Here's what I know about the National Parks pass:

If you will be stopping in Jasper or Banff or travelling on Hwy 93 (Icefields Parkway) between Lake Louise and Jasper you need the pass.
That's why they always ask at the park entrance where you are going even if you say you're just driving straight through to B.C.. If your destination will take you on 93 you have to pay the fee.

MOTORCYCLES are a bit of an exception to the normal rules:

Elk Island Park is rigid in ruling that a "Family" pass includes 2 adults and 2 children, so 2 bikes with one person aboard can enter on a single family pass.

The folks at Jasper and Banff are a lot more flexible. The mountain parks allow up to 7 adults on motorcycles riding as a group to enter on a single family pass. This can be 7 bikes with single riders or 2 bikes with two adults and 3 singles, etc.

One little-known fact is that if you have an annual pass and own two or more vehicles you can get a "duplicate" pass for $12.20 by showing proof of ownership (pink card or registration) for more than one vehicle. I am not suggesting that anyone violate the rules, but...

Assuming you aren't planning to take advantage of the duplicate pass in an unscrupulous way, it does allow for groups to split up from time to time without getting into any grief with the parks staff.

While you are supposed to have your pass visible at all times in/on the vehicle, motorcycles are obviously the exception again. One person in the group needs to have the pass on his or her person in case a warden asks to see it. DO NOT clip your pass to the windshield on your bike and leave it even for a minute or two. Theft of parks passes is rampant.

Hope this helps in the planning and budgeting.

A friend of mine and a couple of buddies from Swidt Current did the ride to Alaska a couple of years ago and put it all on the web. Heres a link to their pics.... http://www.scra.ca/alaska

Enjoy!

Thanks for the link, looks interesting.

Very interesting...but I surprised with the amount of breakdowns they all had...maybe they should take a look at some imports and stay away from HD!