SuzukiSavage.com - Savage underpowered???

klx650sm2002 Serious Thumper Offline The more I learn the less I know. Posts: 2041 Cumbria,England Gender:	Re: Savage underpowered??? Reply #15 - 10/15/04 at 04:10:13 4th + 5th may well be "overdriven" but they are still under geared. Clive W
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AL_DOWN_UNDER

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Re: Savage underpowered???
Reply #16 - 10/15/04 at 12:45:25

MY SCOOTER IS A 86 4 SPEED I HAVE DONE 3000 K ROUND TRIPS ON IT AT 100 TO 110 CRUSING NO PROBLEM . I FIND IT CRUSES AT 110 K OR 70 M.P.H BETTER TWO UP WHICH MAKES ME THINK ITS MORE OF A VIBRATION PROBLEM MORE THAN LACK OF TOP SPEED.AS FOR CLIMBING HILLS MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I REACH THE TOP : OF THE HILL I FIND I HAVE TO BACK OFF IN A HURRY AS ONCE THIS THING START THUMPING IT JUST KEEPS GOING . AS FAR A LOW END ,GET INTO 2ND AND GIVE HER A GOOD TWIST , I ALWAYS FIND IT LEAVES MY HEAD BEHIND , I STILL GET QUIET A SUPRISE AT THE LOW END TOURQE THIS THING HAS Cheesy

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Mr 650

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Re: Savage underpowered???
Reply #17 - 10/16/04 at 20:29:47

klx650sm2002 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

4th + 5th may well be "overdriven" but they are still under geared.

Clive W Cheesy

C,
If you are suggesting a 6 speed, I think that might be good for a little more top end, but the 4 speed guys say that extra cog was not required on the early models and some even prefer the 4 speed. The 28 hp and the flat torque curve is only going to be able to do "X" amount of work. The LS650 is sort of self govening with or with out a rev limiter the thing feels like it is 'done' about 6500 rpm. Suzuki already has 4th and 5th "stacked" pretty close together already.
I think that any more gear reduction than a taller tire will start to kill torque noticably.
I am about 155lbs and I think a smaller "sprocket" (pulley?) on the rear would tend to make the bike sluggish w/ a larger rider and/or touring load.
I have purchased a 150/90-15 Dunlop to slow the motor in high cog a bit, hopefully reducing vibs at 70 mph and perhaps a bit more top end w/o reducing torque up through the gears. I hope it will fit OK. Won't be riding much more as work will have me coverd up the rest of the year. It will be next year by the time I get the tires changed, fitted and tested. Will let you know how it goes.

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Paladin.

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Re: Savage underpowered???
Reply #18 - 10/16/04 at 22:12:19

Like others have said -- you pick the bike to suit your wants and needs. I was looking for a little bop around town cruiser with freeway capability. A 250 would have sufficed -- I was looking at the Virago, Rebel, and the GZ250 Marauder. Then I found the Savage -- only 50 pounds heavier and massively over-powered.

If I wanted a touring bike I would have gotten a touring bike. What I wanted was a lightweight nimble cruiser to ride to work, the store, friends' houses, etc.. It is what I have.

Underpowered? The classic British motorcycles from the 50's and '60's were 650cc and smaller.

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Savage_Greg

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Re: Savage underpowered???
Reply #19 - 10/17/04 at 03:55:47

Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

Underpowered? The classic British motorcycles from the 50's and '60's were 650cc and smaller.

Not to flip-flop on this topic, but it sort of ironic that the British singles from the 50-60's actually produced more horsepower then the Savage. It was the Brit bikes and then the Jap bikes that finally caused Harley to improve on their performance levels too.

However this point does suggest that more power could be gained from the Savage engine.

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klx650sm2002 Serious Thumper Offline The more I learn the less I know. Posts: 2041 Cumbria,England Gender:	Re: Savage underpowered??? Reply #20 - 10/17/04 at 04:10:43 The 150/90/15 will raise your gearing by 7.6% so where you were doing 60 you will do 64.5,If you still only do 60 then you will lose 300rpm's. Clive W
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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: Savage underpowered??? Reply #21 - 10/17/04 at 04:24:41 Mr 650 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10: I have purchased a 150/90-16 Dunlop to slow the motor in high cog a bit, hopefully reducing vibs at 70 mph and perhaps a bit more top end w/o reducing torque up through the gears. I hope it will fit OK. I'm hoping that 150/90-16 is just a typo
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Re: Savage underpowered???
Reply #22 - 10/17/04 at 06:04:51

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

...
However this point does suggest that more power could be gained from the Savage engine.

One of the reasons I picked the Savage was the 8.7:1 compression which means I can run the low-octane stuff they sell instead of gasoline here in SoCal.

The old hot-rodders, to increase HP, one would use a thinner head gasket or mill the head a few thousandths to increase the compression ratio. Has anyone done something to increase the compression ratio on the Savage?

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klx650sm2002 Serious Thumper Offline The more I learn the less I know. Posts: 2041 Cumbria,England Gender:	Re: Savage underpowered??? Reply #23 - 10/17/04 at 07:00:15 I have the ratios 10:1 and 10.5:1 don't know where from though. Clive W
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klx650sm2002 Serious Thumper Offline The more I learn the less I know. Posts: 2041 Cumbria,England Gender:	Re: Savage underpowered??? Reply #24 - 10/17/04 at 07:18:30 Funny things CR,s the first half ratio you get good results, then it is diminishing returns. I think the 10.5:1 might be too high. The KLX650C3 model has 10.5:1 but is liquid cooled and I think has more cam which makes an engine more tolerant of compression. Clive W
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Re: Savage underpowered???
Reply #25 - 10/17/04 at 08:23:08

Back in the day... in the second half of the 1970s, when I was drooling over inline 4s, the rule of thumb was that properly powered MC was 1 HP to every 10 pounds.

The Savage is way on target if that is still the case.

BTW, I would like it if it had sixth gear, or if the fifth gear was higher. It would be nice to cruise at 65mph without constantly wanting to shift up a gear.

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Paladin. Serious Thumper Offline Hamster Posts: 4929 Sunny Southern California Gender:	Re: Savage underpowered??? Reply #26 - 10/17/04 at 10:30:26 klx650sm2002 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10: I have the ratios 10:1 and 10.5:1 don't know where from though. Clive W http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/S40K5/Specs/Default.aspx 8.5:1 CR for 2005 -- I assume previous years are similar.
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Re: Savage underpowered???
Reply #27 - 10/18/04 at 02:37:14

Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

One of the reasons I picked the Savage was the 8.7:1 compression which means I can run the low-octane stuff they sell instead of gasoline here in SoCal.

The old hot-rodders, to increase HP, one would use a thinner head gasket or mill the head a few thousandths to increase the compression ratio. Has anyone done something to increase the compression ratio on the Savage?

I'm considering a little shaving of the head this winter. My only concern is the cam chain tension.

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klx650sm2002 Serious Thumper Offline The more I learn the less I know. Posts: 2041 Cumbria,England Gender:	Re: Savage underpowered??? Reply #28 - 10/18/04 at 06:47:41 Skiming the head/barrel will retard the valve timing so you may want to slot the cam sprocket to advance up again. Clive W
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klx650sm2002 Serious Thumper Offline The more I learn the less I know. Posts: 2041 Cumbria,England Gender:	Re: Savage underpowered??? Reply #29 - 10/18/04 at 06:56:04 What squish clearance will You work to Greg ? Clive W
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