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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> New old guy here
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Message started by LeadfootLambert on 05/15/13 at 17:14:47

Title: New old guy here
Post by LeadfootLambert on 05/15/13 at 17:14:47

I found this forum while searching for Savage info, I am currently helping a friend [coworker] who is on an extremely low budget, He was given a 1986 Savage 650 by another co worker, I decided tom take on the repair parts and labor of the bike and another coworker offered to pay the registration of the bike once it's up and running, the owner of the company paid for his motorcycle safety course, so this is a company wide charity build kinda cool!
I will have several questions for you guys as I am not real familiar with Japanese bikes, although I had a few in my younger days.
I have ordered most parts needed to complete the bike. needle and seat, throttle cable, battery, gas tank mounting bracket and rubbers, Raptor petcock etc. Parts should start rolling in this Friday!

Title: Re: New old guy here
Post by Digger on 05/15/13 at 19:32:19

We're here!

Title: Re: New old guy here
Post by mpescatori on 05/16/13 at 04:16:43

Hello LeadFootLambert, this is Maurizio from Rome, Italy.

I too was one of those "Who, me? Japanese bike?" and rode Guzzis and BMWs for the better part of the last 25 years before meeting the Savage.

Love at first sight. I own an '88, 4-speed.

Wonderful piece of machinery, it'll work its ass off for you provided you keep in mind she's a mule, not a yearling for the Kentucky Derby !

;)

Title: Re: New old guy here
Post by ToesNose on 05/16/13 at 04:21:40

Hey Lambert, welcome to the forums and may I say it's very cool what you and your co-workers are doing to help a friend out. Check out the Technical Section to get a head start on what you need to do before the parts come in, here's the link to the Table of Contents-

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1181745927

Title: Re: New old guy here
Post by Pine on 05/16/13 at 14:37:50

Welcome Lambert!

Cool for the group effort. Show us some pics! The bike and group. Remember ebay is your friend (versus the dealership) most times.

Title: Re: New old guy here
Post by verslagen1 on 05/16/13 at 15:53:06

You might want to clue us in to what you find wrong with the bike so that we can give you our advice.

Such as (but not related to what you've said)...
bike leaks oil from the head: gonna replace the head gasket.

Our Advice: maybe the head plug, clean and isolate leak. even if it leaks a little from the bottom bolts, retorque and locktite may cure it.

Title: Re: New old guy here
Post by shovelbum87 on 05/17/13 at 17:21:29

3F2237213133263D203B520 wrote:

Title: Re: New old guy here
Post by Steve H on 05/17/13 at 18:32:26

I've got an 87 and have no complaints at all with the 4 speed. I've ridden 5 speeds all my life and once you get used to not shifting to 5th, it's fine. The gearing is plenty tall enough, doesn't sound like it's winding out or anything.

Title: Re: New old guy here
Post by Dave on 05/18/13 at 04:37:31

7A61667F6C656B7C64313E090 wrote:

[quote author=3F2237213133263D203B520 link=1368663287/0#2 date=1368703003] ;)

mpescatore I am curious since we have similar bikes, and mine is not yet on the road, what is your opinion of the 4 speed, do you feel it has enough or do you constantly feel that one more gear would really help?[/quote]

Even those of us with 5 speeds keep looking for one more gear! ;D
The ratio of the top gear on the 4 speed and 5 speed is very close, so cruising is about the same. The ratio change on the 5 speed version has very little change on the 4th/5th gear shift.....we all wish that the 5th gear was much taller.

Title: Re: New old guy here
Post by shovelbum87 on 05/18/13 at 08:32:24

Awesome Thanks Guys! I was worried about only having 4 gears. My previous 250 was a 5 speed and I was still looking for another gear!