watson Lake. It is a long way to the next town of any size and it is pretty small with not much lodging.

All in all I have found the Canadians to be really nice and layed back people. Make sure you use a credit card or make sure you take Canadian currency with you. When you get to the outback locations the exchange rate is way too high and you will lose money on the deal. And let your credit card company know what you are doing when you leave. We headed up into Canada at the end of the week and my credit card company shut me down on a Saturday because there was unusual activity on my account. They counldn't restart my account until the following Monday. Good thing I had some Canadian cash on me.

Have a great trip and pray for good weather. By the way, Keep and eye out for wildlife in June. Lots of babys running around. I had a 400 pound black bear wander in front of me at about 10 feet once and it was pretty cool.

DJ