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Message started by relic624k on 09/07/10 at 17:15:32

Title: first long trip question?
Post by relic624k on 09/07/10 at 17:15:32

[font=Arial][/font][size=12][/size]ok i am thinking of taking a trip from houston tx to austin tx the trip should be around 300 to 400 miles in total im just wondering how good savages are for long trips i have 2007 with 6500 miles on it i keep up with my oil changes, my tires are in good shape but i havent replace my spark plug or adjusted the valves. am i in good shape to take this trip? thanks

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/07/10 at 17:48:26

No way would I run off on a road trip w/o settin the lash on the valves.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Paladin. on 09/07/10 at 18:39:59

And I would. I figure a 350 mile ride is an easy day's scoot.

Couple of weeks ago we went 220-270 miles just for lunch:
http://paladin.savageriders.com/images/Rides/VistaPointElsinore.jpg
In '07 did a 350 miles scoot leaving Friday 9pm to Saturday 7am, to see the Mojave under the Full Moon. Picture taken about 2am without flash:
http://www.dslretorts.com/Paladin/images/parks/JTNP1.jpg
Found out an old Air Force buddy, he was vacation in San Diego, so I stopped to lunch, just a 250 mile scoot:
http://www.geeia.org/assets/images/Wagner___Andruschak__circa_2006_.jpg

----

Bottom line, I see no difference between a little day trip on a cage as in a bike. Only worry about a longer trip of a thousand miles, or three. And even did when I did my 2,300 mile tour I had forgotten the tools and supplies!

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by verslagen1 on 09/07/10 at 19:21:34

250 miles is a weeks worth of commuting for me.
I don't set the valves every week, do you?
use your ears, are the tappin louder than your grandfather clock?
yes/adjust, no/ride.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Phelonius on 09/07/10 at 19:27:42

I have made a number of long trips with an S-40 carrying a sidecar.
One of them was more than 2300 miles.
piece of cake.

Phelonius

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Wake51 on 09/07/10 at 23:59:15

This thread seems like an excellent time to shoot a question. I bought my bike with 5,000 miles on it. I have about 6,300 on it now, am I around any mile marker for servicing?

I can certainly here my valves,, but they don't seem to stand out. How will I know when it needs servicing?

Thanks!
-A Green and Proud Savage Owner 8-)

P.S. Love the full moon shot Paladin. That is a wild amount of light for 2 A.M.! Nothing like riding in a full moon, middle of the lunar cycle leaves me wanting morel lights on my bike!

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Phelonius on 09/08/10 at 00:21:49

I always check the valves on a purchased bike even if it was bought from a dealer new. I trust no one as much as my own eyes.
If you haven't checked them yet, do so. Same with oil and filter.

Phelonius

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by PerrydaSavage on 09/08/10 at 01:26:33

Did 350+kms (approx. 220mi.) on an S40 just this past Monday both secondary and primary highways ... Bike handled it no prob ... my right arse cheek was a bit numb at the end though!! 8-)

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/08/10 at 04:13:05

I didnt say what I meant to say. He said he has enough miles on it to need the valves done. Hes riding the factory adjustment & over 6,000 miles on it. Unless his was done different than mine, its NEEDin an adjustment.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Tanker2Biker on 09/08/10 at 13:44:02

I live on the north side (near Spring) and I've made the run from here to San Marcos a couple times. I would recommend going through the middle (Houston-Bellville-La Grange-Bastrop-Austin) rather than I-10 to San Antonio or US 290 to Austin. It's a really nice ride on some two lane country roads with speed limits of 65 or so. Very little traffic and some nice scenery. PM me if you want and I can give you the specifics. Of course, if you like the 4 lane superslabs, I-10 or 290 are the way to go.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Paladin. on 09/08/10 at 13:58:35

When you go to get somewhere, the SuperSlab very good. It is nice to know that the Thumper will go an easy 500-600 miles in a day. But then, the SS is about 50 vehicles per mile, they set speed of traffic. On US60 I was riding about 10 miles per vehicle, the easy routes set your own speed. You can stop to smell the roses, see the sights.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by relic624k on 09/08/10 at 18:49:16

thanks for the info fellas you guys never let me down i have more confidence in my thumper now! and i will pm you tanker for more details about that scenic route.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Jay on 09/08/10 at 21:39:06

I live in Fort Worth and routinely use the Savage to go see my daughter in Lubbock. It'll do just fine. Would recommend looking at those valves though.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by stinger on 09/09/10 at 00:49:20

A few years back I rode a little over 7,000 miles on my 02 savage on a one month ride and rode almost 700 in one day from montana to home. Freeway the whole way. A 300 or 400 mile trip and its just warming up!

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Jack_650 on 09/09/10 at 07:03:39

Guess I'm not the only one to take the "Little-650-That-Can" out for long walks. I've done three major cross country (is it cross country if you go N-S-N instead of E-W-E?) runs. Minnesota to Miami, FL and back twice and a short Minnesota to Chapel Hill, NC and back once. Several 600-700 mile days because, once you get into the groove you don't want to stop, vibration be danged. The bike can do it, the question is can you?

I got the bike at 9k miles on it. Went to a shop the first time to get the front brakes done and new tires before the first long trip. Told them to adjust the valves. They did, but said it wasn't needed. They took the money though. And now that I think about it I haven't done it since. 24k miles and still running tight.

Jack

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Arnold on 09/09/10 at 07:17:06

Which brings a question to my mind as well.

I have the Clymer manual, I'm not a mechanic but fairly handy with my tools. Can I do the valves adjustment myself or should I bring to the shop? How easy/hard is it? And how much does your shop charges you? I have a year of free maintenance with my bike, is valve job included in that maintenance typically?

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by mornhm - FSO on 09/09/10 at 07:33:37

Interesting thread with a lot of topics going on.

First comment, valves need adjusting if you want your engine to be reliable, and run as well as can be expected. Maintenance needs to be done - things wear, adjustments change, things break down (I'm talking oil, plastics, surfaces) etc., etc.
Second comment, the savage - and most other MCs in good mechanical condition will outlast their riders on long trips. In other words if you've kept up with the maintenance and things are running well there is no reason to expect trouble just because you string miles together. Yes, "sh_t happens," but you aren't going to prevent it by doing something randomly (which, imho adjusting valves just because you are going on a trip falls under).
Third if you know how to use all the tools needed for a given maintenance job you won't have any trouble with the Savage. A lot of people say they are fairly handy with "their" tools, which if you are talking about mechanics tools, that is pertinent to working on a Savage, if you are talking about wood turning gouges, not so much, if your tools are the techniques you learned for interviewing in college, not at all.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by prechermike on 09/09/10 at 09:37:57

71647F7C7C75647562100 wrote:

Hey Arnold, (that brings to mind one of the kids annoying cartoons, sorry ;)0 )

I adjusted my valves yesterday for the first time. It was not hard, I had a friend kind of walk me through it, but I am sure I could have done it alone. There is a link somewhere that gives all the details and instructions.

I am not sure about the valve job falling under maintance for a year, sorry. I guess you could ask, but it is really not a bad job at all.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Arnold on 09/09/10 at 10:30:48

Cool, then I shall attempt it myself, when the time has come.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Ed L. on 09/10/10 at 19:28:47

I would check them but don't expect the valves to be out by much. Every time I take a peek at the valves n my '02 they are right on the money. Keeping fresh oil in the engine is more important than checking the valve lash every four to five thousand miles.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Arnold on 09/11/10 at 07:28:07

I bought a 96 but only now have 3k miles on it anyway, have a little while to go.

Title: Re: first long trip question?
Post by Tanker2Biker on 09/11/10 at 09:14:06

130 mile round trip for breakfast this morning. Spring, TX to Navasota, TX and back via the back roads. What a beautiful morning for a ride!!