DragBikeMike wrote on 03/25/18 at 01:51:04:


Unfortunately.......in a word........maybe 2........"Not Really".

The Savage engine can be made better - but it cannot be made to be really fast.  It has a lot of torque down low - but the exhaust port in the cylinder is very poorly designed.   Some work can be done to make it better - but even with extensive porting it is still a very poor design and limits the flow which results in poor HP numbers.  The stock bike is around 30 HP, the engine can be made to have around 40 HP with the Wiseco, cam, porting, carb, exhaust work.......getting to 50 HP has been a goal for some folks.  (The stock KTM and Husky 690cc bikes have single cylinders and can make around 70 HP).

A modified Savage can get to 80 mph pretty quickly - beyond that the acceleration begins to suffer.

The bike might well be the fastest cruiser across the intersection - it will not be in the lead by the end of the block.

My bike has a 95mm Wiseco, Stage 1 cam, Mikuni Round slide, port work and a more open exhaust.  It runs really well, makes me smile, accelerates as fast as I need it to, corners well - it may get off the line pretty quickly - but it will not win any drag races.

If you want to make the fastest Savage in the world.....the members of this forum will help and support you - just be aware that you are working with what is basically a big lawnmower engine........and the cylinder head is going to limit what can be done.

I have not had a professional porting job done nor a flow bench check, but did have an extensive conversation with a shop owner whose sole job is building racing motorcycle engines.  On my last visit he had literally dozens of engines lined up for work.  During our conversation I detailed what I was doing and he stated it was correct.  There was one thing I did not have and that was a tool that is used to grind the valve seat and his had an additional feature that rounded slightly the area just beneath the valve, and that was designed to improve flow.  I don't polish but do smooth the exhaust port.  It may not be as pretty but it works.

I have never taken the Savage to a drag strip.....I enjoy corners far more than I enjoy going straight.

My bike has a GPS speedometer that has 0-60 mph and 1/4 mile timers, and I have done a few runs to see what my bike does.  I have very tall gearing (double Kawasaki pulleys and 18" rear wheel), and I don't do really hard starts as I believe it puts a lot of stress on the clutch and rubber belt....so somebody who is willing to rev the engine and drop the clutch will likely be able to get a bit better times than I do.

My 0-60 time is repeatedly around 5 seconds.  I can't remember what the 1/4 mile times are.....I believe I have it written down somewhere and will see if I can find it.

If you want it to go down the track fast
Tie it to someone else's wheelie bar.

The mod's we do "enhance" the torquey character of this engine.  The cam & piston upgrades are primary and add/expand the torque & power base, while a carb swap is about power & responsiveness.
Other mods correct issues or help with longevity.  One of our members had 150,000 miles on his bike when he rebuilt it last year.  His cylinder and head were in virtually new condition, only the valves and rockers needed replacement.  The cam bearing surfaces were pristine and the camshaft was still very nice.
His bike was still stock and the engine itself had never been cracked open.

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 03/26/18 at 09:48:47:


JOG you crack me up ! But it's the truth even if it hurts , it's the way it is !

I agree with Dave. Maybe a motorcycle tractor pull? Maybe you remember the Kawasaki 750cc 2 stroker? There was a drag bike. 3 cylinder 2 stroke. Guaranteed to self-destruct within 10,000 miles.