Going to the Sun on an XB

[go cytocis]

I just returned from another group motorcycle riding trip through the Canadian & US Glacier National Parks.

I have done the Going-to-the-Sun road on several other bikes before but I found the XB to be the best-suited to this road of all of them. The combination of small size, low weight, and good torque is ideal for the tight corners & low speeds. I was on a 12 which I found geared a little tall for some of the really tight & slow corners, but a 9 would be perfect.

The ascent to Logan Pass was exceptionally fun with lots of opportunities for applying generous throttle at corner exits.

The descent on the downhill side however presented a bit of a challenge for the ECM which never seemed to find the right amount of fuel to deliver for prolonged periods of small throttle opening. After several miles the engine began misfiring quite noticeably, almost as though the plugs were becoming carbon-fouled.

It’s also worth mentioning that I found it difficult getting good fuel throughout the area. Lots of old generic ‘ma and pa’ gas stations. I was with a crew of 5 other motorcyclists and we all complained of knocking, hesitation & stalls during the trip.

 

[heagachongoose]

Nice pic [up] That ride is definitely on my bucket list.

 

[go cytocis]

I should also add that the V-twin sounds especially awesome when reverberating through the tunnels and off the stone mountain faces just inches from the side of the road. The others in my crew all wore earplugs but I just had hear the blast of the side-exit exhaust at full volume!

 

[Blue xb12]

That's an awesome ride. When I did it, years ago,I never got out of 3rd gear on the climb up, it was just too extraordinary to rush through it.[up]

 

[johnon]

didnt get to ride the road on the bike but glacier is awesome!!!