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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Savage Handling /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1154265697 Message started by LS650RJM on 07/30/06 at 06:21:37 |
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Title: Savage Handling Post by LS650RJM on 07/30/06 at 06:21:37 For those with experience riding other bikes, how does the Savage compare with other bikes in handling characteristics such as overall stability and dealing with back road curves. |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by Keith_B on 07/30/06 at 07:22:23 IMO The Savage is #1 a cruiser, but it is also a light bike which makes for pretty good handeling overall. It is a little bit more afected by cross winds than a heavy bike would be, partly because the frontend being so light, to help overall handling RAISE THE REAR by putting on some good 12" rear shocks and a fork brace :o |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by WD on 07/30/06 at 08:49:10 I've had 83 bikes. The Savage is a good lightweight bike. You'll get blown around a bit on the superslab. Once you get to the twisties, it might wallow a bit, but it tracks like it is on rails. Mine runs 15 inch rise apehangers, a cut down solo seat, and stock rear shocks. Handles great, still rides like crap. Needs to be hardtailed. In a nutshell, it handles beautifully, but the supension is pathetic. And easily fixed (struts, bolt on hardtail, or better rear shocks and heavier fork oil). -WD |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by jaeger on 07/30/06 at 08:51:30 Ok, I'll ask here too -- anybody know what size/brand fork springs to use if, say, I wanted to upgrade the front forks? --Jaeger |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by babbalou on 07/30/06 at 13:49:45 jaeger wrote:
The only source I know of is Hagon. You can find them scrolling down this link:http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/FS_Apps_list.htm Progressive doesn't have the LS650 listed but if you know the right size, length, stiffness etc, some of theirs might fit. I've got stock springs so I can't say how these would work out. |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by vroom1776 on 07/31/06 at 10:12:00 I slapped a 36" or so pipe on for drag bars, and hard tailed mine w/ struts, as SR suggested. I can mandle the heck out of it. Can drag footpegs through a figure 8 on a slope. Frame gets rickety, though, over 75/80, IMO. |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by Savage_Rob on 07/31/06 at 11:30:29 vroom1776 wrote:
I think it was suggested by WD, though I don't disagree. I went the easier route of upgrading the shocks. Since I used 12.5" shocks, it raised the rear noticeably but I've come to like it that way. If you want to retain the lower rear, struts would likely be best though 11" Progressives would probably not raise it all that much. |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by vroom1776 on 07/31/06 at 11:45:21 oops, yes, WD. http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2006%5C02%5C17%5Cbikepics-523672-800.jpg 10.25" to maintain stock ride height. I made the 14 mm bushings in the machine shop. Bob, the gear ehad who runs the machine shop at work, welded and heat treated them. |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by azjay on 07/31/06 at 11:58:25 i consider the savage a good "neutral" handling bike, it doesn't corner like a "cafe racer/sport bike" and it doesn't tour like a full size "bagger", but it fits very comfortably in the middle. it has good manners, in that it doesn't oversteer or understeer, the long rake on the forks gives it good straight line stability. a very good compromise, middle of the road bike. i've only ridden something less than 10 different bikes over the last 30+ years of riding, so i'm probably less qualified than others to speak, but that is my $.02 |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by Savage_Rob on 07/31/06 at 12:11:26 I'm kinda like AZJay in response to the topic's question; I've only owned five bikes and ridden maybe fifteen others in nearly 30 years but I like the Savage's handling pretty well... once you get used to the overall lightness of the bike, that is. That light weight tends to make you a bit more vulnerable to high winds and such but it makes her pretty nimble too. I also agree that the fork brace and upgraded shocks make a big difference in both handling and ride quality. I have yet to change the fork oil but when I do I'll go with WD's suggestion and try a heavier oil. |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by jaeger on 07/31/06 at 12:22:59 babbalou wrote:
Bingo! That's what I needed! Thank you very very much! --Jaeger --Jaeger |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by WD on 08/01/06 at 00:45:37 I'm hardtailing mine with a set of $15 leaf spring lift shackles. Should drop the back end about 3 inches. Spring mounted solo seat. This winter or early spring, I'll (hopefully) convert it to chain drive and stretch the frame about 16 inches, along with a proper rigid frame modification (struts are dangerous). I'd like to put some better forks on it as well, say, a springer. I just don't like hydraulic front forks... -WD |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by lancer on 08/01/06 at 04:50:25 WD wrote:
Now see here ... I know you have been out back behind the dumpster again. Every time you go out there you come back with some wild idea to modify it yet again. It is really a shame that we are on opposite sides of this big block, if we could get together surely some good ideas would result from it. Years and years and years back I had a friend who was called "Dandy Dan". Don't get me wrong here, he was in no way "dandy", somewhere along the line he got stuck with the name in spite of himself. In some ways you remind me of him, you even look a bit like him. He was basically a creative thinker mechanically... made all sorts of things work when mere mortals thought they were dead. Back in those days we had several dumpsters scattered about the countryside from which we could launch our raids into civilization. |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by WD on 08/01/06 at 21:53:20 I work at a bike junkyard...I can't help it. And I have a very short attention span, and am easily bored. Ruining perfectly good motorcycles (as my wife puts it... ;)) keeps me out of trouble. -WD You should see the rolling roach now...it almost looks like a proper late 60's bike now. I'll try to get a pic or two tomorrow. Has mirrors that match the tail light, mounted partway up the rise of the apehangers. Completely useless, but, they keep it "legal", as if I worry about street legality. :o |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by azjay on 08/02/06 at 07:06:49 i'm envious! how can it get any better? you get paid to play with bikes, have a huge parts source, and a creative nature! life's good! |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by LS650RJM on 08/02/06 at 16:27:13 Great replies! What would be the biggest bang for a buck? New rear shocks or a front fork brace? |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by Reelthing on 08/02/06 at 16:38:44 LS650RJM wrote:
Very good question there, if it was me I'd stick with the 11" 412-4233C as it sounds like some sprited rides are in it's future - now the question is which first - I think that depends on how worn your stock shocks are - mine were worn I guess and pogo sticking a fair bit - the progressives made a big difference - believe I might go with the shocks first if I was doing it again. |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by Reelthing on 08/02/06 at 16:40:38 vroom1776 wrote:
my poor aches and pains DE'am |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by WD on 08/02/06 at 20:51:35 Shocks first. As for the fork brace, the Savage runs a mildly modernized 1960s Ironhead Sportster front end. Hit the swap meets, used fork braces are $5-10... 35mm upper tubes, if you like fork gaiters, Norton ones fit just about perfectly... -WD |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by LS650RJM on 08/03/06 at 20:38:51 I am still new to all of this. What is a swap meet? |
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Title: Re: Savage Handling Post by Keith_B on 08/03/06 at 22:36:41 Back in the Day! Folks whould have swap meets, it is a get together of bikers that bring parts they no longer need and sell them or swap you for a part you don't need. Now we have RALLYS where you can buy anything you can think of for a retail price! :o I was thinking the Savage forks wher 38mm :-/ |
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