Think of it,.. as an old VW....
In fact, think of any motorcycle as an old VW...
Motorcycles do not have synchromesh transmissions...
They don't like to shift without rolling... they shouldn't be downshifted into any gear before it's time... they shouldn't be forced into gear...
A Savage isn't as smooth as as a Honda... it's way smoother than a Harley...
Once you learn to work with it,... it will become much smoother...
Strangely,... I can feel a difference, when someone else has ridden my bike... and it takes a while to get the smooth cadence back in the tranny...
You have to learn to work with a bike transmission... you don't fight it...
Other than shift lever adjustments, and people bending the shift rod by forcing shifts... Savages don't have shift problems... practically non-existent...
Getting Zen with your bike, is what makes bikes more fun than cars...
They don't do what you demand,... they do what you ask...
Politely...
...