SuzukiSavage.com - my savage is dead.

danroot

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my savage is dead.
07/27/10 at 12:35:02

the piston has a hole in it, one of the valves dropped into the cylinder and tore everything up. i had a new cam shaft in it, there was wear on the cam and the head/valve casing. it was having an issue with my top speed, then last saturday i lost power on the freeway, almost dumped the bike. it wouldnt start back up after that. after tearing the engine down, i found a hole in the piston and all the other issues i mentioned.

ive put too much time and money into my savage to simply give up. but it does feel a little pointless to put any more money into it in its current state. i mean, its an 1987 with 20k miles. what the hell.

is it time to pick up a sportster? i loved my savage, but i seemed to have nothing but problems over that last few years of owning mine.

my mechanic friend says i should give up on it. he says that the savage is too underpowered and that running a 650 single at highway speed will eventually burn it out no matter what shape its in.

what to do.........

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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: my savage is dead. Reply #1 - 07/27/10 at 12:41:03 Seems it is not made for constant highway speed, especially with the 4 speed. Wonder if the 5 speed engine can take it in the long run. Condolences, it sucks, for a couple of hundred bucks you may be able to find an engine right?
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Hashbrown

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What can brown do
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Nashua, NH
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Re: my savage is dead.
Reply #2 - 07/27/10 at 12:46:27

you prob could part it out and that would finance half the price of a newer 90's savage. i mean come on, the bike is freakin cheap. got a fully loaded 95' savage with 6k miles w tons of extras for 1k. you think you got problems now. go buy an HD and see what kind of hassels you run into.

they say 95% of Harley's are still on the road...thats because the other 5% made it home Grin

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What can brown do for you!

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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: my savage is dead. Reply #3 - 07/27/10 at 12:57:12 I bought mine 2-3 weeks ago. From a dealer, 96 with 2k miles on it, top shape with a year of free maintenance and 6 months warranty for $1799.
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Stimpy - FSO Serious Thumper Offline SuzukisSavage Int'l Division Posts: 1203 Germany - formerly SD, SoCal Gender:	Re: my savage is dead. Reply #4 - 07/27/10 at 14:29:31 Get a cheap Intruder 750cc from the 90's, those things are like a savage on steroids! keep the savage for intruder parts, they share a bunch of parts. or maybe someone here wants it whole? good luck
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danroot Junior Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 74 Gender:	Re: my savage is dead. Reply #5 - 07/27/10 at 16:40:00 thing is, ive put about 2000 into it so far. it stings a bit to see it go this way.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: my savage is dead. Reply #6 - 07/27/10 at 16:49:05 You can drop another load in it & still have an old savage, or get another bike & sell this one or keep it for parts.
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danroot Junior Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 74 Gender:	Re: my savage is dead. Reply #7 - 07/27/10 at 18:05:42 worst part is i never got a picture of it after the "makeover"
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babyhog Serious Thumper Offline Find a Cure for Breast Cancer! NOW!! Posts: 3802 WV Gender:	Re: my savage is dead. Reply #8 - 07/27/10 at 18:50:00 C'mon, you gotta fix it now!
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james may Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 252 holyoke, ma Gender:	Re: my savage is dead. Reply #9 - 07/27/10 at 20:48:50 would buy a parts bike and do a motor swap.. btw I'm drunken.sportster are top heavy.. heavy in general.. get a dyna if you want a harley.. at leastt they have power and attitude.. but I like the motoor swap idea,, who mentioned that ?? me.. yeah I'm awesome.. kickass.. and all. peace out
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photojoe FSO

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I did warn you to
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New Jersey
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Re: my savage is dead.
Reply #10 - 07/27/10 at 23:58:10

Sorry to hear about the damage. I have to admit, if my '87 needed that much repair work, I would probably part it out and buy another bike. Always liked the Intruder 1400, and they're cheap enough now. Would probably go that route instead of a Sportster.

I've been fortunate; bought my '87 Savage a little over 2 years ago with a bit over 12,000 miles and she's up to 23,000 now. The only money i've put into it was just a battery and a few bits and pieces. I'm amazed at how well it still runs.

One thing I noticed with my bike is some non-oem sealant between the jug. Means someone was in there at some point. Have no idea what was done, but whatever they did, they seem to have done a good job.

Biggest hassle I had with any of my bikes was my early '84 Sportster. Blew a rod. Now that was a freaking disaster. Back in, I think, '89 that was, and cost me $1500 back then.

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FSO

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LANCER

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Savage Beast
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Oklahoma
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Re: my savage is dead.
Reply #11 - 07/28/10 at 01:48:23

I am really sorry to hear about your misfortune, that is a bummer for sure

I am picking up a 90's model today with only 8k on the engine
if interested in the engine send me a pm

how much wear did you have on the cam ?
can you get a close up photo ?
think its good to use ?

your mech doesn't think a 650 single is capable of highway riding ? ?
because they are too under powered ? ?
is this guy out of diapers yet ?
or has he been drinking the cool-ade ?

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: my savage is dead. Reply #12 - 07/28/10 at 03:20:39 Theres nothing about the bike that just CANT do the highway. Its plenty big & gutsy enough. An engine swap would be a grand idea, if tyou can do it for the right $$$. Looks like Lancer is willing to help out, but youre most likely gonna have to send him your old cam. Hes a funny guy, Lancer is. Got him a cam fettish of some sort.
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Routy

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SuzukiSavage.com
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Winston Oregon
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Re: my savage is dead.
Reply #13 - 07/28/10 at 05:25:07

The funny part is that you can't buy a different brand bike that works for you. Or,.... if you can, then maybe that is what you should have had in the first place. After not riding for many years I thought if I ever ride again, I'd like a Harley,.....till I sat on one,.... and leaned it to one side a bit, Shocked

...it was then I realized it wasn't ever going to happen. After hitting the shops for months, nothing but a 250 fit me (this old guy) untill I sat on a Sav40. A ride, and an hour later, I owned it.
But sorry to hear about your major engine failure. I believe its the first I've heard in a year here. One way or another ya gotta fix it,.....??

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Rich
'07 S40 Blvd stocker, except drilled OEM exhaust and white spacer mod...1/2 (.055)

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Stimpy - FSO

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SuzukisSavage Int'l
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Posts: 1203
Germany - formerly SD, SoCal
Gender: male

Re: my savage is dead.
Reply #14 - 07/28/10 at 06:18:33

Allright, I vote rebuiiiild!! Cool

dude, fix your bike and be happy with it,
i have a 125cc right now and i can't wait
to go ride it everytime I run out of milk!

David Lynch once said:
"My cow is not pretty, but it is pretty to me"
and that, my friend, is what life is all about!

...it's settled then, time to get your hands dirty
here are some links to get ya' started.

- 1/2 an engine $199
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-Savage-LS650-650-ENGINE-MOTOR-BLOCK-TRA...

- cylinder and piston $99
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-Savage-650-LS650-CYLINDER-PISTON-_W0QQc...

- just the cylinder $29.95
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-LS650-Savage-650-CYLNDER-_W0QQcmdZViewI...

maybe somebody here has a couple of used valves,
better hurry up and post your wishlist to santa,
he might just be a member here.

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Recently sold 97'savage (change of residence) - looking to buy another - just bought a temp, a great SR125 called 'methadone'

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