Hello All!  This is my first post, but I have been reading for over a month.  I have had my eye on the savage for over a year, but finally saved the money and got the license (open road here I come).  

I have the chance to finally ride one.  It is a 1996 with 7800 miles on it.  Below are some questions I hope you guys can help me with before I go on my test ride with the intent of purchasing this bike.

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?

Thank you in advance.

Heather

PS This is a great resource, keep up the information flow.

If the seller will let you, take the bike to a Suzuki dealership and have it checked out. If everything checks out go ahead and have the valves adjusted and an oil change. The dealer can also give you advice on the market value of this bike.

socc123her wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

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.

Welcome Heather... and I hope the bike checks out well and you like it when you ride it.  If you get it, you know you have a great group of folks here to cuss & discuss it with!