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Message started by savageclay on 04/11/10 at 16:34:34

Title: Question about ride time and distance
Post by savageclay on 04/11/10 at 16:34:34

Me and my buddies have a trip planned that is about 160 miles one way. We will be staying over the weekend and probably riding around 50 miles while there. Then the 160 miles back. I have had several savages that I build as bar hoppers but have never taken one on this long of a ride. Does anyone have any experience with a trip on a Savage and how does it perform? Would you suggest it or not?

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by buttgoat1 on 04/11/10 at 16:38:09

Sounds like a great idea, 160 is no sweat!
unless you want to get there in 2 hours.
go for it

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by SmilinLDR on 04/11/10 at 18:06:49

Go for it, it'll do this and a whole lot more. I would recommend stopping for gas at about 100 mi, or take a spare tank.

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by Paladin. on 04/11/10 at 18:57:57

I've taken a few longish rides -- a 120 miles to San Diego for lunch with an old drinking buddy, a 350 mile loop out to and through Joshua Tree National Park and home under the Full Moon, twice, and a 2,300 tour to OKC. The bike does just fine on the superslab at 65-75, even better on secondary roads at 55-65.

Everyone's butt is different, everyone's tolerance to sitting on the bike varies. Me, on the stock seat, the 350 miles in 10 hours was a Piece of Piroshki. Highway mileage is generally about 60-65 mpg, but on the second moon run the return home was against heavy headwinds and mileage was only 53 mpg. Across the Mojave on CA62 returning from OKC was 50-55mph and 70 mpg. Back to back 500+ mile days took it's toll on the stock saddle, will find out next year how the springer seat does.

You could get by refueling at 130 miles out, continuing the last 30 miles, 50 miles play, first 30 miles home and refuel again at the same stop. But it would be more relaxed and worry free to gas up half way on the 160 and twice at the destination.

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by kimchris1 on 04/11/10 at 19:41:43

I have done 120 mile trips a few times and no problems on mine. I can't wait to get back in the saddle again.. :)

Have fun with your friends and enjoy the ride...

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by JohnBoy on 04/11/10 at 19:51:41

And take pictures to post!!

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by RTC on 04/11/10 at 20:55:53

i took a trip with my brigade last week from el paso to alamogordo, NM and then past white sands over the mountains to las cruces and then back to el paso. it was around 200 somethin miles. i had the smallest frame of the group (54 riders) and caught a lot of flack like "can you keep up man?" but the savage performed like a seasoned vet. the seat and pegs were a little uncomfortable but almost every other rider complained of a sore butt too. the winds in the mountain pass were a little challenging but again other riders said the same. i totally enjoyed the ride! and we will be traveling to ruidoso in a few weeks (400 plus round trip). i didn't really like going above 75 except for short increments. i couldn't even hear my bike due to the jardine straight pipes in front of me! people say these single vibrate too much but mine was great...just perfect. IT'S A CRUISER MAN!!

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by MMRanch on 04/12/10 at 03:15:48

I have a pair of Soft-tail harley seats and floorboards on mine, and 450 miles in a day makes for a LONGISH ride . The macine doesn't have a problem at 55-70 mph but about 75 showes its complain by being wound up a bit , makes me want a 6th gear or Overdrive. At 55 mph its just Idleing along good !

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by mpescatori on 04/12/10 at 03:31:48

436C6179526F623733000 wrote:

My longest ride was from (almost) the Swiss border all the way south to Naples, Italy.

500 miles +, and that was to ride her home after buying her !!!

My pieces of advice:
- 2 gal.tank means 100 mile range, so look for gas at 80 miles;
- any speed over 65-70 is demanding on chest, arms, and the bike revs higher and higher for (mechanical) comfort

The sweetest ride I had was country roads at 50-55 mph, you can flip up the visor and smell the scents of the forest, the brids a-singing, and the cows a-mooing... and the bike purrs like a baby.
But any faster than 60 and you've got wind rush, the engine will start revving louder (she's a single, no high-pitched scream, she just bellows louder) and the pleasure of riding will give way to the urgency of getting there...for silence.

The Savage may be capable of cruising at 75mph, but the real pleasure is at jalopy speed.

8-)

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by wingsout on 04/12/10 at 06:37:25

I've ridden my 05 S40 under all kinds of conditions---drenching rain with a heavy sidewind---very strong wind on the interstate at 70---over very twisty mountain roads---you can set this bike up to be "fairly comfortable"
I use a TomTom One GPS---mine has bicycle routes. Take a spare 1g gas tank with you.
I've been riding since I was 16---I'm now 63---This is the best all around bike I've ever owned.
ENJOY YOUR TRIP!!!

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by Jay on 04/14/10 at 21:54:26

I've made several trips from DFW to Lubbock on the Savage (got a daughter going to Tech). It's about 300-350 miles one way. Never had a problem once I did the Diamond Jim seat mod! This bike will go the distance. Sweet spot on mine is about 65mph. Now that the seat is more comfy, I don't even get off the bike at fill ups. Gas 'n go!

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by Jimmer on 04/15/10 at 08:10:52

Mr.Paladin
Just did a 400 mile round tripper with a solo seat. I have 3 inch piano springs mounted on a bracket. Seat rode good, the only change I'll make is to raise the front mounting about 3/8 to 1/2 inch. Other than that I well satisfied with ride. I've also got a 4.8 gallon fuel tank, so at 200 miles it's time to get off and relax the butt some.

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by buttgoat1 on 04/15/10 at 18:33:41

I agree with Mpescatori 100%
55 to 60 is just so darn enjoyable, I always take secondary roads when I am just beating along. the interstate just isnt enjoyable, get there faster but so what? if you missed the riding.

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by Skid Mark on 04/15/10 at 19:32:44

The bike will have no issues at all with a trip you described. Like everyone has said, it loves the secondary roads. I did a weekend run thru the mountains last year. The road speed limits were 55-60mph and I'm sure the bike enjoyed the run almost as much as I did!!

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by gerald.hughes on 04/15/10 at 19:37:04

I guess that I am missing something. When I go for a ride, if I need to hop on the interstate, even if the limit is 75, I putt along at 60-65. That is where I enjoy riding. I don't care how fast you are riding. someone will want to pass you. I stay in the right lane and enjoy the scenery, and the show put on by the other drivers.

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by RTC on 04/15/10 at 22:19:13

I have found that exactly 65 is the sweet spot for my bike. 63-56 or something, vibrates too much in 5th. Once i hit 65 it all smooths out. 70 is not bad either but i just don't really care for the wind at speeds above 70

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by stinger on 04/16/10 at 00:39:02

Rode from missoula montana to portland oregon in one day. When finished for the day I logged almost 700 miles. All interstate. Left around 630am and arrived around 10 pm. Still took lots of breaks so I could shake my arms out. The bike could have gone another 700 miles. I was beat! A 250 mile ride is only a 4 hour ride at 60 mph. Leave at 8am and you should be there by 2pm at the latest.

Title: Re: Question about ride time and distance
Post by Charon on 04/17/10 at 06:33:15

I will undoubtedly be told how wrong I am, but here goes anyway. You will be pretty close if you figure an average speed of about 43 mph. When I was flying one of my flight instructors said "Most people have about a two-hour bladder." The Savage/S40 has about a 110-120 mile range to reserve, which is about two hours. So, every couple of hours you will be stopping for at least a few minutes. Those stops lower your average speed. If you are on the Interstate running 70 or so, your fuel mileage drops and so does your range - which means a stop about every 90 minutes. For a longer trip such as an all-day run, figure in at least half an hour to an hour for lunch. That cuts the average speed considerably. Feel free to cite the examples of the Iron Butt guys running 1000 miles in 24 hours - then calculate the average speed as 41.7 mph.

By the way, if you travel with a group and plan to stay together, the fuel stops will be more frequent and longer. There will always be someone who "doesn't need gas yet" but who will before the next planned stop. And, unless you stop at the fabled Little America Truck Stop in Western Wyoming (which was said to have 100 fuel pumps) everybody cannot fuel at the same time.