Hutch wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:12:High back at you Tpippah,
I guess I just am stuck in the 60-70s. Things were simpler then. With the bare minumum of tools you could fix almost anything on the side of the road. It was nothing to see a hood up and later see the guy driving around. Now they call a wrecker. Everybody raved about cars with electronic ignition, last forever. The only problem is when it goes it's with no warning. At least points start missing as a warning. Sprocket(chain) teeth start showing wear. Belts just break and you are stranded. The main thing I don't like is being stuck with what the manufacturer has given you. I like to be able to choose how fast I take off or what my top speed can be. It's not that I want to go 120mph, but if that is what it takes to run 75 at a lower rpm that is what I will do. With the wide torque band of the Savage I feel that not much would really be lost in acceleration. I will gladly sacrifice durability for fixability any time. What do you expect.from a compulsive tinkerer? Most car and motorcycle manufacturers run on the same principle. They try to make their product so complicated that the average person can't fix it. Bottom line, most of them make more off repairs than they do sales.
Let me know if you find RE.
RIDE SAFE
My .02
I'd rather have the belt honestly for this bike. The reason I say this is because its an in town low"er" speed bike due to just being a thumper. I'd agree with you on the chain drive on middle weight (8-900 cc) v-twins or larger (if you are lower RPMS for highway driving). The counter balancer in the Savage does a good job, for the most part.
As far as the "good" ol' days. Well lets face it, the vast majority of people drive their car. They don't maintenance it themselves. What I call old technology (carberation, points ignition, ect) has a linear decline to it. It slowly gives out. Honestly its nice you can fix it (had 74 Nova with a 235, then upgraded to 350) but I don't think I want to go back. Of coarse I'm a bit younger than you hutch (not ment to offend) so I've grown up with the computerized car....
While todays technology adjusts itself (sensors, ect) until I just breaks down and causes a failure. Most modern cars CAN run in what techs call "limp" mode. One sensor's out, but the car runs like a$$ so you can get it back to the shop. The problem with most folks is that it's all on computer bus technology (read wires and harnesses everywhere). You need a computer to diagnose and fix your problem.
I don't know what to say outside of that's why I pay a technician (not a mechanic) to fix my car.
I see both sides on the chain vs belt issue. I just think this particular bike is suited to belt that's all.
- Roadie