2002 Savage, 22k miles, Mikuni VM38 carb with a cone filter and a jardine exhaust....

My savage is my around-town vehicle, so I don't often get a chance to really open her up, but I've been doing a short commute on the highway and noticed that WOT only gets me about 80mph on a level road, even if I'm at WOT for quite some time.

There is no power boost going from 3/4 to WOT, and no surge closing the throttle from WOT to 3/4, so I don't think the jetting is off (no hesitation or noticeable "bogging", I just don't get any more power). though admittedly I decide about every other day the jetting needs changed... plug looks alright, maybe a bit on the lean side, but not too bad.

Any ideas what would cause this? Low compression? Last year I had some issues with my fuel mileage being shot so I went to a mikuni vm carb (more tunable than stock) and tore down the top end to replace gaskets and what not; my head gasket was burnt through but I *thought* that was fixed....

also, I ain't light, but I'm not 700lbs either, nor do I wear a parachute when I ride, so I feel like at least 90 should be where I top out, not 80.

I've also heard of people popping wheelies on their savage's, which blows my mind. Maybe there is a technique to it, but the only time I've popped a wheelie was when I was trying to race a bus (he had a head start) and nailed a nasty pothole,  

Every published magazine review I have read on the Savage, or the later S40, has reported a top speed about 85 mph. Your bike is ten years old with 22K miles on it. I'm not surprised to see its top speed a little down.

The Savage, in stock form, is a nearly-400 lb motorcycle, with about a 25 hp engine and standard poor aerodynamics. Whatever we might like to think, it is NOT a fast motorcycle. It is reasonably quick (not the same thing as fast) and agile. Changing the air filter is unlikely to make any difference. Changing the exhaust, unless carefully done, is more likely to hurt performance than help it. Remember "loud" is not the same thing as "more powerful."

I suppose that'll ruffle a few feathers. Bring on the counterarguments.

No way is a 22k savage tired.
with a cone and jardine top end shouldn't be down to 80
you're not getting any response from 3/4 to WFO?
Doesn't that mean next larger jet?

thumperclone wrote on 07/13/12 at 10:05:16:


Same here, my '05 had more left at 85 mph but I didn't. Too light and springy at that speed. (I'm 6'1" 200 lbs.) Properly tuned, I see no reason why it can't do 95-100.

I ran out of bigger main jets to try, ordered some more, bigger jets.

Hopefully one of them does the trick.

Carb tuning is confusing. I don't get it, then I read about it, then I think I get it, then I read more, then I don't get it, then I ride and I realize nothing I read applies to how the bike feels when I ride, so it just turns into a guessing game. Close enough, anyways.

I also ordered a UFO for the carb, so hopefully that helps.

I was just under the impression that even a poorly tuned carb can reach max top speed as long as the engine doesn't cut out/bog/hesitate/die etc. and I wouldn't go so far as to say mine legitimately bogs down, it just doesn't accelerate anymore. Almost no speed change from 3/4 to WOT.

verslagen1 wrote on 07/13/12 at 11:36:59:


This is probably my favorite description of a hill I've heard yet. Describes it perfectly  

Stage 1 cam will happen eventually. I'm waiting to need to 1) have another bike reliable and 2) for this cylinder/rings/piston to need replacing at which point the savage will get over-bored, carbide treatment, and stage 1 cam (wallet permitting).

Right now... Gotta keep one bike stable to get to work. Wouldn't want to have to drive a car, now would we  

I had my ryca up to 97 indicated earlier this week.  I only weigh 145, so that helps.  I would like to do the ton on this thing at some point . . .

So if it looks like my bike is ~15mph slower than most peoples, what do you think causes the difference?

I weight in around 195lbs, which seems in the reasonable range for getting to 90-95mph.

I haven't done a compression test since last year when the head/jug gaskets were replaced and that came back within the acceptable range. Not really sure I trust my compression tester anymore though....