Since there is no tach and you really can't see the speedo all shift points are by feel.

The 1-2 shift is between "I'm rolling" and "there ain't no more."
The 2-3 shift is between "I'm rolling faster" and "there ain't no more."
The 3-4 shift is between "I'm rolling even faster" and "am I allow to do this on surface streets?"

The Savage has a fat torque curve and really doesn't care where you shift.  I like the sound of Thumping and tend to shift quite early, just past the juddering stage.

What would be most helpful would be for someone to refer to their 87 owners manual and tell me what Suzuki recommends.  I can then take that with a grain of salt.  The other suggestions aren't all that helpful because I received the bike from my stepson, who never had the manual, it has not been ridden since it was shipped, and I have never ridden it.  While I plan to have the bike fully checked out, I have no frame of reference for how it is supposed to sound or ride.  While I do have 2 Honda V-twins which I have ridden, they are a 5-speed and a 6-speed, so I expect the shift points, the sound, and the feel to be different.

klx650sm2002 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:


unless needed I shift mine very early I am into 4th about 40 or so. it's a very broad motor.
8)

Thanks for posting the information from the manual.  I will start with that and then adjust for feel and sound.  The way I figure, I've got to start with something  I keep on hearing that all bikes are basically the same.  The shift points, though , are radically different from those on the 5- and 6-speed Rebels.

Joel wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:



diddo
8)