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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> S40 as an all purpose vehicle /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1463546391 Message started by Jasbee on 05/17/16 at 21:39:51 |
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Title: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Jasbee on 05/17/16 at 21:39:51 What do you use your S40 for — does anyone else have an S40 as their only vehicle? I use mine for commuting, urban cruising, scratching (well not so much of that, but only because I'm old), touring, supermarket shopping and transporting awkward loads as needed (eg my banjo). I have a Ventura rack with either a single, or double as required, 44 litre Ventura luggage bag. For touring I carry a 5 litre jerrycan to compensate for the small tank (and I no longer need to carry chain lube or chain adjusting tools; love that belt drive!). And I always have a few occy straps with me for dealing with short distance odd loads. I ride daily, all year round. I live in Canberra, Australia where it can get up to 40° C at midday in summer and down to -8° C overnight in winter. I realise a lot of forum members live in much colder places than this, and I do struggle in winter. But being retired I no longer have to ride early in the morning, and I admit to having heated grips on the bike. My S40 does it all! (Well almost. Disclaimer— although I don't have a car, my wife does, and on very rare occasions I'm allowed to borrow it) Jasbee |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Serowbot on 05/17/16 at 22:23:14 I remember a long time ago,... a guy said he towed his Ford Courier a couple miles with his... Tall tale?... who knows?... :-/ This little bike will most anything,... there's always something that do it better,... ...but... it'll do it... ;D |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by jcstokes on 05/17/16 at 22:38:45 One review I've read and to a fair extent support is that they don't handle particularly well on gravel, or metal roads as we call them here. I'm inclined to think they wouldn't like the real Aussie outback that much given they are a low bike. Other than that yes they will handle most things and as well as the Ventura pack you could get saddle bags and a front mounted roll thingy. See what Gizzo says if he reads this. |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by gizzo on 05/18/16 at 02:03:42 I'm reading it... I haven't had any dramas on my limited dirt road excursions on the Cabbage but there is very little chance I'll be touring long distance on mine. It's just too uncomfortable. Not enough suspension (I could probs fix that with some springs under the seat) makes for a really jarring ride. Good for a strop through the hills but if I'm going travelling it's on my Ducati or Enfield. Ground clearance wise it would handle just about any dry dirt road, that's no problem. Bush bashing, maybe not. However: If it were my only transport, I think I could make it work... |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Gus on 05/18/16 at 06:19:42 I use mine mostly as a commuter. I DO cruise weekends with it as well. I am currently in the middle of a project where I've removed the B-pad and putting an old Harley rack right behind the saddle to clamp a 18" square by 10" high aluminum military surplus box. This I'll use to put my lunch bucket, gloves, rain gear & what not in for commuting. |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Art Webb on 05/18/16 at 07:14:12 mine was my primary transport at one point until it stranded me about 60 miles from home one night with a flat After that I bought a pickup , which I still have the savage will do it all to some extent, but a proper standard would do it better i'd love to take a Savage and do a Ryca 'standard' kit (same as the scrambler without the high pipe) but for 3k, I could get a dual sport |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Garry on 05/18/16 at 23:20:18 I live in Bungendore near Canberra in Australia. I ride most days. My S40 only has 2500km on it and I have only had it for one month. I will expect this bike to fulfill the role of commuter, tourer and general purpose fun. It is the easiest bike I have ever ridden and has more than sufficient power to keep up with the traffic and will cruise at the freeway speed limit of 110km here in Australia. I was attracted to this bike by the low seat height and low weight (66 YO with bad knees) and did not expect the easy torque and brisk acceleration up to its practical limit of around 120kph. It replaces a Royal Enfield Bullet and feels very similar in power delivery but on steroids! I think we are going to have a very long and fruitful relationship. ;) |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Dave on 05/19/16 at 04:31:35 I believe the Savage can be a good "everyday" bike - provided that "off pavement" excursions are not in your daily routine. It may also be the belt is not all that fond of continual use on gravel/dirt roads.....sort of depends how much gravel you throw up and how much of it finds it's way to the toothed portion of the belt and pulleys. From the photos I have seen of the rides Youzguyz does it appears he goes off the paved roads frequently - but I don't know how big the gravel is in Texas! |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Struch on 05/19/16 at 04:59:05 I use my for daily commuting on highway and it dose the job 8-) |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Paladin. on 05/19/16 at 06:05:09 302A2E2C2D13223137312A272426430 wrote:
One thousand smiles... taken on day number two: http://www.savageriders.com/paladin/LA-OKC/1000_Smiles.jpg In my humble opinion, The Savage was just fine on a two week trip. Seat was not too comfortable, but the pegs bothered my feet -- need to be able to move around, hence I ended up with oak floorboards. |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Gus on 05/19/16 at 11:07:22 I have to admit; there were things I didn't like about the Savage and mainly bought it because of the performance od the single cylinder engine. Some of the things I've grown used too; others not so much. I'd still like a wider bar for one. I think the furthest I've ridden it in an afternoon is 160-180 miles; not far. I've recently taken off the B-pad and installed a rack from a. 70's era HD. It fit nicely and looks good. I have a crate mounted on it now but it will be replaced by a 15" square by 10" hi Military Surplus water tight box. |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by youzguyz on 05/19/16 at 12:42:38 566D6077666A71776C646976050 wrote:
Yep, I like to keep going when the pavement ends. I've discovered much fine scenery by not giving up. Gravel in Texas is pretty much the same as anywhere.. various sizes. Anywhere from "might as well call it sand" to "baby heads". Some of it is packed down pretty good.. other times.. especially in the bottom of creeks, it's like trying to plow through deep marbles. I thing the Savage is a fine bike for that kind of riding. It is LIGHT and you can boss it around and get it straight again. I've never had a problem with rocks in the belt.. that I know of. ::) |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Gus on 05/19/16 at 13:12:04 Nice bike youzguyz, I too ride many back roads here in South Dakota. I'm sure you've ridden many more on the Savage as I've only had mine since last fall. I really like the way it behaves on the gravel. I've actually found myself riding way to fast at times it handles so well. |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by jcstokes on 05/19/16 at 15:42:21 If I'm on long hauls, and I don't do that many, I have my Ventura pack over the pillion seat where it acts as a, sort of low quality backrest. I also have the cheap mid sized Airhawk which helps. Gus, you could consider attaching some form of padding to the front of your box, mightn't look pretty but it may form a "sortof" backrest. Gravel/metal riding is like lane splitting. I do it if I have to. |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Gus on 05/19/16 at 16:07:28 292030372C282630430 wrote:
The backrest is already in the works. Gonna try to make it from the material from the pinion cover so it matches the seat. |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by DesertRat on 05/19/16 at 16:39:07 youzguyz, that seat looks like a High Back Rigid Style King/Queen Seat ... http://img.jpcycles.com/zoom/504-082_A.jpg |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by old_rider on 05/19/16 at 20:45:51 3F30273A31396C31323A6C5E0 wrote:
The backrest is already in the works. Gonna try to make it from the material from the pinion cover so it matches the seat.[/quote] I purchased an el' cheapo ($45) luggage box for the wife's bike, it can hold 2 helmets and is lockable, all you would have to do is figure how to mount it to your rack. But you could get something like this on ebay, that already has a pad and also a chrome rack on the lid too http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motorcycle-Trunk-Luggage-Case-Tail-Box-Rack-Backrest-Durable-for-Touring-Cruiser-/311078452687?hash=item486db87dcf:g:4qQAAOxy4dNS-sOP&vxp=mtr Me? I went with my old Harley Davidson Tour Pack... I even put led lights on it... only the brake lights work, I could not figure how to add turn signals without destroying the trunk (I might sell it later). http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b471/Orphistle/2001%20savage/4inchforwardmay132014d.jpg The wife's http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b471/Orphistle/Suzuki%20Savage/IMAG0720.jpg |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by KennyG on 05/19/16 at 20:51:12 Rider, Who makes the saddle bag supports that are attached to the Silver bike? Kenny G |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by youzguyz on 05/20/16 at 02:32:09 6E4F594F585E784B5E2A0 wrote:
Noooo.. that is an old picture of Thumper from when my daughter use to ride on the back. Her knees aren't too good, so I jacked up the pillion by putting a 2nd pillion seat on top of the orignal, strapped them together with a belt, and covered the entire mess with a gray sheepskin. I also built an airhawk into the seat on a spare pan. Another picture .. |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by gizzo on 05/20/16 at 04:28:42 51606D6065686F010 wrote:
One thousand smiles... taken on day number two: http://www.savageriders.com/paladin/LA-OKC/1000_Smiles.jpg In my humble opinion, The Savage was just fine on a two week trip. Seat was not too comfortable, but the pegs bothered my feet -- need to be able to move around, hence I ended up with oak floorboards.[/quote] Yep, and I admire you guys and your fortitude who can do those kind of trips on your Savage. I just couldn't do it. I'm much more comfortable in the Cafe Racer crouch for a long day on the bike. Maybe the roads around here are worse, but the jarring striaght up my spine is something I can handle for only so long... Anyway, you look like the kind of guy who's happy no matter what you're riding!! 8-) |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Dave on 05/20/16 at 04:35:46 Gizzo: I agree with you - the Cruiser seating position with your legs out front seems to be a lot more tiring to me than a seated position where your legs are under you. When I have my legs out front it feels like there is a lot more weight resting on my bum, and my butt and back get tired. In the next year or two I hope to build a Savage touring bike, with a seating and peg position very similar to a 60's/70's era motorcycle. It will have bags, and a rack so I can haul gear. Dave |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by Gus on 05/20/16 at 06:53:03 This is what it looks like mounted. I did it Las night. This box is aluminum and watertight. I think you could throw it off a truck without hurting it. All that is left I'd the painting. |
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Title: Re: S40 as an all purpose vehicle Post by old_rider on 05/20/16 at 08:55:54 5B757E5362716378100 wrote:
Not sure, I believe they are OEM, they came with the bike, mine has the same ones. I have since removed the ones on the silver bike, I will look for some part numbers on them... if you want, I could ask wife if she would sell them. |
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