Brunkster, don't count on 150 miles between fill ups at highway speed. 120 is reasonable, you will use a little reserve, 130 is feasible with more reserve,  anything over that is prayer territory. I once fitted 11.3 litres, about 3 US gals in my tank after about 150 miles. I think I was on fumes in the float bowl. Having said that, enjoy your trip.

Brunkster wrote on 04/12/14 at 10:27:46:

Al
I did a 2,000 mile trip in 2012 from central Kentucky to upstate New York at the age of 62. Same idea, secondary roads and no fixed schedule. I could do about 300 to 350 miles a day without pushing it and with breaks whenever I wanted one.

Two points. The bike uses oil at sustained highway speeds. Take an extra quart or two and top it off at every fuel stop. Plan your gas stops for 100 miles. With luggage and highway speeds you will get nowhere close to 150 miles between stops. The longest stint I made without stopping for gas was 119 miles and I had switched it to reserve well before the stop.

Take the bike and leave the truck at home. When are you going to get another chance? I moved on to a C50 last spring and did a 1,500 mile trip to the Ozarks last year and am planning a repeat of the New York trip this year. Just pack and go and don't forget the Advil.

Keep us posted

Anything over four hundred miles per day will tire you, but it can be done.

Thanks for all the replies - mentally preparing at this point. After Easter, I'll try the "out and back" day trip . . . and then see if I can get back on it the NEXT day!
Ha!

$460 plus shipping and fondling for injection molded PLASTIC saddlebags...  

Any ideas on seat padding?

Brunkster wrote on 04/15/14 at 09:15:38:


AIrhawk?? I think seems to be pretty good. I am surprised no-onw has suggesed a Corbin seat.

http://www.corbin.com/suzuki/ss40.shtml

My understanding is.. this allows you to ride the savage all day. Sure looks the part. If we had kept ours.. this was the next upgrade.

My (novice) advice for prepping the savage:
replace the petcock.. as the petcock can cause the fuel bowl to go dry at high speeds for extend periods of time
replace the shocks with longer travel ( progressive)
windshield
better seat or seat pad
take oil with you.
some type of cruise device
replace headlight bulb... these get dimmer over time, just toss a new one in ... nothing special.

"Just because" upgrades
Vaypor trail dash... has a clock and tac
RAM mounts http://www.rammount.com/Products/MotorcycleMounts/tabid/128/Default.aspx#/wizard
I actually took a 1 gal gas can with me, but I nothing else ( day trip) so I had room.


I could do multiple 100 mile stints per day, but I haven't done more than 300 miles in a day, nor for multiple days.  Spend your "saved" money on a nice motel room... or even a not so nice one with a massage bed!

The trick to riding on long trips is to take a 10- 15 minute break every hour of riding. Shake out the hands and legs. The miles add real fast this way and it gives the bike a rest also especially if it is mostly on freeways at a high RPM's. I rode across the country on my 650 and I found the bike runs much more smoothly and cooler with a 50 weight oil rather than the 40 weight. Each night check everything to make sure nothing has loosened up on you after a long day of crappy roads. Also there were parts of my ride that I had to travel over 100 miles between fill ups and most times it was never a problem. But I did stop in a dollar store and bought a small rubber hot water bottle like you use for sore muscles and half filled it with spare gas. If I got cold I filled it with hot water and put either in the back or front of my jacket. I had a blast and the bike ran great.