I don't know exactly how fast it can go in the first gear, but I do know it's not fast.. But that shouldn't be a factor.. IMO you only wanna use the first gear to get you rolling, and as soon you take the 2nd, the low end torque will get you moving quickly.. Quicker than your 250 atleast..  

Im preeety sure that the savage hits 30 mph in second, just before you change to 3rd... It's not a racer, but it definitely doesn't slow down traffic..
Btw. I understand why you would wan't more power than the rebel can deliver, but you shouldn't bother about those behind you..

Just shy of 37 miles an hour in first gear....if you go all the way to the red line.

The Savage has no problem keeping up at traffic lights.  Interstate highways are a different story.....the bike doesn't like 75 mph speeds all that much.

Michael L wrote on 04/10/14 at 13:34:22:


It has torque.....and it is fun!

Look in Craigslist and find a dealer or person that has a Savage for sale, ride your Rebel over and take the Savage for a test ride.

Paladin. wrote on 04/10/14 at 21:45:34:


Only problem is the thing is gutless. 68 mph top speed on the freeway, wide open, 5th gear... I got some troubleshooting to do... and 46mpg is about 20 lower than it should get... Has to be the windshield, I hate them, but these days I need to use one.

Is there anything that does everything well? I have short & long screwdrivers, small & large hammers, If I could, Ive have a dirt bike & a dual purpose & a Savage & a good highway bike & a pickup & a 2 seater sports car & Caddy or a Lincoln for trips & a van for people hauling,,
For around town? The Savage IS a Savage beast. Its light & nimble & will go to 45 MPH in a flash. Sure, a Ninja 500 will hit 45 or 50 in a flash, too, but its not ( No, I havent ridden one) comfortable & its not as well suited to a short guy with crummy shoulders. I was riding some roads that were fairly curvy & maybe a mile between stop signs. The Savage would do those roads every bit as fast as I would have ridden a Ninja. I never felt threatened by the bikes power, afraid it would throw me & stomp on me in a corner. I could ride it to a higher %age of its capacity than I could ever hope to on a Ninja. Id Rather have my speed limited by a bikes handling in a corner than by MY inability to ride it to its capacity. IOW, Id probably get hurt if I had a hot rod bike because Id Want to see what it would do & Id get in over my head.The Savage isnt for everybody. Some folks just have more ability & good sense & the physique to belong on a bike that I shouldnt ever ride.. I believe the Savage is a great little bike & I was able to get across town very quickly. I can get across town quicker in my pickup than the wife can in her car & I drive to stretch the MPG.. Im just quick to see an opening & I work thru traffic,, on the Savage? OHH, man,, Eatin traffic & gigglin,,
It DID the Innerstate, but it was physically tiring & boring,, Theres as many reasons for for all those different bikes made as there are riders,,
The Savage has been in production a long time,, if its not a decent bike, then the word hasnt made it to the consumer..
If I had kep[t mine I would have the Versy and I would have a clutch throwout machined from a chunk O steel, They break rarely, but they do break and at speed that can do plenty of damage AND put a guy to walking,,& theres no warning,, Ditch the stock muffler, the cheapest, sexiest answer is the Dyna, get the carb jetted right and youve got a scalpel on wheels for carving traffic & having fun on the curvy roads.

WD wrote on 04/11/14 at 00:50:14:
If you cannot top 68 mph you have major problems.  My LX150 does 65 mph on the freeway.

old_rider wrote on 04/11/14 at 10:44:02:
What matters is each person's comfort range.  In 2004 I was looking at 250's, since I know that is all I really need.  'Til I noticed the Savage, only 50 pounds heavier with a 652cc single.  Saw one, fit me near perfect, got one, rode it for 8 years.  It is wicked quick and I backed down at 85mph.  When I killed the Savage I was looking at not swinging a leg over the saddle, hence a "scooter."  Rented a LX150 and found it was capable on the freeway.  So I got one.  

BUT

I am comfortable near WOT doing 62 mph on the Interstate, slowing down on the truck lanes up hills.  Even on the Grapevine I was 45+ mph.  I like pushing the limits of the vehicle.  Most people do not.

Paladin. wrote on 04/11/14 at 12:39:42:



The 98 would clear 100 with ease. Exhaust, extra rich jetting, serious weight reduction. So stupid me turned it into a 50s style custom when the electrical system had a massive failure. After it had gone from a stock bar equipped 70+mpg commuting, 80+mpg freeway to a 15 inch rise bar barhopper...  

Whoever did the carb "adjusting" bent Pine over a barrel. Cold idle is too low, warm idle is too high. Slide seems to be sticking a touch as well. All fairly simple to correct, and a big part of the fun, seriously, I like dialing them in.

I'm 6'2", 230#, plus the bike is wearing my old VN800A's Memphis Big Shot windshield and a stock garbage can muffler... Combine those stats with a funky carb and a bronze stone fuel filter and you get... a bike that won't/can't do 70mph right now. It came with a carb kit, no worries.