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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Thinking about joining the club.
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Message started by Jeff Savage on 08/18/08 at 12:46:16

Title: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by Jeff Savage on 08/18/08 at 12:46:16

Hi - I found this forum while doing research on the Savage. I'm right in the middle of looking for a bike. I've found a 2000 650 with only 347 miles on it. Sounds crazy but it's apparently true. It's been garaged all this time.

I know nothing about these bikes and am trying to decide whether to buy it or not. They are asking $2200 for it. I'd appreciate some guidance and knowledge about the pros and cons of this model.

Thanks

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by mornhm on 08/18/08 at 12:54:36

There are a bunch of pro - con threads on this forum.

While the Savage you are looking at has a few years, the mileage can't be beat. Price may be a little high even with that mileage.

The real short version -

Pros
Simple MC - easy to maintain
Decent gas mileage
good low rpm torque makes it easy to ride (compared to high revving smaller engines)
lightweight
proven design
the people who frequent this website

Cons
Ergos don't fit most riders
Small gas tank
low stock power
No protection from weather

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by DJM on 08/18/08 at 13:01:02

Hi Jeff,

I don't know about the price, might be pretty good, any smaller bike seems to be selling at a premium these days.

Plan on replacing the tires right away, 8 years is too old. The rubber dries out, gets hard, and loses traction. MSF says they should be replaced every three years, regardless of mileage.

Also, you may have some issues with carb being gummed up from just sitting around unused for so long.

I just bought one, and I love it, but I am a new rider so may not be the
best person to ask. I like that it is easy to work on, cheap to insure, and doesn't use a lot of gas. It is also light and easy to maneuver. You may or may not like the "thumper" characteristic. You might prefer a more refined feeling 2 cylinder engine. I have not found the vibration issue to be the least bit objectionable, in spite of being warned against it by more experienced riders ( who have never actually ridden one ).

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by Jeff Savage on 08/18/08 at 13:13:03

Thanks for the replys. What do you think would be a reasonable price for the one I'm looking at?

I was thinking the same thing about the tires. Even if they look new, they aren't to be trusted.

I'm an experienced rider and have another bike for longer hauls. I'm just thinking about the Savage as a daily rider/commuter. I'm 5'8" so I figure it will fit ok. I'm going to look at tonight so I'll know for sure about the fit then.

Do you run regular, mid-range or premium gas in these bikes?

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by YonuhAdisi on 08/18/08 at 13:15:56

Regular is what is usually run in these bikes, the low compression ratio does not really work well with the higher octane fuels. There many threads concerning fuel octane on this site as well. I personally just run what ever fuel is cheapest price wise and have had zero problems.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by DJM on 08/18/08 at 13:40:59

I am 5'7", and I sat on a lot bikes at the dealers, and the S40 felt better than any other. Interestingly, the savage did not feel as comfortable to me. The seat is a little higher on the S40, and the bars are different. I don't know if anything else was changed, but it seemed to make a huge difference to me.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by verslagen1 on 08/18/08 at 13:43:40

22243A2837763C4F0 wrote:

Thanks for the replys. What do you think would be a reasonable price for the one I'm looking at?
I was thinking the same thing about the tires. Even if they look new, they aren't to be trusted.
I'm an experienced rider and have another bike for longer hauls. I'm just thinking about the Savage as a daily rider/commuter. I'm 5'8" so I figure it will fit ok. I'm going to look at tonight so I'll know for sure about the fit then.
Do you run regular, mid-range or premium gas in these bikes?

I've been shopping and $2k sounds reasonable for a 2k bike, check kbb and nada.com for prices. At that mileage, I'd concider it an aged brand new bike. But things to watch out for are clogged carb, leaky seals. And possibly lemon. This is a small bike and if one's ego can't compensate for all your hardly friends calling your ride a moped, it's going to sit in the garage.

The savage is an excellent daily, but capable of going cross county.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by Jeff Savage on 08/18/08 at 13:55:19

I'm really not worried about what others might think about the bike. I actually kind of like the idea of having a bit of an unusual ride.

I also like the fact that it has some guts to it and isn't simply a cruise around town option. I doubt I will ever take it on a long trip but I will be doing some highway miles on a regular basis.

What about fairing or windshield options? I'm also going to have to look at some saddle bags, any recommendations?

I was thinking about the same thing about the seals. Often people think a low mileage bike is great and it can be but mechanical equipment holds up better with regular use.

I am worried about the seals and the carb being gummed up. The gas has been drained and refilled and a new battery installed. I was told it starts right up.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by verslagen1 on 08/18/08 at 14:40:59

4D4B5547581953200 wrote:

I'm really not worried about what others might think about the bike. I actually kind of like the idea of having a bit of an unusual ride.

Sign him up! He's our kinda guy. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by Paladin. on 08/18/08 at 14:42:07

585E40524D0C46350 wrote:

....What about fairing or windshield options? I'm also going to have to look at some saddle bags, any recommendations?....

Very little is made to fit the Savage, nearly anything can be made to fit the Savage.

Windshields can range from less than the nine inch by nine inch Flyscreen on up to the Plexifairing and beyond. Saddlebag options include throwovers too small to hold a decent lunch to medium sized to larger that require moving the rear turn signals to hard cases including the Leatherlyke bags which are made specifically for the Savage.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by EssForty on 08/18/08 at 18:24:38

7D7B6577682963100 wrote:

I researched a lot of bikes and selected the S40 for classic cruiser looks, great fuel economy (I'm getting 55-60 mpg), incredible ease of maintenance, etc. I did not need a lot of power, but find it to be more than adequate for the task and I have cruised at 70 with no concerns.

I have the OEM saddlebags, which came with my bike, and I would not recommend them. I can fit my laptop and a book in one, and in the other I can fit gloves, rain suit and perhaps a ham & cheese sandwich, as long as I go easy on the mayo.

I mounted the Memphis Shades Classic Deuce windshield on mine. It was a 15 minute install, and the rake angle is easily adjustable. Look for something that is adjustable so you can get the wind flowing over your helmet, while still being low enough to look over the top. I'm 6'1, so if it works for me, it should be fine for most riders.

I have no complaints about vibration. If you get a Savage and you think it vibrates too much you can find Kuryakyn rubber ISO grips for about $60, or slide some foam Grip Puppies over stock grips for around $8.50 delivered.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by Crotchrocket on 08/18/08 at 19:30:40

Hi, if you've come from the world of sportbikes, let me know. I'll give you the skinny on the Savage. For better or for worse. Here's a hint: I'm happy.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by Brad_THMP3R on 08/18/08 at 19:43:10

Price sounds decent, I paid $2500 for a 2004 with 7K miles on it. A good carb clean and new tires, nice new ride. Oh yeah, ya might wanna run the snot out of it that's been in there for 8 years. ;) That part's fun ;D

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by Sandy Koocanusa on 08/18/08 at 19:56:35

We have just finished shopping for a Savage for my wife. I don't think you will find a much lower price on a comparable rig. Prices seem to be climbing, and really, how much below $2000 can you buy anything with an engine these days? It's a "newish" bike for half the sticker price. Pounce on it, I say.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by Cory on 08/18/08 at 21:39:10

I'd say jump on it i paid 1700 for my 2000 but it had 8700 miles on it and a few scratches on it and needed new tires and the muffler was in bad shape so 2 grand sounds like a hell of a deal to me for a dependable and easy to handle bike. long live the savage

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by YonuhAdisi on 08/18/08 at 21:45:08

I paid 1200 for my 2000 with over 13000 miles. It needed new front tire, front brakes, carb cleaning, and new spark plug. Tank was so dented that when I posted pics of it here it sparked an on-going joke about the tank being sucked in.

Of course it no longer looks anything like a Savage anymore except the engine.

I say jump on it, do routine out of storage maintenance and I bet it will make you a very happy camper.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by Ian on 08/21/08 at 13:21:57

$2k for a 2k is a good deal with those low miles. Back in May my daughter found a 1995 garage queen with 1,500 miles on it - they're out there. split a pint of SeaFoam between 2 tankfuls of gas and the carb should be fine. like someone else said you can run the cheapest gas you can find.

Title: Re: Thinking about joining the club.
Post by WebsterMark on 08/21/08 at 14:57:43

i just bough an S40 at this summer. have not ridden since college 25 years ago. has turned out to be the perfect bike so far. i've put just over 2000 miles on it so far this summer. its perfect for city streets and short highway trips. so far, i avg 59 mpg.

as far as looks, i can't tell you how many people ask me what it is. i've had people at stop lights roll their window down and comment on how much they like it. my bike is pearl white. i stopped the other day at a big harley hang out bar in the wine country of missouri and had a few positive comments. besides, anyone who questions someone else's ride should be driving a car. screw 'em!