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Message started by SavageNY on 03/10/10 at 07:02:49

Title: New Here....have some questions
Post by SavageNY on 03/10/10 at 07:02:49

hello everyone.

I just got a savage 1998 with 6500 miles.......I am in NY

Need help what is the best oil for this bike? Synthetic the best?
When is the interval for tune up and maintenance?
Where can i find some nice saddle bags that fit just plain black? any pics?
Anyone has gel seats? or anything that would make riding more comfortable?
Have a rip in my current seat no too bad but maybe put marine vinyl is this good?

Thanks to all for reading......

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by serenity3743 on 03/10/10 at 07:15:59

Welcome aboard! Marine-grade vinyl works well for me as a replacement seat cover.

Since you're new, you don't know it, but you just opened the Pandora's box when you asked about the "best oil for this bike." Seems like half the members have strong (and opposing) opinions about the right oil. Main advice is not to use regular car oil because it makes the wet clutch in the Savage/S40 slip. Use motorcycle oil, or at least an oil that does not contain ZDDP.

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by babyhog on 03/10/10 at 07:24:23

Welcome to you!
There is alot of information on this site pertaining to all of these questions. My suggestion is to use the "Search" function (tab at top), fill in some search words, and be sure to change the drop-down menu on the "This post was made in the last..." section to Month/Year/All posts. You'll find all kinds of stuff. Oh, Ebay is a good source for our bikes, but there are a few vendors that we avoid. Stick around here, you'll learn tons!

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by Charon on 03/10/10 at 08:01:23

I don't really want to get into a contest of directed urination, but consensus is that you want the oil that DOES contain ZDDP. The ZDDP is the stuff that helps protect cam lobes and rocker arms. You want to avoid oils with labels like "energy conserving" on them. Synthetic oils are probably best, but they are also pricier. You will find "discussions" on the best oil on, probably, every automotive and motorcycle forum on the Internet.

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by SavageNY on 03/10/10 at 08:07:13

I am undecided between Mobil synthetic and Rotella Syn 5w40.

What oil weight is best for NY since we got summer and winter?

thanks for posting appreciate it

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by jabman on 03/10/10 at 08:17:28

797A7B76746E170 wrote:

yer just put 'oil' in a search

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by dasch on 03/10/10 at 08:18:31

But you're not gonna ride in freezing cold, right? 5-40, 10-40, 10-50 all will do. It's a low rpm machine, no need to go really fancy on synthetic. No need for special additives either, 'cause of the wet clutch.
Now, whether you go for motorcycle oil, or you substitute with a car oil, I don't want to get into that. I tried both worlds in 3 different bikes, never had a problem. Search the forum for various experiences with different oils and make a decision. Welcome to the gang.

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by serenity3743 on 03/10/10 at 08:19:50

My apologies. I got the ZDDP thing wrong: You DO want that additive.

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by SavageNY on 03/10/10 at 08:22:51

I plan on using a synthetic motorcycle oil mobil or Rotella Syn.....

plan on riding 30F or above. But my bike is outside parked and i warm it up only when it is cold like 15F i don't ride it during that weather.

Which weight oil applies?

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by jabman on 03/10/10 at 08:23:38

if you type ZDDP into google, you get get recommendations for classic car oils?

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by Charon on 03/10/10 at 08:44:34

If you don't have the owner's manual, it can be downloaded from somewhere on the forum. They recommend 10W-40 oil, with the JASO MA spec. That will cover any temperature range likely in your area.

You are not likely to find the amount of ZDDP listed on the container for any oil. The reason ZDDP comes up in classic cars is because it is the additive which protects engines which do not have roller cam followers. ZDDP contains phosphorous; phosphorous is claimed to cause damage to catalytic converters; so ZDDP is being reduced in automotive oils. If the oil says something about "energy conserving" it will have reduced ZDDP and will also have "friction modifiers" which MAY cause clutch slipping on wet clutches - the vast majority of motorcycle clutches.

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by ero4444 on 03/10/10 at 09:00:09

rather than buy a special/motorcycle-oil with extra ZDDP,

it's probably cheaper to use a car-oil like Rotella T and you can add high-ZDDP additive, this seems like a good price for the stuff that I got, $12.99+shipping/bottle for 12quarts-oil - Red Line Engine Break-In Oil Additive (ZDDP)

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection.asp?Product=1678

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by verslagen1 on 03/10/10 at 09:05:30

686863161D1C240 wrote:

I am undecided between Mobil synthetic and Rotella Syn 5w40.

What oil weight is best for NY since we got summer and winter?

thanks for posting appreciate it

Mobil Vtwin 10-40 or RotSyn 5-40 for most of the year.
If you do a lot of superslab in the summer (+90°F) you'll want 20-50
And even then I literally boil this stuff off.

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by metricman on 03/10/10 at 15:32:25

This will work the best in your bike, I would take the advice of the engineers that created the engine over anyones opinion.
this is not a exotic engine stick with the basics. I have always used the factory recommended oil for all my bikes.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUKI-OIL-CHANGE-KIT-LS-650-SAVAGE-95-96-97-98-99-00_W0QQitemZ300159470985QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item45e2e60d89#ht_774wt_734

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by Dj12midnit on 03/10/10 at 21:07:39

You can not go wrong with mobil one.

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by MMRanch on 03/10/10 at 23:24:52

Welcome abord SavageNY

You were asking about a comfortable seat....I went on E-Bay and got a Harley seat from a Soft tail modle. It was a easy enough switch, the length is the same and the width is SO NICE . The Harley seat has side flaps (leather) that hang down over the (Suzuki) mounting brackets , the rear takes a little imaigation, but its nice to have a seat as wide as my seat !

Harley floorboards, shocks, Handlebars, and crashbar (pre 04 sportster , make lower bracket ) ,also fit. Maby more ???

Come to think on it " I guess I ride a Suzuki/Harley Hybrid"

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by SavageNY on 03/11/10 at 06:49:09

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Harley-Davidson-Softail-Seat_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem335ade7c90QQitemZ220567862416QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

is this the seat you mentioned? Thanks.

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by babyhog on 03/11/10 at 07:49:21

Not many options for our lovely seat, huh? Here is the Suzuki gel seat, pillow or classic. http://www.oneidasuzuki.com/store/parts-accessories/custom-gel-leather-seat-s40-2005-06-boulevard.html

I think they are stopping making the classic, but Oneida Suzuki is one place that seems to still have it. Someone also found the same seat on Ebay, with slight "imperfections" that some folks said were not very noticeable, and it is selling much cheaper. I think a few folks here have that seat and like it. Maybe someone else can find the post, or you might find it on Ebay.

Personally, I bought a Mustang seat for a Sportster (Ebay), but the curve was wrong, so instead of modifying the bike, or making new brackets and such, I transferred the Mustang cover and innerds from the Sportster seat pan to my stock S40 pan. Presto!

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by bill67 on 03/11/10 at 08:13:10

Babyhog do you have picture of your reworked seat.

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by babyhog on 03/11/10 at 08:55:22

4B4045451F1E290 wrote:

Babyhog do you have picture of your reworked seat.

This is about the best one I have. Honestly, I've avoided taking pics of it because I had the Saddlemen raw gel in my stock seat, and the upholstery guy left it in when he swapped pans. The seat is a little humpy now, but he said the foam and gel would relax after I ride some. If it doesn't, I'll be pulling the cover off and shaving some.
http://i757.photobucket.com/albums/xx211/babyhog/S40/PIC-0526.jpg

Title: Re: New Here....have some questions
Post by bill67 on 03/11/10 at 09:50:18

Thats going to be really comfortable I am sure.Width makes a lot of difference in a seat.