So far I have had nothing but compliments about the look of my bike, from riders, drivers and pedestrians alike, all ages and walks of life. It's a fine machine. period.

I get flack at work too. I used to ride a Kymco 250 scooter, so I'm used to getting no respect. Even amoung the scooter crowd, if it wasn't a Vespa, it wasn't sh!t. It used to bug me that folks said I wasn't riding a "real" bike. Now that stuff just slides off of me. I say, if a person wants respect from and for what they own, even Bill Gates' money won't be enough. Eventually, when they'd ask incredulously if I rode a (disgusted tone) "scooooter", I'd say "No, it's a moped."

It never ends. Even if you were to get a HD, unless you got the latest, biggest, most accesorized model they offer, there would still be some in the HD crowd who would still look down their noses, and next year HD would come out with something bigger, costlier, chromier (I just made a Bushism! ) Most HD riders I've met, after the GOOD natured ribbing about my "rice burner", I found at heart are just bikers, happy that they meet up with a kindred spirit on two wheels, regardless of make. Those few HD riders with the ego problem don't have enough respect for themselves to give any to anyone else. Ugh oh, better quit now. I'm starting to get all Dr. Phil.

I get a great many compliments on the Suzuki. I appreciate it for what it is, but I always remember people are fickle. Some seem to like it; for a few others, it's not a real bike. When those folks look at the Savage and ask "What is that?", with their lip all culred up like no matter what the answer is, if it's not a Harley, they're not gonna like it; I say "It's a Puch. Now Puch off!"  
Ride safe,
Jay

I've had a whole lot of road bikes, all 900/1000/1100/1200cc Jap 4-cylnder tourers and sport bikes, a few cruisers and a few single cylinder dirt bikes.

I'm as guilty as anybody for mocking other road bikes - I especially like calling GSX-R1000s, Firblades and R1s 'mopeds' just to annoy their riders - then show them why when they try to pull past the nitroused ZX12R.

But sports bikes are all about power and performance, while cruisers are about character.  I have a ZL1000 Eliminator, and that's a pretty special cruiser/muscle bike which I dearly love (only done 11000 miles since new in 1987), but the unique nature of the Savage really is special.

It's flawed, it's too small for some, it has insufficient power for many people who have owned quicker bikes, and it suffers from Suzuki's budget build quality, but its character, value, simplicity and uniqueness more than make up for those faults - and it's a pretty little thing too!  I'm hoping to get my renovation finished this weekend and get her on the road - depends on how many hours I can sneak away from the missus to complete final assembly of the cycle parts and bodywork, then run up the rebuilt motor, but I can't wait.

I am always the little guy in the pack when I am riding with my buddies who all have practically new big twins. The other day though when they all pulled up in front of my house for us all to go for a ride, there were a couple of newbies in the pack and my buddie who rides a M109R 1800cc turns to the newbies and says while pointing to the FireLizard. That is one bad a$$ little bike"

I couldn't help but grin as I was putting on my helmet and when we all took off our little ride I decided to make an honest man of him and rolled the throttle back and left the entire pack in the dust. Needless to say, they were all impressed with the FireLizard's abilities.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 06/11/08 at 18:11:51:




And I thought you meant his... log... trunk

Wyldman wrote on 06/12/08 at 07:40:13:


As a teenager in Scotland (Glasgow) in the late 1960's the Norton/Triumph 650s were considered the ultimate dream machines  

I remember spotting the new 750 Commandos with my dad when I was 12 in '67. I still love the sound of 'em.

And the Triumph 650 Bonneville...

My S40 was sitting next to a large Harley complete with windshield and lower body farings that made it look a lot larger.

One of the guys in our Rotary Club said Larry has a teeny bike compared to Kirbys' bike.

I then told him I could fill up my tank at the gas station for under $12.00.   How much do you pay?

He shut up.

I am, however, going to trade my S40 in for a C50T as I want to do a bunch of touring and my 69 year old bottom needs a much softer ride.

I replaced the seat with a Savage Converted one and very little difference there.  I also have a gel seat and an Alaska Leather on top of the converted seat, but its still not comfortable for longer rides.

At least I will still be riding a Boulevard.

thumperclone wrote on 06/11/08 at 21:27:09:


Savage boxers? Oh, I got those! That's usually after dining out at the local church Ham & Bean Supper!