You know, for as odd as it sounds we have enough data over enough years to have collected like 5 "oil filters in backwards by Mikey at the dealership" blow up events.  

That is somewhat strange and sad, isn't it?

Our bike is unusual as it gets owned by newbies in the mostly by and large, and it gets abused by them and by el Mikey at the dealerships more so than most other bikes do.   So we collect data on some odd failure modes.

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Use Rotella T6 synthetic oil and you can spin as many RPMs as you want for as long as you want.  Several of us do, regularly.  Especially on them mountain trips.

Use a cheap dino oil and you may see some problems due to heat and stress.

Up to you, really.

The first thing I did when I bought my 2001 LS650 was to add an electronic tach. I found my RPM at 60 MPH to be right at 4000. I also found with a completely stock engine and exhaust system the bike would rev up to 6500 but realistically anything after 5500 and the engine stopped pulling hard. Like some of the others I found my top end was faster by about 5 mph in third gear than in 5th topped out at 72 mph and 3rd at 77-78 mph.

Then I junked that heavy sorry stock muffler in favor of an aftermarket Dunstal muffler. After drilling out the pilot jet plug and making some adjustments she would top out in 5th gear at about  80 mph on a long flat stretch (at least a half a mile). In my opinion still to slow to get to the top speed.

I am a prick when it comes to machinery not working the way I think it should so in December of 2012 I pulled the engine out of the frame and tore the top end off.

HORRORS .....A flat top piston???(A dismal 8.5 to 1 compression)...In this day and age? And a disgrace for an exhaust port.

The engine is now back in the frame with a 97mm Big Bore kit with a Wiseco 10.5 to 1 forged piston, ported cylinder head and a Web Cams Stage III camshaft.

I hope that will fix most of the engine's shortcomings.

LANCER wrote on 03/29/13 at 19:47:56:

I'm still thinking about grinding out the exhaust port on mine, but I don't know if this will be good for the stock header, or if this will gain anything with the stick header...

Here is a before pic of the stock exhaust port on a Savage.

Just made a copy of the MPH chart and converted to KPH FWIW.

S/T , what carb are you going to use and what exhaust are you going to use ?

Ruttly wrote on 12/15/16 at 12:24:55:


I have the Lectron carb, Stage 3 cam shaft, ST's modified head, 94mm 10.5 compression ratio Wiseco piston, a 1.75" (single wall) header, Dyna muffler, and a 28 tooth front pulley. I  can pull 7,000 RPM in 2nd and 3rd as well as 5,000 in 5th (80+ MPH) sitting straight up. This is at 6,000 feet above sea level.  At sea level I would be @ 38-40 HP at the rear wheel. (I use 7,000 RPM as MY redline. I've had it to 7,500 in 2nd once and it felt like it could go further, but ...)

No float at 8 grand with stock springs?!?!? Suzi built this bike for people who rev less than 4000 and ride at 45 mph. Just an observation.