I was wondering if I'm a quick mark, the one the carneys love to see walking down the midway????

Ok, not so cryptic, might help, eh  

As a new rider, old but new, it seems the bike manufacturer markets to us with the hope of always trading up to a more expensive ride. I started just over a year ago with a Rebel, quickly coming to an understanding, having ridden past the initial concerns (fears) with the miles clocked, that I needed more bike. Even tho I told myself the 250 served its need, 23 miles of total commuting each day, a bigger bike would be better, and it is, but, my commuting dollars don't stretch as far, and consider I bought a new bike, sold it for less, and bought another new bike, I'm pushing the original reasoning off the concious thought map  
Perhaps the one element I didn't consider when I decided to ride out of necessity (ferry lines and waiting took forever in a cage, go to the front of the on a bike, half fare) is that I'd come to love riding itself for its  shear joy  
So, what's next for me, more CC's as I "expand" my horizon, or do you guys find a grove and stick with it?
I love the bike, it seems my riding style with its torque on the turns and hills where I live, but again, its only my second bike so I compare it to nothing.
So how did you guys start and settle where you are now with this bike, if you don't mind sharing with me?
Presently I plan on keeping this bike and learning all I can to maintain it myself, right?

Many of us, have ridden the ladder up the bigger, better, faster, chain,... and devolved back down to the practicality of the Savage...
Your path, is your own...  try something new, if you feel the need, and have the resources...
There's a lot of neat options out there...
The Savage seems to me, to be the option with the most pluses, and the least minuses...
No matter what you ride,... there will always be bigger, faster, smoother, or lighter, nimbler, more economical...

Truthfully,... the stock Savage, is not that great for me personally.... but it has great bones, and I've found what I was looking for in it...
No other bike that I see in current production can do that for me...

It seems to be a good balance of size, weight, power, and economy...
The rest,.. is very flexible...
It's all about balance...  ...

GREAT replies guys, thanks. Upon reflection I think my first inkling to pressure and doubt, and directly it went to my ego and pride, was the chiding I got with the rebel, for its size. But when a new bike with only 3000 miles on it needed a new top end, under warranty, but without a ride for 3 weeks, only to get it back with issues and a failing clutch, I had a perfect excuse to get rid of it, and get something that in all honesty, fit better, proving those guys laughing at me prior, right.

I recall the first time pulling from a side road, onto a 50 mph main drag (still only one lane each way) and after I committed I saw a car coming fast that I missed at first glance....I rolled the throttle at first opportune and rode away from danger at a speed not possible with the rebel. A piece of the puzzle fit, as to applicability to what one rides, for what reasons, sorta like it gave me another golf club to use in my bag.....  
As an inexperienced rider, I'm sure more of these equations exist too,  but I'm presently ignorant to their presences. Armed with that knowledge, or lack thereof, I feel I'd be an easy target to a good salesman, if I was to stroll into a shop wanting to test ride different bikes, yes?
I honestly feel this will be my ride for years, doubly so if it appears as easy to maintain as you guys proclaim. All I've done to date was remove the seat, to remove and re-install the rear blinkers on the new side rails, for the stock backrest, to attach my backpack to, and affix my old windscreen that I adapted from the rebel to the 650, gottta have that to knock the cold away from me during winter, tho I rode it without, and enjoyed it much, without it, I won't do w/o it in winter, it seems to raise the temperature 30 degrees or more.

Nah, I think I've found my gal to dance with, I do..... I just wanted to see how my mindset (thinking) jived with you who have years of experience riding different bikes....she is a sweet bike, I love the thump, even the BF'ing and farting gives it a distinct personality, just wish it had a fuel gauge or trip odometer.....

Again, thanks guys, love the support you all freely lend. Hope some day I can reciprocate

I recall the first time pulling from a side road, onto a 50 mph main drag (still only one lane each way) and after I committed I saw a car coming fast that I missed at first glance....I rolled the throttle at first opportune and rode away from danger at a speed not possible with the rebel


Having the power to cover such a mistake is important. I know Ive pulled the same stunt. On a Rebel, I woulda either got hurt or the driver woulda had to do some good driving,Id rather have a reasonably gutsy ride,

RawDawg there are a number of options for an odometer, the easiest and least expensive being a digital one. A good amount of the guys here have them, and although there's really no option for a true and easy fuel gauge alot of the digital odo's have functions that help you keep track of mileage/when to fill up knowing your average gas mileage  

Sweet....I will be looking into that option. Seems as I age I forget to do things that use to come as natural habits....not until people complain about a foul odor generating from my space do I remember I forgot to complete the job. Gee, that might account for the flies that seem to call the seat on my bike, home  

verslagen1 wrote on 10/14/12 at 15:30:50:


Oh poop, you're right  

But we could start a new thread, on a new mod, to the bike.....and don't say that depends!

This bike is the low cost leader in the Suzuki cruiser lineup, so it is saddled with the cheapest components like brakes, seat, suspension, etc.  However, it is not difficult or expensive to upgrade the comfort, handling or power options.
I ride it because I love the power characteristics of a big single, having been bitten by this bug years ago when I bought a '56 BSA Goldstar flat track racer.  It ran like a wild animal, and I loved it.  It was fast and maneuverable and ran everything else off the road at the time.
The Savage was a similar creature, though totally civilized compared to the Goldstar, but it does respond well to all sorts of upgrades for power, suspension, handling and comfort.