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Message started by GrateFuLDad on 08/05/08 at 18:42:59

Title: Highway
Post by GrateFuLDad on 08/05/08 at 18:42:59

do you take your bike out on the highways? if so what speed do you usually take..?
i sometimes feel that the bike needs just one more gear... maybe its just me...
i have gotten it up to 70 but not over....
the speed limit was 70 and i about got run over till i got up my speed to 70....
i prefer back roads but sometimes i have to jump on highway and then jump back off another exit to make it through the city...

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Robertomoe on 08/05/08 at 18:46:42

yeah, people here have even rode these things across several states. Not the best bike bone stock for the slab, but you can convert to chain drive and get a ratio better for highway speeds.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by aysrav on 08/05/08 at 19:30:39

I love a big bike on the highway but the single cyl is just too much vibration for me. People pass me by one after another because 60 is near the end of my comfort zone. My S-40 likes 50 mph even better. If there is an alternate route then I avoid the highways.
aysrav

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 08/05/08 at 19:50:14

Here in Montana, the speed limit on most two-lane higways is 70 mph. I ride mine around at 75 all the time. It just rumbles along. I even passed a Harley today, just to be ornery. [smiley=evil.gif]

Turns out it was a female riding the thing. I think I pissed her off, because she tried to catch back up to me. I couldn't let that happen. I came smoking into a construction zone at about 80 and had to warm up the brakes a little to get legal again. What a completely juvenile attitude on my part. "Nah Nah Nah. My bike can pass your bike!"

But it was fun. ::)

Title: Re: Highway
Post by drums1 on 08/05/08 at 20:25:48

I've been up to 85 once on a rural highway. 70 on the interstate. I thought I was going to get blown off the thing. Mine is an '87 and it would be nice to have a 5th gear sometimes. Usually in the city, I'm lucky if I get past 3rd. And yes, the Savage she does vibrate.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by verslagen1 on 08/05/08 at 20:34:05

Yep it would be great if the jump from 4th to 5th was 1000rpm's like all the other gears.

I run at 70 almost all the time, 60-65 is the worst for vibes.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by sockmonkeygirl on 08/05/08 at 20:45:07

I just took my 2000 on a 3 hour interstate trip to NY with no problems. I used to own a smaller bike, so to me, the Savage handles the highway well. I feel like I'm floating on a cloud at 5th gear. Not sure what all this vibration talk is about. I go about 65-72 (give or take) on the highway.

This morning I was going 60 in 4th gear with plenty throttle left. The bike always gives me as much speed and response as I need--and then some.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Skid Mark on 08/05/08 at 21:03:08

I have done 70 -75 mph for up to an hour at a time comfortably. Me and my bike seem most comfortable at around 65 mph. There seems to be a sweet spot at that speed where the vibration seems to fade away. Over all I am impressed how well the bike does on the hiway. I haven't ridden a V twin to compare the ride and sometime wonder how good they are given that I'm happy with the Savage.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Paladin. on 08/05/08 at 21:37:25

Ran L.A. to OKC in 2 1/2 days on the superslabs. Kept up with traffic, 65-75 mph.

Came home via US 60/CA62 at 55-60. I have my new saddle, just need floorboards before I try another long trip.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Jack_650 on 08/05/08 at 21:52:29

I've done several comfort mods to my Sav so my comments reflect that situation. In the last couple of years I've done two 4,200 mile and one 2,700 mile round trips, in August and a great deal of the time on inter-states. The bike just rolls along with never a hesitation. Yes, the vibration can get to be a bit much, but I've run 600+ mile days and gotten up the next morning to ride again. You can do what ever you want to on these little thangs.

As for speed, I don't recommend it, but mine will sit on 85 real mph with me and a 125 or so pounds of gear on the back. And still have a little throttle left. I pass tractor trailer rigs, I run with the Sturgis crowd (until I can't take the noise anymore) and hit the gravel back roads for the hard-to-get-to places. This is my first bike ever (I'm no kid either) and I see no reason for a different steed. Well, unless it were to be a 250cc or a scooter for those pesky little under 200 mile runs where gas mileage is way better.

Jack

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Dj12midnit on 08/05/08 at 22:40:25

I have no problems I do a little time on the I5. I have had the bike up to 80 2 up just to see if it would. on my daily commute, I mostly do 55 60.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by thumperclone on 08/05/08 at 22:47:59

last month on my ride to farmington we were in a hurry to get there 75 > 80 in some streches till we hit the mountain passes..noticed more oil consumption on those higher speed legs.. on the way back (same distance diffferent roads and ALOT slower runs[bike run from durango to ouray{share the road}25 mph top for a good 50 miles but up and over 10K passes]
no oil consumed....
had er up to 88 once the first year (o6)plenty fast for this lite a scoot...

Title: Re: Highway
Post by BurnPgh on 08/06/08 at 01:04:55

Take mine on the highway all the time ('95 stock). Will do 70mph all day without even trying. Wringing out the gears I have no doubt this thing will hit the indicated 100mph and probably a bit more. A far cry from the 250 rebel I had, which was adequate but had nothing extra to give should the need arise. Seat comfort isnt the greatest. For day trips I bungee a backpack to the sissy bar full of towels. Something to lean back on makes riding this thing a breeze. Forward controls would make it a rolling lay-z-boy. One more gear would be nice, or like verslagen said, a 5th that was a "full" gear. I dont know if im trying to shift into "6th" because I think there should be a higher gear or because I'm not sure whether im in 5th or 4th. And like thumper clone says, at highway speeds check your oil every few gas tanks. Mine eats oil on extended highway runs but it might just be my machine.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by ALittlebird on 08/06/08 at 01:43:41

Mine is a stock 2001 and has no problems on the highway. I think she likes it better. :)

60-65 mph seems to get me the best gas mileage and she seems to like to sit there comfortably although i have done 70. I'm just not a speed demon even when I had a car.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by mornhm on 08/06/08 at 05:56:03

I used to travel on the Savage on the highways and expressways a lot by necessity. I ran into a situation passing a semi-trailer truck into a headwind doing about 70 mph where I actually started slowing down when I switched lanes and got out into the slipstream generated by the truck. I couldn't pass him! IMHO this created a real safety issue and made me look at the Savage in a different light.

While the Savage can do higher speeds and has been used for touring by some, it is not what it excels at. If you want a recent graphic example, look at the roll on speeds posted in another thread, my Concours will do that roll on in about a third of the time loaded without using full throttle, and a lot of people consider the early model Concours a bit of a dog performancewise. With the Savage you can't even drop a gear or two to get into a higher rpm range and pick up HP that way. ("Drop a gear and disappear")

Title: Re: Highway
Post by bill67 on 08/06/08 at 06:25:26

If you have never had a bigger motorcycle you might think this is alright for freeway I have a Suzuki LC 1500 you can go down the freeway 80 mph one hand and smoke a cigarette,I live 1/3 mile from a un busy freeway I've put a total of 5 miles on that freeway the other 2000 miles on back roads,I had a 6 cylinder Goldwing before the 1500 suzuki,So I'm uses to big motorcycles.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by vtail on 08/06/08 at 10:14:50

Took a trip with a pack of Harleys (150 miles). I was 2up cruising 75mph with burst up to 90 mph to catch back up, if the pack got split up by traffic. Granted I got some minor mods but if your bike does not get past 75 you should do a leak down test like they do on airplanes and Porsches cause you've got a serious power problem ;)

Title: Re: Highway
Post by sjaskow on 08/06/08 at 10:40:20

I have an almost 6 mile stretch of interstate on the daily commute where it's marked 55 and 65 and the traffic typically moves at 70+.

Prior to adding the windscreen, 70 was work since spent most of my time working at holding on. After the 'screen, the S40 will run 75 and still has about 1/5 throttle left.

I've only tried it once, but I did have it up to 90 indicated before I backed off. Too many "I'm getting off at this exit from the high speed lane" drivers to keep going that fast. :(

Title: Re: Highway
Post by skrapiron on 08/06/08 at 10:58:33

I ran mine on the interstate maybe 85% of the time. 65-75mph every day sometimes as many as 500 miles in a single day.

Never once did I feel the bike was underpowered. It kept up with traffic and I always had some throttle left over, just in case.

Ride the bike. It's not made of bubble gum and tin foil. Ride, man! Ride!

Title: Re: Highway
Post by bill67 on 08/06/08 at 11:38:14

Its not underpowered just under weight and to much rpm for freeway driving

Title: Re: Highway
Post by jimR on 08/06/08 at 12:18:48

I ride about 50 miles round trip per day. 80% is on intersate 87. The bike really likes 60 -65. But 70+ to get away from idiots is easily done. ::)

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Kirk on 08/06/08 at 12:19:53

I have ran my stock s40 up to 92mph on the highway here in Atlanta with no problems. The speed limit is posted at 55-65 but everyone drives 70 minimum and I have no trouble keeping up with traffic. I guess to each is own. For me the little thumper that could......should. :)

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Gary On A Savage on 08/06/08 at 12:23:16

I did the chain conversion with 17/43 gears. I can run 65 without it breaking a sweat. 70 is no problem. 75 is a bad vibration speed but 80 is a smooth, sweet speed. But that's also where the wind really starts to get annoying (comes up under the windshield, along the side of the tank, and hits me in the face).

My preference is 65-70, even on my Honda 1100 Shadow. Gets me about 45MPG on the Honda...60MPG on the Savage.

*[Speeds are actual, not indicated]

Title: Re: Highway
Post by 07S40rider on 08/06/08 at 12:40:06

Interesting that this thread should pop up now. I just walked back in from a lunch run where I ran a few miles on the interstate. This is not common for me as I usually stick to smaller highways simply because they are more fun. I hit 75 with no trouble (same vibration at 60 that most experience) and my only two issues were; 1. passing big rigs at that speed was pushing my bike to the limit due to the wind resistance from the front of the rig and 2. it was a very windy day in general so a headwind at 75 pretty much kept me from going much faster. I did have a little throttle left though but at that speed it just sounds like I am pushing the bike too close to the edge of its comfort zone.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by YonuhAdisi on 08/06/08 at 12:46:22

Just got back from a job interview where I got on the highway and was doing up to 70mph indicated without a single problem with plenty of throttle left over.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by bill67 on 08/06/08 at 13:03:52

I only weight 165 I have no problem doing 85 mph

Title: Re: Highway
Post by rpgpgmr on 08/06/08 at 13:06:18

I don't experience the vibration problems that I hear lots of people on here complain about. I just took a trip to Morgantown, WV for a big bike rally and that was 3 hours of Interstate running 70-75 (85 to get around those $#@% trucks). No vibration problems, no power problems, and the only cars that passed me were on their way to reckless driving tickets. :o

If it can carry my 245 lb butt at 85 mph on the Interstate, I'd say it's got all the power a person needs!!!

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Bear_Rider on 08/06/08 at 16:54:29

I just got back yesterday from a 1200 mile round trip to the Oregon coast. 65-75 all day long, with no problem from the vibration. However, the seat needs a little more work, and I'm probably going to add some highway pegs.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Brandon on 08/06/08 at 17:19:38

On the highway with my 01 I run between 65-85 depending on what the traffic is doing, she does just fine. To someone who has never been on a thumper, it might seem like she is straining her nuts off, but this motor, properly maintained, is just fine in the 3500-5250 rpm range(highway speeds 5th gear) If you think this thing vibrates at 70, you must have never ridden a panhead hd. Now THAT vibrates the ever loving CRAP outta ya. ;D

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Jay on 08/06/08 at 23:42:54

Most of my riding is on the freeway, at about 60 -65 mph indicated. My '08 has no trouble. I've had bigger bikes, even a Goldwing in the mix. This bike could stand to be a bit heavier, but will do the freeways and highways just fine. I pass semi's and every other thing as need arises. To date, I've had no problem getting the job done with throttle to spare.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Gary On A Savage on 08/07/08 at 09:46:43

30273F223B3C263A373C3B2637520 wrote:

I hear ya on that. The Savage just runs on and on, with a smile on her face! My 96 Honda 1100 ACE has a single pin crank. They modeled it to compete with the HD Fatboy. You want to talk a vibrator! The handlebars bounce a full inch when you sit at a light. And talk about vibration on the freeway...the Savage just tingles compared to it. But the one thing I've noticed about both of them...they like to run all out! So rev'm up and let'm run! It don't hurt none!

Title: Re: Highway
Post by 12Bravo on 08/07/08 at 20:43:53

I just got back from a ride with BACA and the bike kept up with the rest of them just fine. The next smallest bike was a 1000 and the rest were either 1200 or 1300. We were cruising between 75 and 80 the whole way. I didn't have any problems keeping up for the 60 mile ride.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by GrateFuLDad on 08/08/08 at 13:04:01

thanks everyone for the input....

My wife and i will be taking our first trip tomorrow and this gives us both great confidence about the day....

going into the mountains to take some pics....
i do photography and going for some relaxtion not work this time..

gotta take the highway to get there....

thanks

Title: Re: Highway
Post by SV og LS on 08/10/08 at 04:31:33

Last Tuesday I loaded my bike with hiking gear and stuff for 3 days and rode 883 kms south to Alps. Yesterday I returned through the same route. This time I chose my other 650 because of comfort, handling and midrange through Alpine switchbacks. I've toured through Europe on our Savage but wouldn't buy one for touring. But if it were my only bike, I would've done the same trip on the LS.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by NDBiker on 08/10/08 at 09:02:40

I've gotten up to 85 before I realized what I was doing it. I've cruised comfortably, well as comfortably one can get at 75mph for 7 hours to then 7 hours from Columbus, OH to South Bend, IN. The 7 hours does include stopping for 15-20 minutes every hour to gas up and rest the posterior. I'm 300+lbs I was carrying at least 30-40lbs of gear on me as well. Granted the only downfall was my mpg dropped to about 38mpg/g. Because of the extra lbs. my Savage has to carry I get roughly 45mpg city, 55mpg highway @ 55mph, -40mpg @ +65. Now if I could only get down to 225-250lbs. I'm still young, I'll get there.

Title: Re: Highway
Post by clueless on 08/10/08 at 17:14:56

I did the chain conversion, forward controls, small windscreen. 17/43 on the conversion and I need to be around 55 mph for fifth. Much better on the slab!

Title: Re: Highway
Post by Drunken Pig on 08/20/08 at 19:50:26

I just recently made two trips from Charlotte NC to Tenn. by way of Deals Gap up the Tail of the Dragon. We hit I26 to I40 and my S40
had plenty of get up and go to pull Saluda Grade.

I ain't a small guy, but the bike has more that enough get up a go to let me ride with my buddy on his '07 Streetglide.