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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1178479189 Message started by Sonofagun333 on 05/06/07 at 12:19:49 |
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Title: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by Sonofagun333 on 05/06/07 at 12:19:49 Hey guys and gals, I just registered and wanted to ask for your advice on a road trip with a '03 savage from key west, fl to pittsburgh, pa...sometime in August. The bike itself is all stock (I believe) and seems to run flawlessly with the exception of a slight head gasket leak that is more of an annoyance than a problem. Any hard earned lessons from life on the road with the savage would be helpful...as well as common problems I should be prepared to face (probably alone, at night, in the rain with a headlamp in the middle of nowhere. heres hoping.) This site is really great, Im looking forward to learning as much as I can. peace and grease, Josh |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by Brewbrother on 05/06/07 at 12:27:49 Are you up for a 1300+ mile trip?? what kind of experience do you have?? what kind of bikes have you owned??We need details about your experience and what has been done to the bike?? you can mod the bike to keep up on the interstate fairly easy. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by K1200LTryder on 05/06/07 at 12:58:29 How many miles on the bike ? You might want to pop the clutch cover and have a very good look at the cam chain tensioner. Make sure you have good tires and a fresh oil change. How fast do you plan on cruising ? Anything more than a steady 70MPH is going to put some stress on the bike. How much time do you have to get there ? Remember, you have to gas up every 100 or so miles, so plan ahead. I would suggest 3 days on the road ought to do it. Good luck, that ride will certainly be a challenge, but if you're young, and up to it, it will be memorable (in a good way) |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by georgekathe on 05/06/07 at 13:23:28 general opinion on this site seems to be that what looks to be a head gasket problem is the dreaded plug cap leak. pretty sure Suzuki (at last) fixed it as of a certain model year but not sure when. were I going on such a trip I'd take some oil & a rag or 2 with me & plan on cruising @ 65 mph, which means keeping out of way of just about everything on the interstate & traveling by day - lights on savage aren't the greatest in the world) but I think doable (cruising @ that speed, that is, not necessarily taking the trip as, as others said, depends on newness of tires, how many miles on bike, your experience, how many bikes you have owned, doing oil change soon before leaving, etc.) |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by PerrydaSavage on 05/06/07 at 14:39:11 Hmmm? The infamous Head Cap Plug Leak was supposedly fixed with the 2001 model year with a re-designed Cap Plug ... as yours is a 2003 (as is my Savage), I'm very curious to learn more about your oil leak ... may be possible that the re-designed plug did not remedy the problem and now that +'01 LS650's are gettin' older, the infamous leak is showing up again? |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by Scottwerty on 05/06/07 at 16:24:06 Perry my savage is an 01 and it had the plug leak made the bike shop fix it before I bought it. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by WD on 05/06/07 at 21:54:49 Doesn't matter how they redesign the plug... Engine heat will cook it, making it shrink bit. Savages shake, so it will get jarred a bit out of place. Presto! You now have the infamous head plug leak. I let mine leak. I'll clean it off this summer when I change the storage oil. Gotta get it running again before worrying about aesthetics. Fix the leak? Why waste the money, it will just come back eventually. That kind of trip on a stock seat? Better your behind than mine... -WD |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by verslagen1 on 05/07/07 at 09:56:56 My '96 leaked, and had the new plug. It was sealed with black stuff and leaked anyway. I also had a leak near the spark plug. Not sure but think it was the o-ring sealing the rocker arm. Anyway, new plug doesn't fix an old problem if the mechanic doesn't seal it or uses the wrong sealer. ;D |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by Sonofagun333 on 05/07/07 at 09:59:36 Ok basic personal details are as follows....im 26, the captain of a tall ship here in key west, and have been riding motorcycles for about a year and a half now. This is my 3rd bike, before that was a 72 triumph daytona 500 and then a 76 honda cb550 four. The triumph was stolen in boston (darn) and the cb I sold in pittsburgh...both ran pretty good. I've had the opportunity to do some regular maintenance myself (front/rear tire removal, brake pad change, oil change, even took an old 86 rebel carb apart once which was a lesson in what NOT to try yourself) but my expierence is limited. So, with a good tool kit in hand and the clymers manual, plus another good book on motorcycle maintenance, AND if worse comes to worse roadside assistance with progressive, I feel prepared to tackle this trip. Now, the trip is not just to get up to pittsburgh, but to see more of the country I live in. So time really is not an issue. We're talking 2 weeks or so...meaning that highway driving isnt what I have in mind. Backroads, local roads and incidently those cool roads they suggest to pedal bikers when they want to bike across the US. Thats the name of the game in my opinion. Take my time, enjoy the country, meet new people, don't die. Not really in that order. The bike just hit 20k and has been in the shop as recently as 4 months ago with a complete checkup, new tires, new oil filter and spark plugs. Not quite sure if the seat is stock, but it's wide and comfortable and i'm up for it (considering i'll be on it no more than 200 miles a day, at least thats the plan.) The truth is much of this trip isn't planned out to a T, it's just going to happen...But the more I can learn about the bike before hand, the happier I will definatly be. By the way, im planning on camping out using a hennessey hammock. Anyone ever motorcycle camped with one? They look SWEET. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by Sonofagun333 on 05/07/07 at 10:05:55 Oh and about the plug leak...we took the seat off and the chrome thing around the head and checked it out. It seemed to be coming from a plug...the mechanic doesnt work with savages so you know he wanted to take off the whole cylinder head and order another gasket, etc....but since the leak isnt that bad and I keep a good eye on the oil level, Im not too worried about it. But I mean, is it just a problem with the temperature fluxuation of the screws, plus the vibration of the engine? Because if it is, how is that problem solved on other motorcycles? Dense rubber plug gasket or something? Anyway, it gives it character. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by georgekathe on 05/07/07 at 10:38:15 I'm not talking about major mods to make trip more enjoyable/bearable (Like a new -say harley - seat) but a seat lift mod may help. check tech section for how to do it. doing things like a new muffler for more power only leads on to changing carb (rejetting) etc - save it for down the road after trip |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by verslagen1 on 05/07/07 at 11:50:28 The plug we all know and love is hard to get a look at. The one I referred to is directly over the spark plug and can't be seen without removal of the chrome head covers. Replacing these seals requires removal of the head cover. Not extremely easy, but I think I could have done it in a day with all parts in hand and a nap. All I can say is clean the hell out it before hand. Alot of dirt and crud collects up there with an oil leak. ;D |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by mornhm on 05/07/07 at 13:06:57 Around 200 miles a day for two weeks on a stock Savage. Ouch. The good news is at 26 you will recover fast. The not so bad news, 4-5 hours/day on the MC travelling (includes stops) will leave you plenty of time for the other stuff. If I had to do it, I'd pop a couple of Advil before starting out in the morning. Did I mention rain gear? Hammocks are nice. Some parks I've camped at don't want you to tie anything around their trees though. You want to plan that and gas stops carefully, unless you want this to really be an adventure... Just out of curiousity, why Pittsburgh? |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by Trippah on 05/07/07 at 16:58:28 You will have plenty of time to plan a route and at 26, 2-4 hours a day shouldn't hurt TOOO MUCH. Perhaps when the time draws near the forum members can work out some light escort to keep you company. You might want to contact your regional Suzuki guys (if such people exist) for support (technical) in trade for photo op advertising. (I've seen such stuf done by Enfield for example). As a sailor, you might want to travel the coast up to Annappolis, then cross in land over the mtns. I'd also look into cutting diagonally from North FLA to the Northwest towards the Mississipi Rv, then north. Please keep us posted on your plans as the evolve. It should truley be a trip of a life time. :D |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by Brewbrother on 05/07/07 at 17:40:17 WD wrote:
I'm living proof you can't fix the plug. My fix didn't last hardly anytime. I blamed myself and its just a design flaw. I'll be da*mned if I waste the time again. leak on savage leak on.... |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by Brewbrother on 05/07/07 at 17:53:55 Sonofagun333 wrote:
I suspect you'll do quite well. I had a 75 cb550 for over 20 years prior to the savage. great bike very dependable. good luck on your trip. should be a lot of fun. The head plug normally doesn't leak enough to really matter. keep us posted. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by vroom1776 on 05/07/07 at 18:11:19 when you get tired, pull over and take a nap. Your life is not worth "making time" drink water or juice or gatorade, not soda or energy drinks. wear earpulgs. you will be significantly less tired, and you won't have nearly the headache you otherwise would. Trust me, it's true. there are about 12 different ways to ride a savage. learn them. make sure you know how far you can go on reserve gas. make sure you have cash, 'cause it sucks when the credit card company cancells your card in the middle of a trip b/c they think it's been stolen. look tougher than you are, but remember, neither your wallet nor your bike are worth your life pass tractor trailers as fast as possible, or slow down and let them pass you quickly. Be espescially careful if it is windy (cross wind) bring a rain suit. and helmet. rain hurts if you're doin' over 30. buit 40 in the rain hurts as much as 80. bring something, anything, to read when you take a break. I read a menu 10 times once 'cause I wanted to look at something that wasn't moving. Check your oil level. If you need to add oil, put the fill cap on the ground, not on the bike. This way, when you forget to put it back on, it'll prolly still be there, and not on the side of the road where you won't find it. I've done 1100 miles on a stock savage in 22 hours. I've also done denver to seattle to chicago to boston in 7 days, with 5 nights of sleep. fun? kinda, but you swear you'll never do it again. until you do. No better on a V* 1100. your hands and feet will hurt, not to mention your butt. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by K1200LTryder on 05/07/07 at 18:43:45 Hey there Sonofagun....let me know when yer gonna head north...We're about 180 miles from your starting point, and have an extra bed and a hot meal...maybe save you a few bucks on the first leg of your journey. I hope you can handle your beer....plenty of stories to tell around here... If it's early August, we'll be on our way to Sturgis, but we have some friends that could put you up...just let me know, glad to help out. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by JaredMcLaughlin on 05/07/07 at 20:28:54 I don't post much, but I'm in Pittsburgh. If you're looking for someone that knows the local scene, or what have you, drop me a line. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by skatnbnc on 05/08/07 at 10:56:41 Call your credit card company before you leave and tell them where you are travelling and when you will return. They will flag your account so your credit will not be denied during your trip. Get off your bike and walked around when you stop for gas. And now vroom1776 needs to specify WHAT the 12 ways to ride the thumper are so we newbies can learn them! |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by vroom1776 on 05/08/07 at 11:19:42 regular on the hump between the rider & pass seat (I like this one a lot) like a sport bike, leaned forward, feet on pass pegs similar to above, but not leaned forward (sitting on your junk... okay for a little bit) feet on pass pegs, butt on rider's seat (don't do this in traffic) feet on rider pegs, butt on rider's seat one foot on rider peg, other on pass peg, but on pass seat (don't do this in traffic) regular, but either foot on a pass peg roll your hips way up, nearly sit on the tank on rider's seat, feet up on turn sigs that makes 10 |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by skatnbnc on 05/08/07 at 12:15:32 Whaaa! Most of those are no good for me - I'm too short to reach if I sit on the sissy seat! And my legs are too short to reach the pass footpegs in the rear while sitting forward. Hmmm. How about feet up on the tank cross legged once at a steady speed on a straightaway? Just kidding! ;) |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by vroom1776 on 05/08/07 at 12:18:29 sittin' on the hump is actually very good... |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by gary_ona_savage on 05/11/07 at 14:21:52 "12 ways to ride your savage"... hmm reminds me of an old song about leaving your lover :D I like the hump too. But it puts my head into the wind coming over the windshield. I've used 1-2 of the other positions, but being on a bike for a while, you sure dying to find some other way of sitting, that's for sure. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by Sonofagun333 on 05/25/07 at 12:09:49 Hey guys, apologies for the communication lapse but it turns out that if your relatives find out you live in florida, prepare yourself for a family reunion. Actually its not if, but when. Its a blast planning this trip, and i'm hoping to time it with my sister's graduation in early august. For those of you who are curious, im heading up to pittsburgh because that's where im from, and thats where my parents live. Assuming the bike and rider make it there in one piece, i'll most likely sell the bike (an unpleasant thought) to afford a plane ticket to israel to visit my girlfriend and her parents. Trading one lady in my life for another so to speak....but if you saw her you would see she's worth it. Anyway the packing arrangement is going to be as follows...magnetic tank bag, soft tour master saddle bags(which will hold a 1+ fuel container in each) two cylindrical shaped army waterproof laundry bags laying horizontally on top of the saddlebags, a duffle bag across the passenger seat and on top of the two laundry bags, then a pvc waterproof army medical supplies backpack secured to a sissy bar extention and on top of the suzuki tiny luggage rack they make for the bike. Thats pretty much it. All the heavy stuff will be mostly as low as possible in the laundry bags and/ or centered in the duffle. And i'll be packing as light as possible with respect to clothing...leaving room for the hammock, some spare line, a larger tool kit, some MRE's, a book or two, spare parts, etc... I'll probably head up the west coast of florida and into georiga, following the campgrounds that extend into the georiga mountains and into the blue ridge mountain area of tennessee and north carolina. I'd like to ride the tail of the dragon at deals gap. I really like Trippah's idea of contacting suzuki and inquiring about striking a deal exchanging photos and true stories for technical support. If suzuki has a newsletter or similar publication and would be interested in publicizing a 1500 mile+ trip through the US on a savage, I think I could link the idea with a similar one involving interviewing savage owners along the way. Describing and recounting expierences had with the savage, the crazy situations that you find yourselves in, the passing on of golden knowldege from life on the road...wow, what an amazing amount of PR for suzuki. Not to mention for all those involved. So i'll contact them and pitch it, and if they're interested i'd love to get in touch with those of you who would be willing to participate. I'll let you know. Also wanted to say thank you to K1200LTryder for the offer...my plan was to go early august, but real early, like the 3rd or so. Not so sure when sturgis is or how long it takes to get there but i'll let you know. This is shaping up nicely. Hope all is well with all of you, and thanks again for the advice. I'll need all I can get! Josh PS. and as far as rain gear is concerned, i've found nothing better or cheaper than frogg toggs road toad suit. it's great. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by erodelius on 05/25/07 at 12:21:58 you just love imports dont you? haha! good luck to you in your travels. i once went to sweden for a girlfriend but it didnt work out. glad i didnt have to sell anything. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by drharveys on 05/26/07 at 05:31:50 Think you could rig one of these on a Savage?? http://www.magsbags.com/grandtouringbag.html Or you might consider a Rev-Pack: http://www.revpack.com/motorcycle/products/TourPack.htm I've used their Tour Pack for years -- it'll hold two sleeping bags, a tent, two thermarest pads, raingear and a whole lot of odds and ends! Plus the website says they're having a special on the Big Mama U-pack. |
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Title: Re: Newbie's ride for glory, part 1. Post by sparkett on 05/26/07 at 10:03:54 Hi! you didnt say how many miles a day you are going to do. im around 450 ( guess) from you on the west coast.got a spare room and hot shower on the third if you need it. I did a picnic lunch to ga and back. it was good to get home! get a sheep skin to sit on, when you have done the 10 ways to ride, add sheepskin and you will start over, wind up with 20. ;D |
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