Anyone owned both and care to compare? I'm taking the motorcycle safety course in October and probably will try to purchase a bike in December or January. I figured if I went savage I'd save money in the rare case I decide biking isn't my thing.

Compare things such as.... Size,  drivability, reliability, Comfort,  Etc...

Thanks all,

Kyle

Since I'm a beginner no more than a 750.

What I would do is go to the different dealers, sit on one you may like, bring it up off the kick stand and rock it gently a little from side to side.  This will help you get a feel of the balance.  What I did for the handle bars is, I sat on the bike with my eyes closed, hands on my knees and lifted my arms up and out in a natural position and see if my hands fell on the grips.  If you are riding with your arms and hands not in a natural position for you, you will be uncomfortable.
And last and most important is, what do you want the bike for.  If you want a commuter bike, the chances are the S40 will be for you.  If you want to cruise the highways a lot, you may want something bigger.  I ride my 06 S40 on the highways (60-65) sometimes for 400 miles in a day, and it takes it quite well.  I am 5'10" 200 pounds (a lot more in the winter with leathers on).
I hope this helps

I've had my eye on a Honda Shadow Aero for a while now.  I really dig the styling (the Indian look-alike fenders get me every time...)

But after riding a shadow, I am hesitant to give up my thumper.

The Savage produces about 31hp stock and weighs in at 352lbs.  The Shadow (even the base model spirit 750) produces just 45hp and it's dry weight is 496lbs.

Off the line, the Savage/S-40 is SOO much faster than the larger Shadow.  Around town, that weight difference can spell the difference between a comfortable commute and a tiring one.  

The Shadow did very well on the road, with a smooth comfortable ride.  But starting on a hill, negotiating stop and go traffic,  or making a slow speed turn, the extra weight became a handicap.  I really had to concentrate and make an effort to get it to turn.

What got me was the fuel economy.  The Savage/S-40 will deliver 60+ mpg any day of the week (I've gotten as high as 74mpg) while the Shadow comes in around 45mpg.  Essentially, they'll both go about 120 miles to a tank.  You'll just spend more filing the Shadow. (3.9 gallons vs. 2.5 gallons)

But the bottom line is, what do you plan to do with the bike?  Are you planning alot of solo riding and commutes to work/school/library/postoffice etc?  Then the Savage/S-40 is the best bike for the job.  Or are you planning long distance interstate rides or carrying an adult passenger in pillion?  In that case, the Shadow would be the better bike to consider.

I love my Savage.  It is small, lightweight, powerful, delivers stellar fuel economy and is fun to ride around town or even on the express way.  (over 70mph it gets a bit uncomfortable but that's to be expected from a huge single cylinder spinning at 5000+ rpm..)

I plan to ride it around town and maybe on short distant trips until I get some experience under my belt. I'm sure my better half will ride with me some of the time depending on how well she likes it. But, I'm almost certain she will never want to get off the bike. Hope this helps.

Kyle

Pizza_King wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:
Will that be a his and hers?  Riding double is not the Savage's forte.  On the other hand taking two m/c on a trip cuts the fuel mileage in half -- but adds tremendous safety benefits.  Two bikes means that if one drops the other will be able to care for injuries, call for help, etc; if one bike breaks both can hop on the other and get parts, whatever.

Unless you are both feather weights I wouldn't ride double on an S40.

I doubt she will ride that often. I imagine some on weekends but for the most part it will be just me commuting to work, cruising around, with the occaisional trip out of town most likely with her.

I'm young and in college, I'm 5'8'' on a good day and weigh around 200. No accidents as of yet knock on wood just a speeding ticket in a 4x4 I use to own that had 40 inch tires and speedo was off 20mph. I DD a 6 speed trans am with the LS1 motor and haven't had any problems as of yet knock on wood again. I live in a small town with a population of around 8k. I only want the bike to ride to work, school, cruise, and some small trips no more than an hour away at this point. Savage has my eye b/c of cost. Going with a shadow will cost me atleast double the savage and since I'm new I didn't want to get in over my head.

Can I still consider a Savage or do I need to lean towards a shadow?