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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
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Message started by Gary RVA on 11/05/20 at 00:56:19

Title: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Gary RVA on 11/05/20 at 00:56:19

Cheyenne Wyoming (6250ft) sets at the intersection of I25 and I80, traffic flows at 85+mph in the right lanes on both. To get to good two lane riding roads require 50-100 miles on these highways.

To feel "safe" on two wheels, the bike needs to be able pull 90 mph just to be able to maneuver in the traffic. (Not that I want to cruise over 70mph).

The question is, what can (should) be done to upgrade my 1998 Savage to run 70-90 mph in traffic? Without breaking the bank, not trying to build a racer, just fast enough to get out of its own way...
About 4-5 month before 2021 riding season, time to start working on it.

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 11/05/20 at 04:02:33

You need a more capable bike. The Savage will never be a good 80+ mph bike.

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Dave on 11/05/20 at 04:10:49

You should buy a pickup truck and/or trailer to get your bike to the riding areas.! ;)

The Savage in stock form is only 30 HP, and the top speed is just about what you are hoping to ride at for 50-100 miles. It really won't do that very well, as it will be running at a very high rpm where a big single cylinder doesn't like to be......and it uses a lot of oil when running like that. At 80 mph on a stock bike you will be running around 5,300 rpm at 80 mph.

If you installed a 97mm Wiseco, a performance cam, did some work to the ports, installed a better exhaust, did the double Kawasaki Pulley conversion, installed a 140/90-15 rear tire - you could pull taller gearing and probably get the rpm down to 4,000 rpm at 70 mph.....around 4,500 rpm at 80 mph. You will likely spend $1,500 or more getting this done, and it will require you to tear down the top end of your bike to make the engine changes. (You can substitute a chain conversion for the double Kawasaki pulley if you are OK not having a belt).

However - the Savage chassis really doesn't handle all that well at speed, and you would be far better off with a bike better suited to this type of use. A twin cylinder bike will be able to handle the kind of riding you want to do.....even my twin cylinder Ninja 250 could run 80 mph easily - and the whole darn bike was only worth $1,500 (And it was a blast to ride). The larger 300 Ninja would be a bit more money and better able to ride those speeds....the bodywork makes the bike far more stable at those speeds than the Savage is. The Kawasaki Vulcan S could also handle those speeds if you want a foot forward cruiser style bike rather than a sport bike.

For me the Savage is a back road fun machine - not an interstate bike. When I want to ride the Savage I choose the 70mph and below roads. Kentucky offers lots of alternate paths to using the interstates, and it takes a bit longer but the roads are more interesting. If you can find roads that are not highways and have slower cruising speeds - those roads are the ones you should be riding the Savage on - 65 mph and below is where the Savage runs best.

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Serowbot on 11/05/20 at 06:36:44

Bigger front pulley and taller rear wheel might help a little bit (140/90-15)
...but,.. when I have to do highway, I watch for a slow poke and follow him... 65 or 70 just feels better to me.
Screw the rest of the traffic ;D

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Eegore on 11/05/20 at 10:00:59

I know that area well. A Savage is not going to reliably run 80+ comfortably even on those flat stretches.

Dave has outlined the upgrades I would use as well to drop the RPM's, but you will not have a passing option out on those roads with regular traffic. The only thing he didn't mention was a fork-brace, I would definitely want one of those to be hauling at max speed and RPM for that long, and keep oil with you on the bike.

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Seipgam on 11/05/20 at 20:31:04

I agree with Gary in NJ.
If we want to ride a bike then we should buy something that suits the intended purpose.
It amazes me when people want to try and make an old thumper go like buggery.
Enjoy it for what it is or buy something else.

Geoff.

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by ckahleer on 11/06/20 at 07:28:35

Top cruising speed should not be more than 75% of the top speed. For 80+mph cruising, get a bike capable of at least 110mph.

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Dennisgb on 11/06/20 at 10:01:34

I have multiple bikes. Some are really not suited for 80 MPH even with more HP.

IMO you need a bike that is capable of much more than 80 on the highway to be safe in traffic. My choice in my stable would be Honda 919 Hornet, CB1000, CBR1000 or one of my CBR600. I wouldn’t want to run a thumper at that speed for any length of time. I don’t even like to run my Norton like that.

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Edub on 11/06/20 at 23:08:08

3E283F223A2F22394D0 wrote:

Serowbot, your comment got me thinking; have you ever needed to do the I-10 blast between Tucson and Phoenix on your Savage? If so, how did it handle the trip? The reason I ask is that I'm based in Phoenix, but might be taking a job in Tucson. I wouldn't want to to do that run regularly on a Savage, but might do it a couple of times a year. what do you think?

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Mavigogun on 11/10/20 at 17:49:06

Having ran my bike sustained in the 80’s (actual, not indicated), I can attest doing so is unkind to the machine. If insistent, better carry oil with you for long trips, as the bike will be cooking through the stuff.

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 11/10/20 at 17:59:45

You need the right tool for the job. The Savage just isn’t a very capable machine. It’s fun, but it has its limitations. If I’m going over 50 miles, I take the machine on the right. It will cruise at any speed I want to ride and it has all-day comfort. Sometimes the answer is a different bike, or more bikes.

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Dave on 11/11/20 at 03:15:01

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU4pyiB-kq0

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU4pyiB-kq0[/media]

Title: Re: traffic runs 85+ mph. What to upgrade?
Post by Zepp on 11/16/20 at 12:23:23

120207646D6C550 wrote:

I would never feel safe att 85 mph on a bike if I dont is alone!

At least once in every summer I test my savage on the our Swedich High roads, its speed limited to 68 .. and its awfull, this bike is not build for that.

The bike probably could manage this, but I cant, for any extended time.

One need som sort of Cowl to stand out, for those speeds.

IE a racebike whit cowls.. leaning frontward behind the cowling?

In anyway, one of my friends did buy a Suzuki GSX 1400, 106 BHP, 150 mph and no cowlings, mayby he could stand out a few minutes more then me?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_GSX1400