Is there an out let for fender struts without the sissy bar slots on top the strut? Also, during my ride tonight I noticed the handle bars are to narrow and swept in to far. Any suggestions for replacements would surely be welcome. Also looking at wider trple trees and full length fender for the rear. What fits what doesn't.

Thanks Gus

I apologize for the error of omission about the year of the bike. I'll have to see what I can come up with on the rear fender. Putting feelers out to find out how much aftermarket stuff is available for these.
About the triple trees ; I am wanting to put the same size wheel and tire on front and rear. Both wide. I've not done any measurements yet but I'm assuming that will call for a wider setting between the tubes.
I'dhave to see what those drags with dog bones looks like. As far as handle bars iI'd like to find some with a little less rise a little less sweep and about six inches wider.
As a younger man I spent a lot of time doing century (100 miles) rides on bicycles. It takes me about 3 seconds to recognize a set of bars that are unfit for human use. Those bars on that Savage are not fit for anyone. They are swept in way to far for anyone, save the smallest of riders, to use effectively.
I would bet half the people that get rid of these bikes is because of those bars. They gotta go.

Thanks, Gus

Our fork tubes are 38mm, and that is not a real common size....and it will be even harder to find some triple trees that are wider.  

Here is a build thread that used an Intruder font end that is wider.  You will get the clearance you need - plus better brakes.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1395723490/0


Now those of use that rides bikes because they handle well and like to ride in the curvy mountain roads.....we will try and talk you out of putting a big meaty front tire on - it will make the bike slow steering and sluggish in the corners.

Easiest rear fender to adapt is an FL Shovelhead replica. Notch the front of the new fender. Remove all items from stock rear fender, set FL fender over stock one. Weld together, add a real taillight and turn signals, run new wires. Once you finish tuning the tire to fender gap of course, which is done by trimming the stock fender end.

Find pics on here of my daily rider. FL fender, tombstone taillight, solo seat, small police windshield, Indian Chief style bags, Road King handlebar, fishtail exhaust, Panhead floorboards... There are 2 versions on the site, the orange with dirt track tank (parts roach) and the black/cream with stock tank.

I have 2" dog bone risers on the black bike, 6" or so on the orange one, OR 15" rise ape hangers in stock base risers.

Recommended tire sizes are 90/90-19 or 100/90-19 for stock fork; 80/90-21 or 90/90-21 for Intruder fork. Rear handles best with a 130/90-15, looks best with a 140/90-15.

Dave, I missed the comment about the curvy mountain roads and sluggish steering. I know how the wider front tire will affect the steering and handling. I DO travel a lot of gravel and the wider front tire always seems less twitchy in the dirt. Much of why I bought a Savage has to do with the places I ride and how I ride. I've put a couple hundred miles on this bike since Sunday, when I bought it, and I struggle with the twitchy steering

WD thanks for the pointers on the wide fenders. Not sure I want to go as wide as a stock Shovel fender but I'll have to take a closer look.

Art I may just take you up on the trade. First I want to take up the B pad and see how much junk is actually under there and see what I can manage to do with it. I wonder if tail light wires can be run beneath the struts the back through the fender and through to the tail light again.

Gus

OK Dave,
Thanks for got hat link again to that build t hread. I' ve got an intruder front end on the way. I smell a build thread coming on


Dave wrote on 10/20/15 at 04:09:30:

WD wrote on 10/21/15 at 09:22:42:


I put a newer FLH front fender over a stock fender that I cut (old bobber project) in order to use stock mounting locations. I also went with a tombstone tail light and a 130/90 tire. I am in the process of sourcing parts to swap the front end out with a VS750/800 and want a larger tank on it.

Here is my build thread: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1438813391/0

... Daily rider bags have since been swapped.

... I think you can see which parts off the orange one went onto the black one.

... Yes that is a drum front wheel, no, you can't have it.

... Formerly everyone's favorite version of the bike that had a terminal electrical failure.

I do need to either add a lowering kit or swap back to stock shocks on my daily rider. Too much tire to fender gap.