I recently bought a new to me 2002 savage.  This is my first bike and the majority of my riding over the past month has been at speeds less than 50mph.  So the issue may just be my inexperience.

I have gone on a few highway runs the past couple of weeks.  When I get to around 60-65mph the back end starts to feel kind of loose.  

I checked and corrected my tire pressure (it was 25psi, the current tires require 40) and it's not nearly as bad as it was.  However it still feels a bit loose at highway speeds.

Is it just my inexperience with highway riding, or is there something else I should check?

Hooty wrote on 10/07/11 at 07:05:36:


How many miles are on the bike?
If this is your first bike, and you don't have much experience with checking torques, etc. then it couldn't hurt to get a friend who might know more to help, or take it into a shop and have them check it all out for you. They would be able to take it for a ride and tell you if something might not be right. These bikes do tend rock and rattle to some extent, but not to the extent where an experienced rider would feel uncomfortable on it.

Mattdw wrote on 10/07/11 at 07:48:49:


5300 miles when I got it, 6200 miles now.  I went over all the bolts I could get to when I got it with a wrench to make sure nothing felt loose.  Guess I should go over it again now.  

My friend who drove it up here from Tallahassee after I bought it said he didn't remember it feeling loose.  We took back roads up here after I bought it with 45-55mph speed limits.  He is going to take it out on the highway this weekend if he has time and see if it's jut me being a chicken  

The closest shop that will work on a Suzuki is back down in Tallahassee.  I would have to get someone to follow me down there so I could drop it off (it's an hour drive).  This will be a last resort, but if it has to be done I'll do it.  I have a few trips planned out for next summer and I want the bike to be safe.

Ok possibly a dumb question:  Could it have anything to do with my saddlebags?  The bike came with saddlebags but no supports for them.  Could they be flapping in the wind making my bike unstable?

MotoBuddha wrote on 10/07/11 at 08:08:05:


Having a hard time putting it into words.  Bike feels rock solid up to 50-55mph, but when I get on the highway it feels like if I shifted my weight the back end might come out from under me.

babyhog wrote on 10/07/11 at 08:24:40:


Tires were brand new aftermarkets. Not sure of the brand.  Chicken strips weren't even worn down yet.  I've been working on that  

Hooty wrote on 10/07/11 at 07:05:36:

Its really not a very stable motorcycle it doesn't take to speed very well.Thats why you see a lot of them with low mileage.

True, Rowboat,, I Like the fact that this bike starts wallowing around at 55 mph in a long sweeper,, keeps me from running in any faster. If I had a bike that handled too well,, Id likely get into a turn too fast for my skill level. This one keeps me scootin at lower speeds, cuz it starts feeling spooky at too high speeds.

The tire manufacturers recommended tire pressure is stamped in the side of tire.
The motorcycle manufacturers recommended tire pressure is printed in the manual.
It's best to go by the motorcycle manufacturers recommendation. They built the bike to handle the best at that pressure. You may have them overinflated, and that in itself will make the bike feel a little squirrely at higher speeds.
I run mine at 32 psi front, and 34 psi rear.
(23 years tire and auto repair experience)