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Message started by raydawg on 10/13/12 at 21:21:09

Title: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by raydawg on 10/13/12 at 21:21:09

I was wondering if I'm a quick mark, the one the carneys love to see walking down the midway????

Ok, not so cryptic, might help, eh ;D

As a new rider, old but new, it seems the bike manufacturer markets to us with the hope of always trading up to a more expensive ride. I started just over a year ago with a Rebel, quickly coming to an understanding, having ridden past the initial concerns (fears) with the miles clocked, that I needed more bike. Even tho I told myself the 250 served its need, 23 miles of total commuting each day, a bigger bike would be better, and it is, but, my commuting dollars don't stretch as far, and consider I bought a new bike, sold it for less, and bought another new bike, I'm pushing the original reasoning off the concious thought map :-/
Perhaps the one element I didn't consider when I decided to ride out of necessity (ferry lines and waiting took forever in a cage, go to the front of the on a bike, half fare) is that I'd come to love riding itself for its shear joy :-*
So, what's next for me, more CC's as I "expand" my horizon, or do you guys find a grove and stick with it?
I love the bike, it seems my riding style with its torque on the turns and hills where I live, but again, its only my second bike so I compare it to nothing.
So how did you guys start and settle where you are now with this bike, if you don't mind sharing with me?
Presently I plan on keeping this bike and learning all I can to maintain it myself, right?

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/13/12 at 22:26:05

Once we free ourselves from the Madison Avenue , Edward Bernays brainwashing, we can choose for ourselves what we really want. Only man fears loss, or failure to achieve "The Best he can have". Is there something you need from a bike this one doesnt offer? Are you sure bigger is what YOU want? Are you absolutely certain smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient wouldnt be better? Or, maybe a different engine design, still a 650? How about the Kawasaki W 650? No cam chain, vertical twin, chain drive, standard seating position, valves are shimmed,.
Very well built machine. So well built, they cost so much that they only imported them a few years, they didnt sell well,,but they last very well..
Or is "TRading up" just expected of us?

Hard questions, arent they? The exposures we get influence us. No gettin around that,, That many of the things we get exposed to are designed to influence us in a particular direction is just part of living in this society,its up to us to realize we are very subtly pressured to "want" certain things.

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by Serowbot on 10/13/12 at 22:32:25

Many of us, have ridden the ladder up the bigger, better, faster, chain,... and devolved back down to the practicality of the Savage...
Your path, is your own... try something new, if you feel the need, and have the resources...
There's a lot of neat options out there...
The Savage seems to me, to be the option with the most pluses, and the least minuses...
No matter what you ride,... there will always be bigger, faster, smoother, or lighter, nimbler, more economical...

Truthfully,... the stock Savage, is not that great for me personally.... but it has great bones, and I've found what I was looking for in it...
No other bike that I see in current production can do that for me...

It seems to be a good balance of size, weight, power, and economy...
The rest,.. is very flexible...
It's all about balance... ;)...

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by ToesNose on 10/14/12 at 03:49:34

Adding to what JOG and Serowbot touched on, RayDawg you need to know what you need/want without outside influence before you can truely be happy with what ever you decide to ride......... This may take time. How about finding dealerships within reach to you that offer test rides, that way you can try different types of bikes and riding possitions and start to see if YOU feel you need something else. It's especially tough since you haven't ridden alot of bikes and don't know what you may be missing out on, or know how good you hve it on the LS650 :)

For me I wanted a Thumper and something that needed minor maintenance, the LS650 does this and more for me. Eventually when my son is in school and I have more time for myself and wrenching I'll probably add a Royal Enfield UCE to the garage since I like a standard riding possition better then a cruiser and love the old Britt bike looks ;)

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by raydawg on 10/14/12 at 09:05:24

GREAT replies guys, thanks. Upon reflection I think my first inkling to pressure and doubt, and directly it went to my ego and pride, was the chiding I got with the rebel, for its size. But when a new bike with only 3000 miles on it needed a new top end, under warranty, but without a ride for 3 weeks, only to get it back with issues and a failing clutch, I had a perfect excuse to get rid of it, and get something that in all honesty, fit better, proving those guys laughing at me prior, right.

I recall the first time pulling from a side road, onto a 50 mph main drag (still only one lane each way) and after I committed I saw a car coming fast that I missed at first glance....I rolled the throttle at first opportune and rode away from danger at a speed not possible with the rebel. A piece of the puzzle fit, as to applicability to what one rides, for what reasons, sorta like it gave me another golf club to use in my bag..... :D
As an inexperienced rider, I'm sure more of these equations exist too, but I'm presently ignorant to their presences. Armed with that knowledge, or lack thereof, I feel I'd be an easy target to a good salesman, if I was to stroll into a shop wanting to test ride different bikes, yes?
I honestly feel this will be my ride for years, doubly so if it appears as easy to maintain as you guys proclaim. All I've done to date was remove the seat, to remove and re-install the rear blinkers on the new side rails, for the stock backrest, to attach my backpack to, and affix my old windscreen that I adapted from the rebel to the 650, gottta have that to knock the cold away from me during winter, tho I rode it without, and enjoyed it much, without it, I won't do w/o it in winter, it seems to raise the temperature 30 degrees or more.

Nah, I think I've found my gal to dance with, I do..... I just wanted to see how my mindset (thinking) jived with you who have years of experience riding different bikes....she is a sweet bike, I love the thump, even the BF'ing and farting gives it a distinct personality, just wish it had a fuel gauge or trip odometer.....

Again, thanks guys, love the support you all freely lend. Hope some day I can reciprocate

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by Oldfeller on 10/14/12 at 10:07:28

I also sought the dream of the "bigger bike" and tried twice to get a better bike than the Savage.

XV 535 Yamaha (a very rare bike) and a SV 650 Suzuki .....

Both were supposedly short people's bikes that rode well enough -- but in each case they were bigger than the Savage and didn't handle as well (for me anyway).

So, now I still own the same Savage I started out with.

LOTS of people on the list have gone hunting the better bike.

Guess where we wind up back again in the end.

Cheap advice.

Don't sell your Savage while you are out hunting (unless you just have to).

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/14/12 at 11:28:48

I recall the first time pulling from a side road, onto a 50 mph main drag (still only one lane each way) and after I committed I saw a car coming fast that I missed at first glance....I rolled the throttle at first opportune and rode away from danger at a speed not possible with the rebel

Having the power to cover such a mistake is important. I know Ive pulled the same stunt. On a Rebel, I woulda either got hurt or the driver woulda had to do some good driving,Id rather have a reasonably gutsy ride,

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by runwyrlph on 10/14/12 at 12:28:19

I like my s40 a lot. I don't have any experience on other bikes. I never think I need a bigger bike ...

except for a second or two when I see a biker girl riding one in a parade of "manly" harleys! :)

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by ToesNose on 10/14/12 at 13:01:11

RawDawg there are a number of options for an odometer, the easiest and least expensive being a digital one. A good amount of the guys here have them, and although there's really no option for a true and easy fuel gauge alot of the digital odo's have functions that help you keep track of mileage/when to fill up knowing your average gas mileage ;)

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by verslagen1 on 10/14/12 at 13:11:37

the veypor vr1 actually calculates gas consumption and displays a gas gage.

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by raydawg on 10/14/12 at 15:03:32

Sweet....I will be looking into that option. Seems as I age I forget to do things that use to come as natural habits....not until people complain about a foul odor generating from my space do I remember I forgot to complete the job. Gee, that might account for the flies that seem to call the seat on my bike, home :o

Title: Re: Hook, line and stinker.......
Post by verslagen1 on 10/14/12 at 15:30:50

gonna have to change the name of this thread... "hook, line and stinker"

;D

Title: Re: Hook, line and stinker.......
Post by raydawg on 10/14/12 at 16:30:48

273423223D3036343F60510 wrote:

gonna have to change the name of this thread... "hook, line and stinker"

;D

Oh poop, you're right :P

But we could start a new thread, on a new mod, to the bike.....and don't say that depends!

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by 360k+ on 10/15/12 at 11:23:16

312E282F32350434043C2E22695B0 wrote:

Then by that account, we should all buy Hayabusa's and live long healthy lives 8-) Just like living within your means economically, ride within your bike's performance parameters. Safe defensive riding involves recognizing where circumstances can go wrong and avoiding them.

Finding a "perfect bike" is no more possible than finding a perfect car or truck, however, you can find the best one for given circumstances. In other words, if you were riding down the Baja for 1000 miles on dirt, you would probably not choose a Goldwing.

I've had bikes from 50cc to 1400cc for various types of riding and road (or no road) conditions, but I couldn't say there is any such thing as a one-does-all. I find at my age, the Savage is a good short distance day rider, and for the occasional weekender campout with friends, but there is no way I'd cross the country on one.

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by LANCER on 10/16/12 at 03:57:40

This bike is the low cost leader in the Suzuki cruiser lineup, so it is saddled with the cheapest components like brakes, seat, suspension, etc. However, it is not difficult or expensive to upgrade the comfort, handling or power options.
I ride it because I love the power characteristics of a big single, having been bitten by this bug years ago when I bought a '56 BSA Goldstar flat track racer. It ran like a wild animal, and I loved it. It was fast and maneuverable and ran everything else off the road at the time.
The Savage was a similar creature, though totally civilized compared to the Goldstar, but it does respond well to all sorts of upgrades for power, suspension, handling and comfort.

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by srinath on 10/16/12 at 06:42:16

I've gone hunting ... before and after the savage.
I've ended up ... who knows where ...
However I dont think a 1 cyl is the ideal design for the US roads and traffic realities.
That 2.5" offset triples are definetly not.
I would like to see a 2 cyl 500 like a GS500 motor in a cruiser. The single massive cylinder is a rather painful design compromise. I dont like it in the raptor motor equipped MZ skorpion either. However it is bloody light and with the 5 valve design lightning quick ... I can still flog a GS500 harder though and it is more robust overall.
A 500 parallel twin would do the savage's job quite nicely.
A 400 water cooled 4 valved Fuel injected beauty would easily do all that and more and let you never worry about carbs, and get 70 clicks to a gal.
SV 650 should have been a parallel twin.
The Kawasaki ER 650 should have had a steel frame.
And the blooming Gladius should never have been thought up by any of the bean counters on suzuki's payroll.

Cool.
Srinath.

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by Blinky on 10/16/12 at 06:46:45

raydawg,
Since I am a salesman, and if I sold bikes, I would tell you that you are selling yourself short by not experiencing the shear fluid, rumbling motion of a new, shiny, chrome, 24,000 cc Hairy Donaldson bike. Women love them and I have special financing for qualified buyers like you!

But I don't sell bikes so I will save the pitch. I started riding in April of this year at 62 and have ridden only two bikes, my S40 and the much bent 250cc trainer at the MSF course. I too thought I would just be learning on the S40 and would move up to a "true" road bike in the fall or next spring.

That changed when I took the S40 on a 2K mike round trip to upstate New York in early September. I kept up with Interstate traffic, enjoyed the heck out of it on the side roads, was able to walk after a full days ride, and for the life of me, can't see where a bigger bike would have done much better. It's your call but for me, I have decided just to hang onto the little Suzuki and enjoy the ride.

Good hunting.

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by WD on 10/16/12 at 13:55:43

I've gone through a seriously high number of bikes in the 25 years I've been riding. Big Twins, Sportsters, Indian Chiefs and Scouts, BMW, the Japanese Big 4 brands (1,2,3 and 4 cylinder models), British twins and singles... not counting dirt bikes I've had over 100 motorcycles.

I've pared the stable down to 2 for me, 2 for my wife. I have a 98 Savage that I bought new (and kept while my 44K mile in 18 months VN800A, VN800B-Classic, and 1957 Panhead bar hopper went away) and a 1963 Honda 250cc parallel twin (with an 11K rpm redline). Lisa has a 1996 VS800 Intruder and a 1971 Honda 100cc single (that she's has since she was 10 or 12 years old, her Dad bought it for her used).

Right now all 4 are down for various repairs due to age and mileage but those 4 are what we need for how we ride. The 2 Suzukis for the highway, the 2 Hondas for everything else (both are modified Scramblers aka dual sports).

Do I want another bike? Of course, but I don't need one. Although another Kawasaki Vulcan 800A or 1500 Drifter would sure be nice to play with. But since neither are made anymore and I'm tired of dealing with previous owners' mechanical nightmares...

The Savage is capable of just about anything you want it to do. A bar swap here, seat swap there, different tires or shocks, saddlebags (or not)... there are even a couple on the board that were turned into dirt bikes.

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by tizzyfit on 10/16/12 at 16:39:41

Raydawg, once your on the ferry, a larger cc isn't going to get you across the body of water any faster. Aside from that, you've already been a salesman's dream by trading up and believe me, those salesmen will continue to convince you, YOU NEED MORE CC'S!. The reality, make a commitment to yourself to keep what you have for at least 12 months. Ride it hard and as fast as you can, THEN go test ride a few larger rides. I think, what you'll find, unless you decide to retire and tour the country, the S40 is well suited for a daily commuter. Your mileage may very. If you want to discuss this earth shattering nonsense in person, let me know, I'm down the road in Auburn.

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by raydawg on 10/16/12 at 19:44:19

Hey gang.....I'm sorry if I posted in a manner that gave some the impression I was ready to get rid of my S40, heck no. I think, but based on not much experience, this will be my ride for quite some time, maybe forever in my riding sense. But I wanted to query those with experience of riding how they settled on this bike, SO, I could cement my like for it with validated, experienced, riders and ward off any of my emotions or unscrupulous sales folk who say chicks dig guys who have a big CC's tween their legs :-[ or sumtin like that.......

Title: Re: Hook, line and sinker.......
Post by verslagen1 on 10/16/12 at 20:29:45

Most guys here don't give a flick what others say.
We ride this bike cause we want to. It speaks to us in ancient ways.
We can wrench it, we can polish it, we can paint it. 8-)
Why can we do that? cause it's a low cost bike made with metal parts. would you learn mechanican on a $30,000 hardley? no, and you're worried about the polishin'... got to be HD issue polish. ::)

And when comes to riding, you full control over the beastie. Some of us here can put sport riders to shame. So it's capable and you can pick it up if it tips over. :-?

But if you're trollin' for chicks... you don't use a yugo for bait, get yerself a corvette. But if you do snag a chick with a savage... she's not there for the bike, she's there for you. 8-)

So, what do you tell a salesman? I got 6 GF's, this was the only bike they won't ride b!tch on. 'You need a bigger bike' The b!tch notched over the bike the other day (wanted another round) and I picked it up myself. Put one of those down and I'll see if I can pick it up. And hey what does it take to maintain that iron? That'll surely get some blank stares, or some BS... show me.