Our Savage is a mild mannered bike, and a lot of us appreciate the fact that a single cylinder engine with 30 HP can do so much to make us happy. (And then, some of us want just a bit more and install a Wiseco and change the cam, exhaust, etc. in search of just a bit more).

I was reading a motorcycle magazine that a test on the KTM 690 Duke.  That single cylinder bike has 73 HP!

Now I do realize that it is not the right bike for me, and all that extra HP is most likely something that would get me into trouble - but I do appreciate the technology and what can be accomplished when performance is your goal......and at $ 9,000 it is a bit out of what I am willing to spend on a toy.

http://www.ktm.com/us/naked-bike/690-duke-2016/

nice. not my "style". like the utilitarian aesthetics of the engine.

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what would it take to get close to that HP with a carb'd single like ours?

DesertRat wrote on 03/21/16 at 07:26:59:


The Savage engine could never make that kind of HP....it is designed to be a low cost, low HP engine at an affordable price...we kinda' have Briggs and Stratton technology in our bike.  The cylinder head on the Savage does not provide a good path for high flow volumes, the engine has a long stroke to make lots of low end torque - but it cannot turn high rpm which is where you can make HP (HP is torque x rpm).

With a lot of work and a good bit of money.....the Savage engine can make upwards of 40 HP.  I am not certain it could ever be made to make 50HP reliably.

The Savage engine has a 94mm stroke and a 94mm bore - which is called "square".  The KTM engine, and the DR650, and any large Thumper that wants to make HP is going to be significantly "oversquare"  with a bore larger than the stroke.  This allows for higher engine rpm, and bigger HP numbers.  The Duke 690 engine has a 105mm bore x 80mm stroke, and the dyno charts shows the engine going to 9,000 rpm.
 

Well, if you want more horse power on the savage/s40, it's simple!

Step one, remove engine/transmission

Step two, search for engine with the same or close dimensions with more HP

Step three, cuss, swear, bleed, bang your head, cut , weld, grind, re-measure, cuss some more, repeat previous steps.... until engine and transmission fit.

Step four, realize it isn't a savage anymore and sell it to buy another savage.

Like Serowbot said, the lower power level of the Savage helps keep me safe. There's been plenty of times I'd like to roll on the throttle and fly passed a slow moving car at light speed but the Savage won't do that. I just have to wait for a chance that's clear and then pass like I actually have something to live for!  

Ride safe!

Gus, I'm half a foot shorter than you. Maybe if I get a running start and jump, maybe then I can get on one of those bikes.

Yeah, I like S40 seat height. I would on occasion like to have more power, but that other 90% of the time, the S40 is great.

MMRanch wrote on 03/21/16 at 19:34:22:


That's true. I'm typically the first one away from a light without even trying. I love the torque of this engine. I don't race it. Everyone else is just slower than me!