I am a newbie to this site.  I want to buy a bike for my wife, who’s middle aged, short and inexperienced.  
What are the strong points of owning a Savage?  
What are the weaknesses of the Savage?
Are they reliable?  
Will it last into high mileage?
Anything you can tell me about the Savages would be most appreciated.
Thank You in advance,
Slug Ascot

The bike isnt complicated mechanically.The folks n this site have given me the confidence to go ahead & grab a wrench & do what needs done. The prices for service at a dealership PLus the wait time were enough to help me get brave. It's easy to work on. Get a manual & some tools & you will have a blast.
I bught a new one, because I hadnt found this site & I wanted a warranty. If I knew then what I know now I woulda got a used one, hopefully, one that the carb had been jetted on & a decent exhaust was on.
I like the bike for short folks, My daughter is getting mine & she is 5'2". It has power to get out of the way, but not anything that will wheelie out from under someone just trying to take off. It's a good solid ride. I have 15,000 on mine & no "warning" signs of it being worn out & I have ridden it as hard as I am able. Welcome to the site,

Thanks to those whom have replied and to those whom will in the future!  A great big thanks!
I am a member of FSSNOC (Four Stroke Single National Owner Club), so I'm somewhat familiar with the singles and their charateristics.  My Ascot is pretty smooth for a single, due to good engineering in the counterbalance department.  Hows the Savage vibration at the handle bars?  My wife complained about the GZ 250's vibration that she rode during the MSC (Motorcycle Safety Course), and it was a twin.  Give me a rating on the handle bar vibration from 0 (zero) to 5, 0 (zero) being absolutely no vibration and 5 being intolerable vibration.  How would you rank it?  I'll search this site for ideas on how to farther reduce what it may be, but I'd like to get an idea on where I'll be starting from.
Thanks again,
Slug

My 96 has minimal vibration, less than 1 on your 5 point scale. I think many Savages have unbalanced, incorrectly mounted (not centered) or flat spotted tires, never serviced front forks with low fluid or destroyed fluid, loose engine and other mounting bolts and turbine engine/electric motor vibration expectations . Mine is a very different ride than my B-i-L's well used 87, but I think his is easily fixable. Max FSSNOC #3608, both bikes picture on the back of the FSSNOC calendar. And now another shameless plug for FSSNOC-Four Stroke Singles National Owners Club -  it is never too late to join, the next lunch is in Spray, OR the 30th of June. This is a great riding area as the BMW group was there this weekend, HD group a couple weeks ago, PNWRoadRiders got there Spring and Fall with some down other times during the year. This years t-shirt has Greg's lovely Savage engine picture on the front almost life size.  Hope to meet some of you there, info at FSSNOC.org

Personally, I think that anyone who desires to ride a bike and then complains about vibration should just go back to a cage.  A motorcycle is a small machine with a few cylinders, and it WILL VIBRATE.   Some do it more and some less ... it is the nature of the beast.  If you want to ride then get used to it, it is pat of the wonderful mystique of the experience on this type of machine.
Anyone who wants a vibration free ride should stay in the cage.    8)

My wife is short in height and the legs.  The Suzuki Savage is one of the few bikes she can sit on AND touch the gound solidly with both feet.

Watch that darn muffler though ! ! !  Just found out today that she burned her right leg on the muffler a week ago  and she did not tell me.  I finally saw a bandage on the bathroom counter almost 10" in length !  I am going to work on finding her a "leg guard" for her right leg similar to what baseball players wear so they don't take a foul ball on the inside of their leg.  That muffler gets hot enough to cook breakfast on.

Buy a good pair of gel gloves.  I have a thick sheep skin seat cover and it helps.  Good advice on getting wheels balanced and having everything in specs.

RIDE SAFE!