I have a 2001 Savage, approx 18K. I just got a quote of $900+ to repair the engine: cam, valves, chain; I provided the shop with the modified cam adjuster. I have serious reservations about paying that as I have had two other costly repairs on the engine. Most of the riding of this bike has been backroads, not pushing it to any limits. A few times, I have had to travel the interstates but typically no longer than 30 miles at a stretch. If the bike was stopped for any length of time, it did not idle, it was turned off to avoid overheating.

The mechanic said these engines require regular top end rebuilds at similar intervals. I have reservations about repairing and am considering parting it out.

I have noticed that some of the posters seem to have good use from their bikes but this engine seems not to be of similar quality.

I am neither mechanically inclined nor have a garage in which to work; however, I am looking to those of you with more experience with Suzukis for your comments either way.

At the present time, I'm leaning toward parting it out unless my wife and son convince me otherwise.

Do not be concerned about offending me with any suggestions.

What were your other repairs at what mileage and costs?

Being that I wrench on my own bike, I know the noises that she makes and why.  When to worry and when not to.  The savage is my 1st m/c and after 5 years I know it reasonably well.  Previous experience was HS shop and a vw van.  Which I burnt up once and dropped the engine many times to fix one thing or another.  Since engines now have more things hanging off them then in them they have gone beyond my scope of interest.  So I understand not wanting to wrench on it nor having the space to do so.

I have said that I've 2 savages both over 40k, with not much more work than putting in verslavies.  So as far as whether the bike is capable or not is self evident.  But I also reallize there are lemons and things happen.  For you to need 3 major repairs in 20k is indicative of a problem.  Maybe the same problem that we've heard before, greedy mechanics.  Maybe not.

So let us know, what your repairs were and why.

Thanks for the comments. I elected not to put the $900 in it. I can not find my receipts for the previous work and at nearly 60 y.o. I prefer not to rely on my memory for specifics. Also, after speaking with a fellow who seems to knowledgeable about the bike, it appears that I may be an exception to the adage, "You get what you paid for." I consulted with my wife and son and we all recall that the mechanics went into the head and accessed the cylinder area; once again the actual repairs can not be documented. We are relying on the comments from the mechanics.

Today, I walked into the shop that did the last work and spoke to the mechanics. I realize that I violated several rules about patrons being in the work area but my walk about was most enlightening. I believe some of the less than positive comments that I have heard about dealership mechanics have a strong foundation, or at least from my observations.

At the request of my son, I have delayed parting the bike out. I have found an independent mechanic who plans to do some review and cost analysis. I spent over an hour talking with him. One possibility he mentioned was to explore the availability of a used engine if the work needed on the current engine would be excessive. My son seems to have a special connection with this bike since it was "his first bike."

So, as it stands now, I shall await the feedback from the independent fellow, keep reviewing all the wealth of information on this site, and explore the availablily of a used engine.

Now, does anyone with experience care to provide me with guidance on that topic?

Freddy old boy,

2-3 top end "failures" on a Savage is not unheard of -- on a bike with over 50,000 miles on it that is.   The first failure on the real world example was mileage pure and simple, the last two were due to errors in repair work on the original failure.

Something is up with your bike and/or your repair persons.   Somebody either screwed up a previous repair job causing you to have low oil pressure to the head OR they are lying to you now, trusting that you will give them a bunch more money to do pretty much nothing.

You haven't told us squat about what's wrong with the bike now, what symptoms it exhibited or anything of substance about it.

What exactly is wrong with the bike now.  

The reason for taking into the shop: Intermittent power loss and an intermittent deep sound that seemed to have been coming from the engine. I've tried to describe it to others and done a poor job so will not attempt to do so here. The intermittent sound was one that I had not heard before and was at a volume that caused me concern. Since there was an accompanying interrmittent power loss, I felt it should be checked; ideally, reduce the potential for damage. I realize for you that have good mechanical skills, these comments provides little insight but hope that it will provide some understanding.

I added to my other post on this site some observations that has led me to believe that I did not get what I paid for.  I have also heard comments from others -- regretfull;y now and not before I paid for repairs -- that the quality of the workmanship from the two shops is questionable.  

I can not believe all the collective experiences and knowledge on this web site. So thanks for the input.

Step 1 -- Run it in Prime at all times to take out all the "fuzzy" petcock symptoms.   Raise your idle speed to at least 1,000 rpm at idle (this is the large knob type screw on the carb trottle cable half moon)   Sounds like puttputtputtputtputtputtputtputt.   If this changes the other symptoms, please tell us.

Don't get frustrated, so far your explanations are just fine.

Put it in prime, put gas in it every week and keep riding it and keep on talking to us.

Justin, he said he paid the stealership to put in a new cam and a new cam chain already ....  unless they simply didn't do it or did it incorrectly he should be good.

But we shall see .....    let's take out all the fuzzy petcock symptoms so we can see more clearly and more quickly.

Freddie wrote on 03/29/11 at 10:24:53:

I believe this is a sticky slide in the carb, add some seafoam to the tank to see if it goes away.

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Any tapping around the oil filter?  I've never heard what the plunger sounds like when it falls out, but that may be it.  Or bits of the guide getting lodged somewhere.

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Most run regular, some do run premium.  The engine has low compression and regular is supposed to run best.  Someday I'll have to try it on a particularly hot day.

Thanks for going over this with us however painful it might be for you.
I've learnt loads from all the problems we have, minor or major.