Then again does and old car handle as good as a new one.

This is a little off topic, but as a new rider how should I handle this.

Today I was riding and looked in my mirror and all I saw was a chrome grill from an 18 wheeler.  I wasn't in a situation where I could let him pass so I sped up, but he stayed right with me.  I finally got to a place where I could let him pass and he cuts right back in front of me, very close.  I had to find a place to pull over and clean my shorts if you know what I mean.  He was intentionally being an A$$ hole.  It's bad enough for a car, but a big truck would never be able to stop if he had to.

Should I report a driver like this to the DOT or just the cops.  Can't report that one because I don't remember anything specific about the truck now  

Oh well, just a rant I guess,

~Joe

I bought an '06 S40 as a first bike a week after taking the MSF course. Prior to that, I had only a 50cc scooter (which is a completely different animal).

I was a little shakey on it for a week or 2. Stalled it at an intersection on the way home, almost lurched into a guiderail. I half-dropped it in a parking lot, scuffing a peg. But after that, I was glad I didn't get a smaller bike. I would have been disappointed in the top speed. Within a month, I was riding it from Lancaster, PA to Frederick, MD.

I now have 1,800 miles on it in 3 months and it is still challenging me. I have locked up the back tire (girl cager turned left) and I have spun the back wheel pulling into traffic. I see these as good things because I consider this my beginner bike and they mean I am finding the limits. This bike has been a forgiving teacher and still has lessons for me.

BTW, the s40 is listed as a beginner bike on this greate site: http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/MotorcycleIntroA.html

I think the Savage is a better choice for beginners than a 250 simply because it's easier to ride - less chance of a well running Savage bogging down than a 250 when the rider doesn't get enough revs (common beginner problem from my observations), and the power comes on pretty smoothly to a manageable level. Another real advantage a Savage has is the ability to flat foot the MC for all but the shortest people (who aren't going to be able to flat foot other MC's either). Personally there are other choices out there for a beginner, but none significantly better than the Savage.

joeh100 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:11:


YES - you can report him, but be prepared.  License plate is good, and if it was a private rig pulling a company trailer, get both info. (the 800 number off the trailer and the state stickers on the side of the rig.)  Problem is it is often too difficult to get all this while being tailed and harrassed.

As an added bonus, most cops don't care UNLESS you also see another infraction that can be fined such as lights out, overweighted truck, wrong state stickers on the rig or other 'physical' thing they can ticket.

These are times when I would like my magic helmet camera working....

Yes, a savage is a perfect first bike

- Light
- Quick
- Nimble
- Stable (even w/passenger!)
- Lots of power if you chose, or need, to use it
- Solid quality
- Not too big, not too small.
- Great for weekends, daily commute or even cross-county  
- And how do $10-20 bucks of gasoline a month sound!  


You MUST not buy new; you can buy "previously owned" from the stealership (or private) with low miles (less than 2,000mi and no more than a couple of years old should be fine) and ask for some form of warranty on paper.
This way your price will drop dramatically!


2008 Suzuki Boulevard S40 MSRP $4399.00 (new)
2007 Suzuki Boulevard S40 MSRP $3899.00 (new)
2006 Suzuki Boulevard S40 MSRP $2999.00 (used <2K)
2000 Suzuki Boulevard S40 MSRP $1799.00 (used <20K)

Good Luck & welcome noob.

I disagree that you have to get "new".  I love to get "new", but one reason I'm not further ahead these days than I am is because of too much "new" (cars, cycles, etc.) in my past.  I found my 2003 Savage this past Spring for $2400 w/1700 miles on it.  It was nearly new condition with a couple defects due to a standing drop on its side.  Motorcycles are unique in that you can often find them in like-new condition with low miles for much, much less than current-year prices.  You'll never find low-mileage late-model cars at a bargain price.  There's always the possibility that the rider(s) abused them, but it's quite likely they just sat in the garage due to the owners' fear, disillusionment, or lack of time to ride them.  I'd venture to say there are riders out there who would caution you to NEVER buy new.  Why give the "stealership" that unfair depreciation?  Someday I'll extend that theory to cars  .  Cars are a bit different, though, because the new-car warranties now are ridiculously long.  Cycles are still at the cheesy 1-year warranty period I think.  That being said, Japanese cycles are high-quality, and my guess is that warranty claims are low compared to cars.  Anyway, a used sport bike might be a gamble due to the potential for past abuse, but a used low-mileage Savage / S40 is likely a safe bet.  My local stealership turns me off, and I'm glad I did not purchase from them.

...then again, if you have it $$$, buy new.

Basically because the ENTIRE life of that engine depends on how you ride those first 500-800 miles.

That is the reason why my 1997' with 6,500mi (about 4000 of those are mine) is burning oil and smoking out the tailpipe a bit.  I mean, it strill runs like a champ and pulls like a tractor (almost 90mph top speed  ) but the truth is that it will need rings and a new piston before it hits 10k. (but I allready have everything except the piston, hey! where was that piston buy group )

God knows what the previous owner did to the poor thing during it's first couple of 100miles.  

...I guess as with everything else in life, it's a luck thing.