SuzukiSavage.com - What year Savage is best

Scooter Ex Member	What year Savage is best 01/13/07 at 09:16:37 I am not as strong as I used to be and I think I have shrunk as well so I am thinking of trading in my Honda Spirit VT 1100 for a Savage LS650 / S40. Is there a year Savage that is better than other year? Or should I just go for a 2007 model. Thanks for your advice.
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babbalou Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 814 Lewisville, Texas Gender:	Re: What year Savage is best Reply #1 - 01/13/07 at 10:09:55 Not much difference year to year but the plug leak was fixed in 2002. The 2005 had a few styling changes & some like the seat better but some don't like the drag bars as much as the pullbacks on earlier models.
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Savage_Greg

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Re: What year Savage is best
Reply #2 - 01/13/07 at 10:12:58

BBQGeo wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

I am not as strong as I used to be and I think I have shrunk as well so I am thinking of trading in my Honda Spirit VT 1100 for a Savage LS650 / S40. Is there a year Savage that is better than other year? Or should I just go for a 2007 model. Thanks for your advice.

I might be a bit biased in saying that 2000 is Best, but I'd also be joking too. Of course, newer is better, but really there have only been a few changes in 20 years.

If I had to choose, I would find out what year the Savage40 recently changed some of the handle bar controls. I'd go for the year they changed the headlight switching if I wanted to get a used one...

Sorry, but I can't remember when that was...

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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: What year Savage is best Reply #3 - 01/13/07 at 10:34:28 Same as Greg, I'd say to get a 2005 or later to have the latest changes, including auto shutoff of the headlight during starting. I love my 98 though. I just installed a small toggle switch in the top/back of the headlight bucket which I turn off when I park and turn on after starting.
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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: What year Savage is best Reply #4 - 01/13/07 at 13:52:27 Isn't there also a "flash" feature on the headlight switch? I also thought there was some kind of change with the parking light....dunno
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geo

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Re: What year Savage is best
Reply #5 - 01/13/07 at 15:22:26

I like my 2002. I like the handle bars on this model much better that the new ones. It isn't an appearance thing, it is a comfort thing.
This bike fits me perfectly. I just wish the seat would not make my butt go numb after thirty miles.
The seat looks a lot like my old 1969 Yamaha DT1B 250. I don't remember that Yamaha seat giving me this much trouble.
I don't ride very far anyway, so I haven't done anything about the seat. If you ride longer distances, you will have to do something about the seat.

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Black 2002 Savage with SuperTrapp 13 discs, Dynajet Kit-DJ144, K&N drop-in, NGK-Iridium, Windscreen, Amsoil 10w-40, Metzeler ME880's

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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: What year Savage is best Reply #6 - 01/13/07 at 15:51:46 I thought the later models also had a gel seat. Dunno if it's better than my old one or not.
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Hutch Serious Thumper Offline till death do us part Posts: 1035 Birch Run, MI. U.S.A. Gender:	Re: What year Savage is best Reply #7 - 01/13/07 at 16:07:32 remember also that 2005-07 have went a 5 speed but different gearing so you have lot more acceleration,but less top end for highway cruising
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justin_o_guy

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Re: What year Savage is best
Reply #8 - 01/13/07 at 16:10:00

Left side there is a switch that with just a push flicks the high beam. It says "Passing" but I use it when I am looking at a potential "Left Turn" situation with a cage, too. That or flip my Hi/Lo beam switch back & forth.
The seat on the 05 isn't as mean as some of the older ones I guess. I don't think it's too bad. Could be better, tho.
A later model used ride is what I would do if I had known then what I do now.

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barry68v10 Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 955 Maryland Gender:	Re: What year Savage is best Reply #9 - 01/13/07 at 20:10:44 "Get which ever one you can get the best deal on!" said the miser
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Savage_Rob

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Re: What year Savage is best
Reply #10 - 01/13/07 at 22:44:24

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

I thought the later models also had a gel seat. Dunno if it's better than my old one or not.

I didn't think a gel seat was stock on any. I thought it was only an available accessory. I could be wrong though. Anyway, it's the S40 gel seat that I put on my 98 but I now have to wonder about the Sportster seat since Henk has used both and sings the praises of the Sporty.

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firsts40

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Re: What year Savage is best
Reply #11 - 01/13/07 at 23:44:37

I have an 06 S40, and the Gel-Seat is an option and not stock. I wish it was, after 400 miles in one day you are glad to get off it.
It does have the flasher for the head light on the left side. I was told also they improved the counter balance to reduce vibration even more. The vibration on mine is not that bad at all.
The only mod I have done except for factory add ons, is a plate behind the license plate. My license plate started to crack, so I cut a 1/4 inch piece of alluminum and drilled it to match the holes in the license plate, then mounted it behind the plate. I just use the license plate as a template. The crack was caused by the little vibration it does have, and stuff being thrown up from the back tire. Works great.

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Dana from Misissippi
Riding with Respect

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Kropatchek Serious Thumper Offline Why more than 1 cylinder? Posts: 1457 Alphen a/d Rijn Netherlands Gender:	Re: What year Savage is best Reply #12 - 01/14/07 at 04:58:59 Any Savage after 1996. 1991 Introduction of 5 speed gearbox 1996 Beefed up starter gears with limiter Other things at some years are either cosmetic or "improved"comfort. Greetz Kropatchek In Germany they prefer the 1986 and '87 frames as there is a difference in noise requirement . In The Netherlands not.
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Rockin_John

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Re: What year Savage is best
Reply #13 - 01/15/07 at 03:16:03

Kropatchek wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

Any Savage after 1996.
1991 Introduction of 5 speed gearbox
1996 Beefed up starter gears with limiter

Other things at some years are either cosmetic or "improved"comfort.

Greetz
Kropatchek Grin

In Germany they prefer the 1986 and '87 frames as there is a difference in noise requirement .
In The Netherlands not.

I've also noticed the different states in the U.S. have different regulations regarding lighting etc... according to year model. For instance, my state doesn't require DOT turn signals on anything before 2005. That means the little aftermarket signal lights should be legal. YMMV

http://www.ama-cycle.org/legisltn/laws.asp

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