I came to my Savage through a circuitous, though seemingly preordained route. Got a license 32 years ago, rode a year, then stopped because bike (a Harley Sprint 250) was on loan and I was dumping the bike regularly because I didn't really know what I was doing. Fast forward to this summer, 2005. I was on vacation in August and spyed a copy of Road Bike Ride Metric at the local market in Door County (Door County is like Cape Cod, except closer and less populated). I was infatuated with the Suzuki Boulevard M50 featured in the Road Bike issue, bought the magazine and pored over it for a month or so.  I suddenly knew I had to try riding again, though I wasn't even completely clear why I had to. I just did. So started haunting my local Yamaha-Honda-Suzuki dealer and immediately saw that a Boulevard M50 was too big and heavy, and expensive. All of the C50s and Yamaha V-Stars were too heavy. I ended up narrowing my search down to due budgetary concerns and three bikes: 2001 Honda ACE 750 Deluxe, a '97 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 800 and the 2004 (it was brand new) purple Suzuki Savage 650.  Both the Kawasaki and Honda, while both very nice bikes, felt too heavy (at least for now) to this neo-newbie. The Honda was around 550 lbs. The Savage just felt right, like I could manage it, get it up if it fell down, and it looked really cool, the way I thought a motorcycle should look. Just a classic bare bones motorcyle, very similar to the Triumphs and BSAs I remembered from 30 years ago. The kind that Steve McQueen would ride. Haven't regretted the Savage one minute since purchase in early October and now completely obsess over it. Can't believe I would have such strong feelings or affection for a material possession. What I didn't count on was the worldwide Savage Community, or such a cool bunch of people who ride them, proudly post their photos, help each other with tips and regularly check into this message board. I really now believe that it does take a special person to choose to ride a Savage. It takes a real individual, not a follower of fashion.....

Well  said.  I have been a big single fan for almost 40 years.  My Savage was a FATHERS DAY gift from my son...the first significant purchase he made after finishing school and getting a significant job....he is a good boy.

Had a Yamaha V-Star 650, loved the balance of the bike but being vertically challenged, (4'11"), Had trouble reaching the brakes and touching more than a tippy toe. I let my son-in-law have it. A local shop was building me a bike & when it was finished, someone made him an offer on it & I agreed he should sell it. (Another v-star, lowered, etc.) He called one day & said he had a bike for me, I drove over & fell in love, could reach both the ground and  the brakes. The price was a 1/3 of what the other bike was, weight was perfect. After I got it home, started looking for one for #2 daughter. She also loves hers.

I took the MSF course on a 250 thumper about the same size as an S40.  Wanted something similar, but the local bike shop sponsoring the MSF course didn't have anything in that size.  I hunted around until I found a dealer that had some 250's.  Sitting right next to them was a black S40.  Love at first sight.

I'm 5'9, 190 lbs and it suits me perfect for the local highways.  I like the ease of maintenance, too.

Price.  I budgeted $3000 for bike, helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, msf course, taxes and insurance.  It seemed by far the best of the few choices I had.  Having it has shown me many other positive though.  It's big downside for me was the highway performance and muffler sound.  A little tuning took care of that.  I hope that down the road I will be able to take advantage of its ease of maintenence, but as of now I have had no problems with it.

Kaishaku wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:11:



There is only one cure for this deep seated  craving...you have to get one for yourself.  THEN you will be satisfied...and it does feel ohhhh sooooo goooood..............................especially if you perk it up a bit.

First bike was a CA110 Honda Sport 50 in 1964.  Longest owned bike was a Yamaha DT175, 1974 - 1987.  Had a 500cc liquid cooled V-twin Honda, full fairing, in GB for five weeks toured most of the island.  Had a GS450E with quicksilver fairing for about six months, took it L.A. to Seatle and back.  Stopped riding when got married with kids, circa 1987.  A few years ago the wife got a job, got a new car, I needed a new(er) car.  Was going to get my Company van, but they wouldn't sell to me and I missed getting the information on the dealer who bought it at auction.  Wife asks "Have you considered a motorcycle?"  

Needed a city bike, capable of 70 mph freeway on rare occasion.  I LIKE slim and light like my DT175.  New dual purpose bikes all have super long travel suspension and thus too high of a saddle.  I am not into scooters or sportbikes.  I had narrowed my choices to the Suzuki 250 Marauder and the Honda 250 Nighthawk.  (The 250 Rebel and the 250 Virago have parts that poke my legs.)

Then I read the specs on the Savage -- only 50 pounds heavier but with a HUGE Thump'n motor.  Found a used one in Long Beach, sat on it, loved it.

I was looking for a bike for some time after the two ladies down the block had purchased bikes for themselves...I was so envious I had to get one for myself.  After months of looking at Rebels and Virago 250 machines I sat on my brother-in-laws M50.  I liked it a lot, it just seemed big for me (5'-6").  The very next time I was at my dealership they had just received one each red, silver and black 2006 S40's.  I sat on the silver (looks blue to me) one.  My 12 year old was with me and said, "You should buy that"...I said, "Okay."  

Never looked back...