07S40rider wrote on 09/12/08 at 08:22:10:... bike was purchased as primarily a work commute vehicle ... seat is just too uncomfortable for long rides without stopping every 30 minutes or so (for me) ... vibration at those higher speeds makes me numb ... comfort mods add up to the price of a bike more suited ...
My bike was purchased as a cage replacement, it has to do everything I ask of a vehicle. I was looking at 250cc cruisers as my needs were street riding with an occasional freeway jaunt. The Savage, being only 50 pounds heavier was a "why not?" thing.
Seat comfort and vibration level is highly subjective. Prior to my OKC run I twice did Full Moon runs across Joshua Tree Nat. Park -- leave the house on a Friday after work, circa 9 pm, go 140 or 160 miles to the north or south entrance, 60 miles through the park, then the 160 or 140 miles back home, arriving circa 6 am. 360 miles, stock seat, windscreen; not a problem for me, even with going 75-80 to keep up with traffic. On the OKC trip the 570 mile day was not a problem, but the 510 the next day added to it started getting uncomfortable -- but that was a stock saddle.
The saddle replacement was in the work queue even without the trip. My commute takes me over the RR tracks at Vermont and a rather nasty dip a block later -- stock seat I'd pull myself up onto the pegs, with the springer seat I can remain sitting.
My mods have been $430 for the saddlebags (which would cost the same on any bike that didn't come stock with saddlebags) About $200 for the two windscreens (ditto). The saddle was only $50 plus springs, shipping, material to mount -- less than $70 total. Floorboards will be similar in cost as I'm a cheapskate.
I think the intent of the original question wasn't whether or not the Savage is
ideal for Interstate Touring, just whether or not it was capable of safely running on the superslabs. It is. I'm not about to buy a bike for a once a year trip, but it is nice to be able to load up the little guy and go on an extended run -- which I don't think I'd want to do on a GZ250. But wouldn't mind trying. (I took a rented Suzuki 90 from Biloxi MS to New Orleans -- 160 miles round trip)
I definitely agree that if touring was the purpose I'd not be on the Savage -- I already looked at a Concourse and would also check out an ST1100/1300.