I've been a '96 Savage owner for about 6 weeks now and I'm new to the forum.  I'm also a new rider.  Can someone describe how to jump start a Savage?  Can you jump it off a regular car battery?  Can I se standard auto cables?  I did a search already and didn't come up with the answers I'm looking for.  Thanks!

But if you have too jump start it. Take a long phillips screwdriver and slide some correct size tubing over it leaving room at the top for the + jumper clamp and only the tip of the SD uncovered. You could wrap it with a couple layers of electricans tape also. If you observe polarity you cannot hurt anything Ie + to + and - to -. Then have someone help you by carefully threading the sd blade down to the + savage battery terminal. You can do this with the seat on if you move the rubber cover over the positive terminal out of the way first. Then crank away. It is difficult to do this by yourself as you lack a third hand. I usually use a booster pack to accomplish the same thing as I've given away all my jumper cables. If you want to make a cycle set. Get 10 ft. of #10 wire and some color coded alligator clips that open big enough to attach to the battery terminals for one end. Smaller clip can be used on the cycle end . Radio shack and most other big box stores will have them. I save them off old battery chargers as they are throw away when the break.  Do remember that the Savage alternator is mariginal in capacity and SAMM is correct you ned to charge the battery with a charger to really do it correctly. But if it is time to ride and you are otherwise ready to run a tankful through it should restart after that 100 miles or so.

If you do jump it off a car, make sure the car is NOT running.  This is true for any motorcycle.

It's so light, why not push-start it?

I've amanged to push start mine ONCE.  I think the trick is to do it in second gear, though.