I bought an '06 Savage with 76 miles on it for $2900. I was a returning rider after 20 years. Wanted something simple, easy to work on, and easy to handle. I found it with the Savage. I commute appx 30 minutes (mostly freeway) each way in Memphis TN at 65-70 mph with ease. I did go to bigger tires when the time came and it has made a huge difference in stability. The larger diameter rear tire dropped the RPMs just enough to put the sweet spot at around 70 mph. I have not had any real road trips as of yet but they are planned for this year. By the way I am 6 ft and 250 lbs and almost eligible for the senior coffee at Micky Dee's. The Savage is a blast. If I ever retire for real and make regular real road trips a larger bike might be in order. For right now, 'Suzi' is all I need or want.

I'm 55 years old , have had a lot of different bikes, could have bought any bike on the market last time.... but there just isn't anything better than the SAVAGE-S40 going.

I've got 32,000+ miles on mine and have not had a complaint with it.

It will keep up with the gang and not wear you or your wallet out while doing it .

Previous post should read:
Bang for the buck, I don't think you could find a better bike.

Sorry; mumble fingers

Before the LS650, I had the pre-cursor to the Rebel, an '82 CM250C "Custom" (1st year for the engine).   There is a world of difference between the Honda Twinstar 250 engine and the Suzuki LS650 Thumper engine.   Twenty something HP verse 30 something HP respectively.   Torque... the LS650 wins by what feels like tons, the 250 had to be shifted all the time to keep it in the higher RPM range where the power was.

Me 5'10" , 210 lbs and just hit 50 last month ..... and the LS650/S40 moves me down the road just fine.  Here on the east side of PA, it will do the speed limit plus 5 or 10 on ANY road.  

Why do I have a LS650,.....  I like the looks, the simplicity, and I got it cheap. Beautiful '01 for $500 with engine in pieces.

Would I sell it for a bigger bike.... well..... I sat on my nieghbors HD Fatboy and thought it was a boat.  Sat on the other neighbors Honda 750 Aero, it was also a boat, Rode my friends '03 Honda 750 Shadow Spirit and thought the tank was fat.   Sat on my friends HD Dyna Wide-Gluide... not bad..... I ask, "How much did you pay" ..... he says $20K    .... cough cough cough.....   did I tell you I like the looks , the simplicity and price of the Savage.....  what I didn't tell you is that I also like other toys, so a $20K bike is way out of the question.

like i said, it's your cash. get what you want period...    

do make it a savage.....   nowhrere else can you can a support group like this one.  

peas
owt
sluggo

MMRanch wrote on 01/18/09 at 17:51:59:

that's story also.   go for it dude

My parents had a Ford Pinto when I was a kid.  Would you consider that a "highway" car? It took us all over the country just fine.  It's all relative.  To the over 35 crowd who grew up with few bikes over 750cc and rode cross country on everything from 250-500cc bikes that actually had excessive vibration, the S40 is a good sized bike that can do pretty much anything you want it to.  To the under 35 crowd who grew up with 1 to 2 liter bikes with ABS, bulbous bodywork and bikes weighing 4 times what the rider weighs, the bike appears small and poorly suited to some situations.  For me, I've never had a bike over 100mph for more than a minute so I don't need a triple digit top speed. I've rarely had a passenger on any of my bikes and when I did it was never for more than 20 miles.  So I don't need exquisite passenger accommodations.  I've never kept a bike more than 3-4 years due to selling and getting a different bike so I don't need a high $$$ payoff.  Hmmm.... the S40 seems just right for me.  

Again,  it''s all relative.