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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Poor dependability /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1300465479 Message started by Freddie on 03/18/11 at 09:24:38 |
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Title: Poor dependability Post by Freddie on 03/18/11 at 09:24:38 I have owned a Suzuki Savage for about 6 years; total mileage about 16K. It was my primary transportation until about three years ago but I switched to a Sportster. The Savage is ridden some by me but mostly by my son. It is maintained religiously. However, it has proven to be costly to keep it dependable. It is now back inthe shop for more engine work. This will be about the third time for engine work, which will reach about $1400 if the current worst case scenario proves true. Why are these bikes so undependable and prone to mechanical problems? I would understand if it were run hard but it is ridden at no more than highway speeds. Rarely does it ever venture onto an Interstate Hwy. I've asked the mechanics to install a modified cam chain adjuster which a friend directed me to from her experience, the link may have even come from this site. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by greenmonster on 03/18/11 at 10:08:21 sorry to hear that you've been having issues. What are some of the problems you've been facing? |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Chopped on 03/18/11 at 10:17:14 I have highly modified mine.... beefed up the carb, straight pipes, timing, new frame (rigid) and the only problems I have had were oil leaks, which are the common ones and easy to fix. As already asked, what are the problems? That could better answer your question. These bikes have proven to be highly reliable. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Freddie on 03/18/11 at 10:51:12 The problems are always attributed to valves, cam, cam chain, and once was the piston. The issues were on in that area. All work has been done by motorcycle shop mechanics, with the intention of eliminating errors by someone like me who would be learning as he went. I am envious of the history described below and hope that this third major repair will be the charm and the bike will be as dependable as my Sportster. I chose the bike for the same reason as the Sportster, simplicity. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Chopped on 03/18/11 at 11:38:22 Well then... the Cam and valves can and are contributed to the Cam Chain. There are several, lengthy threads about this. What exactly happened with the piston? Something specific would have to cause an issue with that... unless its related to the valve problems. I valve slapping the piston can sure do some damage. I would recommend you pick up or download the manual from here. With some simple tools, and a little know how (manual) you can fix just about anything on this bike in your driveway/garage. You can save thousands in repair costs that way. Additionally you get the satisfaction of knowing you fixed the problem. The more intimate you are with your bike, the better she will treat you. It helps to diagnose problems too. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by verslagen1 on 03/18/11 at 11:55:22 Quote:
I hope you have people you can trust. Because of the savage is a cheap bike, we usually get the shop novice. Secondly, we know the bike, inside and out, everyone has their little specialty, this is the 1st time shop mech has seen the bike, all he knows is the book. Quote:
stock from the factory, this is the weakest parts. due to the lean burn, the piston and valves can overheat. We always recommend rejetting. Cam chain and guides do wear but because of the design never reaches the max allowed stretch before replacement or catastrophy. I have 2 savages, rode the 1st till it read 46K then the clutch cam broke, I was ready to change out the cam chain anyway. I have rejetted, remuff'd, and verslavied. Nary a problem that didn't deal with a newb on his 1st m/c. My second savage has been more of an adventure. Used '88 with a burnt piston to begin with. Swapped in a engine from an 'o2 along with most of the running gear. It has 41k now. I've had 1 short to deal with. At 20k I put in the verslavy. And rejetted down from 155 to 152. I do all my own work. That is our biggest advantage. When you hear a noise you can work on till the noise goes away and then you know what that noise means. Dependable? yes, I ride daily. And I've only push started it a couple of times. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Freddie on 03/18/11 at 17:29:12 Thanks for the words of hope. I have ridden about 30 years and the Savage is the first cycle that has been such an unpleasant experience; the others were quite dependable and with one exception, were all used. With the exception of the Sportster, I have generally preferred 650s. They always had enough power for me and I am not small. The primary reason for moving to the Sportster was that I use a motorcycle as daily transportation and wanted something dependable. There is an independent Harley mechanic that has a very good reputation -- quality of work and price. Appears I may need to become the mechanic on the Suzuki if I hope to enjoy more carefree riding. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by 2whlthrpy on 03/18/11 at 19:54:43 Quote:
+1 ;) |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Freddie on 03/28/11 at 15:28:59 Just a few tid-bits gleaned from a visit to the local Suzuki dealership / service area: The mechanics' nickname for the Savage is "Salvage." The service manager was adamant that a top end rebuild is almost essential every 12K or so. Needless to say, the bike is not there any longer. The 650 Thumpers have no longevity. I must admit I found all that interesting since I had ridden a 250 single cylinder Yamaha over 16K without any significant issues and it was operated at more demanding levels than the Savage. Just thought some of you might find the above remarks interesting; I did. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Oldfeller on 03/28/11 at 16:53:24 Having read your other thread, I think you have caught on to the real cause of your issue -- the stealership's mechanics have been bending you over the bike hoist and giving you a periodic lube job. Now, you tell us what makes you think the bike is really broken now? Not what they said, YOU tell us the symptoms as YOU see them. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Routy on 03/28/11 at 17:03:53 Interesting indeed. What I also found interesting was 2 yrs ago when I was looking for a used 800cc sportster, I never found even 1 over 5-6 yrs old that did not advertise a "rebuilt" or "new" engine, and as I remember, not 1 of those had over 12,000 miles on the odometer. Interesting indeed. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by gerald.hughes on 03/28/11 at 17:13:02 It is possible that those who had dependable bikes kept them. I love my Savage, and I intend to keep it for as long as I can ride, but I have also put around 200,000 miles on Harleys over the years. The "evo" engine is one of the most trouble free engines ever produced. Of course, like all air-cooled engines, well, engines in general, you have to do the maintenance, and keep an eye on the oil. I find similar kinds of comments on the CL about Ducatis, and various squid bikes-not a lot of mileage, and a lot of work done. I often wonder if it is a function of the bikes, or the dealers. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by kimchris1 on 03/29/11 at 06:12:29 I am in agreement with the guys responses here. I would check into getting a manual as well as listening to the guys advice here. They can walk you thru whatever you need to do. You won't find any better advice or help about this bike than you will here. Check out the search and make sure you change the default, it is set for 1 week. You can change it for up to 1 year.. Good luck and we forgive you for saying this bike is not as dependable as we know it to be..:)kim |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Bubba on 03/29/11 at 06:46:23 Having just fixed up a 15 yr old I bought for $500 I can tell you bringing it back to life was a great winter project. The previous owner had just spent $400 to get the carb rebuilt and an oil leak fixed at a shop. They obviously didn't know what they were doing. In total, I spent maybe $150 to get it running (that was purchasing tools too!). She had told me they wanted another $500 to get it running again. She also told me the carb still needed adjusting because when it did run it ran terrible...but it's road worthy again and the carb is actually pretty much already dialed in. Just saying the project was fun and I learned a lot. Now I can aplly everything I learned to maintaining my '06 which I hope to have for a looooong time. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/29/11 at 07:28:51 Top end rebuild at 12 to 15 k? Total nonsense. Whats he think this thing is? A 2 stroke dirt bike? Barring some mechanical failure, like a valve head falling off & wrecking the piston/head/cylinder, this engine will run to 15 or so thousand miles, then its likely gonna need some cam chain attention, replace it, slap a Verslavy in it,or both,, ,, whatever. Book says retorque head bolts at 6,000 miles,, mine has 20K on it, never had a head bolt touched, no problems. Okay,so, could drop a valve, not common, but not unheard of, either. Then there the cam/paddle that pushes the clutch rod. That blasted thing breaks sometimes. So far, I dont think anyone has suffered catastrophic loss over it. One of my cam chain guides broke when that thing went, but it was the one that can be replaced without pulling the head. I cant imagine being able to get the work done in a shop that you can do yourself. Those guys dont have time to get really knowledgeable about all the ins & outs on such a low buck machine. Low Idle RPM= Death. Slow, but certain. The oil pressure is low. The cam spins in the head, no bearing inserts of any kind, keep that engine spinning at no less than 1,000 rpm. The $$$ spent on tools will be saved multiple times by not hiring someone else. AND, youll have the tools for the next mechanical hassle you encounter. Your son can learn right along side you. The people here can & will support your efforts. A maintenance manual & some tools,,, heck, youll be on your way. Well, as Soon as we figure out that intermittent noise & power surging thing,, |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Freddie on 03/29/11 at 10:15:13 I hate to sound so ignorant here but by asking for a clarification, it might prevent a later problem. Justin_o_guy2 made a comment:Low Idle RPM= Death. Does that relate to the statement I made about turning the engine off if stuck in traffic rather than letting it idle? Thanks. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by OE on 03/29/11 at 10:29:13 From what I've read on this forum the oil pump just doesn't supply enough pressure to properly feed the top end if the idle speed is too low. Keep it set to 1000 - 1200 rpm and it should be ok. Shutting it off in traffic shouldn't be necessary, I wouldn't think. I never do. |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by verslagen1 on 03/29/11 at 12:01:36 1B193D38383126540 wrote:
If you've just pulled off the freeway on a hot day and you're confronted with a long light, desperately look for a way to keep moving. You have to weigh the heat of the engine with the aspect of the light. There are parts inside the engine that are much hotter than other parts of the engine they require cooling, oil or air to keep the rest of the engine from heating up. W/o the engine running, there is no oil cooling. W/o the bike rolling, there is no air cooling. A dead bike is a radiator w/o a fan, just plain hot. Now your cooler parts are taking the heat from the hotter parts, bbq legs anyone? |
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Title: Re: Poor dependability Post by Routy on 03/29/11 at 12:21:40 Always debateable,.....slow down, smaller fire,..... you have less heat, but less cooling too. |
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