Get some degreaser and clean the head real well.
Oil coming from the top will go all over.
There's a head plug that's the usually culprit.
Sits in a hole next to the header.

read thru this and you'll get a lot of info on it...
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1256079122

for real easy shifting, shift every 10 mph.

if your bike is stock, shift whenever you feel comfortable. You arent going to get anywhere near redline before it stops pulling strong in each gear.

For instance...theoretical redline in 1st gear is 35mph...relaistically you'll get to 20-25 quickly and it'll take you forever to get any further and by that time you'll hear the engine screaming at you to stop. Practical shift points on a stock bike

1st           0 - 20/25
2nd   20/25 - 30/35
3rd    30/35 - 40/45
4th    40/45 - 50/55
5th    45/50 - 55/60

Don't worry about it, you didn't hurt your engine permanently.

The base engine can rev higher than the stock cam permits it to without taking any damage.   My bike can do 75 mph in 3rd gear.

Literally, with a stock cam you really can't go anywhere near there, so quit worrying about it.

Ride your bike and enjoy it.

If you decide to work on an item, check the Tech Section for information -- everything is there for you already and there is an index up at the top for you to refer to to find everything.

bigdave wrote on 09/01/11 at 00:02:25:


Until you start to really modify things you cant push it beyond its limits. Dont even worry right now. If you just happen to find yourself at 40mph in 1st then you can start to wonder...but still, dont worry yet. And you will never even get to that point with a stock machine.