SuzukiSavage.com - Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 -

Brunkster

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Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 -
04/12/14 at 10:27:46

Here's the scenario - I'm traveling the last week in June from SW Florida to southern Missouri for a canoe trip and then on to central MO to visit kin. Probably about 3000 miles round trip, by the time it's all said and done.

Normally I'd take my Duramax pulling my 34' Toyhauler and support OPEC to the tune of about 9 miles per gallon. But this year, I'm considering traveling light (cheap) and am wondering about making the trip on my 2013 S40, which currently has about 4500 miles on it.

I'm 59 years young, about 5'-7", 170 lbs. and would probably carry one medium duffle bag on the luggage rack. I have saddlebags and another bag that rides on the seat behind me, which doubles as a backrest.

My plans are to travel secondary roads. I know my bike will run Interstate speeds (70mph), just not sure about extended periods of time. I would hope to get maybe 150 miles range (?) between fillups.

That time of year my only weather concerns should be rain - I'm used to that in SW Fla and I have a set of rain gear.

Questions:

Has anyone else done a trip like this?

What kind of miles can I expect to cover in a day?

What other concerns have I missed?

or . . . . should I abandon the idea and take the truck?

Thanks,

Al

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strang Senior Member Offline Posts: 387 london Gender:	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #1 - 04/12/14 at 10:47:45 My view is backroads on a Savage is great fun if you are just solo. 2 up it's no fun as the rear seat is small and tends to making a whining sound after 40miles or so Motorways also no fun in my book. Bike isn't quick or heavy enough to be safe on the slab. Your plan sounds fine.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #2 - 04/12/14 at 11:05:19 there are a few that've taken a long duration trip... something like bustedduck comes to mind, stinger is another. you should take an all day trip to know how it sits with you.
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Brunkster YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 16 Ft Myers, FL Gender:	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #3 - 04/12/14 at 11:32:03 verslagen1 wrote on 04/12/14 at 11:05:19: there are a few that've taken a long duration trip... something like bustedduck comes to mind, stinger is another. you should take an all day trip to know how it sits with you. I had thought of that too - good idea.
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thumperclone Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline PGR rider riding with respect Posts: 6054 Grand Junction Colorado Gender:	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #4 - 04/12/14 at 11:36:59 verslagen1 wrote on 04/12/14 at 11:05:19: there are a few that've taken a long duration trip... something like bustedduck comes to mind think it was beatduck did a coast to coast and back?? didn't paladin do a long haul also
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #5 - 04/12/14 at 11:44:28 there ya go... just took a little prodding... http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1245947997/0
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Steve H Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1223 Spartanburg, SC Gender:	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #6 - 04/12/14 at 15:33:50 What about the guy that went to NY last year? Can't remember who it was, though. Guess I must be getting older or something.
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pg Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 5273 In Transit	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #7 - 04/12/14 at 15:39:19 WOW!
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #8 - 04/12/14 at 15:56:17 If youve never taken a road trip on a bike, then yes, take a good long ride first, BUT,, If youre planning on savin $$ & camping, dont just take a ride, pack up & go spend the nite somewhere,,Youll learn a lot about how to pack & what to pack,.and whether or not those bones can stand it,,
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pg

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Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 -
Reply #9 - 04/12/14 at 16:49:21

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 04/12/14 at 15:56:17:

If youve never taken a road trip on a bike, then yes, take a good long ride first, BUT,, If youre planning on savin $$ & camping, dont just take a ride, pack up & go spend the nite somewhere,,Youll learn a lot about how to pack & what to pack,.and whether or not those bones can stand it,,

Real good insight their. It is a whole lot different thinking about what you need and putting it on the back of your bike and going down the road for 10 hours as well.

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Brunkster YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 16 Ft Myers, FL Gender:	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #10 - 04/12/14 at 17:14:33 All good stuff - thanks! Great link to the blog - I started on it at work today and am going through it now.
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old_rider

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Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 -
Reply #11 - 04/12/14 at 18:36:28

If you have never done a long day on the bike, you might want to take one of your days off and load it like you want to for the trip.
Ride out for what you think will be half a day (5 hours most times maybe 6), then turn around and go home, look at your odo, that will be about average.
Plan to stop every 90 to 100 miles, or if you like every hour and a half, walk around take a leak, stretch.
I rested when I felt I needed to, made the breaks short (10-15min) and walked most of it.
Get you a good pad to put on the seat, you will need it.
When I went up to North Carolina from Florida (800 miles), I broke it up into two days, I rode 600 one day and 200 next. Only did that because I wanted to take it easy, after the dragon run, I drove all the way home in one shot, took me 12 hours do go the 800+ miles, and that was mostly interstate (course I had a bad back).
Long trips are really no problem if you stop when you feel a little sore, and eat when you are hungry.
Start slow and see how you feel, you might actually get doing longer and longer stints between breaks.
Good luck on your trip

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raverson YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 5	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #12 - 04/12/14 at 23:06:26 This guy did 7500 miles cross country on a Honda 250 Rebel. http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18512
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Doug B Full Member Offline I am, therefore I think Posts: 175 Kennewick, WA Gender:	Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 - Reply #13 - 04/13/14 at 11:52:31 Brunkster - don't talk yourself out of it it can be done There was a guy that made a trip from Pennsylvania to Oregon on a Hodaka 175 ( Hodaka Days 2008-jhmand : Mike Perrett's Big Ride ) 5000 mile round trip
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Paladin.

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Re: Feasibility of a long trip on my S40 -
Reply #14 - 04/13/14 at 23:12:36

Considered the same. As suggested I did a trial ride. I did my tests on 350+ mile overnights, 9pm to 7am, to howl at a full moon. First was with just a Flyscreen, not fun with a headwind, the second was with a Street Shield and it was good. (A third was also good, just to prove I am insane.)

After the test I was set to ride, Los Angeles to Oklahoma City:

Picture of me, age 60, suitcase, tarp/bedroll if I got too tired to continue (but never did). Did 570 miles the first day, 510 miles the second. The Savage is just fine on the highway.

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