Paladin. wrote on 02/04/08 at 06:19:47:



Excellent points, Paladin.  I hadn't though about it like this.  I'm from the old school.  I retract what I said.

Arthur wrote on 02/04/08 at 06:29:31:
Obviously Old School!  You're a gentleman and a scholar and there's few of us left.

IF You go to the trouble & expense of buying replacement electronics, make sure to wrap & protect from any EMP attack losses.

skrapiron -FSO wrote on 02/04/08 at 07:31:00:

Wow – why do some of you guys respond to criticism of a motorcycle as though I’m saying bad things about your mother’s virtue?
If you really must get so defensive and pedantic about it, here we go:

Slow compared to what?
Well, how's about you show me the list of bikes over 600cc that will only make a top speed of 79mph.  Even a Virago 250 will do 75.  Plenty of 125s will do over 100mph.  It’s hard to name a bike over 400cc that is slower.
Underpowered.  Do I really have to explain that 30hp (or maybe its as as bad as 27) from a 650cc lump is low?  Do I really need to list 450, 400, 350 and even 250cc singles that make more power?
I know the Savage has a deliberately long-stroked engine to give it its characteristics, but it’s still running at least 10-15 hp below what a low-revving 650 single should be putting out.  I can overtake cars more safely on my single cylinder 400cc off-roader than I can on a Savage.
Handling.  I didn’t say it handles like a school bus – check my post again.  I may have said it handles like a crock.  It does.  Anybody who thinks a bike with that kind of steering head angle handles needs to learn what it’s like to ride a bike with more practical steering geometry.  Hey, why not even admit that the world is round and try riding a sports bike on occasion – you’d not be saying the Savage handles much longer.  No custom bike with long forks handles well – they just can’t.  Think simple - sports cars handle well, limousines don’t.
Find you another 650cc single small cruiser still in production.  Hmm – is that like, find me another natural satellite of the Earth, apart from the Moon?  I don’t recall there having been all that many 650cc single small cruisers – or does my memory fail me?  It’s still in production because it’s a cute bike, it luckily fits under European power limits for learner riders, and because it doesn’t have direct competitors.

For heavens’ sake.  Don’t be so defensive.  The Savage is a great little bike, but I’ll repeat what I said before.  It has too little power, poor brakes, poor handling and a few design quirks.  It’s still a nice thing, and I like it despite its weaknesses.

If some people think it handles well, and think it has plenty of power, well good for them, I just don't agree with them.  I have a friend who thinks big fat ladies are more attractive than those with a firm 36/24/34 figure.  I don't agree with him either.

Too slow???  Just how muc OVER the speed limit do you want to ride?  I ride mine 70-75mph all day long on the interstate and still have power to pass slower traffic.

Under powered?  Compared to a fuel injected, computer controlled sport bike, the only way you can meet clean air standards with a carbeureted engine is to choke it down.  You want to pregnant dog about it being de-tuned, yell at the EPA, not the bike..

Handles like a crock.  Again, your apples to horse cart comparison of a cruiser to a sport bike.  Dude.... It is a cruiser.  It is not designed to lean over at 85* angles through a turn.  It's not designed to allow you to take 90* turns at 50mph.  It's a cruiser.  You sit back and enjoy the ride.

You suggested expanding my horizon and trying a sport bike?  Been there, didn't like that.  The riding position sucks for long distance travel.  My wrists hurt, my back hurt and my legs were uselessly cramped from being in the same position for too long, the passenger accomodations are spartan at best and you can't carry anything other than your wallet.  SO what's the point?  Oh thats right.  Go fast..  Satisfy that testosterone urge...  No thanks.. I'm too old for that kind of bravado.

Why are we so defensive?  Hmm.  This is a Savage forum.  We're all pretty much satisfied with our bikes.  Then along you come telling us what a dog it is and how we should expand our horizons... Its comparable to preaching from the Koran in St. Peter's square on Easter...

skrapiron -FSO wrote on 02/04/08 at 08:39:24:
Well, it’s certainly generated the same kind of reaction.

Speed and power: the thing just doesn’t pull hard enough at low or high speed.  Even for a long stroke carburetted air-cooled engine, it’s producing way under what we should get.  As I’ve said many times, I LIKE the bike.  To be honest I just think it’s a shame Suzuki didn’t produce a full power version, with a better head and cam.  Fact remains it is under-powered and slow, whatever people say.  

Handling:  yes, I agree, and I wouldn’t expect or want it to keep up with a race replica, but the whole point is that no cruiser handles well, they’re cruisers, and you have to live with awful handling if you want the looks and the riding position.  Why deny it?

Like I said I LIKE THE SAVAGE.  I like it a lot, but that doesn’t mean I will stick my head in the sand if somebody suggests it’s not perfect, or scream heresy if somebody criticises its obvious faults.

KwakNut wrote on 02/04/08 at 08:50:41:

Well, what did you expect?  You are in the Vatican and you just told the Pope there is no God?  What's your purpose here?  To enlighten us heathens?

For the record, my savage acelerates up hill from 65 to 75 in a blink of an eye (ok I couldn't blink cause of popping eye effect, so it really is a few seconds) and will do 86 up same hill.  On the flat I'm well over that, but that was purely accidental    Also, speedo is nearly deadnuts on.  I have a VR1 and occasionaly will check the speedo on neighboring cages.