SuzukiSavage.com - How fast?

Joel

Ex Member

How fast?
05/24/05 at 20:04:34

I had my '87 savage on the freeway for the first time today. I only got it up to 70 and it felt like it was a little strained to me. Granted, im not used to riding a bike that fast (and hearing the engine rev that high for an exented period). It felt like the bike would go faster, but I didnt really want to try. Is it ok to cruise a 4-speed Savage @ 70 for a long time? Could it do 65-70 going two-up?

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bobo383

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Arlington, TX
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Re: How fast?
Reply #1 - 05/24/05 at 20:34:30

Wife and I have hit 88 mph riding double on my Savage, and that was before the recent carb & exhaust changes. I have hit 95 on it by myself.

70-80 all day long is no problem, just keep an eye on oil level when you fill up.

I 've gotten used to the squirrely feeeling over 70 I guess - it used to bother me but not anymore. Going 140 on a sportbike will re-calibrate your senses to what's really fast and what's not.

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Arlington Texas
Used to have 98 & 88 Savages

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babbalou

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Lewisville, Texas
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Re: How fast?
Reply #2 - 05/24/05 at 20:35:32

It's up for it in my opinion. My S40 feels WAY undergeared at 70+ & could easily pull a taller gear. On the other hand, it's a mildly tuned, understressed engine that's getting plenty of cooling breeze on the highway. I remember going flat out on my old Honda SL-100 (about 68 mph & 9,500 rpm) for a full tank lots of times back in the day. I think this engine can take it & more. 8)

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Had an S40 Jul '04-Jan '07

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LANCER Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Savage Beast Performance Parts Posts: 10606 Oklahoma Gender:	Re: How fast? Reply #3 - 05/24/05 at 21:23:05 The Savage will do 100 if you get it set up right. Several of us have had it there, though it is a bit squirelly unless you have replaced the front and rear suspension with something a little more substantial. It is a fun ride for sure!
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Susan Serious Thumper 2004 No Login Offline Been AWOL but I'm back... Posts: 682 Eastern PA Gender:	Re: How fast? Reply #4 - 05/24/05 at 21:26:18 Joel wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05: Is it ok to cruise a 4-speed Savage @ 70 for a long time? Could it do 65-70 going two-up? Yes to the first and probably yes to the second depending on the two in question and how the bike is set up...
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WD Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Professional "scooter trash". Posts: 5207 Rosemark TN Gender:	Re: How fast? Reply #5 - 05/24/05 at 23:07:24 Yes to solo, possibly to double up riding. The bike can do it, but your passenger won't like it... unless the passenger is about 4 feet tall, maximum. -WD Some minor carb tweaks will make for a much better behaving machine.
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Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: How fast? Reply #6 - 05/25/05 at 04:17:54 Joel wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05: Is it ok to cruise a 4-speed Savage @ 70 for a long time? I may just be getting old, but it seems to me 70 for a long time (if say that means a hour) is too high of rpms for a long engine life - @ 60-65 I'm spinning around 4k and for sustained speed that seems about max to me.
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klx650sm2002 Serious Thumper Offline The more I learn the less I know. Posts: 2041 Cumbria,England Gender:	Re: How fast? Reply #7 - 05/25/05 at 04:46:38 KLX is limited to 95 ish due to stability problems but man it turns in good, 33" bars might help that too. Clive W
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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: How fast? Reply #8 - 05/25/05 at 05:29:10 I don't think I've taken mine past 90 but I regularly ride at 75 with traffic on the freeway and she seems just fine at that speed.
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DesertCruisers

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Re: How fast?
Reply #9 - 05/25/05 at 10:22:51

My S40 after having the dealer put a shim in the jet area now goes 95 and used to only go about 87. I travel at 70-75 every day about 60 miles round trip and still get 55-60mpg. I think that you could ride this bike at 85-90 all day long and it would last forever. 5th gear redlines at 100 so as long as you keep it at 90 or so you will be fine. Even at 85 the engine does not seem revved up enough to do any harm. Keep the oil changed and at the right level, adjust the valves when needed and make sure to clean the air filter as needed and you should get 80-100k out of the bike. I saw a savage early 90's that a guy had with 85000 on it and he did nothing to it other then the stuff I mentioned. He did other routine maintanence but no engine work ever done. He commuted at 75-80 120 miles round trip every day since he bought it with no problems.

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Jeff,

Moderator and creator of Desert Cruisers riding group in Phoenix Arizona.

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Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: How fast? Reply #10 - 05/25/05 at 11:49:55 Like I said - may just be getting old anyway - what kind of shim on what ?
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Dingo_Jones

Ex Member

Re: How fast?
Reply #11 - 05/25/05 at 13:04:04

I picked up a savage a few months back. The first time up on the freeway @ 75 did feel like I was pushing the engine just a bit too hard. However, I now ride regularly @ 75-85 and feel pretty comfortable. As comfortable as you can be on I-5 between seattle and olympia. I took the windscreen (Plexistar 2) off last night, and this morning on the way in to work had no problem hitting 90, I'll probably try for 95 on the way home tonight, I ran out of road before I felt like I'd pushed the bike to redline.
Anyhow. Safe riding and keep the oil fresh.
Jesse

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WD Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Professional "scooter trash". Posts: 5207 Rosemark TN Gender:	Re: How fast? Reply #12 - 05/25/05 at 14:50:10 Vashon Island!!! Got a dock? I'm in Puyallup, love to go fishing...Pop by the shop some time, to say hello if nothing else. Bent Bike Auburn, if there is an orange highbar Savage or green/green/white 69 Dodge truck out front, I'm there. Going on the Ash Run? June 12th, we can hook up at the Roy Y if interested. -WD
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Bluejeanz

Ex Member

Re: How fast?
Reply #13 - 05/25/05 at 18:06:44

WD wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05:

Yes to solo, possibly to double up riding. The bike can do it, but your passenger won't like it... unless the passenger is about 4 feet tall, maximum.
-WD
Some minor carb tweaks will make for a much better behaving machine.

I hit about 75 on the interstate riding 2-up for a brief period (one exit) and trust me, even the 4 foot passenger isn't happy about it. He wanted us to take the "other way" back home.

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WD Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Professional "scooter trash". Posts: 5207 Rosemark TN Gender:	Re: How fast? Reply #14 - 05/25/05 at 18:20:55 Bluejeanz, back roads or frontage roads are more fun to ride on anyway. I take the back way to work. 30-45 minutes to go 17 miles. The "freeway" is a parkinglot that time of day. When your 4 foot passenger hits 5 foot, best plan on buying a scoot for him as well. -WD
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