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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Newbie's first post
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Message started by nicka on 02/27/09 at 18:12:08

Title: Newbie's first post
Post by nicka on 02/27/09 at 18:12:08

Bought 2003 Savage Monday; 2700 miles and garaged every day of it's life. Selection much influenced by this site - I need all the help I can get!

After having pulled off the sissy bar I felt that the aft end of the rails should really be attached to the fender rather than flapping about. So I carefully taped a nut to a ring wrench, attached a washer with a dab of grease, lowered it down the sissy bar hole, slipped the original bolt back, tightened it up and found that I had trapped the wrench! Tried again with a thick washer behind the bolt - worked perfectly, just enough clearance for the wheel. I then trimmed and pressed the plugs into the holes atop the rail.

Then I decided to attach the saddlebag supports. I removed the forward lower rail bolt, removed the middle bolt, slackened off the forward top bolt; at which point the rail pivoted down to reveal that all I had done earlier was to carefully attach a washer to the fender. The rail is attached to the sissy bar and the sissy bar is attached to the fender! Hence the 3 bolts rather than the 2 I thought it needed. So I cut the bottom 2 inches off the very hard stainless sissy bar (reminder to self: buy better quality hacksaw blades) and reassembled it. I then tried to attach the supports. As the Suzuki stock support goes inside the fender and is quite thick, it is supplied with longer bolts which are inserted from inside the wheel well and which only just clear the tire. After a heroic struggle I got the bolts in place only to find that the foward one was way too long; it is held by an acorn nut on the outside so must be of exactly the right length to work. Pulled it, measured it, cut it, reinstalled it; easier this time it being shorter and I more practiced. Tightened it all up, cleaned everything and stood back to admire my work - only to realize I should have taken off the helmet lock when the rail was down. Went and drank a couple of beers. I guess this saga is my initiation into the joys of Savage ownership. Next week I will try the stock screen attachment job, gerald.hughes assures me this is really easy, but he also told me he cut off his sissy bars without mentioning the need for an adequate supply of tungsten carbide tipped hacksaw blades.

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by SavRon on 02/27/09 at 18:23:27

Congrats on your new Savage and to the site. Your well on your way to tons of possible modifications to this bike... this site is loaded with them.

During your post, you mentioned one very important tidbit of info that stood out.....and it got my attention real quick.

Quote:

Went and drank a couple of beers.

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 02/27/09 at 18:47:51

You should've looked to just buy a set of S40 rails instead of cutting apart the sissybar set.

http://www.pimptiva.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1766&g2_serialNumber=1

The bike looks pretty cool without the rails too... There are a few bikes running around that removed the rails and filled the holes, painted, etc.

Congrats on your purchase. :)

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by nicka on 02/27/09 at 19:44:26

I am looking to toss the rails, passenger seat and footpegs someday (big job if done properly) so S40 rails would be a waste of $$.

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by diamond jim on 02/27/09 at 19:53:24

http://www.pimptiva.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1766&g2_serialNumber=1

[smiley=smiley_up.gif]

Please tell me you don't still have the tank sticker that says "Don't drink the gas or stick your lips on the header" or whatever it says. You know it's a sin to leave that sticker on more than 24 hours after closing the deal.

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by nicka on 02/27/09 at 20:21:08

no such sticker on my bike, the photo is of Simon Tuffguy,s (I think - but I have not quite worked out the niceties of posting yet).

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by Savage Eddie on 02/27/09 at 22:00:55

welcome my brutha! post some picks!

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/28/09 at 18:01:31

[quote author=5C51595557565C525155380 link=1235787128/0#4 date=1235793204]http://www.pimptiva.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1766&g2_serialNumber=1

[smiley=smiley_up.gif]

I've been wondering what happened to Lawrence welk.. Looks like Jim kidnapped the old dude.

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by serowbot on 02/28/09 at 18:18:30

Welcome newbie,
You come from the measure once, cut twice,... drink a beer, cut it one more time... school of modding......
Me too!....
You're gonna' fit right in here.... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

BTW, I'm in Tucson too... just a few blocks from CSA...
Ride safe,
Serowbot

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 02/28/09 at 18:22:05

All of the stickers and emblems have been removed (aside from the Boulevard tank emblems). Just don't have a new GOOD picture of it since then.

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by BigSingle on 02/28/09 at 18:24:38

Welcome to the "other" site you wife will not like you on... ;D

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by diamond jim on 02/28/09 at 19:03:51

6A757374696E5F6F5F67757932000 wrote:

I've been wondering what happened to Lawrence welk.. Looks like Jim kidnapped the old dude.

That's right!

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh128/russ_diamond_jim/lw2.jpg

You got the rest of that money yet?

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/28/09 at 19:36:11

Dadgummitt! Thats Hillarious Jim,

Title: Re: Newbie's first post
Post by T Mack 1 on 02/28/09 at 19:44:37

Must be getting old.... took too long to see why the Lawerence Welk comments......

Bubbles.........