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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Rode a Sporty! /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1250632858 Message started by drharveys on 08/18/09 at 15:00:58 |
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Title: Rode a Sporty! Post by drharveys on 08/18/09 at 15:00:58 So one of the guys from my synagogue is getting back into riding and hears of a great deal on an '07 or '08 Harley Sportster 883 with under 3000 miles on it. He doesn't feel comfortable riding it from Illinois himself, so I offer my services. Since loading it on a trailer was too much like work, I got to ride it home for him. We drove out to the soon to be previous owner's house in Les's truck. One guy in a moderately dented beater nearly cut us off, but he was just checking out the stickers and showing us his! I have to admit that Marines are a whole lot more sociable about acknowledging the USMC stickers on each others cars than us Air Force-ers! Back to the bike -- it really was as advertised. Great condition, low miles. Only problem was that it needed a good wash, wax and chrome polishing! It started right up, once I was shown where the starter button was and how the turn signals worked. Aside from some trepidation about taking my buddy's new bike for a spin on a gravel road, the ride was flawless. It's a bit of a torque monster, definitely has that heavyweight feel, but rode just fine. I enjoyed the ride, something I cannot say about the Victory V-twins I've tested. I have to admit that the Harley idle makes this one of the most fun bikes to sit on when it's not actually going anywhere! We made a stop at the BMW dealer's for a Missouri license inspection and so Les could get some riding gear. Now he has a hi-viz jacket and some summer gloves. He'll be taking the MSC course next weekend. I suspect he'll do just fine -- he used to have a Honda Saber years ago. I don't think I can convert him to "Savagery", but it's always nice to get a new riding partner! |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Rocco on 08/18/09 at 17:54:04 sounds awesome! always good 2 help someone! my friends ride sport bikes, touring, street fighters, dual sports, choppers whatever, i've heard it a couple times...it doesn't matter WHAT u ride it's THAT u ride! and when everything rattles off the harley put him in for a nice savage =] |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by PerrydaSavage on 08/19/09 at 03:50:37 I love the 883 Sportsters m'self ... Classic Americana for sure ... my only problem with 'em is that they weigh too gawddarned much ... but then, I am a puney guy with a bad back ... Have always said that the S40/Savage is the only Bike that I've come across that is close to the Sportster in style and "character"! 8-) Now, if H.D. would only make a 650-700cc Sportster-styled Bike that weighed in at no more than 400lbs ... |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by LostArtist on 08/19/09 at 16:30:13 love the sportsters, got a budget problem though so, no sportsters for me, yet, also the repair cost make me think twice about them too, but I hear new harleys are much better |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by kimchris1 on 08/19/09 at 16:46:23 I have sat on the 883's and loved the feel. I was tempted to go for the 883 instead of the S-40.. Just happened to go to the Suzuki dealership first. I am in love with my S-40 and don't regret the deal I made for it. :) Again as someone has already said. It is not what you ride as it is that you ride.... |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by bill67 on 08/19/09 at 18:28:09 I like the 883 but it really feels top heavy,Which I don't like. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Rocco on 08/19/09 at 18:40:29 i paid 1700 bucks(not including dealer fees) for my '95 savage, new tires, battery, oil everything! a '95 sportster was no less then 5000 for nothing new on it....ridiculous! with high miles even! screw it, rather be original :P |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by tomtaz1975 on 08/19/09 at 19:00:38 Sporty's are nice, but if you ever do get one, go for the 1200. Same weight (actually 2-3 lbs less), more power. Best power/weight ratio of the Harley line-up. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by gerald.hughes on 08/19/09 at 19:04:48 6B5E4949425F5A685A4D5A5C5E3B0 wrote:
They did. It was called the Buell Blast. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by MauiNancy on 08/19/09 at 19:22:28 203B3920352E656D6361540 wrote:
I agree! Also, us short-legged people can put their feet flat on the ground! But I love my S40........... |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by PerrydaSavage on 08/20/09 at 03:24:43 2D2F382B262E64223F2D222F394A0 wrote:
Hmmmm??? Yes, Buell Blast is a Harley product, but is a 500cc single, not a 650-700cc V-twin and it doesn't have the Classic American Roadbike stylings of the Sportster (which our LS650's resemble) ... |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by LANCER on 08/20/09 at 04:00:23 I liked my '99 sporty 883; it rode very well and the power was ok; not fast but smooth running. However, one thing that I did not like was the weight of it. It was too heavy to move around. I do not have a flat concrete driveway or garage; I live on uneven ground; constantly need to push/move a bike up and down sloping ground and the weight of the sporty ... basically 2x what a Savage weighs ... was just too much to handle. I also much prefer the ease of handling and responsiveness of the Savage on the road compared to the slow moving sporty. It is just too heavy. I am now back to 2 Savages; my original '96 and now an '87 parts bike that will be brought back to life over time. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by drharveys on 08/20/09 at 04:57:16 Yeah, I guess the Savage does look a little like the Sporty: http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e204/drharveys/Suzuki/DSC02289.jpg |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by vhfkid on 08/20/09 at 08:42:37 33253F362521322E24570 wrote:
I wish our front wheel could look like that sportys! Anyone ever measured one like that? VHFKID |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Duane on 08/20/09 at 08:48:17 That's a good looking bike. If I had the money that's what I would like to have. But as far as being practical and serving my needs (short trips at 55 mph) the Savage was the perfect fit. If I was going to ride interstate travel or distance I'd really like a Sporty. In town with traffic you can't beat the simple Savage. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by PerrydaSavage on 08/20/09 at 08:48:30 7479767B7D6A2A2F180 wrote:
That is my ONLY beef with the Sportster ... like everything else about it. Have said it before; one of the reasons I love my LS650 so much, is that it is the only Metric Roadbike I've come across that closely matches the Sportster in "character"! 8-) |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by drharveys on 08/20/09 at 09:27:45 596C7B7B706D685A687F686E6C090 wrote:
Are you talking about the bike or the riders??? ;D |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by PerrydaSavage on 08/20/09 at 10:29:06 The Bike! 8-) |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Serowbot on 08/20/09 at 11:03:34 To me,... they're just a slightly crude, inferior version of a Savage.... ;) |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Duane on 08/20/09 at 11:06:24 It's the Japan/German answer to the Sporty. ;D |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Rocco on 08/20/09 at 11:09:17 lol! i sat on some sporsters, and a rather large woman goes "u don't want that, i ride that, u want a roadking!" i was like "uuuhhh not really, that thing weighs about as much as my car" HAHA!! she might crush a savage if she sat on one! |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by JohnBoy on 08/20/09 at 14:12:43 "i was like "uuuhhh not really, that thing weighs about as much as my car" HAHA!! " There is a lot to be said for having lots of mass in an accident. If you ride long enough, you will hit things ...and they will hit you. My 700lb voyagers gave up their lives for me, but I'm still here. I'm not at all sure my Savage can do the same . It will be fun till I have to find out. Does a 'beer gut' count as a crumple zone? :0 |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Skid Mark on 08/20/09 at 14:25:30 I've sat on a couple of Sportsters, and they felt great. Unfortunately the great feeling left when the price sticker came into view. It seems that they are about 2x the price of a new Savage. I would assume that will cover the R&D they put into getting exhaust sound just right ;D, and they do sound good. I'm sure they are also great to ride too. Everytime I look at other bikes, I get back on mine, ride, and realize there's no need to find someting else. The little Savage suits my needs perfectly. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by stratman on 08/20/09 at 18:49:21 People don't ask what kind of bike you have if you have a harley(my badging is removed). It's more fun to be unique. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by gerald.hughes on 08/20/09 at 19:08:18 People ride what they need. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by FreeSpirit on 08/20/09 at 19:15:07 I really have nothing against Harleys,but I sat on a girls sportster one time and just noticed it was very top heavy.I didnt like that part. But she rode it very well.I guess you get used to it. The only thing I'd like to change about my Savage is I'd love for it to sound better.I'm crazy about the nice sounds of different mufflers. But,I really dont want to have to change anything on it. If something works right,I dont like to mess with it. And I dont understand enough about the bike to know how to change the muffler without changing the carb,etc....that part is frustrating! ::) Even a little bit better sound would be good!! Otherwise,its great as it is! |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by texsam on 08/20/09 at 19:23:56 performance wise how does the s40 savage compare to an 883 sporty |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by PerrydaSavage on 08/21/09 at 03:19:35 4640594A461D122B0 wrote:
That pretty much sez it all for me too ... I am constantly "Jonesing" for other Bikes ... and then I hop on my S40 and fall in love all over again ... in fact when I sold my original '03 Savage a few years ago, I regretted it immeaditely, eventhough at that time I had a VS800 in the barn ... didn't take me long to go back to another LS! |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Duane on 08/21/09 at 07:16:04 322D2E222A29203335410 wrote:
I have read that a 883 (no one leaves them 883 usally though) & a savage are very similiar in performance untill you get up to speed. The aritcle I saw said a well tuned Savage will out excel a 883 until around 50mph and then it's over. The 883 will walk away. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by verslagen1 on 08/21/09 at 07:22:27 7A4B5F505B3E0 wrote:
I have read that a 883 (no one leaves them 883 usally though) & a savage are very similiar in performance untill you get up to speed. The aritcle I saw said a well tuned Savage will out excel a 883 until around 50mph and then it's over. The 883 will walk away.[/quote] You know that's funny, that's where the gearing on the savage is screwed up. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Midnightrider on 08/21/09 at 08:22:39 203F3C30383B322127530 wrote:
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Duane on 08/21/09 at 08:39:53 514255544B4640424916270 wrote:
I have read that a 883 (no one leaves them 883 usally though) & a savage are very similiar in performance untill you get up to speed. The aritcle I saw said a well tuned Savage will out excel a 883 until around 50mph and then it's over. The 883 will walk away.[/quote] You know that's funny, that's where the gearing on the savage is screwed up.[/quote] I agree, we have more acel that we need and our top speed is too low. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by 4carbcorvair on 08/22/09 at 05:37:33 Friend of mine wanted to get a bike recently, he blamed me after looking at my S40. ;D He found an 08 883 with just over 2k miles on it. Vance Hines pipe, Screaming Eagle intake and the fuel injection re calibrated for the upgrades. He didn't have his license, so I let him borrow my trailer to pick it up. I jokingly told him he could leave it in my garage. A few hours later, he shows up with it here and asks if I really didn't mine if he kept it here a few days until he cleared some room. I told him he could, have to hand over a set of keys though. :D I rode it around the house, with my luck, I didn't want something to happen so I stayed around the house. It is definately a HEAVY bike. It's got some cool features, sounds great, etc..... Once I jump on my S40, those thoughts seem to go away and all I do is smile. :) |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by Routy on 08/22/09 at 06:37:32 08392D22294C0 wrote:
I have read that a 883 (no one leaves them 883 usally though) & a savage are very similiar in performance untill you get up to speed. The aritcle I saw said a well tuned Savage will out excel a 883 until around 50mph and then it's over. The 883 will walk away.[/quote] You know that's funny, that's where the gearing on the savage is screwed up.[/quote] I agree, we have more acel that we need and our top speed is too low.[/quote] Hasn't it always been that way ? More cubes always shine at the upper end. I don't think any gearing is going to add top speed to the 650,......the hp is just not there. |
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Title: Re: Rode a Sporty! Post by bill67 on 08/22/09 at 06:47:51 Your right there is just so much power there gearing want help |
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