I just want to say what a great board you guys have

I will be moving from VA to FL in the next couple of months and am looking to get a new bike.  

I am considering a Savage/S40 but am looking to you guys experience for some advice.  

It will be mainly used as a commuter, but can the savage in stock form handle 15-25 mile stints on the interstate if necessary?

I searched the board for this subject but couldn't find anything on this subject.

I really like thumpers as I have had a 97 KLR 650 in the past.

I look forward to your thoughts.
Thanks,
Chris

Riding solo is no problem at all on the highway.  However riding double, the suspension is bottomed out and your passenger will not be happy.

Close to 100 mph, the bike starts to feel really light, and starts to burn a little oil.

I've got a 2001 ls650 and I ride 80 mph on the freeway with the big rigs no problem.

Okay I'm going to be on the negative side with interstate riding. I agree that Savage will be able to do 65 and up; but if you get caught in cross-wind or up-wind, you will have some white knuckles and have to lay low on your tank in order to keep at speed limit 65. Not a fun thing to do

Personally, Savage is good on highway and cruising 55-60 mph where it is most happy.

SD

WD wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:07:


Maybe WD should change your nickname from Professional "scooter trash" to "trashing scooter"

I for one don't feel like the Savage is enough bike for the interstate. As SavageDude pointed out at some speed around where you want to be traveling with a head wind, the bike just runs out of oomph. For me it is at 70mph with a 20mph head wind passing a truck. I reached the end of the throttle, and I was stuck in the truck's blast. I had to crouch down over the tank to get around. I've duplicated the results a couple of times.

It's also a lot more effort to travel the same number of miles on the interstate than it is on a secondary road. The time saved is not worth the effort.

Don't get me wrong, I still think it is a great commuter and ride it every day back and forth to work. And recommend it for that.  But I avoid long (1 hour plus) interstate stints. In honesty, I avoid even the 10 mile interstate stint that would save me a couple of minutes each time I "run to town."

The Savage is certainly down on power for a 650cc engine, which in stock trim does slow things a bit on the interstate, but one very good trade-off is that if you keep it stock (except for a jet kit to correct the OVERLY LEAN carb) the thing is pretty much bullet proof.  Even with more radical engine mod's, which gets the power into a more acceptable range, it will still go and go and go and go...it is the FREAKING ENERGIZER BUNNY.   A 650 single that is making 40 hp will run just fine on any road, highway or interstate...sure, the lighter weight (when compared to the 600 lb heavy cruisers) does give way to the wind a little more but get real...you are on a motorcycle ...not in a car...heck, even small cars get blown around the road by the wind.  If you are going to ride a bike EXPECT TO BE BLOWN BY THE WIND.  White knuckle ride???  Come on, it is just another part of the riding experience.  If you don't like the interstate then stick to the secondary roads.  But the Savage will do whatever you want to do...not as fast as some rocket bikes, or as comfy as some big sofa bikes, but it is not MADE FOR THAT.  It is built as a general utility bike, just like the Huey helicopter, it is a general do almost everything gopher bike...kind of like a small pickup.  It does a great job of  fulfilling that duty.
My bike is modded a bit and runs fast enough.  It handles good now that I have tweaked it a little.  And will ride better now that I have the gel for the seat mod.  

So, what was the question?  The Savage is a great commuter bike..right down it's alley.   There is no worry at all about riding all day at interstate speeds...I cruise at 80-85 all the time, and my engine loves it.  In 5th gear it is just hitting the really good power at 80mph
For me, the hardest part of extended riding has been the seat, but that is soon to be fixed..

A long time ago, 70 scared me on the Savage (it was my first street legal bike).

However, after having sportbikes and going 140+ with and WITHOUT fairings, 70 on the Savage became no big deal at all.  100 felt a little light.

Hey, wind is the reason we ride.  No substitute for experience to make you comfortable at speed.

My only highway problem is I get sleepy after about 150-200 miles.