Been a few years since I've been riding. Health and life kept me away. A few years back I inherited a '88 savage. It has 9k miles on it. Cancer kept dad off it and it sat in the garage.  I popped in a new battery and changed the oil. It started right up. I've got a few hundred miles on it now. Have changed the oil twice, just to get good oil circulating throughout. Replaced the petcock on principal. Bike is running good.

So...Where should I go from here? What are the priority concerns?

Thanks. New rubber is ordered. Along with net tubes. And I did replace the brake fluid with new DOT4.

Oh! And I have never been one to leave the bike idle. Oil flows best when the pump is cooking!

I understand. However, letting the bike sit and idle on the side stand until warm is pointless at best. And as you point out possibly harmful. No need to wait for it to come up to full operating temperature.

I guess what I really need to know is what quirks do I need worry about on this bike? What common issues need to be addressed now. What possible problems need to be watched for.

GOF, the point I was trying to make is not to increase rpm when idling the bike at cold startup ,reving at this time could be harmful .,and yes you don't idle the bike until it fully warm ,just long enough so the bike will idle with the choke off .  at that point the bike will run but should not see WOT and shift points should be earlier as the oil temp /flow is lagging. The bike should NEVER be allowed to idle on the sidestand if at all possible .


  things that will damage your bike and eat your wallet
 
    Setting valve clearance to tight( burn or drop a valve)
 cam chain tensioner failing (internal motor damage)
    front drive pulley nut loose (eats splines on the pulley and worse the drive shaft)
      drive belt to tight (belt can snap)-( possible damage to bearings in rear pulley/ trans drive shaft
   leaving the ignition key on ,and not starting the bike (will burn up the ignition module)

I'm assuming you have changed the oil filter so you don't have to worry about putting it in back to front. I tend to push the choke three quarters in from start up and ride to the nearest intersection where I have to stop and then push all the way in. If you don't have to stop within a mil or two push the choke in asap.

Valve clearance is CHECKED, every 4000 miles . (new bikes have softer adjustment screws ,but the tips harden over time from striking the valve stems , after a few thousand miles, clearance don't change fast ,and may not need to be adjusted , only checked)
      When to check the cam chain tensioner depends a lot  on how the bike is driven , short trips will cycle the temperature of the motor more often,  and increase cam chain tensioner extension. (I would think to check ,around 15,000 miles ,sooner if you hear any unusual noise or feel any unusual vibrations.)

I think your assumption is correct. I don't think  we have never seen a blown head gasket.

Thanks guys. Will be ordering a plug soon.