Part 5: Cross-Country Motorcycle Trip: Canadian Rockies, Banff, AB-93 Icefield Parkway, Jasper

Part 5 of the Ultimate Coast-to-Coast / America's Longest Book Drive: 7500 miles for 7500 books on a 2003 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic from Key West, Florida to Deadhorse Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.
Ride along as I raise funds and awareness for Promising Pages, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a love for reading among children and providing them with access to books. Visit CrunchMoto.com to learn more and donate.
This episode covers Weyburn, SK to Dawson City, BC including Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, AB-39 Icefields Parkway, Alabasca Glacier, and the start of the Alaska-Canada Highway.
The Iron Butt Association's Ultimate coast-to-coast challenge is Key West, FL to Deadhorse Prudhoe Bay, AK in 30 days or less.
Website:
www.crunchmoto.com
Instagram:
/ crunch.moto
Music Licensed on SoundStripe
Southern Roadtrip
BFUSIICQSY3HPBX2
Get Up
Mountain Dreamers
KHZRR769TOYLWSGK
Whistle & Hum
Fantoms
1NWC3TG19A89ZO8X
Bright Future
Be Still the Earth
8BQXBCI4DDQC8SLO
Motivation
Lunareh
KXUBNVGESD3G4TYJ
Cicada Sunset
Reveille
CAGUXFUFP16HILKK

[@jnaneswara4512]

I just finished watching all your videos on california to florida trip, Love your videos and keep on doing more trips like these and inspire us 😎🥳.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@jonsea4225]

Just watched your video nicely done. Just so you know, more than a 1/3rd of Jasper townsite was destroyed by wildfire a couple of weeks ago. So you got to see it just in time.

[@CrunchMoto]

thanks for watching, yeah, I heard about Jasper. Heartbreaking

[@RestlessMule]

I really hope I’m not the only one that heard “Das Boot!” in my head @6:48 That fuel economy had to be really frustrating, but I’m sure it was a relief that the dealer couldn’t find anything wrong. Great scenery in this video.

[@CrunchMoto]

Yeah, when I saw das boot on the menu I knew I had to try it! Happy to report that was the end of my fuel problems.

[@FootballEditz2610]

Love the videos. Keep them coming!

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@scottevans8489]

With the gas, I noticed that with different brands I will get really good or really bad gas mileage. It depends on what additives and how much alcohol is in the gas. Look up Top Teir Fuel, it will list the gas companies that put more than just the bare minimum of additives and cleaners in their fuel that the government requires. I would test my mileage with different brands, find the one that I get the best milage from and try to stick with that.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks! Thats really good information I hadn’t considered

[@edwardmiller6353]

More awesome scenery!! Great video!!

[@CrunchMoto]

Thank you very much!

[@stevenbuis4490]

So what did the dealer find that could be causing the fuel issue. Loving the videos. You have great cameras!

[@CrunchMoto]

Nothing really. They chalked it up to headwinds... Thanks for watching!

[@williamharley2923]

I've had to use a fuel stabilizer on occasion on my '03 Road king in similar situations.

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks! That's helpful for next time

[@StatiK2971]

Well what happened at the dealership?? What was causing the diminishing fuel efficiency?

[@CrunchMoto]

The chalked it up to excessive speed into headwinds.

[@Rianwmeeks]

What do you do for work?

[@CrunchMoto]

Software sales, but I was between jobs during the trip.

[@stever1004]

You are going to have to carry some gas with you on the Dalton if you cant cover 200+ miles on a tank. You can refill yr bike and your belly at coldfoot on the dalton, but its 230 miles between fairbanks and coldfoot. Even if your normal range is 150, you would still be about 70 miles short to coldfoot. Then you have coldfoot to deadhorse. That's another 250 miles, maybe little less. I rode both dalton and dempster in 2013. Fun ride as long as its dry. Also, unpaved sections on dalton are clay with calcium chloride. When wet, it is very slick. Calcium chloride is also corrosive so wash your bike promptly. For lodging at fairbanks, check if University of Alaska at Fairbanks still does lodging for bikers. I paid like 10 bucks a night at the dorm back then. Have fun!

[@CrunchMoto]

Thanks, this is all good advice. Believe me, I was doing that same math everytime I got low on fuel. The good new is, because of the low speeds of the Dalton, I got great gas mileage and made it without a problem.

[@worldthruthelense]

Great trip and the videos! I wonder if your MPG issues were caused by higher elevation (less air for the motor) and you riding uphill. Looks like the fuel economy went back to normal after you crossed the Rockies and the elevation dropped. Excessive speed, like you said, can also be a factor. All the best from SFL!

[@CrunchMoto]

Great point! Could be

[@tiberiusvetus9113]

Are you taking mountains into account when calculating gas?

[@CrunchMoto]

turns out it was the headwinds

[@oldbikenewman]

Did the dealership find anything that could be impacting your fuel economy?

[@CrunchMoto]

Nope. They wrote it off as headwinds... which is possible b/c the ride into Calgary was incredibly windy. I cut some segments where I talked about the wind (maybe there will be an extended director's cut later.)

[@skipperdabio]

I rode my 88” Dyna from Lake Havasu to northern WA state. I was in the wind most of the ride and my fuel economy suffered significantly. Anywhere from 30-55 mpg depending on headwind. Great job documenting the trip so far! Really enjoying following along.

[@johnmacdonald1878]

I’ve heard Saskatchewan is flat, it’s flat

[@CrunchMoto]

Very very flat.

[@fernandobazo6369]

A gas can will make the difference!!!

[@CrunchMoto]

yep.

[@peanutsmith1462]

What was wrong with your bike

[@CrunchMoto]

Turns out it was just strong headwinds and high speed.