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Message started by Salad_Shaker on 02/14/06 at 09:41:16

Title: Is this normal?
Post by Salad_Shaker on 02/14/06 at 09:41:16

I just did a run of the search function and can't see a previous thread on the topic so I'll start one.

If I come to a standstill in 2nd gear and want to click down to 1st to pull away I can't unless I release the clutch lever and pull it in again while in neutral. Is this normal? At first I thought it might be because I'd let the oil level drop too low but having topped up with some of the slimy stuff (10-40 synthetic - hey it's what I had in stock) its still the same. I read somewhere else that the gear-lever is fairly easy to bend so I'm wary of kicking down with too much verve, and anyway, anything you have to force is probably not doing it any good.

My riding style could be described as enthusiastic as The Lettuce is taken to the max every time I go out with 130kph seen on the clock each ride, sometimes 140kph/87mph, but easing back to 120kph/75mph as the road dictates.

Meanwhile the infamous head oil-leak is bugging me. Last time I cleaned The Lettuce I had to wipe oil smears off the tool box cover. I know there's a plug available but unless I had to take the head off for something else it seems like a lot of bother especially for a mechanical bodger like me for something so small, so I content myself with keeping a close eye on that sight window and adding a drop or two as needed.

Reading back the last two paragraphs makes me wonder how much riding at speed influences the oil loss to the point where I wonder just how burst-proof this thumper really is. Assuming the oil level is correct just how much top speed "abuse" can a Savage take?

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Dynobob on 02/14/06 at 10:07:38

Salad_Shaker wrote:

If I come to a standstill in 2nd gear and want to click down to 1st to pull away I can't unless I release the clutch lever and pull it in again while in neutral. Is this normal?

Same here. Your best bet is to downshift to first before stopping. The shifting on my '03 is pretty notchy like you described. If you're too heavy footed you will bend that piece in the shift linkage.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Reelthing on 02/14/06 at 10:24:53

Same here most of the time on a '95 and '02 if I stop in 2nd but I just don't and pop it to first before I stop.

on the oil plug in the head cover - it's a gravity leak into the air passage - it might leak more in stop and go traffic if it's vibrate'n around like the one Max had - but the oil is sure going to fly farther and square on the battery box with more air blowing through there. It's really not hard to fix if your careful - few hours and a couple of cold ones should do it.

so far as high rpm reliable - do know if your bike is stock but if you going to run it hard I sure the get the carb's lean condition squared away, and of couse a freer flow pipe and all that.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Ed_L. on 02/14/06 at 10:26:09

Same thing with my '02, doesn't like going into first at a stop without working the clutch lever. I've been dropping it into first while slowing down, picked up doing that from the MSF course.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Salad_Shaker on 02/14/06 at 10:36:54

I do appreciate the swift replies - this is one special forum.

I'm the second owner of this '97 Savage and is stock in all regards except seat height. I've not personally adjusted the richness/leaness although I note that it never backfires which I had expected to do after doing my homework before buying by reading up on things over at Bert's site (RIP). What does no backfires mean for the carb mix?

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Salad_Shaker on 02/14/06 at 10:44:46

Me again. Mentioning Bert reminds me of Peter the Balcksmith's (Where are you now Peter?) 112mph burst and that for that mods included, inter alia, a "single wall header pipe" but after that things go a bit hazy. Raask, Jardine, Supertrapp, Sporster? Do any of these include that desired single wall header or would I have to make one? Sooner or later I will have to replace the silencer, oops muffler, as mine has a 4" long rust crack coming through.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Savage_Rob on 02/14/06 at 10:53:50

Salad_Shaker wrote:

Peter is available on the International Suzuki Savage 20th Anniversary - Säkylä Finland (http://www.phpbbserver.com/didi/) site.

Also, the downshifting issue is normal. Feather the clutch and then shift... one gear at a time. Don't stomp it or you'll bend the linkage - been there and done that.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Reelthing on 02/14/06 at 10:53:52

That euro carb may not be crazy lean like these US bikes - when your fixing the oil plug leak ;) put a new sparkplug in and do the sparkplug door mod - then you can pull the sparkplug without pulling the gas tank and have a look if it's light, dark, or just right. Unless of course you want more go from the bike, pipe, jet, airflow will sure do that.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Salad_Shaker on 02/14/06 at 11:06:06

Probably, if I feel the urge for more, er, urge, I should get a different bike! I love the Savage just as it is - its just that I don't want to ruin a good thing by too much thrashing.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Salad_Shaker on 02/14/06 at 11:31:28

Radioman's thread on Exhaust Modification pretty much covers the same ground as my last question so better to check things over there rather than run this in parallel.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by mmosel on 02/14/06 at 13:52:18

My S40 does the same thing at a stop. I either downshift into 1st before I stop OR when I'm stopped, I gently push myself forward or back just a little, and then she shifts easily into 1st. Try it, it works.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by necropsy on 02/14/06 at 15:19:24

I can vouch for that. On a S40, and the same on my Honda Rebel. The instructors at the Gearing Up program here in Canada, kept hasseling me about the fact that I wasn't stomping the shifter coming to a stop. I told them where to shove a few of their "safety" tips. Not that all their advice was useless, I walked away wiser than I went in.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Trippah on 02/14/06 at 15:31:12

Same on my '03, presently box stock. I try to shift into neutral when I stop; and if i then can't shift into first (often) I shift up to 2nd, let the clutch out till I start to inch forward and then downshift into 1st. Thought about adjusting clutch pressure but this is usually easy enough. Occasionally I just start off in 2nd riding the clutch for a little bit. (Downhill mostly) Not to nit pick, but my wife doesn't think there is anything "normal" about motorcycles :)

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by PerrydaSavage on 02/14/06 at 15:36:48

The shifting condition described is same with my '03 LS ... try to shift down to 1st just prior to coming to a complete stop ... I too followed "Gearing Up's" advice and while on my Road Test for my m/c endorsement tried to stomp the Safety Course's GZ250 into 1st while waiting at a stop light ... no dice it wasn't goin' in ... feathered the clutch slightly and it worked ... the Tester who was following me on another GZ, docked me points for that ... said I was "imprecise" with my shifting ... I told him the Bike hung up in neutral while downshifting on approach to a stop ... he docked me anyhoo ... but I still got my license!!
LOL Trippah! My wife doesn't think there's anything normal about motorcycles either!

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by babbalou on 02/14/06 at 16:03:45

I think every bike I've owned or ridden was a little hard to downshift at a stop without fanning the clutch some. Some were worse than others. Once in a while I'll forget & roll to a stop in 2nd so I'll just roll it back a little & find neutral.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by 911radioman on 02/14/06 at 16:06:29

I agree. And that sure doesn't indicate that a bike like the Savage (or any other, for that matter) will be a problematic bike.

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by 911radioman on 02/14/06 at 16:08:28

And as far as the plug leak goes, I just bought my Savage knowing full well that it had the plug replaced by the dealer. They took me and showed me the repair and I'm not the least bit concerned with its reliability.

Dealer said it hadn't started leaking yet, but when they took it in on trade, they went ahead and did the repair anyhow to prevent a future issue with a future customer. I like that approach from a dealer!

Title: i just goose the throttle a litRe: Is this normal?
Post by thumperclone on 02/14/06 at 22:48:44

i just goose the throttle a little(its a wet clutch)at the stop lite and shifting is no prob..less than 500 miles on bike..some times at long lite igo to neut and re adjust my long johns(colorado here) watch the cross lite and fid first when i see the yellow..thats usually when i have to goose her..has been cold enuf the last couple of days(under 50) i run with choke part on so rev a lil higher no back fires no shift issues..new oil and filter and magnetic drain plug @ 300 miles .. will do dyno jet kit,k&n air filter in stock box,jcw 19" turn out muff(hd sportster now)new oil filter @ 600 miles will change to syn oil at 1 k (amsoil 4 stroke) broke her in to specs you can view @ mototuneusa....ride it like you stole it!!!

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by mmosel on 02/15/06 at 00:28:49

Thumperclone,

Where did you find the magnetic drain plug? What part number & how much?

Thanks!

Title: Re: Is this normal?
Post by Reelthing on 02/15/06 at 05:21:43

911radioman wrote:

That's a fine dealer - hope they put some sealer on the new plug - anyway give them an att-a-boy for sure as the suzuki dealer near me is just a flame'n sack of dog sh... never mind...

Hey you can order a magnetic drain plug @ www.magneticdrainplug.com rather interesting bunch of goop it extracts by your first oil change (1500 miles max for me)