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Message started by Mully on 03/11/07 at 23:06:13

Title: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by Mully on 03/11/07 at 23:06:13

Greetings from New Zealand,

I tried to search for this topic, but I couldn't find anything in the threads, please link to the thread if you know where it is.

I am looking at buying a 1987 LS650 Savage to use as a commuter vehicle. I have test ridden it, and it rides nice. It has some noise coming from the head, the current owner says this will be fixed with a valve adjustment.

Is there anything I should be aware of with this bike? Could the valve noise be something more sinister?

Any thoughts or comments will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by Dynobob on 03/12/07 at 01:51:59

Hey Mully. Greetings from the USA. How many miles on this '87? It could be valve adjustment or it could be your cam chain - it really depends on mileage. Both take some work but the cam chain replacement is much more involved. There's 2 threads going now on cam chain replacement.

Title: Re: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by barry68v10 on 03/12/07 at 03:47:50

It's also possible to mistake the speedo cable rattle for head noise...

Title: Re: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by Greg_650 on 03/12/07 at 05:25:31

Is the price right?

Title: Re: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by KenGLong on 03/12/07 at 10:59:35

barry68v10 wrote:

It's also possible to mistake the speedo cable rattle for head noise...

The first time the dealer started up my new Savage while I was standing there I heard the speedo rattle an asked "sounds like a cam chain rattle to me." Must 'a been psychic.

Ken

Title: Re: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by Mully on 03/12/07 at 12:28:29

Greg_650 wrote:

Is the price right?

It is an auction with the reserve set at NZ$2800.

Showing 34xxx miles, so not sure if that would be around the clock or not. I would suspect so for a 20 year old bike

Title: Re: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by vroom1776 on 03/12/07 at 13:21:11

34k miles is unlikely to be 134 k miles. keep in mind that most bieks don't get ridden much... valve noise is your friend, at least for this type of valve... as long as it is not excessive... get a mechanics stethoscope and listen for a real loose cam chain... at 34k miles, it shuld have had a cam chain rebuild at least once allready...

Title: Re: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by franch on 03/12/07 at 17:45:51

a stethoscope is a good idea. listen on the right hand side for the cam chain. if it's loud you can take into account a good 4-6 hours of labor when you bid/buy.

Title: Re: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by georgekathe on 03/12/07 at 17:56:32

just a suggestion but can you convert canadian into US money for site - might be better for folk here to give you idea if a deal or not. other than that - how is rest of bike - tires looking good? watch out for cracks in sidewalls as even with good tread means they are old & will need replcaing so can be factored into price being offered.

others may have ideas on what else to look out for (like state of cables, etc)

havew fun if you get bike.

george :)

Title: Re: Savage Purchase Advice
Post by smokey02 on 03/17/07 at 13:05:04

Hi Mully - and Greetings from Calif

I just checked gocurrency.com and found out
that 2800NZD is about 1960 USD.
that might be a little high for an 87 with 34K,
I paid 1800USD for my 96 with 6.5K on it back in OCT '05

Keep looking, I'm betting that you can find a better deal.
I commute nearly every day and added almost
10K in a year and a half. Lovin it. 50 or better MPG