Savage Librarian
Serious Thumper
Offline
One Hoopy Frood
Posts: 524
Houston area
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My dad has a Honda Shadow VLX, and I have a Savage. So to compare with that one, since I read that you've had one of those:
The Savage seems to be a more relaxed position, although the VLX seems a little bit roomier. The Honda (at least the 2 carb model) moves down the highway a little more easily than the Savage, but the Savage is far superior to the VLX in twisties and turns. It's also a good bit lighter. The Savage is easier to maintain, with less to worry about tghan the Honda. Gas mileage is almost the same (we usually hit reserve within 1/2 a mile of each other). The vibration is more noticable on the Savage, but that's to be expected form a big single.
The S40 has different bars than the buckhorns on the Ssavage, and the seat is a bit flatter seeming to me. I think the S40 would be better for a taller person than an LS650P like mine, but that's conjecture as I'm not particularly tall. I've packed enough stuff on it to get me well over the 210lb point, and carried passengers that weighed a good big more than I, and it's handled everything well.
I don't think you'd be dissatisfied with the S40. True, you may decide to make some modifications. But we all have. That's the joy of the Savage, is that it is so easily modified and customized to each person's tastes. I bought a C50 recently for longer trips, but I still ride the Savage every chance I get, and my dad asks to ride it a good bit as well.
It's a good bike. Hopefully a little comparision to the Honda Shadow 600 will be helpful for ya. The bottom line is that it's your bike, and if something doesn't work for you, then it doesn't work for you. That's why there's so many bikes. Personally, I'd still buy the Savage/S40 over the VLX, even after riding them both.
Happy Riding.
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