My brother has a Ducati Monster 620 and I would like to get a Savage/S40 (yes, still looking).  My other choices are an older Buell Cyclone or a Ninja 250.  

I will mostly go riding with my brother.  He likes the twisties and I am concerned about being able to keep up with him on a Savage/S40.  I already kart race, so have little interest in "racing" on the road.  

Have any of you ridden your Savage/S40 on the twisties with a friend who has a sportbike?  Is there any compatability or will we just have to agree to meet somewhere down the road?

Tom

Hard question - no idea how your buddy rides that Ducati - the savage runs well (better with some help - jets&exhaust,etc) and handles ok (pretty well with some help - shocks,tires,fork brace,etc) but in the right hands the Ducati will run off and leave any cruiser ever made in the curves.

My advice is ... Don't Race on public Roads ...

With the same rider skill level, any sport bike mildly exercised will leave the Savage (and probably any cruiser) far behind, twisties or not. But there are enough differences in rider skill level that the savage can keep up or excel in many cases.

Thanks all... I really appreciate the feedback!!!  

I keep coming back to the Savage/S40, even though some months ago, I came this close to buying a Ninja 250.  I took it out with the owner, who also had some type of a sit-up Yamaha.  When we got to the furthest point on the test ride, I traded with him and felt soooo much more comfortable on the Yamaha.  I need the sit-up-right position, so even if I did end up with a not-so-sporty sport bike, I would still have to change the handlebars.

I really don't have the urge to go all out while riding, I just want to go for nice country rides.  I guess I need to listen to what I am saying

Getting my bike seems to be taking along time, but that's OK, I have a few other projects I need to finish first.  One of these days, I hope I surprise you all with a Savage/S40

Hi Paladin!  Since I live in N. California, can you tell me more about Angels Crest?

Steve530,  do you have any problems when you go for rides with your wife....dissimilarities in handling, keeping up with each other, not other problems

PS.  I forgot to say, I also came this close to buying an '87 Savage a year ago or so.  I even took the $ and my trailer to go pick it up, but it had wayyyy too much rust

Tom

TVRacer wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:09:


http://savage.andruschak.net/Twisties/

TVRacersbrother - hello and welcome -

You have the riding experience and know what you ride like. Test ride a Savage for your brother through an area like what you want to ride in the future riding in your normal style, time the ride, then take the Ducati and ride it like you normally would ride and time the ride. Big difference in times is going to probably lead to your brother pushing the Savage trying to keep up. If you are riding at a pace that allows the Savage to keep up, then the problem shouldn't exist.

If you feel like you're still learning the Ducati and going faster each ride, the above suggestion isn't going to work.

I've put about 3000 miles on my wife's S40 this summer, commuting to work (this involves gravel, country road, and town streets). I've found the bike light, smooth, and comfortable to ride, and the only thing I don't think I would care for is 70mph freeway all day (60 works much better).
I also ride a Honda XR650R - a desert racer - that's been made street-legal. Compared to the S40, the XR is much faster and better handling, but quite twitchy, due to the short wheelbase.

I think the XR is one level up in handling, but it's not near as comfortable or fun to ride on the street. Wish I had a better comparison for you. If it were me, I'd probably be partial to the Buell, but I haven't been on one, so I wouldn't know for sure.