SuzukiSavage.com - need riding tips for my savage

scotland66

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need riding tips for my savage
05/08/13 at 12:20:49

Hi, as of yesterday im a proud owner of a savage 650. Im new to biking and have been knocking about on a suzuki marauder 125 for the last couple of months.
So took out my savage for the first time today! But it don't have the stock handlebars it has really wide dragbars. Must say they look amazing! But I almost missed a few corners verging on to the opposite side of the road! Are these handlebars easy to get used to or are they always gonna be more difficult to steer. Any advice is appreciated!

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gdrseeker

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Re: need riding tips for my savage
Reply #1 - 05/08/13 at 12:36:07

Are you cornering at high speed or low speed? Are you familiar with counter steering? You should be breaking (slowing down) in a straight line before the turn, then lean and counter steer if you are at a speed above say 15 MPH. You should be leaning into the turn and accelerating through the middle of the turn continuing ot accelerate and at reaching your proper speed as you exit the turn.

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1996 Savage, Jardine, K&N, 145 / 55 jets, 1 turn out at 5000 ft. elevation.

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Coaxial Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 184 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Gender:	Re: need riding tips for my savage Reply #2 - 05/08/13 at 12:49:31 And try not to brake while in the turn... it upsets the bike. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVWNinsmkAw Twist of the wrist!
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scotland66 YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 16 Austria Gender:	Re: need riding tips for my savage Reply #3 - 05/08/13 at 12:54:54 Actually it was at low speed, I think its just a case of getting used to these handlebars. Think I need to get the confidence to throw it around like I did with my little marauder
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Wayneg561 YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 27 West Palm Beach, FL Gender:	Re: need riding tips for my savage Reply #4 - 05/08/13 at 12:55:55 Yes never hit the brakes mid-turn the bike will straighten up and that's not what you want. If you feel your turning too wide lean harder and give it more throttle.
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Blinky-FSO

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Re: need riding tips for my savage
Reply #5 - 05/08/13 at 13:02:02

scotland66 wrote on 05/08/13 at 12:20:49:

Hi, as of yesterday im a proud owner of a savage 650. Im new to biking....

If I may, I would suggest you enroll in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Riders Course. It will be the best motorcycle money you ever spend.

Good hunting and stop looking at the curb, unless that is where you want to go.

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Borracho Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 132 Albuquerque, NM Gender:	Re: need riding tips for my savage Reply #6 - 05/08/13 at 20:48:35 +1 on the msf course.
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clearush Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 261 Deer Park,TX Gender:	Re: need riding tips for my savage Reply #7 - 05/08/13 at 20:55:24 I add another +1 for the Motorcycle safety course, it is best $200 I've spent.
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scotland66

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Re: need riding tips for my savage
Reply #8 - 05/09/13 at 01:32:14

I live in Austria, we have basically the same thing here. Did it to allow me legally to ride a 125cc, it was great! Now after a few months, I wanted more and bought the bike ive wanted for the last 20 years, and at last ive got my thumper! Need to wait 2 more weeks though til ive passed my full bike test and legally ride it on the road!
Im 46 and a late starter! Hahaha. ...

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raydawg

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Re: need riding tips for my savage
Reply #9 - 05/09/13 at 03:39:38

You'll need to re-learn some of the riding characteristics of the new bike, especially the power zone as compared to the little 125cc. It will be an asset, but until then and can get you into trouble if you drive it like you did your first bike. Practice some hard braking, etc, and stay loose on it, don't grip the bars till where your hands hurt after riding.....
I did the same thing as you late in life, except I had a 250 Rebel as my first ride.....enjoy!

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scotland66 YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 16 Austria Gender:	Re: need riding tips for my savage Reply #10 - 05/09/13 at 03:45:30 Thanks for the good advice, after my test im going to take some more voluntary private lessons to get me as safe ad possible on the road
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TheSavagePJ

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Re: need riding tips for my savage
Reply #11 - 05/09/13 at 08:45:44

Add yet another +1 for the MSF course, worth every penny. Also, this:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/proficient-motorcycling-david-l-hough/1101240...

A very through, in depth read that covers just about everything you would ever want to know. I read mine cover to cover, and I'm in the process of reading it again, for the sake of brushing up. I was a big fan of the section on countersteering, which can be a hard thing for newbies to master.

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groupus

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Re: need riding tips for my savage
Reply #12 - 05/09/13 at 10:08:43

+1 for the safety course, though I guess you would want to take the one that you get to use your own bike rather than theirs. In PA, 250cc bikes are provided in the beginner course, the advanced uses yours. I don't know how it is were you live... Also, I think that the long forks and rake of the savage make it more... interesting in corners.

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Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. ~Hunter Thompson

'03 Savage bobber. Rebuilt too many times.

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justin_o_guy2

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Re: need riding tips for my savage
Reply #13 - 05/09/13 at 10:28:10

If youre going wide in a corner FORCE your eyes to LOOK at the place on the road YOU WANT TO BE. Never look where you dont want to GO,
Its not easy, but thats what you have to do to drive that thing down into a corner. You need to drop right? Look right, press out with the right arm on the handlebar momentarily & it will fall into the corner better. YOU can lay these over hard enough to actually hurt your foot by pinching it between peg & motor. Ive had to drag my foot back several times in a hard corner.

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WD

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Re: need riding tips for my savage
Reply #14 - 05/09/13 at 10:36:01

I wouldn't let my stepson go take his test until he could grind the peg ends w/o dumping the bike. There is a lot more capability in the Savage platform than most riders think.

Proper exhaust, proper jetting, good air intake and weight reduction takes it from a commuter slug to... almost decent... the only major draw back is the substandard suspension. Which is easily improved with Intruder 800 rear shocks.

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On 2 wheels since 7/87

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