Jay wrote on 09/09/08 at 23:26:17:
HA!  This is RSD, the messages keep forever.  You're on with no escape.

Seriously, I find it fascinating to meet other Forum Members.  Anyone willing to ride our little big single and put up with all the jibes from the V-twin folks is alright in my book.

I take my S40 on a 12 mile highway ride and rolls perfectly at 70 mph and it still has enough to go more, and all this with a Stock S40.  Not bad, not bad at all!  

In all honesty, I do enjoy my bike very much and it will ride at interstate speeds just fine.  However, If I were going to buy a bike that I intended to use at 70mph+ consistently, it would not be the S40.  My bike was purchased as primarily a work commute vehicle and it is excellent for that as well as short to medium length weekend rides. The seat is just too uncomfortable for long rides without stopping every 30 minutes or so (for me) and the vibration at those higher speeds makes me numb as a stone after about the same amount of time.  Sure, the S40 can be modified with a newer seat etc... but (assuming one buys a brand new bike at approx. $4k +/-) it doesn't take long until the comfort mods add up to the price of a bike more suited for interstate cruising (S83 as a weak example).   I have a co-worker that rides a Yamaha V-star 1100 custom and I could easily see owning one of those for longer trips.

Paladin - Your points are correct.  I think we are more or less saying the same thing, just from slightly different angles.   Reading back through the original post I see that the OP did indeed simply mention the ability of the S40 to handle occasional interstate speeds/traffic while the rest of the riding would be "around town and to work".  That being said - given the relative low cost of a used LS650 or even a brand new S40, I would say it is the best option.  

MichaelK - your physical size is identical to mine and I would not hesitate to recommend the S40 as a good bike for you.   I avoide the interstate simply because I don't like riding on the interstate - but when I need to, I don't hesitate to take the S40 up to interstate speeds.  if/when my butt starts to go numb I just roll off the throttle real quick and let the backfire get my blood flowing extra hard.  If that doesn't do it - then I stop for fuel and fondle my McGoofy a little.  works every time.    See associated McCuff/McGoofy thread for explanation -->>> http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1216913435/0

MichaelK,

I don't know what part of the country that you'll be riding in, but if you're out in the west and you get off onto the secondary roads, keep that small gas tank very much in mind. There seems to be a trend lately of gas stations in small towns closing.  I just completed a 1200 mile round trip across northern nv and california to the oregon coast. Everything went fine until I pulled into Cedarvilla, CA and found out that the Texaco station that I gassed up at last year closed down about two months back. It was the only station in town. Fortunately the locals were kind, because I MIGHT have mad the next town (which did have a gas station), but I wasn't real eager to test the theory.

Before coming back, I picked up a one gallon gas can. If filled it just before the long jump and sure enough, I didn't need it. Isn't that always the way? Of course we all know that if I hadn't had it, the Savage would have wheezed to a stop in the hot desert sun about ten miles shy, in an area with no cell service and little traffic.

People have been debating this question for years regarding interstate use and the savage.  If you add a K & N filter, use synthetic oil and remove the spacer and turn the screw out 2-2 1/4, you will be able to cruise at 75 with no problem and room to spare.

People mention comfort zone all the time with the savage and running it WOT.  Man, the bike is bullet proof.  I have been running mine 75-85 for years with many other bigger bikes in my group and it is definitely close to full throttle.  No problems, no smoke, starts up and idles perfect every time I use it.

Now I would defintely say, regardless of the mods, if you want to cruise beyond 75 and have extra to get around stupid cages, you need to know that it will not be very much.

I agree regarding the bike being angry at 60mph.  Even without any of the mods, you can easily cruise at 70-75 and still have extra for emergencies.  At 75-80, I routinely get 55-60 mpg or 115-120 per tank.  

Now is this bike comfortable for long trips, not particularly, depending on your definition of comfortable, which is all relative.  I can ride it all day and am ok but that is no more than 6-7 hours.  I would recommend a w/s for the freeway.  I don't have one but wish I did.

Another thing.  Everytime I ride with new people in my riding group, they are also riding with many others that have different bikes.  However, they seem to only be interested in mine after we get to the first stop.  They always want to know how big the engine is and when I tell them, they literally drop their jaw wide open in disbelief.  They do not understand how I keep up with them with no problem.  It is simple, the bike only weighs 352 pounds dry.  My old Honda Rebel 250 weighed in at 300.  That is a very light easily manuverable bike.  I can take corners and twistys same as the crotch rockets.

Yes the other bikes pull ahead after 90 but that is fine as I do not need to go that fast as you don't get a second chance on a bike.  

Just ride the bike where you want when you want and do proper maintenance and ride safe and you will be fine.  

I can ride with my wife, who weighs 175 and me 210 and cruise at 70-75 with no problem.  

Every bike is different and you will never know by other peoples opinions only by taking it where you want and seeing if it will do what you want.  

Thanks