Savage 650

[teddybear3_64]

I just got my Savage 650 in April. I've been practicing in the parking lot, but I'm just not confident enough in my abilities to ride on the road. My boyfriend took me out on a Sat. morning (8:ooish AM) & I was scared to death. Too many cars for this novice.
I do love my Savage tho'. It's low to the ground & light enough so I don't drop it.
I have a question. Has anyone else who owns a Savage had the front wheel skid on them? I was in 2nd gear & came to a quick stop & the front skidded. I went down & scratched the bike. I was so mad!!! My boyfriend took it out & tried the same thing with the same result. Now I'm terrified to go out on the road. If I have to stop fast, I might dump the bike again, which is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!! Help!! :

[Uncle Bob]

Not a problem I've ever heard of on this bike.

Of course locking the wheel on any bike will usually cause it to go down if not prepared for it.

Have you taken MSF ?

Where you looking down when the wheel locked up ?

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by teddybear3_64

I have a question. Has anyone else who owns a Savage had the front wheel skid on them?

Front wheel skids are bad, practice braking and do not lock up the brakes. You want to learn to brake as hard as possible without locking up. Use both brakes.

[Flour-Child]

I am 5' and 115 lbs. I have been riding a savage for almost 3 1/2 years.
I have not had a problem with the skids. I have skid once or twice in quick evasive manuevers. I highly recomend the MSF. Practicing the quick stops is a part of this class. If you like to ride, keep going.

[Uncle Bob]

Gotta ask Flour child, is that a typo or do you just like to bake?

[DrBob]

Agawam Mass? When I was a little kid, my grandmother used to take me to a little amusement park name Mountain Park...she'd play BINGO while I rode the rides. I think it was in Agawam...been 30 years though.

Anyway, front wheel skids are not unheard of, but they are not common either. Make sure you use both the front and read brakes, as you will stop 40% faster using the rear brake rather than just the front.

Stick with it, and work your way up slowly. Local shopping malls and schools offer large parking lots to practice your low-speed handling, and residential areas offer slow-moving traffic to work your way up to being around cars. Others have said it, but you really should take the MSF course. It will make you much more confident in your abilities, and make traffic much less intimidating. They will also teach you lots of handy tricks, like where to stop at an intersection so your foot is not in the oil that leaks from cars, how to pick up you bike if you drop it, and most importantly, how to not drop it to begin with.

have fun and ride safe!