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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> old questions /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1199847428 Message started by crimsonblaspheme on 01/08/08 at 18:57:07 |
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Title: old questions Post by crimsonblaspheme on 01/08/08 at 18:57:07 I'm sure this has all been asked before but I'm new to the forum and browsed a bit and couldnt find exactly what I wanted to know so... Ive heard top speed is anywhere from 65-100. Has anyone got an accurate top speed? How about a comfortable cruising speed? Would you be comfortable on long(ish) freeway rides at 75-80 mph for say 2 hours? If so what kind of gas mileage could I expect? Whats the deal with the oil leak I've heard about? Is it easily fixed? How about that carb spacer deal what limits your throttle, is that easily removed (is it legal?)? How low maint. IS the belt drive? I ride a Rebel 250 at this point and am very satisfied with it. It will keep up on the highway but thats about it. I'm looking for something a bit "bigger" that rides similarly and I've been refered to this bike and forum. I don't need a big 180000cc beast. Just something with a bit more umph for more peace of mind on the highway while still being light and nimble aswell as simple to maintain and fuel efficient. I've already looked at the Kawi vulcan 500 and wasnt terribly impressed. The seat especially was worse than my Reb even. I've heard tale of the VLX being a bit unweildy plus if I recall corrcetly its MPG was rather unimpressive and I can't find a Reb 450 for a decent price anywhere near me. Any feed back is appreciated and I apologize again for questions I'm sure have been asked endlessly |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Trippah on 01/08/08 at 19:09:22 The usual suspects: bad news first- the seat is left over from the Spanish Inquisition- and did THEY get it right. :D Top speed is about 100, to maybee 95mph for most savages. You can cruise on it for two hours down the highway, but the tiney tank volume limits range to about 200 miles. They are low maintenance until you get the modification bug. Okay on the highway, even with large windshields, but you will notice 18 wheelers when they blow by you. Carb spacer deal has to do with eliminating the backfire. A good step up from the rebel in size and maneouverability. And used ones are relatively plentiful and CHEAP :P Hope this helps.. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by crimsonblaspheme on 01/08/08 at 19:24:22 very much so thank you. Trust me, on the reb I know all about them semis. Actually its not so bad as a really strong crosswind but thanks for the warning. What about the mileage? I've heard as low as 38 mpg and as high as 58. 200 miles to a tank is comparable to my reb. I get 65-70 mpg with a 2.9g tank so 70x3 = 210. I could ditch the extra 10 miles for 10 more mph. How about the oil leak issue? Another question. Is there a big difference between the 4 gear and 5 gear versions? Are there any aftermarket seats? I don't think the reb seat is bad at all though most people do. Maybe I can deal. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by T Mack 1 on 01/08/08 at 19:27:20 I stepped up from a '82 Honda CM250C which had the same engine as the Rebel 250. That was the first year for the engine. There is a big difference...... a good big difference ;D. Here in eastern PA, the 250 sometimes needed to be downshifted to make it up some hills and keep the 55 mph. A rider on the back and you really knew it and those hills where a challenge. The LS650 takes the same hills with ease and can easliy accelerate up them to boot. With power come less MPG. My 250 use to get 75 mpg highway, My 650 gets 55..... on a good day, 45 on others. This MPG could be related to more bugs on the teeth (happy bike syndrome ;D) I do more zooming. The 250 did 75 mph but that was about it. On my 650, I already went to pass and have been accel'ing thru 80 mph when I realized how fast I was going. The 650 is easier to work on, and the spare parts availability is the same since the LS650 is virtually unchanged where Honda has had several frame and body changes. Hope this helps. Edit: I notice school buses and Garbage truck more than semi's. Edit -2 : 55 MPG with 2.8 gal tank = 154 on a good day, but you hit resv. at around 100 - 120. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by crimsonblaspheme on 01/08/08 at 19:43:04 I'm about 20 minutes outside pittsburgh in penn hills so I'm farmiliar with the hills. I'm sorry, maybe I'm newer to bikes than I thought but I havnt heard "bugs on teeth" before. Please explain. I'm still curious about this oil leak I've heard of which apparently is a given when you buy this bike. Whats the deal? |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by T Mack 1 on 01/08/08 at 19:45:56 How do you tell a happy motorcyclist...... Bugs on the teeth.... Smiling while riding....... ;D Where the oil at? |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Paladin. on 01/08/08 at 19:58:47 2332292D332F2E222C21333028252D25400 wrote:
On my tour I was getting 55-60 mpg at roughly 65 mph on the superslab. However on the run from Parker AZ to Palm Springs CA on CA-62 across the Mojave at 45-55 mph I managed 70 mpg. Steady putting at 35-40 in 5th can yield 80 mpg. But my normal riding is Los Angeles streets with idling at lights broken up by wide open throttle acceleration to 40-45 only to have to brake for the next light. I get about 45 mpg. Contrary to others, I have not noticed being blown about by crosswinds / semi-trailers. But that could be simply be me not noticing, as I unconsciously correct. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Dark Savage on 01/08/08 at 20:05:16 5B4A51554B57565A54594B48505D555D380 wrote:
I have just started riding so maybe I don't know as much as some but I say don't knock the VLX so easily. My dad just bought one and I quite like driving it. The VLX guys say the motor is bombproof reliability. It's not as easy to work on as the Savage though. Compared to the Savage, the VLX rides relaxed and smooth. I wouldn't call it unweildy but rather it handles "slow". The VLX is harder to handle at very slow speeds (less than 7mph?) because it has more rake and the wheel doesn't turn as sharp. The Savage is fun and makes you want to play with it. The Savage wants to stay upright and it's a tad harder to lean compared to the VLX. Once you do lean it though, it turns quicker. I can make slow easy moves on the VLX. I end up wanting to zip around on the Savage but just relax and enjoy the ride on the VLX. The VLX also has less vibration. The 5th gear on the Savage (95 and after) is about the same ratio as the 4th gear on the earlier Savages. The VLX has a 4 speed and cruises highway speeds at slightly lower RPMs than the Savage. First gear on the VLX is pretty tall. Gas mileage is about the same on both I think. It's anywhere from 45 to 60 mpg depending on how you drive and what mods you have. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Reelthing on 01/08/08 at 20:20:07 56475C58465A5B57595446455D505850350 wrote:
No idea where the 200 mile range of the Savage is from - most are going to hit reserve around 100-110 miles and you better be looking for a fill up. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by bill67 on 01/08/08 at 20:22:41 Dark Savage hit it right on the head.I owned a vlx it was a must better freeway bike, felt must safer at speed. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by crimsonblaspheme on 01/08/08 at 20:55:12 Considering all those things I'd prefer the ease of maintnance (i really need to get a dictionary). I like and am farmiliar with the "zippy" quality of the Rebel so I think the LS650 may be more my style compared ot the VLX. From what I hear the LS650 is pretty much "bombproof" too. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Savage_Greg on 01/08/08 at 22:37:04 5821416D6F673D0C0 wrote:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/gmdinusa/Bugteeth.jpg |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Reelthing on 01/08/08 at 23:17:44 3F2E35312F33323E303D2F2C343931395C0 wrote:
this is the most common http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1099227295 and here is an index to quite a few of the tech docs http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1181745927 |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by firsts40 on 01/08/08 at 23:20:24 I have a 2006, and with the stock 2.8 gal tank, I usually hit the reserve around 127 miles. I can run the highway all day at around 65-70 and get 60-63 MPG. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by sluggo on 01/09/08 at 01:32:08 i hit the reserve about ninety miles, then can count on 22 miles slab 25 back road. as always your milage may vary |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by greidel on 01/09/08 at 02:42:05 My 2 cents.... No way I could go 2 uninterupted hours. I ususally have to hit the reserve tank at about 100 miles. So now I use the odometer as a gas guage: fill 'er up every 100 miles, whether it needs it or not. It took 2 gallons even following that rule yesterday. Of course by then I have been long looking for a break anyways... so I can get the feeling back in my butt! |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by forrest on 01/09/08 at 04:25:30 I seem to hit reserve around 120, sometimes a little sooner if it's really cold out. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Trippah on 01/09/08 at 05:39:44 This is why a group is good, the 200 miles was a typo, I meant around 100 miles :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ I think it would become clear when the bike suddenly looses power and you switch to reserve?? I do apologize for the error. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Reelthing on 01/09/08 at 06:25:24 40667D6464757C140 wrote:
was wondering about that - thought you might had found the road that was down hill both ways - as I know it's out there seeing how I've been told people have had to walk it up hill both ways in the snow to go to school :) |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by mornhm on 01/09/08 at 09:07:35 Top speed will vary from rider to rider, Savage to Savage - road surface to road surface. Mine would top out in the low 80's, but I wouldn't want to ride there for any distance. A more reasonable top speed for cruising would be 65 mph. The Savage is a cruiser, not a superslab burner. As I've expressed before: the bad news is you won't be comfortable riding for more than about 100 miles in between stretches, the good news is you will need to stop for gas anyway. My Savage got a little over 50 mpg under all conditions. Something to consider if you find the Vulcan uncomfortable. Are you sure it's the seat, and not the riding position (cruiser vs standard). Don't know about the oil leak, my 2004 never leaked. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by greidel on 01/09/08 at 09:37:58 596E6E677F6362656C0B0 wrote:
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Gary On A Savage on 01/09/08 at 11:41:15 Another 2 cents worth: If you like the Rebel, think of the Savage as it's big brother. I had a 1986 Rebel before I bought my 95 Savage. You will REALLY appreciate the added room and speed. Weight difference is mildly more and is still zippy. The Savage will make you feel like it's going to jump out from under you compared to the Rebel. It has much more torque. Over the last 2 years I've switched the seat on the Savage, put on a HD turnout pipe, rejetted, wider handlebars, floor boards, and converted to a chain (all easily done in your garage by you). I now run COMFORTABLY at 65 on the freeway and still get 58-60MPG. I also added a 2 gallon tank from a lawn tractor (still using temporary attachments-no pics yet) that I paid $25 for on ebay. I now have a range now of around 250 miles without stopping. That's what you can do with a Savage.... |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by crimsonblaspheme on 01/09/08 at 12:01:48 exceptional. I think I'd rather have a chain drive myself. It may be more maint. but should something go wrong its easier to deal with on the road. What sproket sizes did you use? How badly did it throw off your speedo? Can you adjust the speedo to compensate? How long do you figure such a mod would take? I read it'll cost me about $100. Any serious decrease in low speed torque? I live in a rather hilly area (Penn Hills) and need to be able to accelerate up hill "relatively" swiftly. I don't need to shoot out from under a stop light but Id like not to lag like a dump truck. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Warric on 01/09/08 at 12:41:26 Get a Savage chap, they rock. Dont know all the tech info these guys do, I just jump on and ride and it does what I tell it. Top speeds not the best, but thats not what its designed for, it is a cruiser after all (does get there reasonably quickly thou). |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Gary On A Savage on 01/09/08 at 13:19:08 7968737769757478767B696A727F777F1A0 wrote:
I went with a 17/43 setup, same as what hutch did (see tech section for instructions). Others have gone with 17/45. Cost me $97 for all the parts and shipping. I live on the edge of the Sierra Nevada's and ride flat, hill, and mountains on this setup. I can run uphill 65 in 4th gear with no problems. The speedometer shows around 8% fast (70 actual at 60 indicated). Didn't adjust speedo but rather I have a digital bicycle speedometer for actual speed and trip odometer (tech section). Torque loss is minimal. I have to slip 1st gear just a little or else it WILL jump out from under me. Also, I only ride solo. Performance is different going 2 up. But the nice thing about chain is the ability to change it to your rider preference. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by Trippah on 01/10/08 at 06:29:43 Isn't there a famous road up in Nova Scotia or nearby that appears to slope when it isn't; i vaguely remember bumber stickers on '50's autos from my childehood. Many of our neighbors living outside of Boston came from the Maratimes. |
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Title: Re: old questions Post by crimsonblaspheme on 01/10/08 at 06:57:28 we got one of them roads around here somehwere. Somehow look slike its going uphill. If you stop and pu tyour car in N it will drift "uphill" slowly about a foot or so. Its kind of creepy and I have NO idea how it works. |
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