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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Another newbie........
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Message started by olscout99 on 05/15/06 at 18:04:56

Title: Another newbie........
Post by olscout99 on 05/15/06 at 18:04:56

Well, contrary to the post further down that's mostly from females that just got Savages, I'm an almost 300 pound six foot guy that just got one! I took the MSF class last fall, and almost right afterwards got a smoking deal on a Suzuki GSX1100G. For somebody that hadn't ridden in over 30 years, and whose biggest ride was a 450 Honda (when a 450 WAS pretty big), that G was pretty intimidating. I really didn't NEED (or should I say I wasn't ready for) 11 second quarter miles with a 140 mph top end and an over six hundred pound bike, although the shaft drive was kewl :)
So, I gave a friend a deal on the G, made some money, and now I've got a lil Zuke. For me, I think the Savage will be about right- I'm looking at weekend rides, a hundred miles or less, just basically stress relief and tooling around having fun on the back roads. I'm already checking out a Screaming Eagle pipe- thanks to whoever posted those sound clips, that was an easy choice to make! And, I'll delve into the carb (I do love that, CARB instead of 'carbs') and make the fixes there too. One question is, I read all the posts on the forward controls....but does anybody have a pattern or template that they're selling or donating for the good of the order? I'm thinking the forward controls will just about make it ideal, and I have the stuff I need to cut and work the steel....but a pattern would sure save some time. Thanks in advance, and I'll be around soaking up knowledge and reporting when something works (or doesn't).

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by Dynobob on 05/15/06 at 19:25:19

Welcome. The Savage has plenty of power after you tweak it like most of us have done. A very fun around town bike for sure.

We do need some patterns for forwards posted. I think there's a couple guys here who have made some up recently. I'd like to find someone with a CNC machine who could crank some out at a reasonable cost.

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by steelwolf on 05/15/06 at 20:23:16

If you'll send me your address, I'll send you the paper work Ed_L sent me on how he made his forward controls. I used them as a starting point for making my own. Even comes with a CD of pics that Ed took of his. And if Ed will chime in here and gimme the ok I'll post pics of the paper work and dimensions here in the tech section. But it's his design so he will have to give permission first. :-X

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by Don Steel on 05/17/06 at 05:21:25

Welcome olscout99

This is one of the best sites you'll ever come accross!
Unless there's one that gives you $100 every time you log on!! ;D
The friendliness and advice is second to none!

I am in the middle of a ground up rebuild of my 1991 Savage that I have had for about 7 years. I rode it for about 2 then took it off the road with a view to rebuild/mildly customize her. There she sat while a variety of bikes shared her garage incl FZR 600, CBR 600, Bandit 600 and now a Kawasaki W650!! :-/

The latter being bought as it was 2 years since I sold the Bandit and I was fed up not going out on rides. It was relatively cheap, so I bought it as a stop gap!
Progress on the Savage has been, to say the least slow, and I have recently moved house in January to a place with sheds but no garage, so that hasn't helped.

Anyway my point is that this site has given me renewed vigour to get on with her ::). I too am looking forward to doing the carb mods, but as mine is a UK spec, I need to check all the standard settings before tampering. The UK emmision laws are not as strict!!
I need to get another shed, which I have, put up so I can finally set to work on her!
The main problem with this site is that it is so darned interesting reading other people's problems, I spend too much time on here and not working on her!! :D
Ha Ha!! Enjoy!! ;)

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by olscout99 on 05/17/06 at 05:51:53

Dynobob wrote:

Yeah, if somebody could turn out kits for a reasonable price (say a buck and a half, buyer does the finishing) I'd be all over that just for the time savings. I'm just sorry I missed getting one of the kits Ed L. had posted to sell a while back :(

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by SeeAPierce on 05/17/06 at 05:59:21

~~WELCOME~~
With just over 2100 miles on my '06 I'm still finding the more I ride it the more I love it!

I'm only 5'6" but am still thinking about forward controls. I don't feel cramped, but I think I would like the stance...

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by Jim_R on 05/17/06 at 06:55:22

Since each frame is a tad different I wouldnt trust a templet. Torque and I used this link from Nighttrain

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1115652141

The reason I say this is because my controls wouldnt bolt up to his frame. Wierd but enough off to make it a pain in the butt.

All I can say is measure measure measure. Use 3/8 steel or alum because it will fit up fine with the stock bolts. I think Ed or someone used 1/2 and had to cut the tubes down.

If you want try making a cardboard cutout and see how it fits. Might take a couple of times with some cardboard but it will save u time and money i the long run.

Doing the brake extension and shift linkage without a welder will be tough thou. I know u can order a longer shifter linkage but it will take 6-8 weeks and thats a long time to wait. PLUS if it doesnt fit that will sux.

We just cut the linkage in half and welded a pipe in the middle and welded it back up. The brake extension we made a fork like bracket and it works great.

good luck

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by starmom on 05/17/06 at 17:10:37

what are you all taking about with foward controls?

Im completely lost................you taking about gear shifts? ???

sue

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by 911radioman on 05/17/06 at 17:24:06

Forward controls extend your footpegs, rear brake and shifter forward and allows you to stretch out more and not feel so cramped when riding or to tire so easily on a longer ride.

I'd love to have them on my bike but it would entail losing my Wingerline bar and shelling out $500 or so, so I guess that will have to wait for another day. ;D

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by Brewbrother on 05/17/06 at 17:26:26

starmom wrote:

what are you all taking about with foward controls?

Im completely lost................you taking about gear shifts? ???

sue

Sue, they are dicusing making brakcets that bolt to the frame and allow the brake , gear shift and pegs to be set forward from their origional position. The problem then becomes the linkage. Its only a problem when your six feet or taller. hope that helps.

Title: Re: Another newbie........
Post by Kropatchek on 05/18/06 at 02:21:36

starmom wrote:

what are you all taking about with foward controls?

Im completely lost................you taking about gear shifts? ???

sue

A picture: saves 1000 words.

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/7510/wipfwc8eq.jpg

Greetz
Kropatchek 8)