I was going to reply to Dave, but read on...
Then I was going to reply to Serowbot, but read on...
Then I was going to reply to JOG, but read on...
...and I'm glad I did, because wise old Lancer nailed it on the head !
Like the say in merrie olde Englande, it's "horses for courses".
The only things the Savage and the DR650 have in common is the brand badge on the tank.
Else, the Savage is a wet sump, low revving, low specific hp air cooled engine.
ENTIRELY BY MISTAKE it has a 4-valve headm had they equipped the Savage with a simple LARGE valve "2V" head, and quite possibly a better location for the spark plug, they would have done a better job.
My Savage's sweet spot for highway criusing is around 4000-4500rpm, but I prefer to stay around 3800-4000 which equates to 55-60ish.
Beyond that speed... the engine is quite capable, but the bike is not designed to cruise at anything Beyond 60-65mph.
Not with those pull back bars and forward controls.
As for "the best racing bikes yakk yakk yakk", I am sorrym, that is nonsense.
The best racing twin to be a 750? PL-E-E-E-ZE !!!
Hasn't anyone ever heard of DUCATI ? 848, 899, 998, 999, 1098, 1099, all the way up to the latest 1198cc screamer (if you can call the Ducati's growl a scream, it's more like the bellowing of an enraged bull !!! )
The same applies for APRILIA...
(Aprilia Tuono pictured with KTM SuperDuke)
The same applies for BMW's "HP2"... quite possibly the only factory bike other than the Ducati 1199 Panigale with a chronometer for lap times built into the instrumentation
Even the new, revived, resuscitated Norton Commandos are quite impressive scorchers...
Enjoy some Thunder !
Privateer on road legal Ducati 999 lapping Monza... see tach clocking 9500rpm!
This is a Superstock Panigale 1199 lapping Imola
(see how his handlebars snake all over the place in accelleration...
)
Ducati Monster S4RS at a track day
AND NOW...
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FOR SOME RIVETING ACTION ( !!! )
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