I bought a used 2007 S40 with about 3000 miles on it and haven't had any real problems with it.  It did run like it didn't have any gas once, but I think that was because I let someone ride it around a parking lot and he kept stalling it out.

Anyway, before I bought my bike I did some research and decided the S40 was for me.  Figured it was pretty reliable since it's been around for about 20 years, but reading so many posts about problems I'm wondering if I made a mistake.  Or maybe many of the problems happen after people change something in the carburator or something, or some of the bikes are older.  

I don't know, but I sure don't want to stall out while on the entrance ramp to I95.  

I would appreciate your comments.  I really like my bike and plan on it being my last one since I'm not getting any younger or taller.

HD

Thanks, FreeSpirit, your reply made me feel better because I sure have fun riding it!
HD

There is a rule in engineering that states," mechanical sophistication leads to unreliability."  The more parts a mechanical device has, the more likely it is to malfunction as a whole assembly.  Your Savage is mechanically unsophisticated compared to other multi-cylinder motorcycles.  Its solid state electronics are reliable, and by design eliminate various moving parts which would require maintenance.  The drive belt is another reliable improvement over chain drive.

It has few design problems, those most noticeably the "Plug-Cap" oil leak and the vacuum petcock valve.  These are fixed somewhat easily, and there are detailed instructions in the tech section.  The seat is often considered to be uncomfortable, and there are many mods explained on this site to resolve that issue.

Many of the problems you may be reading about are because owners decide to take a very reliably engineered motorcycle and change the design.  You don't have to do these design alterations unless you insist on a little more power or want raise the decibel level of the exhaust noise.  If you just leave the bike alone and don't try to re-engineer it, and if you service it according to the owner's manual, you won't have any nagging problems.

The easy way to avoid most of the "fuel issues" you see on this list is to put gas into your tank at every 100 mile roll-over of the odometer.  This always maintains "some gas" in the tank to avoid all petcock and fuel starvation issues that are mentioned every few days.  

These issues are nothing but variations of running out of gas and having problems getting the petcock system reprimed.  So don't do that and you won't have to go there.

If your bike runs fine with gas in the tank, you don't need to worry about all the "crudded up carburetor" threads that you keep reading on the list -- your carb is fine if it runs good normally.

I put gas in my bike every Saturday -- this habit plus the habit of watching the odometer on the trips avoids all this nonsense.

Oldfeller

I bought my '05 new last year (was sitting in the showroom for 2 years so they gave me a great deal on it).  Other than the backfiring problem (which I HATED), it never gave me any problems whatsoever.  I learned to ride on it and fell in love with motorcycles.  When did I start having problems? .... when I started messing with it!!!!

I put on a new muffler and that caused me to have to rejet and put in a better air filter.  I STILL don't have it tuned it right and I've worked at it for 6 months!  Then I had to do the speedo rattle mod, the headlight rattle mod, the seat mod, white spacer mod, etc.

The point is for your own sanity, LEAVE IT ALONE.  No matter how good an idea on here may sound, if you bought your bike new, LEAVE IT ALONE!  Save yourself, it's too late for me.  :'(

If the bike is running, you will not see people posting HELP requests  .  They are too busy riding  .  You might see then in the CAFE or offering advice (like me).   I think if the bike has it's regular maintenance, it should run a long time.  

Another thing to think about.  The bike has been build since 1986.  If there was an issue, Suzuki would discontinued manufacturing it.   Easier to do that then face liability.

    The local salvage yard here in East-Side PA only has 2, an 87 & a 86 (or was it a 88 & a 86..  ).  The yard is only about 40 miles from Philly, so it's in a populated area....  The one had a loose head (finger tight head nuts), but he couldn't find anything else wrong (other than the rust from sitting in the yard).  So, if the bike has been made for 22 years, why aren't there more in the salvage yards???   If they died, they would end up there.   IMO, I think people just upgrade and put the LS650 in the back of the barn/shed .....

Keep an eye open in 2011, that's the year the bike becomes an antique.  Antigues get pulled from the back of the shed, dusted off and sold....

Wouldn't that be a picture....  You're shiny new S40 pulling into a event and parking next to a shiny Savage that looks almost identical to yours....  with antique plates on it..    

Your question solicited comments on the positive attributes of the Savage.  Interesting that the initial responses focused on the well-known (and, IMHO, quite manageable) maintenance issues.  

Here's a positive:  the way it looks. There are a lot of fine looking bikes out there, and this is one of 'em.  First time I saw one in the flesh I was hooked.  The torque, the maneuvaribilty, the affordabilty and ease of maintenance are frosting.

I bought my '08 in May and absolutely love it. Its simplicity is what I think makes it such a great looking bike. I get compliments and questions about it almost every time I ride it. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do!

Kim