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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Just bought a 2013 S40
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Message started by greenplaid on 05/02/19 at 07:55:36

Title: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by greenplaid on 05/02/19 at 07:55:36

First post! I've been riding for 3 seasons now. Started on a Yamaha Vino 125, then sold that for a 2008 Nighthawk 250 and sold that to buy a 2013 Suzuki S40. Huge upgrade for sure. So the deal...

$2200 and 10 hours of driving got me a...

2013 S40
6200 miles
Dealer serviced except oil changes
Dynojet jet kit with the largest jet installed
K&N air filter
Delkevic muffler
Few Suzuki accessories
Metzler 880 and 888 tires with a few hundred miles
Also have original muffler

Hardly a scratch or spec of corrosion anywhere.

So since its had Suzuki 10-40 standard oil its whole life should I consider switching to synthetic? I really dont know what to mod since it's so nice...maybe add an auxillary light. Read the forum quite a bit before purchasing and it's been a great help!

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by Dave on 05/02/19 at 08:26:00

Synthetic is a good oil - but the Savage really isn't all that demanding and dino oil works fine......as long as the oils have adequate amounts of ZDDP to protect the cam and rockers from wear.

I use the Rotella T4 Dino or T6 Synthetic...works like a charm and is easy to get and is a bargain price compared to specialty oils.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by ohiomoto on 05/02/19 at 08:36:30

NIce clean bike. Even I might not mod it! :)

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/02/19 at 09:45:22

The electrical system doesn't put out much more than what the bike uses. Add a light and you can overload it and drain the battery. A voltmeter to monitor the battery condition and a switch for the added light can work out. Use it when necessary..
Changing to L.E.D.s can free up some electrons.

Ditch the oem muffler.
It's huge, heavy, restrictive, and ugly.

One of Suzukis best color schemes.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by greenplaid on 05/02/19 at 09:54:26

I have some Castrol Power RS 4T 10-40 unused maybe I'll put that in since I own it. Good to know about the electrics. I thought of getting a 10watt LED and to compensate for the additional load I would use Philip's LED signal and brake bulbs. Is there a relay that works with LED bulbs I can add or do I need a load resistor?

I'll probably sell the factory muffler since it is practically new. I'll think about that. I think it has a 16" Delkevic...it sounds so deep but it is a bit noisy.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/02/19 at 10:53:18

The top end design is old. Oils without enough zddp cause wear. Just because oil is okay with a wet clutch doesn't mean it's healthy in the savage.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by Dave on 05/03/19 at 06:08:16

Most modern motorcycle oils that are made for modern fuel injected bikes with catalyst exhaust systems has reduced amounts of ZDDP so that the oxygen sensors and catalyst are not damaged.......it could be that Castrol oil you have does not have the 1,2000 ppm of ZDDP that we like to use in the Savage. If you can't find out how much ZDDP is in that Castrol oil....I would not use it in the Savage.

We are riding a bike that is somewhat of an antique.....and we need to be using oil that is "old school" as well.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by greenplaid on 05/04/19 at 00:05:41

Looked more into the oil thing and decided to use the new Rotella T6. Thanks for pointing out some things I had not considered.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by greenplaid on 05/04/19 at 00:09:03

Also when I was looking through the papers I got with the bike I noticed one for the petcock being replaced a year into ownership. So I ordered the Raptor one.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by Dave on 05/05/19 at 03:59:21

I don't know what your lighting goal is - but the stock headlight is small and not very good when compared to a 7" light. Cruisers for some reason use small headlights.....it is a styling issue I guess.

If you are doing a lot of night riding that little LED you listed really won't shine any light down the road - it is a "spot" light that is made for ATV's and it will light up the road for 50' - which is not far enough to avoid hitting anything. The light also does not have a verticla cutoff to prevent shining light into other drivers eyes (pull your bike up so it faces a wall and notice how the low beam light has a flat pattern on top....a spot light does not have this cutoff).

There are some LED bulbs you can put in your stock headlight housing that improve the amount of light.....but the pattern is still a bit lacking - but they still are worthwhile.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1546456433/5#5

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by Transp0rt3r on 05/06/19 at 13:38:22

Very nice and clean bike! I have an older twin of yours (minus all the mods) ;D with the same color scheme. I started with Vino 125 too!

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by greenplaid on 05/11/19 at 19:22:33

I tell you...that vino 125 with transmission mods was pretty fun. But going 55 on something that small was kinda scary at times.

Today I got the petcock in. I just pulled the tank, flipped it and changed it out. Tank was 3/4 full and barely any gas spilled. Also ordered a new H4 led bulb. I had one from Xenon Depot that was really nice but it was too tight of a fit so I spent the better part of the evening looking for a slimmer alternative. Ended up ordering a Sealight X2S LED bub and in quite impressed. The low is pretty even with just a small dark spot on the cutoff and the high beam is ridiculously bright. Also I was surprised that the glare was very minimal. And the factory dust boot fit with no cutting.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by norm92de on 05/11/19 at 20:25:32

My advice! Leave the flipping thing alone.

Suzuki knew what they were doing. You are not going to improve the bike, it is what it is, a low performance, nice riding, cruiser type motorcycle. I love mine. Which is more or less stock.

if I wanted performance I would have bought a different bike. There are many bikes out there which can run away and hide from an S40 which do not cost much more money. Am I missing something??

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by ohiomoto on 05/12/19 at 07:38:20

I'm with Norm. You have a perfectly clean good looking bike.

My bike has been made to look old, but other that than removing 2" from the fork tubes, slightly different jetting, the muffler, and using a different battery, my bike is 100% stock mechanically. It works perfect for my needs.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by VortecCPI on 05/12/19 at 10:07:52

7475687723287E7F1A0 wrote:

Suzuki knew what they were doing. You are not going to improve the bike, it is what it is, a low performance, nice riding, cruiser type motorcycle. I love mine. Which is more or less stock.

My wife's bike has been much improved with low-buck and low-time items such as pipe, jetting, saddlebags and a set of fork springs. Suzuki must comply with things like EPA and budgets so you get the bare minimum with a stock LS650. It is so lean and so strangled from the factory it is ridiculous.

Besides... Who wants to own and ride a bone-stock bike? Turning wrenches on them and improving them is almost as much fun as riding them...

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by Dave on 05/12/19 at 11:27:27

2928352A7E752322470 wrote:

While we all enjoy the Savage in the stock form.....it can be improved upon in some areas.

If you want to use it for all day rides or touring - a windshield and some form of luggage is necessary. The factory windshield is small but adequate - bigger ones are also available. The luggage can be as simple as a bag that attaches onto the passenger area.....or saddlebags. The Kawasaki pulley is a great addition if you are going to be over 65 mph for extended periods.

As far as engine/carb/exhaust mods.......the bike runs nicely with just proper jetting and a DYNA muffler. Badwolf, MMRanch and Youzguys have racked up lots of touring miles on their bikes.....the stock engine does a good job of pushing the bike along at the speeds needed to get you places.

When it come times for a tire replacement, a 130/90 rear tire gets you a good selection and is very near to the original 140/80 size and it keeps the handling nimble - and you can go to a 140/90 size if you want the larger diameter for helping to get the engine rpm down a bit on the highway....the larger size and heavier weight does slow the handling down a small amount.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by norm92de on 05/12/19 at 13:35:40

Dave, when I put new tires on my bike the 130/90 seems like the way to go.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by Dave on 05/12/19 at 15:48:18

7D7C617E2A217776130 wrote:

Dave, when I put new tires on my bike the 130/90 seems like the way to go.

It is a good size/fit for the bike...the only downside is that a lot of folks who put on high mileage really like the Michelin Commander as they can get lots of miles before it is worn out - but it is not made in a 130/90 and they have to buy the larger 140/90-15 size.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by greenplaid on 05/13/19 at 20:46:34

I almost consider modifying a motorcycle part of the ownership experience. And I did ride one that was stock vs mine and the difference is quite great with the small number of improvements made.

As of this point I think I'll be ordering a tail bag and just riding it as is.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by zipidachimp on 05/13/19 at 21:39:39

You can remove some of the 'ugly' by tossing the drag bars and risers, and installing a 'tracker' bar directly to the top tree. Risers on this bike are not a necessity, IMO ! cheers! 8-)

https://i.postimg.cc/q7k4DF7c/IMG-2188.jpg

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by jcstokes on 05/13/19 at 23:43:49

Ugly, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by zipidachimp on 05/13/19 at 23:48:15

touche' ! 8-)

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by jcstokes on 05/13/19 at 23:54:56

Greenplaid, if you were to consider a mod, Daves front pulley idea may be worth your while. as you won't be messing with the engine. You will need to buy and machine the requisite Kawasaki pulley and have the tools to install it and very slightly modify the pulley cover. The machine will still look good and stock.

Title: Re: Just bought a 2013 S40
Post by Dave on 05/14/19 at 03:41:11

The machining is already done if buy the kit:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1490012095

This is what it takes to install it:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1484806731