Hopefully you can get the price down a bit on the 97. As it is, the $1,000.00 difference will pay for the tools you need to maintain the bike & parts to do the mods & STILL have $$ in yer pocket. Parts includes the shop manual.
I bought a new S-40.I wish I hadnt & wouldnt have if I had found this forum before I did it. I coulda saved a few THOUsand! And, still had a Fine machine to ride. With so few miles on either bike, the deeper maintenace wont be needed before you have a chance to learn enough to deal with it. You will learn what ya need just hanging out here. It isn't critical that you even be a mechanic TODAY in order to learn how to work on this thing, as far as required maintenance is concerned. Some jobs are beyond what I would be comfortable doing, but I WOULd go for it because there are folks here who I believe can take every part out of the cases & put it back together properly & they are nice enough to help others accomplish what is needed. Those jobs that would worry me are beyond any required maintenance in the book. Sayy, jack up the power & smoke tranny parts. I wouldnt WANT to go in there, but I would before I even thought about paying a mechanic to do it for me.
Anyway, I would get a low mileage used one & the $$ saved I would get stuff together to maintain & modify for better power. OHH, & I would ditch the old tires. At such low mileage, they must be stock & the stock tires on mine stunk. Well, the front was passable, but the rear was slimy from start to finish & only lasted 5,000 miles. You can start another tire thread later. It's only been a few weeks since we had one.. Oil? you will need a High grade Yak fat. Accept no substitutes.
OHH, I recommend a really good moisturizer for yoiur face. Those goofy grin lines created by riding are tuff to explain & even harder to get rid of..
Sears has a great sale on right now,in their catalog. For $200.00 a guy can get quite a starter set O tools.
Good luck in your shopping & the "Cash in pocket" technique can work wonders. If you put what you WANT to pay in one pocket & go visit the owner & count that $$ out so he can see it, then if he says no, poke it back in yer pocket & slowly start to amble off. If he calls ya back, maybe it will be yours for the low price you set. If he needs another hundred or two, have a few hundred scattered thru other pockets.
Now, Go savagely bargain for your Savage. You will surely get a huge kick out of the bike & learning to work on it will be good for ya.
Folks? Have I missed anything?