Great story Yonuh! Enjoyed reading that!

That was a heart warming story for Christmas!!!   My story isn't as deep. I shopped around and found the Savage to be the absoulte best bang for the buck. I then checked online and found this site,as well as some review site. This site with it's great membership and techinical info on the Savage  closed the deal. One final talk with my wife, to ensure she was definately on board with me getting a bike, and the rest is history.  I| have had no regrets at all with buying the Savage.

I've always been a fan of simple and efficient.... the Savage is a hands down, winner...
Thanks for the story....BTW, you're lucky,...when my girl talks back, she's a little more demanding and bossy,...maybe it's what I'm feeding her....

I had been thinking about a motorcycle for years, finally after waiting a year following an accident with my 4 wheeled helmet.  Really played on my confidence.

Pretty much decided on a Yamy, then I went in to Bert's MegaMall and like sharks sensing blood in the water I was savagely met at the door.  "I'm looking for a bike" says I.  What you have in mind... a cruiser, belt or shaft drive, 500 to 750, been looking at the yamy... what else do you have?  Don't remember where he was going, but there, over his shoulder, I saw it (yes it, as it wasn't mine yet).  At the end of an aisle, spot lighted in the dark (at least that's how I remember it) echoing my dad's Gold Star, and quick look at the price tag, hmmm... this is doable.  Went home (not with it yet, one more test) signed up for the riders course and found a '96 on CL.  Incredably negociations for savage took 2 months and I had to wait a month for the riders course.  So I was ready, the all important M on the license, insurance and title in hand.  My little shedder and me commute to work nearly everyday since, and a few fun rides to put some wear on the sides of the tires.  She's even been on a jeep trail.

Pappy rode a Harley Davidson Servicar working for the Detroit Police Department.  I grew up with riding a motorcycle 365 days a year being normal.  I was 15 when he died.  When I turned 18 and mum could no longer object, I got a little motorcycle.  Rode on and off.  In '74 I picked up a new Yamaha DT175 and started riding on and off road for the next 12+ years.  There was a GS450E for a while, and a 200 Reflex (street legal trials bike) at the end.

In '81 I started my BBS.  In '84 I gave the OK to shut down my Step by Step and became a surplus employee.  Did a few odd jobs, in '86 I took "excused time" off, in the range of eight months.   Mid June Wendy logged onto my BBS.  We married in September.  She came complete with a started family, a not quite 3-year-old.

I have my principles, especially when it comes to small children and animals.  Even the tiny risk of a motorcycle accident became unacceptable and the bikes were sold.  Replaced by a 5,000 pound '78 Ford LTD, heavy box steel frame doglegs out to protect from side impacts, along with steel beams in the doors, heavy steel bumpers front and rear mounted on hydraulic rams.  With Wendy's '72 Camaro it was our transportation through 2003.  Bike was pretty near stock when I got it, cept for the cover on the one screw having already been removed.  Needed a new rear tire.  Added a Flyscreen, Saddlebags, swapped out the muffler, taillight, headlight, saddle -- making it even better than perfect.

August '03 they replaced my work van:  An '87, I had been it's driver for 10 years, low mileage, never in an accident, V8, 3/4 ton.  The auto trans had been replaced just a year previous.  Would do 85 without a hint of shimmy or wander.  Fabulous condition.  Unfortunately MaBell no longer sold it's retired vehicles at a public auction, and I was unable to track it and buy it for myself.  Wendy had recently started working, and treated herself to a brand new '03 Beetle.  '04 saw me still driving the Camaro, which had a problem using 3rd gear.  I needed a reliable replacement.  Then Wendy spoke the five words that make a man's heart soar; "Have you considered a motorcycle?"

I have been perfectly happy riding a 175cc Enduro for a dozen plus years, but would prefer something freeway capable.  Looked for a small lightweight street bike.  I find the crouch and lean forward position to be uncomfortable, would have preferred a 400cc (give or take 50), but would settle for a 250 -- Honda's Rebel and Nighthawk, Yamaha's Virago, the Suzuki Marauder.  None felt perfect.  The Rebel's side covers poked my legs at a stop, the Nightwawk was obsolete and overpriced.  Looked up the specs online, both about 300 pounds.  Noticed the Savage, only 50 pounds heavier but with a 650cc?  Interesting.  Found a used Savage in Long Beach, went down and sat on it.  BINGO!  From then it was simply a matter of finding one at an acceptable price and getting my license (never bothered before -- have never been stopped by a cop when on a bike, 'cept that one time in Izmir.)
 Had been watching on cycletrader and saw a 2000 just south in Laguna Hills for $2500.  Saw it on eBay with a $1999 start (Typical wife says to move it NOW!)  Won the bike with a $2325 bid, Greg rode it down from Laguan Hills and I drove him back.  That was Aug. 15th, CMSP not 'til Sept.  Took it, passed, went to get my endorsement, passed the written, road test waived, eye test failed.  Left eye sees blurry movements.  Need a doctors' note, got it, not good enough, Need an on the road test, went to the San Pedro office for it.  Gentleman asks questions.  How long had?  'Bout 30 years.  Driving record?  Near spotless.  Problem?  Not for me!  STAMP!  You're good, go away.
Oct. 14th, 2004  started riding to work.  I had forgotten how much I detested being trapped in a cage.  

darn, Justin, I had no idea.  Sorry to hear that man.  Hope your back on the road soon.  
My story is pretty simple.  I was wanting a bike for awhile.  Just couldn't afford it.  My roommate had her, and rode her for about a year.  Then he put her down.  Didn't want to ride anymore.  Although I was riding her less than 3 weeks later, it took us almost two months to finally agree to transfer the title.  $1500   Not bad.  She's a '97 with about 11K when I got her, just shy of 18k now, a little over a year later.  We go out every chance we get.  As a matter of fact, it's not to late and, wait, no, Christmas drunks....     Maybe tomorrow!

Rewind to a year ago, when our emergency response group at work had an offsite drill.  One of my friends in the group pulled up on her VStar 1100, which I proceeded to admire.  After a few minutes of conversation, she said, "You know, Amy, I can see you on a bike."  I was startled by this comment.  I had never thought about getting a motorcycle.  

Fast forward to the $4 gas prices of this past summer.  My husband and I each go 30 miles one way to work and we were grumbling about the cost.  My friend's comment of last year popped into my head, and I asked my husband, "Maybe we should think about getting motorcycles."  I have never seen him respond so quickly to anything.  By that evening, he had a list of bikes he wanted to look at.  

So the next day at work, I shared this information with the same emergency response group.  One of the women said, "I have a bike I'm getting ready to sell, a Suzuki Savage."  The V-Star owner said, "That would be perfect for you to start on, it's light but it has guts."  I didn't know one bike from another, but I trusted these two people.   "Oh, by the way," the owner added, "the bike is red."  Red!  As in fire truck red?  My husband and I run with two volunteer fire departments, so this was an added good omen.

So the next day the bike was brought to work and I got to try it out.  From the first time I sat on the Thumpster, I knew he was for me.  A perfect fit, and everything seemed very natural and comfortable.  The previous owner taught me just like the MSF class and I will thank her always for that, because I got off to a really good start.

There is one thing that is embarassing to admit - my friend told me that the bike weighed 350 pounds, and I misunderstood and thought he was a 350cc.  I had gone on the Suzuki page and read up on the bike, and even had found this forum, but somehow the correct displacement eluded me.  I had bought the bike, gotten my learner's permit, and was ready to ride him home before someone commented to me about what a light, powerful bike the Savage is.  I laughed and said, yes, he's really strong for a 350!  The good thing there is that had I known this was a 650, I never would have bought him.  I thought I wanted a smaller displacement bike to learn on.  It's lovely to have been mistaken about that.

That was last July, and Thump now has an additional 6500 miles on him.  People ask, when are you going to "move up" to a bigger bike, and the answer is never.   Why would I want some big heavy bike that would be harder to maneuver and pick up, when Thump gets me everywhere I want to go, and is an absolute kick to ride?

So, there's my story.  Certain events are big landmarks in our lives, and for me, getting Thump has to be one of the best - one of the purest sources of joy I've ever found.

Amy