I have been lurking around here long enough so I registered today.  
This forum has been the best advice on these bikes I have found since anyone working in a bike shop acts like:
1. they never heard of the bike
2. its not worth there time to help me with it
3. the answer to all my questions is, " You need to get a bigger bike, man"

I got a pearl white 2005 S40/LS650 back in august 07 from a buddy who bought it for his wife who didn't ride it and it was taking up too much room in the garage.  I couldn't pass up the killer price he was offering ($2000) since had been itching to get back on 2 wheels again since High School. It only had 1,000 miles on it then and since I have more than tripled that amount (3,5000 now).
 I was super happy with bike at first just to get back in the wind, ya know.  Then I started noticing the little things like the backfiring and the volkswagon like muffler sound.  Having some Harley biker friends that like to tease, I figured, "Something Has to Be Done!
 Being a novice mechanic I needed some help so I sought out advice...and after being let down everywhere I stumbled across this forum and bam!  I got excited about the bike again.  I have used a combination of all the information here to do the few things I have done to the bike which includes:
- changing the oil/filter
- removing the badges
- replacing the battery (it was dry as a bone)
- replacing the stock muffler, which I just did last week. my other biker bro had an old stock sporty pipe that we hacked, had it expanded, made some slits in it and clamped it down. It definatly made it sound meaner and lower without that darn whistling sound.

...so thats my little intro to let you know where i am at so far.

I am already planning the next logical phase (as guided by you guys) which is:
- the white spacer
- the carb jets
Is it a good idea to these at the same time?
How can I make it clear to the parts guy to get the exact jets I need?

After that I know I need to do something about the air box and/or the filter. which there seems to be a very wide variety of opinons on.  I am leaning towards the idea I read somewhere here about the 1 1/2" PVC trap with a cone filter on the side...which i like cause it sounds easy but I would like to hear about more options.

well here I am...let school begin (haha)

(just as a disclaimer I tend to ask alot of questions but i will try and search out earlier posts first if I can)

This is a great site mrrock. There is a lot of info in tech and rubber side down. The hardest part of carb mod is getting carb off and on. I got my jets from LANCER. I just put the white spacer on a flat file and worked it about halfway down. WELCOME from another newbie.

One more thing mrrock, make sure you put the diaphram on top of carb back right. It has a tab.

Appreciate the warm welcome everybody...

oh I did forget to say that I am 27 and I live Norfolk VA USA

I do need a manual...Is the handyman photo cd enough or do i need to get the Clymers too?


I'll keep you guys updated on my progress with some pics and stuff.

*here is a pic of me cruzin' a few days after I got "the Bike"

 I really like the white S40s. You got that for $2000.00?? I never get those kind of great deals (except for the deal I got on my new Fender Blues Junior guitar amp).   Can I ask how tall you are? The bike looks like it fits you well.I'm about 5'9 1/2, or 5'0". I don't own a Savage/S40, but have always liked them since I'm a big thumper fan.


   jon

I am 5' 11'' and the bike only feels a little small.  I was thinking about forward control in the future which is no time soon...so i guess that means I am comfortable for now.

There is a thread on the marketplace about having some forward controls made up.