socc123her wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:...I have the chance to finally ride one. It is a 1996 with 7800 miles on it....
Is there anything I should be looking for during my test ride that would signal a no go on the purchase of this particular bike?
Is there anything normal to the savage that would seem odd to a beginning rider?
Is there anything I should ask the seller that you think would help in making this decision?....
As a beginning rider you have nothing to judge whether or not something on the Savage is odd. When I was shopping for my Savage one dealer said they stopped carrying the Savage 'cause people were retruning them for excessive vibration. Thumpers are supposed to vibrate -- and the Savage is actually far smoother than I expected.
When I got my Savage the front tire had low pressure, which made the handling sloppy. Apparently the previous owner thought that was normal since he rode the bike about 50 miles to deliver it to me.
Where are you in So Cal, where's the bike? I ask 'casue I'm in Gardena and I am willing to let you ride mine so as to get a idea of what the Savage feels like. Or I could give the '96 a test ride to see if there is anything different from mine.
7800 miles on a '96 is an average of only 800 miles a year -- the bike was a part-time toy. The tires may look good but if they are over 5 years old I'd replace them on General Principles. I've always figured good tires to be cheap insurance.