Just got my 01 after reading about the RYCA, but decided instead to create a retro Gold Star--influenced ride.  Saddle's redone to the classic British flat profile-- very comfortable.  I've got Fatboy bars which I will shorten and install.  
My questions-- what's the best way to paint my cylinder and head and highlight the edges of the fins on the head like some L40's I've seen?
How can I shed 40 or so lbs. (from the bike) without sacrificing two-up so I can put 'er on the back of my camper next summer?
Thanks for your help

Ahhh, a fellow Goldstar fan !

I used to own a '56 Goldstar flat tracker and a lot of what I've done to my Savage has been to recreate some of the Goldstar feel, though the Savage is not designed and built to do what the Goldstar was capable of.
The Savage does respond well to some massaging though.
Yep.
A little carb, cam, hi comp piston, cyl treat, exhaust, suspension, brakes, just a little tinkering here and there....you know.  

HEY MAN!
That sounds really exciting... I'm working on something really similar, and LONG over due for posting up a proper build thread, but I too was inspired by the RYCA idea, although I wanted to take it in a different direction.
There's a Savage that was put together in England I believe that has that kind of flavor: more vintage roadster than Cafe bike. Never found the builder or any info except the photo, but it was great inspiration. I'll post it below.
I'm in Portland Maine, and my buddy, Jay who works in Mass is doing most of the build for me (I'm the brains, he's the brawn...) We are using Ryca's basic geometry, although almost none of their parts. A vintage 1969 Suzuki T350 tank, 18" Shouldered Akront rims front and rear, a 1960's Hodaka headlight with the speedo built in, a really cool BSA Rocket taillight, a '76 Goldwing chrome front fender will be mounted in reverse onto the swingarm to act as the rear fender, with a '72 Kawasaki S2 chrome front fender up front, and a bunch of other shiz-nit... Triumph Bonneville bars, flipped over, clubman style, Dyna exhaust, custom battery box mounted below the swingarm where the Calif. evap. canister is supposed top mount... OH, and of course a chain conversion....

Virtually every single idea we've incorporated, someone has done here and posted complete instructions and info. I have a whole list of realy cool threads book marked from the Tech section and other parts of this forum. EVERYTHING YOU EVER NEED TO KNOW IS RIGHT IN HERE!!

(And I owe a huge thanks to all of you guys for everything you've posted... This forum is dangerously amazing; a magnificent time sucker!)

I haven't started a real build thread yet, because right now al I have to look at is a stripped down old '94 Savage (bought in good running shape for $250...)

I'll try to post a drawing soon... either the site or my computer is being buggy right now....

NHthumper,
   I shed about 50 Lbs off my 2000 savage pretty easily and still have  the two up option. Definitely take the advice of the serious thumpers and get a new muffler, the dyna and the reverse cone from RYCA are good starting points. Then remove the belt guards, exhaust shields, front fender (replace with fork brace), fender struts (& backrest for the pre 2004 models), saddle bag brackets if you got 'em, air box (replace with cone or other filter) and side frame covers. Now you are off to a good start but if you are wanting even more weight off then grab your cutting wheel and grinder. There are lots of tabs you wont be needing anymore they can go. Also, you can remove the taillight and cut off the excess rear fender and mount a side mount or cats eye taillight (one of the cheap light plastic ones). Keep in mind that the rear seat is going to vibrate worse than an old magic fingers bed but you will also gain some time on the 0-60. Good luck

OR...
Another option would be to keep that thing, and use it top mount a new, smaller battery down low in the frame; chucking the entire stock batter and battery box... Complete instructions in THIS POST HERE!!

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1259644714

McMillan wrote on 11/29/11 at 05:05:54:

McMillan wrote on 11/29/11 at 05:05:54:


Or Swiss cheese the hell out of it.