concerns about the S40

[darreng19]

First time rider. Just completed MSF course. I thinking of getting the '05 or '06 S40. I've riden my friends 650 and I felt completely comfortable with its power.

1-What are the pro's and con's of this bike?

2-Any chance dealers will offer a better price on the '05?

Thanks for the help.

[Spiff]

Hey, that's my bike!

I love mine, so I can't be totally objective.

How do you intend to use this bike?

It's very manuverable (only 350 lbs.) and so it's a great city commuter bike, but it's too light for long highway trips. I've had mine on the Interstate, and it can keep up speed-wise, but it'll tire you out very fast 'cause you've gotta have a death grip on the handlebars all the time to brace for the inevitable blasts of wind you're gonna get.

Pros:

Simple to maintain (one cylinder, air-cooled, belt drive).

Lightweight.

Looks really good (retro look).

It's a cruiser, but has controls placed like a standard (below knees, not forward). I like that, but others might not.

Excellent city bike, can corner like a dream and stop on a dime.

Powerful. It's got just one cylinder, but it's a BIG one!

Big displacement + light weight = FAST acceleration.

Cons:

May be too small for anyone 6 feet tall or taller.

Comes from the factory burning too lean (to meet EPA standards) so you'll want to tinker with the carb to change this. It's an easy fix, though, requiring swapping out a spacer and a main jet in the carb, and accessing a somewhat difficult-to-reach fuel mixture screw. Check out the forum at http://suzukisavage.com/ for tons of tips on how to do this easy mod. Still, some people are nervous about any tinkering, so if you're in this category, then this is a con.

Prone to backfiring, but this is fixed by the carb mods mentioned above.

I hope this helps!

Spiff

[St0nkingByte]

Being a new rider the odds are very good that you're going to drop your bike at least once in the first six months, maybe more than once. For this reason it's usually unwise for a new rider to buy a new bike. It's generally a bummer to be making payments on something that is all scratched up.

That said the S40 is a great beginner bike and hey someone has to buy them new and drop them so the other newbies will have a cheap used bike to buy.

[oldgeezer]

The Savage is a very reliable and great looking bike. You should be able to pick up a used one a lot cheaper than one off the shelf. Like was previously mentioned, whether you are totally satisfied with it or not depends on how you will ride. If you are mostly tootin' around town, it will be great. Maintenance is easy. Got a ton of zip. If you plan on doing a lot of touring, you might possibly want a bigger bike pretty soon, while saying that though, I met someone in New Mexico who rode over from Florida. Because of its light weight, it is takes more of a beating in cross winds.

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by darreng19

First time rider. Just completed MSF course. I thinking of getting the '05 or '06 S40. I've riden my friends 650 and I felt completely comfortable with its power.

It's a proven, solid bike. I'd go for a used Savage '02 - '04 LS650, it's the same bike and there are some good deals on used ones about. Let somebody else take the depreciation unless you are fairly sure you're going to keep the bike for more than a couple years.

[stp1971]

What kind of mileage does the bike get???? Looking to maybe get a light weight bike for tooling around town back and forth to work. The "LC" will remain my weekend long hauler. Need to combat these fuel costs and hopefully stick my middle finger up to Sheik ScrewAmericanus. I'd also like to stick the middle finger up for the Bush "Ain't helping America Out" party with their oil inflated pricing so that the Arabs and the Texas Oil men can get rich schemes.

[intimid8er]

Either way you go. (New or Used) The Savage/S40 is a good solid bike, and easy for noobs.

I bought one for my wife, and I occasionally take it out for a spin around the neighborhood (I look like a Gorilla hunched over a training potty on it though). The bike looks decently sized, as someone else mentioned....If you're over six foot, it's a little cramped (but strangely not uncomfortable).

It's got an unbelievable amount of torque for a 650, and moves right along up to 60 m.p.h. with no problems. I'm really amazed at the crisp handling. It goes where I point it, and holds it's line like a champ. Either way..new or used, you're getting a great bike, just decide what you want.

[Trapper]

I've heard they were prone to leak oil. ???

[oldgeezer]

Hey STP. Spoken from a Texas oil man, please don't buy a Savage, they get between 50 and 60 MPG. Drive a gas guzzling Expedition or Suburban.

[drgibson]

Originally Posted by stp1971

their oil inflated pricing so that the Arabs and the Texas Oil men can get rich schemes..

Originally Posted by oldgeezer

Hey STP. Spoken from a Texas oil man, please don't buy a Savage, they get between 50 and 60 MPG. Drive a gas guzzling Expedition or Suburban.

Yeah STP buy a M95 they get great gas mileage.

[stp1971]

Uhhh,,, maybe I need a solar powered scooter instead!!!! LOL!!!!

[sunny]

Originally Posted by trappercase

I've heard they were prone to leak oil. ???

that is the infamous cylinder head cap oil leak that occurs when you put too much oil in.
the clymer manual has the wrong amount. the shop manual has the correct amount.

[s40aggie]

"Prone to backfiring"

This is only a con if you have no sense of humor. I personally love the fact that my little s40 can make everyone duck and cover.