Hello Quimrider, this is Maurizio from Rome, Italy...
...one of the
very few registered Savage riders this side of the pond.
I have a 4-speed, and as long as you leave the bike as is, she's fine.
Me ?
Not me... no, I had to tweak and quibble and
do stuff...
Well, a few tweaks and mods later, I have 5-8% taller gearing (she now does 55mph at an indicated 50...) so that 3rd gear is the all-around city gear, and I have to push her to at least 40-45 before I can shift into 4th...
So... if I had a 5-speed, I would shift into 4th at a more comfortable 40mph, and still have 5th for slabside cruising...
That's the only real difference... and the starter motor upgrade I did (and strongly suggest if your Savage is to last any more than one or two riding seasons...)
AND... if anyone of y'all has ever seen "The Fiddler on the Roof" and remembers the wonderful song "If I were a rich man..."
Imagine... movie star Sean Connery with his awesome scottish rrrolling RRRs... in big bad boy biker mode...
If I were a rich man,.....................................................If I had a five speed
Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum..............Whana whana gunna whana whana gunna gunna bang!
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum....................................I would have a gear-ra forrra town,
If I were a wealthy man................................................A gear-ra forrra croo-zi' tow-w-wn
I wouldn't have to work hard.........................................I wouldn't hafta rev hard
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.....Rumble rumble rorrra rorrra rumble rorrra rorrra bang!
If I were a biddy biddy rich...........................................If I had an extra middle gear
Idle-diddle-daidle-daidle man........................................I'd be cooler cruising town!