I found this forum while searching for Savage info, I am currently helping a friend [coworker] who is on an extremely low budget, He was given a 1986 Savage 650 by another co worker, I decided tom take on the repair parts and labor of the bike and another coworker offered to pay the registration of the bike once it's up and running, the owner of the company paid for his motorcycle safety course, so this is a company wide charity build kinda cool!
I will have several questions for you guys as I am not real familiar with Japanese bikes, although I had a few in my younger days.
I have ordered most parts needed to complete the bike. needle and seat, throttle cable, battery, gas tank mounting bracket and rubbers, Raptor petcock etc. Parts should start rolling in this Friday!

Hello LeadFootLambert, this is Maurizio from Rome, Italy.

I too was one of those "Who, me? Japanese bike?" and rode Guzzis and BMWs for the better part of the last 25 years before meeting the Savage.

Love at first sight. I own an '88, 4-speed.

Wonderful piece of machinery, it'll work its ass off for you provided you keep in mind she's a mule, not a yearling for the Kentucky Derby !

Welcome Lambert!

Cool for the group effort. Show us some pics! The bike and group. Remember ebay is your friend (versus the dealership) most times.

mpescatori wrote on 05/16/13 at 04:16:43:

mpescatore I am curious since we have similar bikes, and mine is not yet on the road, what is your opinion of the 4 speed, do you feel it has enough or do you constantly feel that one more gear would really help?

shovelbum87 wrote on 05/17/13 at 17:21:29:


Even those of us with 5 speeds keep looking for one more gear!
The ratio of the top gear on the 4 speed and 5 speed is very close, so cruising is about the same.  The ratio change on the 5 speed version has very little change on the 4th/5th gear shift.....we all wish that the 5th gear was much taller.