I was talking to the parts dept / sevice tech at the local Suzukl dealership (who is a former Savage owner, and one of the more practical and approachable guys I've found) and mentioned wanting to ride out of state to do some longer runs, and some of the mods I found on this site to accommodate the attempts. (Might still put a front fork brace on before spring) The one thing he cautioned me about was driving more than 45 minutes to an hour in the 70 to 80+ MHP range in summer. He said he really didn't think the bike was designed for it, due to the air cooled engine and the way the powerband etc. was designed. He said it wasn't that it couldn't be done on occasion, but he thought that making a habit of it would considerably shorten the life of the motor considering the heat the prolonged higher RPM would create versus the amount the fins could dissapate at the same speed. I don't think he was trying to sell me something higher end as much as trying to look out for me and asking me if I'd considered all the pros and cons of pushing the bikes limits and breaking down far from home.
I know I've read a lot of you talk about running highway speeds so I know it can be done, but what are your opinions on what he's saying. I'm certainly not a high tech person, but I'm not a total rookie either. Obviously keeping the oil changed, using the right oil for conditions and doing all the other maintenance is crucial to this equation. Is a chain conversion a necessity to this use? (obvious change in toque/rpm ratios) What else separates the county road - 60 MPH bike from those that run the slabs consistently?
I've probably pushed every piece of equipment I've ever owned past its intended use on accasion when need or opportunity arose (From pickup truck to weed wacker, I think its just in our nature) and I'll probably still make at least ONE big run this year just to say I did it...but am I setting myself up for problems down the road? We have a lot of experienced riders on this site, and I respect your opinions. It wouldn't surprise me to have some disagreement on this. It's the first time I've heard this concern voiced, and I'm curious about your thoughts.
From my point of view asking this question is just a case of, as Dirty Harry used to say, " A man's got to know his limitations..."