94 mph indicated with new tire 140/90 , bone stock except supper trap 4 disk.  it took over a mile to get it up to speed. no wind.  

unlike my vw  which got 0 to 60 in ten.  thats right ten minutes that is.  

Mick,

Most configs of this engine (lancer's setup doesn't really count here) have a HP peak at 5400 RPMs (based on cam profile, compression ratio, stroke length and stroke/rod ratio, and spark curve profile.)  At 80 MPH you're really close to the peak, and if you go faster, the HP actually drops off as torque plummets to the 6500 RPM redline.  With a stock HP around 30, roughly 85 MPH is where the amount of drag on a stock bike with a typical rider is bleeding about 30 HP.  Wind resistance increases EXPONENTIALLY as speed increases.  For example, your motorcycle (and your car for that matter) requires TWICE as much HP to travel 65 MPH as it needs to maintain 55 MPH.  The only 2 ways known to man to increase top-speed are:

#1 - reduce drag
#2 - increase HP

And #1 is more important than #2 for the above reasons.

(Gearing changes are really #2 when you think about it, your just changing the speed where you hit peak HP.)

You are increasing your HP with the mods, but not likely much above 5000 RPMs.  Remember, with a 3.7 inch stroke, piston speed on an LS650 is greater than some 600 cc 4-bangers at 12000+ RPMs.

A shorter stroke would give more RPM range to play with but would decrease torque.  Another consideration is the cam duration and lift, which is setup for 5500 RPMs and below.  A more radical cam, increased compression ratio, and altered spark advance would help RPMs as long as the rest of the components can withstand the punishment, but your idle and low-end would REALLY suffer.

Bottom line: can a Savage hit 100 MPH, sure...but not in anything resembling a stock configuration.  If speed is your goal, you need more cylinders or lots of mods and taller gearing IMHO.  If you want to hit the 100 MPH mark, go buy a bone-stock Kawasaki EX-500 and you're there, and probably for less $ than it would take for the Savage.

The book says not to exceed 100. I don't think they ever rode one to see that it dosen't do that. I too have seen 85 and that is totaly stock 06, no windshield and not laid over the tank. Don't see it real often but I have seen it. Thought it might only be me not seeing the good #'s but I guess not.:'(

ChopDog wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


#1 should be.. strip off all excess weight.  ie signals, rear seat, original seat, replace with chopper seat, side rails, bob it. right hand mirror. chain guard, saddlebags. bar end caps, replace muffler with lighter one. pretty much what i've done with thumper. it now weights in at 290 lbs.

then if ya got the bucks and experience do the steps listed above.

make the speed run on reserve. less fuel, less weight.    

really if you want to go that fast, get a different machine. like maybe an old kawi 750 tripple. that'll get ya over a hundred easy.  

About lightening the load for better speed here is what I found:

- In my case it goes about 75mph WITH a passenger (130.lb She´s thin thank god ) and takes for ever to reach 80mph, if at all.

- And riding SOLO (I´m 140.lb) it goes about 85mph and takes for ever to reach 90mph, if at all.

It´s not math but hope this illustrates the idea that for about every 10 punds less, only ONE more mph can be achieved at top speed.

Therefore more HP are the better choice, not less weight.

I'll vouch for Barry's assertion that aerodynamics play a large part.  A properly installed windshield helps a lot.

Whats the big deal about top speed? 85 isnt fast enough? Traveled 11 states and the top speed on any interstate was 75. Plenty fast enough for me.  My bike has seen many hours of 70 plus cruising, but Im no sure if ive ever gone over 80mph. Other than the fact that one might be curious as to whether it could actually  reach a 100 without exploding,  a 85 mph bike is plenty fast enough for any single rider. Its a cruiser , so just cruise.