SuzukiSavage.com - New Savage Owner and some questions

Hard Corps

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Kansas City, Missouri
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New Savage Owner and some questions
05/22/08 at 14:46:49

Hello all-

I just got back from Iraq and bought a 2003 LS650 with 5,000 miles on her. I'm loving the bike and am really glad to have found this site. I've learned a ton already, but I have a few questions.

1. What tools do you recommend I carry with me on the road?
2. What regular maintenance do I need to do on the bike to keep her in top condition?
3. The left side of the engine kind of makes a rattling/clicking noise in time with the rest of the bike. Is this normal with a thumper?
4. My exhaust header is discolored- how do I fix? and keep it from happening again?

Thanks all for all the help.

Semper Fi-
Steve

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Black 2003, Bare-bones, Somewhere along Route 66, Marine Corps Sergeant

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ALfromN.H. FSO Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Dragon Slayer Posts: 1421 Rochester, New Hampshire Gender:	Re: New Savage Owner and some questions Reply #1 - 05/22/08 at 14:50:23 Hi Steve, Welcome back from Iraq, and thanks alot for serving. I'm a former Marine from the 70's. I can't answer your questions but wanted to say Hi and Thanks. Semper Fi, AL
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Sandy Koocanusa

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I didn't vote
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Re: New Savage Owner and some questions
Reply #2 - 05/22/08 at 15:00:08

Others will certainly add to this, but the kit I've compiled for local driving includes:
1. screwdrivers, one each
2. spark plug wrench
3. needle nose pliers
4. 10 mm box/open end wrench
5. 10 mm socket and extension with ratchet
6. folding allen wrench set
7. electrical tape and wire ties
This all fits in the fork bag, where it is handy to get at. Most of it is old and rusty and ugly, so no one will want to steal it.

I used Nevr-Dull to remove the bluing. Proper carb tuning prevents its return. You can find endless discussion on tuning the carb by searching this site. I believe there is a thread titled "Lancers quick and easy carb tuning" on the technical board. That would be the place to start.

Maintenance and clicking will be covered by someone drifting by here, I imagine. I want to know too, so I'll be watching with anticipation.

Thank you for your service. Enjoy that Savage. It's a dandy bike!

Jason

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Savage: (adj)1. Wild 2. Uncivilized : Primitive 3. Ferocious 4. Cruel or merciless : Brutal --- Webster's. (n.) 1. A motorcycle named for its seat.--- Sandy's unabridged

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photojoe FSO

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New Jersey
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Re: New Savage Owner and some questions
Reply #3 - 05/22/08 at 15:11:10

Welcome home!

I'm new to the Savage myself, and found that I grab different tools for different rides, ie: shorter/longer. The first thing I did was buy a Clymer manual. Excellent resource for maintenance schedules and repairs.

When on the road, whatever tools I need to get the seat off come with me, along with tools for removing the gas tank. The user manual has excellent info and is in the bag also. The tool kit that comes with the bike has a lot of what we need. In addition, screwdriver kit with different heads, adjustable wrench and rachet/sockets/driver/allen keys.

For longer rides, add whatever you need to fix a flat. Bead breakers are worth their weight in gold. Extra spark plug, headlight bulb, gaffers tape. I remember losing a footpeg while riding my old 1972 Sportster, so I carry a spare with me which is probably overkill. Changed to Highway Hawk footpegs a couple of months ago, and have the old ones.

Oil change first and foremost. Grease points, check final drive belt tension/condition. Tighten any nuts/bolts on a regular basis. Phone numbers of friends with pickup trucks, or add bike on AAA policy. Phone number of good local shop with towing service just in case. Things happen, and we can never be too careful.

Enjoy yourself, the Savage is a lot of fun to ride.

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FSO

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verslagen1

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Re: New Savage Owner and some questions
Reply #4 - 05/22/08 at 15:12:55

Hard Corps wrote on 05/22/08 at 14:46:49:

1. What tools do you recommend I carry with me on the road?
2. What regular maintenance do I need to do on the bike to keep her in top condition?
3. The left side of the engine kind of makes a rattling/clicking noise in time with the rest of the bike. Is this normal with a thumper?
4. My exhaust header is discolored- how do I fix? and keep it from happening again?

1. In town, my AAA card and a cell phone.
In boonies, supplied tool kit.
2. change oil, adjust valves, tighten loose fasteners.
3. short answer:Noises travel, did you go it w/stethoscope?
long answer: Pull covers and find out.
4. Rejet, check marketplace, lancer sells a complete set.

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Versey's Place
Tech Section Index

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Sandy Koocanusa Serious Thumper Offline Don't blame me. I didn't vote for him. Posts: 1878 Bigfork, MT Gender:	Re: New Savage Owner and some questions Reply #5 - 05/22/08 at 15:20:01 Verslagen, how often do you adjust your valves?
Back to top	Savage: (adj)1. Wild 2. Uncivilized : Primitive 3. Ferocious 4. Cruel or merciless : Brutal --- Webster's. (n.) 1. A motorcycle named for its seat.--- Sandy's unabridged IP Logged

gj859 Full Member Alliance Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 158 winchester ky Gender:	Re: New Savage Owner and some questions Reply #6 - 05/22/08 at 15:55:00 You can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting a Marine. Semper Fi 72-76
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thumperclone

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Re: New Savage Owner and some questions
Reply #7 - 05/22/08 at 16:36:57

gj859 wrote on 05/22/08 at 15:55:00:

You can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting a Marine. Semper Fi 72-76

every time i swing a marine i hit a dead cat!!!whos turn is it to sweep up???
hard corps,
thank you for your service,welcome home!!!
"your service is our freedom"
search the tech section its got a few years of answers for you....

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standing for those who stood for US

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gungho YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 11	Re: New Savage Owner and some questions Reply #8 - 05/22/08 at 21:22:42 I just bought a 2002 Savage, having some of the same questions. I am also a Marine. 96-00 Active Duty 96-98 MCSF Co Naples, Italy 98-00 2nd Light Armored Recon. Bn. 01-07 Army National Guard (bad idea) 08-?? Weapons Co, 3/24 USMC Reserve Semper Fi!
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SuziQ

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SuzukiSavage.com
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Oshawa, Ontario Canada
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Re: New Savage Owner and some questions
Reply #9 - 05/23/08 at 05:46:21

Hard Corps wrote on 05/22/08 at 14:46:49:

Hello all-

I just got back from Iraq and bought a 2003 LS650 with 5,000 miles on her. I'm loving the bike and am really glad to have found this site. I've learned a ton already, but I have a few questions.

1. What tools do you recommend I carry with me on the road?
2. What regular maintenance do I need to do on the bike to keep her in top condition?
3. The left side of the engine kind of makes a rattling/clicking noise in time with the rest of the bike. Is this normal with a thumper?
4. My exhaust header is discolored- how do I fix? and keep it from happening again?

Thanks all for all the help.

Semper Fi-
Steve

Welcome home Steve and thanks for being there for us. To be honest I don't carry any tools with any of my bikes or rides up here in Canada. I often take my wife's cell phone just in case I need her to show up with real serious tools. Only problem is I often don't even know where I am up here in the north country when out for a long ride.

John

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