For getting across town or whoopin thru twisties, it's a fun and very effective and forgiving bike. I didn't enjoy the 40 mile straight shot runs,they were boring. The bike didn't like it at speeds that weren't boring..
I'd have another one, in a heartbeat. I would not even have a heavier,slower twin because it does the slab better.. the Savage does everything else much better,and ,everything else is what I usually do.

Flint, the age old question is "what type of riding will he need it for?"

Long trips?  Water cooled six speed
Combination of Long trips and town... dual sports work best..
Just in town and few trips.... S40 (650 savage)...

And that is the cruiser side... there are sport bikes that can do the same...

If he is a first time rider.... don't go big.... go used and small.. (for the first riding season), you can always resell and go bigger next season.

I have a LS 650 and a small 300 ninja.... love them both....  if he wants speed... tell him to wait....
He can bob or café the S40 with a few extra bucks.... if he wants a sporty looking bike, look at the smaller sport bikes, I talk up my 300 ninja because its fuel injected, water cooled and gets on the average of 65+ mpg (if I don't slam the throttle at every light) with a 4.5 gal tank.

If he didn't get one right off the bat, means he is smart about his choices.... and your choice of the S40 as a "get back on it" bike... is good too... LOL...

Good luck in your endeavors  

With all the interest in this bike, and its staying power over 20 years, it is really unfortunate that no one at Suzuki has any imagination or 'smarts'. We could all be riding 'Tempter 650's and having a great time:  https://www.google.ca/search?q=tempter+400&biw=1920&bih=858&source=lnms&tbm=i...  
just look at that gorgeous tank!

Hmmm,Tempter,  Good Name..

Wonder if the 650 engine would drop in the Tempter frame?

My wife has a relatively stock S-40 and I rode home a 2009 or 2010 V-Star 650 for a friend of hers when she first bought it used from a local dealer.  For me I would say it is no comparison.  The S-40 would bury the V-star off the line and around town.  I came home telling my wife that extra 150 lbs the V-star had (she had the bags and fairing etc) made it so it would barely get out of it's own way in town.  I can't speak to how it would be on the highway as I didn't get over 45 mph.  My guess is the V-star would be a little smoother maybe on the supper slab but for a beginner based on weight and usable torque the S-40 is the way to go.

My wife put 6500 miles on her S-40 last year with most all being highway miles.  Standard ride for her was 85-125 miles and the longest we did which was together was 245.  Most riding was at 55-60mph with max at about 65-70.  Not much pushing the 70-75.  She just doesn't ride on the superslab, most all is highway or county roads.

Hi Doug,

My XT500 was stock.  I shaved the seat down, dropped the forks a bit in the triple tree and backed the shocks off to the lowest setting to get it a bit lower.  I am the same height as you.  I dropped one tooth in the front sprocket on the XT500 for in the dirt and the machine would wheelie without trying.

I looked at the DR650 last year and found the same problem regarding seat height and ended up buying an XT250 instead.  The 250 is a great little bike but does not like to go over 60.  It will hit 75 with no wind but the little motor is screaming.

Now I want a light little highway/backroad bike and the S40 looks perfect for me.  I do wish they had a kick start on the S40 though, it seems every bike is electric start now for some reason.