Been enjoying this site for a while, thought I should finally register.
I had an 87 savage a few years ago, loved it but lost my storage space and had to let it go. I just bought a brand new S40 and I'm loving it all over again. Although I can't wait to get through the break in period so I can get a new pipe and airfilter.
I have a couple of questions:
I would like to go hardtail and I've seen some nice looking and very afordable struts. I'm a little concerned about tearing up the shock mounts if I hit a pothole or whatever. I'm not a big guy, about a 160 pounds and I definately wouldn't consider riding two up, has anyone had any experience with this?
Has anyone ever had the tank seams rolled? I like the shape of the tank but I really would like to do something about the seams.
Thanks for any insight.

hey,

I made shocks out of rebar.  I'll try and find my original post on that...  no problems with the shock mounts yet, had them on for over a year.  I'm about 200, 210 lbs...

I've benn playing with the idea of picking up a spoare tank to roll the seams, but haven't had time or $$$ yet.

Hey Rob,  Should the make your own struts be a tech sect article?

here's the link...

okay, not much info in there.  uh, let's see, I believe the eyelets were 18mm in diameter, and 14 mm in thickness.  I think I could have made them as short as 10.25" - 1.75" = 9.5"  The 1.75" is roughly the clearance on my bike between the tire and the frame.  If the tire fits between the frame, I guess you could go a little lower.  The 10.25" was decided on because when I sat on it with the stock suspension, that was how long the shocks were.  This preserves the stock trail (steering characteristic).

Rob, okay, I'll work one up sometime soon...

my poor ach'n back

vroom1776 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


can I bring some feather soft progressive shocks with me?

whatever you want to bring!  

Actually, I got a kidney belt for longer rides...

frankly, that seat O' mine is better than the stock seat... but that doesn't say much.  

vroom1776 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:

im always one to stomp a thread
V meet you in steamboat springs this summer..we can both get there w/o interstate(ill carry a gas can)and roughly the same distance for both ...ill even try to talk george into it if he sells his BMr by then

agree with lon (thumperclone) - give me shocks (though better than the standard Savage ones - the only disappointment I had after putting on a Superbrace was my bike still was lousy on a couple of corners near my place - put it down to rear shocks.