Got a chance today (after the monsoons left) to take the Savage out for her first long ride after getting all the mods done on it.  I must say, I am totally satisfied -- 110 %!!!

Rode just a shade over 120 miles today, stopped and filled up at the appropriate time -- FUEL MILEAGE 50.4 MPG!!!

I was really disheartened after installing the muffler, shaving the spacer and rejetting that my mileage had plummeted into the low 40's.  Then, after a couple of the guys here explained how the air/fuel must be balanced, I held out hope that the K&N drop-in filter would cure those ills.  It did!!!

Power is there for the asking on this bike now.  Went out on Interstate 65 (we're close to Louisville), and I ran with the big dogs and the Savage never missed a beat.  When I needed to merge or pass, just a flick of the throttle and the Thunderin' Thumper (that's my bike's name ) came to life in a BIG way!

It's nice knowing you have that power in reserve when you need it, and it is even nicer to know that the bike will respond in most cases without kicking it down a gear.

Thanks to all who tolerated my huge learning curve with regards to carburetion!  This forum is the best, and the knowledge here is worth its weight in gold!!!

I still have just the slightest of popping on decel, and for all I know, I may never tweak that fully out of it, but if not -- it's all good.


Tom

Congratulations!  I would point out that you should probably tweak your idle mixture and idle speed again after altering the airflow (if you haven't already)... though it sounds like you must be pretty close already.

Savage_Rob wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:


It's close, but I'll probably go back and revisit it again soon just to make sure.

911radioman wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:03:


So does this mean that at one point, after you rejetted, the bike was too rich?

When you revisit the fine tuning of the pilot circuit, do not forget that on an engine with performance mod's like the muffler and carb, it is normal to have some mild "crackling and popping" on decel.  That is distinctly different from backfiring.
So if you have that mild crackle/pop, then know that it is ok.  

Go ride and have fun.

Congratulations....

YOU HAVE DONE WELL GRASSHOPPER

Well, it just gets better and better.  Went this morning for a long ride, about 150 miles.  Figured the gas mileage once I got home -- 60.2 mpg!!!  Part of my run included a 30 mile interstate run doing 75 mph.  The rest was state highways running 55-60 mph.

I did tweak the idle mix screw just a tad richer and I'll see how that does on the little backfires on decel.  It's just a matter of fine tuning at this point though.

Now that's what I'm talking about. Enjoy your "new" rides fellas They really fly with the mods outlined here. Ride safe.

I was wondering what was taking so long.  Thanks for the heads up.  I ordered it from the site that pgolden mentioned as well.  Happy riding!!