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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Should I get an LS 650??
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Message started by Mortation on 03/03/09 at 17:52:41

Title: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by Mortation on 03/03/09 at 17:52:41

I know this is probably the wrong place to ask since it IS a savage forum :) But I am planning on grabbing an 88 LS650 tomorrow in decent shape and I was wondering how all you riders felt about them? I traded my 83 GS 850 (Custom, rebuilt it myself) for a truck in the fall with the plans of buying a new S50+ in the spring.

Problem was not only did I not get a tax return I also had to pay in, big time. So my Bike fund not only didnt get an addition it was nearly depleted :(

Well I found this LS 650 for $1k locally. Starts and runs. Needs a side cover, carb cleaning, and other misc little things. Looks pretty good, nice styling.

My only real hesitation is the single cylinder 650 engine. I am concern it wont be powerful enough for me. I don't ride highway much, death sentence here in CT and after years of begging and pleading I have only gotten my wife to ride on the bike once. so maybe I am just over thinking it.

Oh, one more thing :) Does anyone have a link to some T bars that will work on a savage?

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by Yonuh Adisi on 03/03/09 at 17:56:53

The single 650 has plenty of power. I am 6 ft 254lbs last I checked and it hauls me around without any hesitation. The handle bars for the savage are 1 inch.

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by Mortation on 03/03/09 at 18:11:41

1D2B2A312C05202D372D440 wrote:

The single 650 has plenty of power. I am 6 ft 254lbs last I checked and it hauls me around without any hesitation. The handle bars for the savage are 1 inch.

Cool thanks. I was thinking about going with bars like this:

http://www.scootworks.com/swcart/shop/barons/ba-7304ua.jpg

Any idea where I could find something like that?

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by seviersavage on 03/03/09 at 19:00:52

I don't think you would be dissapointed if you do a few performance mods, tons of torque.
Seviersavage

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by BurnPgh on 03/03/09 at 22:02:00

A good all around bike. Plenty of power to get you into trouble if you want. Not so much that you can't handle it. Almost infinately modable. I started on a 250. For various reasons I should've started on a savage and I have absolutely no intention to get anything "bigger" or "better". Will do interststates with ease though is more comfortable at 50-65mph. Lightweight. Easy/cheap to maintain/fix. It has its quirks (see cam chain tensioner) The least stolen vehicle in the US IIRC. Good gas milege. If you get a savage you will not be disappointed once everything is tuned up.

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by verslagen1 on 03/03/09 at 22:25:33

A $1k for an '88 that needs work is a bit expensive maybe by a couple hundred.
How old the battery?
How old are the tires?
Take a look at the front brake pads, you should see a groove in the middle of the pad next to the disk.
carb cleaning, missing parts, misslainy all add up.
Go in with these costs in mind and you'll come out ahead.
I don't know where you're at but how long's your riding season?

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/04/09 at 00:13:56

Yep, someone Wants $1,000.00, no need to pay it. Thats too much for one that old, especially if it needs tires. Tread can be great & tires Old & need replaced. Theres a code on them that can be deciphered to tell when they were made. If the owner thinks $1,00 is fair, ask him to get the side cover & make the thing ready to ride. If its a fixer upper, the price needs to reflect that. If its a rider, it needs to be ready. IMO, $1,000.00 oughta be ready to ride.

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by Mortation on 03/04/09 at 05:52:53

Unfortunately I live in CT where everyone thinks the poo is gold. I got him down to $800 and here thats not a bad deal. For $1k and under you are note likely to find anything better. Lots of early 80's lates 70's bikes that need work for that price.

The battery is brand new, has receipt.
The tires are mint, I checked those.
The brakes I didnt check because I already planned on new pads/shoes because I am going to flush and re-fill the brakes. I don't mess around with my hide :)
The missing side cover will run $80, not bad but the bigger problem is I think the bike is custom painted. So matching the color is going to be a nightmare. I am a rattle can dude so this will require help. Luckily I know a guy who is an auto body/paint guy. Will have to check with him.
I think one of the directionals may need to be replaced but other than that nothing "needs" to be replaced. Being that I am a bit OCD with bikes I am sure I will replace a bunch of other stuff to make it look/run mint before all is said and done.

I figure if I get it for $800, it will cost me about $100 to get it putting me at $900. I will "try" and cap myself at $600 to put into the bike leaving me with a net investment of $1500. I think when I am done with it I should be able to sell it in excellent shape for $1500.

I say try because like I said, I am a bit OCD with bikes. My last one cost me $200 when I pulled it out of a snow bank in NH. By the time I was done I was up to $3k, I sold it for $2500 so I only took a $500 hit. Not tooooo bad. I have done worse ;)

33203736292422202B74450 wrote:

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by verslagen1 on 03/04/09 at 07:04:46

Good deal.

Covers can be gotten relatively cheap here $5 to $25 and similar on fleabay.

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by SimonTuffGuy on 03/04/09 at 07:08:08

Who needs the side covers anyways? I just ripped mine off my 07 and like the look without them (also removed the airbox though too).

I think for $800, it's a decent deal.

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by Mortation on 03/04/09 at 07:13:29

12282C2E2F15342727063438410 wrote:

Who needs the side covers anyways? I just ripped mine off my 07 and like the look without them (also removed the airbox though too).

I think for $800, it's a decent deal.

I am thinking about that. I saw another member who used dog bowls/truck caps and it looks cool. I may go that route if I can figure something out, I don't want my battery in a saddle bag though :)

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by srinath on 03/04/09 at 08:42:58

Oh, can I get a pic of this. I think I may have seen it but I wanna be sure, point me at it please.
Cool.
Srinath.

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by Mortation on 03/04/09 at 08:51:40

40415A5D52475B330 wrote:

Oh, can I get a pic of this. I think I may have seen it but I wanna be sure, point me at it please.
Cool.
Srinath.

Here is the link the OP gave me: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1235090064

Pretty slick. Well its on like Donky Kong. I confirmed with the seller and my father-in-law is helping me get the bike tonight.

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by sakara on 03/04/09 at 08:57:17

Grats!

Title: Re: Should I get an LS 650??
Post by Mortation on 03/04/09 at 08:58:55

7E6C666C7F6C0D0 wrote:

Grats!

Thanks :) I hope I wont be disappointed. I will post pics tonight after I get situated!