First Long Ride of the Season

Did about 150 miles today, Sea to Sky highway to Whistler BC. Made excellent fuel mileage with several tanks clocking in at about 49 mpg...that's about the highest I've seen since starting to record it 4000 miles ago.
Took my usual detour to Whistler Olympic Park and as is typical for this area, saw a black bear just a few feet from the roadway. It is a weird feeling having such a beastie just a quick charge away from you when exposed on a bike! This shot just 5 minutes after bear sighting:

Bike is running pretty well, but just recently became aware of a crack in the header where the balance pipe connects. I guess I'll need to accelerate my plans to swap in non balanced headers.

Beautiful view. Norty looks sharp too...Went up the inside passage a few times on the way to Alaska and BC has beauty in North America rounded up hands down.

Nice bike, and it sounds like a great ride. I skied at Whistler Blackcomb a few times back in my younger days, and it is beautiful country.

Ken

Never understood the balance pipe. Besides ugly what does it do?

Balance pipe allows more restricted/lower decibel level silencers with mutes to still give adequate breathing since each pulse can exit engine via both headers/silencers. So it essentially doubles the outlet size yet keeps noise lower.
My bike has welded mutes in silencers and it certainly make it quite...can easily hold a normal volume conversation standing right next to idling bike.
When I swap out to unbalanced headers, I suspect my silencers will be too restrictive unless I cut the mutes out.

Balanced pipes give more pipe/muffler volume, therefore they are quieter. Not as raspy.
Some say it increases low end torque some. Others say no. This gets debated all the time.

jbruney said:

Beautiful view. Norty looks sharp too...Went up the inside passage a few times on the way to Alaska and BC has beauty in North America rounded up hands down.

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Guess you have not been to East Coast yet .... while B.C. is with out a doubt God’s own country ! there are other places with beauty as well .... real nice to see your bike working well Torry !

Craig said:

Guess you have not been to East Coast yet .... while B.C. is with out a doubt God’s own country ! there are other places with beauty as well .... real nice to see your bike working well Torry !

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I still remember doing the Cabot Trail in my '84 VW GTi in the early '90s! The road side lobster stands were also pretty great!

Since at least the 1960's, virtually all dual exhaust auto engines use balance pipes. It was found many years ago that they can reduce noise AND increase power. Originally an "H" pipe - like on the commando - was typical but "X" pipes are now very common and increase power slightly over H pipes. Balance pipes are totally a win/win deal...except for the not uncommon problem on commandos with welds cracking! The Dunstall tuning guide circa 1971 or thereabouts showed a several HP increase for a 750 Commando using a balance pipe as opposed to the standard individual pipes.

I always wonder if the balance pipe doesnt mask the head from cooling air a bit or even add some hot air.
The main reason I use single pipes is they are easier to deal with.

Great ride for you , Congrats ! I've done this HWY twice.. in a cage. My wife will take the train out on Aug. 25 and I will fly out the same day. 20 days there in total , Squamish is on the list for Pinks run . I just pulled out a great book : Destination Highways British Columbia ; A Motorcycle Enthusiast's Guide to the best 185 roads in Southern B.C.