I'd been lurking on here a couple of months while I investigated several models and kept coming back to the Savage.  On Sunday I bought a 2004 with under 2,500 miles on it.  I'm going over it all now and want to see about some of the members' upgrades to parts (cam chain tensioner, etc) and have some questions too.

Was the infamous head plug leak fixed by 10/03?

One thing I do miss is a tachometer, and since I don't have a manual didn't know what the shift points are - I haven't spotted them on here yet either.  Recommendations?

Also, I'm shopping for tires - though they're in good shape, they've got a date code of "2403" - original to the bike.  How are the Pirelli MT66 treads?

Here's a photo after the first wash and polish.  I'm not crazy about the purple, but it's growing on me.

Thanks,
Dan

Howdy and a Big welcome to the Best Savage/S40 forums on the InterWeb there is.

As for the shift points depends on how your riding it,  if you looking for the fastest acceleration shift when you start to fell the power drop off.  If you looking for just a nice ride,  shift pretty much when ever, just don't lug the engine.

I myself use the RT66 tires and love them.   If you are on the heavier side or like riding 2 up then you may have to replace a few of the fender rail bolts mainly on the left side of the bike with button head bolts instead of the stock bolts, because when the shock is nearing the 3/4 to full compression the tire will rub on 1 or 2 of the stock fender rail bolts. but that goes for any rear tire that is the 140/90 size. Also that size tire seems to make the speedo read more accurate to the real speed your actually going.

2 other upgrades that are well worth the bucks to spend on are 412 series metric cruiser shocks of around 11" to 12" length and also a seat upgrade as the stock seat sucks big time for longer rides. I recommend to spend your coin on a Corbin seat it's well worth the money and your butt and back will definitely thank you once it's broken in.

The last thing or should I say the first thing you should upgrade is the muffler to a HD Dyna muffler and then re-jet your carb properly so that it's not running lean like it is in stock form, and the Dyna muffler will just make it run even leaner.

That's all I can think of right now.

R.F.

Welcome dkruitz!   I hope you enjoy the bike even just half as much as most of us do  

dkruitz wrote on 04/05/13 at 10:45:03:

I put the Pirelli route 66 on,And was surprise how much better they ride.They handle really good and the cracks in the pavement don't affect them.

+1 on the Pirelli's...i really like mine...

cam chain tensioner doesn't need to be done for a while but buy one and save it for when ya need it...

seat lift mod is great if you're poor...keeps ya from sliding forward...

exhaust mod is easy too and then ya get to work on the carb and jets which is intimidating at first but really pretty easy if you have any mechanical abilty...
when you do work on the carb buy some stainless allen key bolts to replace the jis (phillips but not really) screws...they strip

can't think of anything else right now...just ride it!

Many will argue that a tach is not important on these bikes, however I like one and got one off EBAY for about $60US. My one recommendation, if you get an analogue one, is to get white face black dial as these are probably easier to read at night. It's ok and necessary to have a dual fire one. If you want to spend up, Baron Bullet make fancy ones. If you want digital there is a Vapor Trail thingy that does other things as well as being a tach.I had mine mounted on the left side of the bar, others have them on the bar/riser clamps. The clamp mounting may be a little more prone to vibration. There is a post in the tech section on tachs known to work on the Savage /S40, you will have to scroll through the posts to find it. Toesnose and Ralphyguy have posted pics of their tach mountings.

I love the Metzlers.  They last longer than most tires and ride very well, and I have a new set on my Marauder after wearing out the old set.  But Aida does not do near the miles I do, so I got her the Pirelli MT66s.  I was very impressed.  Specifically how the tires no longer ride the pavement groves like they used to.

dkruitz wrote on 04/05/13 at 10:45:03:


What?? That purple rocks! Although I am a little biased as I have an 87 that is purple, one of the stock colors in 87. Ironically it's called "Suzuki Blue"