SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> The Cafe >> New S40 owner
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1397181837

Message started by SGT Rock on 04/10/14 at 19:03:56

Title: New S40 owner
Post by SGT Rock on 04/10/14 at 19:03:56

Hi all. I've been lurking around here a few weeks looking at the Suzuki Savage/S40.

First, thanks to the Administrators for approving me. I know how hard it can be to run a forum while trying to keep the spammers and troublemakers from ruining it.

I've owned a couple of Kawasakis and now own a couple of Harleys. I'm not one of those brainwashed Harley owners, so I'm always open to other manufacturers and everybody on a bike is my friend as far as I've been concerned. I have been encouraging my wife to start riding for some time and she got to like the idea. She signed up for the MSF course at the end of this month and I wanted to get her something she could ride after she finished the course - if you learn it but never use it, it won't do you much good. She isn't very tall, and after some research I hit on the S40 as a probable good fit for her. I found this website and have been searching on lots of topics related to the bikes. I learned a lot stuff from the members such as the issue with oils, cam chain tensioner, petcock valve, to name a few.

I started shopping around and didn't find many in the area, but on a lark yesterday we went by the Honda Dealer in Knoxville and they had a used 2009 S40 with 1,900 miles on it for sale. I looked it over and took it for a spin, it ran great. My wife loved the fit of the bike (she sat on a lot of bikes while we have been looking) and it felt perfect to her. So yesterday we bought it, and while I was sitting waiting for the paperwork to get done, I started signing up for my membership here.

It is in great shape, but I do need to fix a broken turn signal, and I want to put some stuff on the bike for her. I've still got some learning to do and questions to ask. So far I've learned a lot, and hope to learn more. Thanks for the collection of knowledge y'all have created here.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by old_rider on 04/10/14 at 19:17:01

Welcome SgtRock! LOL, that's kinda how I got introduced to the savage. My wife (50 years old this year) decided to start riding last year and after her course we stopped by a used motorcycle dealer and she loved the way the savage fit her small frame.
The fella's here talked me through all the little ticks the bike has and to prove I fixed it up right I went and met them at the annual dragon run (june this year) last year.
Great buncha' fella's and right smart too boot! Course i'm not really an OLD rider...but have been riding for 40+ years. These guys are mostly older than I am and very savvy' on what the savage can do.
I rode my wife's savage from the panhandle of florida all the way to the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground in North Carolina... its an awesome machine... so much so, that I recently sold my Harley RoadGlide and bought me one... I also care not what you ride...its just that you ride.
Again Welcome to the group :)

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by Kris01 on 04/10/14 at 19:19:51

Welcome! This place is a gold mine full of information. I find it very helpful and the members here are very intelligent and willing to help.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by SGT Rock on 04/10/14 at 19:32:32

When you say Dragon Run, are you talking about US129? I live in Blount County Tennessee near the Foothills Parkway and ride the Dragon when it isn't too covered up in tourists.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by old_rider on 04/10/14 at 19:44:12

Yes... I believe it started out with the fella's riding the dragon annually, but now it is just meeting and riding.

This year we are meeting at MMR's place near Lynchburg and camping out for a couple days, (shoot some guns and hit the distillery, and sat go to a bike meet) then we are heading to Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campgrounds in North Carolina (they have comfy cabins or you can pitch a tent) and ride a few roads around there.
Some of us might actually go ride the dragon on the way out of the area, if you are from around there mayhaps you know a few of the better roads in the area that aren't as "populated" in june and could drop in the Dragon Run post and fill us in ! :)

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by SGT Rock on 04/10/14 at 19:48:12

I suppose you probably already know of the Cherohala. They are also supposed to be finishing the extension of the Foothills Parkway soon. We have enjoyed NC28, TN360 and TN68. I keep meaning to rind US64 through the Ocoee Valley, but haven't tied it yet.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by S-P on 04/10/14 at 20:02:00

Welcome, Sarge! Yep, this is a great forum, it has saved my bacon lots of times. Good luck with the new bike! I just got a 2007 that had 2000 miles for 2,000.00 ... it pays to watch craigslist!

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by old_rider on 04/10/14 at 20:02:07

Here is a link to the Dragon Run, 2014 post... you could read up on it... last four or five pages and you could catch the drift of it... page one I think has all the information on dates...

Runs from 17 June thru about 25 Jun.... some will be there for all some for just parts....would be kewl if you and the missus could show for maybe one day or perhaps meet on the day of the dragon... probably wed the 25th ...

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1375308431/345#345

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by WD on 04/11/14 at 00:36:00

Another TN Savage/S40 owner? Cool... I'm on the other end of it, 36 miles NE of Graceland. We had a small get together at our farm last year, might try to put something together for this year.

I'm NOT doing the Dragon meet. Same time frame as a 21 and over rally that is more my speed. I think I'm the "kid" of the group at 41... ::)

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by Pine on 04/11/14 at 11:02:29

0211550 wrote:

HAHAHA

That would be 35 and younger group ... meet that you are going to. For old farts... we already have the tee shirt. Well except for me. ;D

Oh and Welcome Sgt.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by SGT Rock on 04/11/14 at 12:24:46

We might come over the mountains for part of that. I work funny hours so I often can't make these sorts of things, but for now I have some of those dates off. It would be cool to meet some people and see and hear what you do with your bikes. Y'all wouldn't mind my Harley ridding into camp with her S40 would you?

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by Dave on 04/11/14 at 13:19:48

011506003D3139520 wrote:

Other makes and models are fine.....we are definitely the minority at any venue we go to. The Blueride Campground always has some well behaved Harley folks, Honda St and Wings, some sport bikes, dual sports and Adventure tourers.

We would love to meet you and the Mrs. Rock.

Dave

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by arteacher on 04/11/14 at 16:21:10

Why would you have to fix the turn signal? That is a safety issue and the bike shouldn't have been sold by a dealer with a known safety issue.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by pgambr on 04/11/14 at 18:47:29

Quote:

I suppose you probably already know of the Cherohala.

An absolutely wonderful ride, I went there last fall.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by SGT Rock on 04/12/14 at 04:18:33

242F2F262A25243E3F4B0 wrote:

Why would you have to fix the turn signal? That is a safety issue and the bike shouldn't have been sold by a dealer with a known safety issue.

They were waiting for the part to come in. I told them I could fix it myself.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by WD on 04/12/14 at 07:33:30

332734320F030B600 wrote:

[quote author=242F2F262A25243E3F4B0 link=1397181837/0#12 date=1397258470]Why would you have to fix the turn signal? That is a safety issue and the bike shouldn't have been sold by a dealer with a known safety issue.

They were waiting for the part to come in. I told them I could fix it myself.[/quote]

Good choice, they'd louse up whatever they were supposed to do anyway.

Many of us had or still have Harley, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and BMW street bikes of some flavor. Just at my place, there are 2 Savages, an 800 Intruder (horrible bike), a Honda CL100 and our friend's 1500 Drifter. 3 licensed riders (one is way too old to ride anymore) and one who forgot to renew her license when we lived in WA and refused to take the riding test out there because it is designed to fail you... here is easy, if your test day is rainy or in the winter, and you ride it in instead of trailering it in, you pass. If it is a nice day, you have to start it, back out of the parking spot, do one lap of the parking lot, park it, and you pass...

Last year's west TN gathering had riders from TN, OK and CA. The only actual riding trip was to Dixie Gun Works, I took the chase truck in case anybody bought a small cannon... ;D

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by SGT Rock on 04/12/14 at 12:04:21

Glad I didn't invest in the $90 part. Yesterday my wife had a little learning curve lay-down at low speed and broke the already broken turn signal. Until I replace it duct tape is holding it together so that it functions.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by jcstokes on 04/13/14 at 11:58:41

Many on this forum don't like the stock IRC tyres, a popular substitute for the rear is a Shinko 140/90 15. If the part hasn't arrived and you haven't paid for it, check the market place on this site. You might get a good one cheap from someone who has bobbed or customised their bike.

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by jcstokes on 04/13/14 at 12:01:26

Read Uigiroux post on page one of the market place

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by daltmyer920 on 04/14/14 at 13:23:27

I'm also new owner of 2001 with 15k miles you will find entry of usefull information on this site it is exxcelent

Title: Re: New S40 owner
Post by SGT Rock on 04/14/14 at 15:54:01

A member is sending me his rear turn signals he took off for the cost of shipping.

A great community.