I am 5'5", 120 lb, just bought an '06 S40 with 3700 miles. I rode it for the first time today.  I also have an '06 1200 Sportster that is also new to me. I bought the S40 because the Harley just felt too heavy to learn on as a first bike.

Anyway, the Suzuki feels like the MSF bikes. I don't know if this is because the Harley is 1200 cc and the Savage is 650 cc, but I feel like I'm riding a Honda Rebel.  

Do you guys think there is something up with the Suzuki or just that it will feel that less powerful compared to the Harley? Thanks!

Next to a 1200, the S40 feels like a toy. Displacement differences, different power curves, lower seat, lighter overall...

Learn on the Savage. Get good with it, it can/will do everything the Sporty can do it's just a bit slower (and more nimble).

I'm not trying to disparage the S40 by comparing it to a Rebel, but that is how mine feels. I'm assuming there may be something wrong with it. The bike did a lot of sitting, brakes squeal, and there doesn't feel like there's much power.  Shifting from first to second results in the bike running rough initially, which could be me needing to shift better or the bike. I'm a lot happier with the S40 vs the Harley. Yes, I do like Harleys and the whole "biker chick" thing

Jen, just explain what your bike sounds and feels like, there will be tons of replies on what to check or what you need to do to make it better. If you know a hammer from a screwdriver and can twist a bolt in the right direction there is a possibility you can fix it yourself with a little pointing in the right direction from the savage guru's here.

I have been turning wrenches most of my life and got my wife's 04' savage running hot! I can twist the throttle and be at 60 mph in about a half a block easy. I rode it from the panhandle of florida all the way to north Carolina to show the guys how well they coached me, cause the bike runs great now.

If you think you could work on your bike, do it.... the savage is a very easy motorcycle to wrench on, unlike the sportster which is fuel injected and has more electronics to fool you into thinking you know whats wrong with it.

Sounds like you need to learn how to work on your savage. Most small motorcycle shops around here charge about $65 an hour plus parts. I think I spent maybe two and a half hours on this carb to get it running good, of course if yours had been sitting for a couple years you might need to take it apart to clean it up a bit, and that will take a few hours.

The first thing I did to the wife's savage was to change out the fuel shut-off valve (petcock) and plug up the vacuum on the right side of the carb, then pull the tank off and remove the top of the carb and put in two small plastic washers in place of the thick one that is there. I then adjusted the air/fuel screw till the bike ran a bit better and there was no pop on shut down.

Oh and the mechanic I had look it over, told me the same thing....that it needed tons of carb work.

There are some step by step posts around here somewhere, i'm sure a few of the guys that know whats up will let you see the links to them soon.

This bike is really simple to fix, once you learn about the few things that need to be addressed to make it run right.

Jen wrote on 08/22/13 at 20:16:20:


oof dah  howyadoinsweetheart  

an hours worth of work and 4 more staring at it from a crossed the room in my easy chair while it's boiling in the cleaner.

That's what the book says it will do Verslagen, maybe 45 in second to be on the safe side. After all we don't have rev counters as stock.

I used an old crock pot filled it with anti-freeze set it on low and let mine soak for a couple of days it came out looking brand new and got all of the old varnish out with no problem.