mpescatori wrote on 03/30/12 at 04:22:07:Hi. My understanding is that the Savage's power is somewhat limited not by the small carb but by the small valves.
Actually, I've read of a few Savage firebreathers which had a worked over OEM carb, but had beautifully modified heads as well.
You should disassemble the head and take it to a specialist; see what oversize valves are available. Check against valve heads hitting each other during overlap.
Overboring the cylinder is an option for some but I see little point in increasing displacement by a few ccs unless the original piston is badly worn or has 7-digit miles on it.
A reground cam is recommended because it will help valve lift and timing.
Keep in mind that a "
K&N cold air intake kinda thing" may look the part BUT the airflow needs quite a few inches of pipe before hitting the jets and butterfly.
May I suggest you consider either a short (40mm x 3 = 120mm = 3 in.) straight pipe between air filter and butterfly, and an airflow regulator...
...essentially short 1" lengths of plastic straws cut and glued to each other in order to fit snugly inside the pipe between the air filter and the butterfly.
This gimmicky device will regulate ariflow into many small "windpipes" and air will flow more disciplined inside the carb.
Last, consider a 3-electrode spark plug such as fitted to BMW motorcycles, they will NOT foul !
Remember, he wuz truthful, he said he's "read of a few Savage firebreathers" and he never sez he's done any of the above or below items himself. Me, I've never even read any first hand accounts of people changing the valve tulip sizes in the Savage head (likely quite expensive to do I would think).
As far as Diamond Jim's trick with the stacked straws, Lancer removed the same from Black Beauty when he bought the bike as he didn't think it did anything helpful and was making tuning more troublesome.
If memory serves, there are very few Savages around with plug fouling issues that don't have unresolved carb issues (way rich) and/or wear issues with piston rings or a set of valve seals that needed replacing but the fraudulent mechanic that didn't even take the new parts out of the baggies charged for the repair work but didn't actually put the seals into somebody's head when they "expertly reworked it".
Read here for more realistic ways to increase power.
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1291516932signed:
Oldfeller, rider of the infamous Grandma sickle, destroyer of a fast ridden 1,200cc Sportster, destroyer of dual Hurleys, reigning "fastest Savage on the East Coast"
(until somebody shows up at the Dragon this summer to kick my butt finally
we all know it has to happen eventually as 4 years is too too long to stay on top of the heap)