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Message started by RaleighGuy on 07/28/16 at 04:20:12

Title: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by RaleighGuy on 07/28/16 at 04:20:12

Did anybody point this out to folks here??

http://www.courant.com/community/manchester/hc-mr-manchester-motorcycle-life-0728-20160725-story.html

Here's a small excerpt from the article:
"On any given day, LaPenna, who is 5-feet, 1-inch tall and 139 pounds, maneuvers a 300 to 400 pound bike for seven hours. Though she has always wanted a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, LaPenna recently got her first bike, a Suzuki Boulevard S40 with a 650 engine, a smaller model more suited for newer cyclists."

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by WD on 07/28/16 at 05:33:04

Well, they aren't completely wrong. For a small statured rider, the Savage/S40 tends to be more than just a starter or reentry bike. Especially if they find this forum and get the machine working properly.

As issued at purchase, the bike is terrible. Lean surging, belt too tight, cables too loose, bad brakes, low quality underinflated tires... A weekend or two of reading and wrenching turns the bike into a much better machine. A month worth of reading and parts changing nets owners a machine that can out brake-handle-accelerate much larger and considerably more expensive cruisers.

Worst bike I ever bought was my brand new stone stock 1998 Savage. Best bike I've had in a long time was my heavily modified 1998 Savage. My heavily modified 2003 Savage is a joke in comparison. Same basic modifications, for whatever reason is less responsive and gets half the fuel economy. And has a much lower top speed, the 03 is done at 65mph, the 98 could bury the speedometer needle and keep pulling.

If the press keeps referring to it as a starter bike, and it keeps it in production, we win.

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/28/16 at 06:43:55

. Best bike I've had in a long time was my heavily modified 1998 Savage. My heavily modified 2003 Savage is a joke in comparison. Same basic modifications, for whatever reason is less responsive and gets half the fuel economy. And has a much lower top speed, the 03 is done at 65mph, the 98 could bury the speedometer needle and keep pulling.

I sure don't understand why the newer one wound up being less of a good running bike.. Anyone?

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by Art Webb on 07/28/16 at 07:15:00

Production Tolerances

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/28/16 at 09:19:41

Boy, they all added up to shortchange him that time..
I've Heard of the occasional car that just ran better than most.
In fact, we had one. Had a Jeep Sport, IIRC its name, and it Ran. I beat a big dually pickup by a fender length. Dude was Pissed. He wanted to race, and all I had was a stock six banger.
When I got the transmission fixed I told the guy to floor it off the line when he tested it.
He was impressed.

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by Oldfeller on 07/28/16 at 16:52:00

The Older Savages were built by Suzuki in Japan using 100% Japanese sourced component parts.

Last assembly production I heard of "spotted locationally" was somewhere in Indochina using parts competitively quoted from Korea, Indian and Chinese suppliers.

Kawasaki, Suzuki and several other brands actually share assembly plants now as a cost saving measure. Some Kawa and Suzuki engines are 100% identical except for the covers ......

Older Savages used 100% cut steel gearing, the newer units show a goodly amount of sintered powdered metal technology being used for gearing and other uses.

They are NOT the same processes, nor are they even built in the same country as before.

Also remember, over 30 years of technological progress has rolled down the pike since the LS650 was designed.

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by Gus on 07/30/16 at 12:01:10

I would assume that these tolerances OF speaks of can swing wildly in either direction. I have a 2003 Savage that responds nothing like WD has described and its bone stock except the petcock. I haven't even messed with the jetting yet. I'm not sure how fast it will go. Way faster than it should for sure!

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by LANCER on 07/31/16 at 03:30:31

I have a 2009 S40 that with just a wee bit of jetting was capable of 100 mph with conditions right and the high 90's anytime. It is one of those rare machines that is just really good.

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by pg on 07/31/16 at 06:21:36

Lancer, no disrespect intended regarding the following comment. But, you must know your stuff really well because mine is working hard to go 80. :-/

Best regards,

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by Art Webb on 08/01/16 at 07:46:53

Mine would hit 95 bone stock with no windscreen and my lying on the gas tank on a flat road

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by RaleighGuy on 08/01/16 at 10:58:00

I've got a stock 2012 and have hit 90 MPH on interstate but it didn't feel like it was really top end yet. Granted, I only ran it that speed for maybe 30 seconds before I slowed down to a paltry 80. :-/

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by old_rider on 08/01/16 at 15:55:55

Discussion of this type was in the ninja 300 area also.

Mine was built in Thailand... the newer ones say "Made in Japan", but they are still assembled in Thailand.... go figure.

Every motorcycle built now days has parts from all over the world. And a dang good few of them (including hardly Davidson) are assembled in Thailand.

Title: Re: Another S40 "starter bike" article
Post by WD on 08/02/16 at 07:14:59

I'm going to try the 98's carb on the 03.

The 03 is already running the floorboards, headlight, rear fender/lights, and exhaust from the 98.

The 98 right now is still a parts junker, but I'm slowly replacing the entire electrical system to build a different custom.