Hi All,

My first post, ill try and not be too long winded.

Im in New Zealand and basking in summer heat right now and getting in a lot of riding.

Ive had quite a few bikes in fact still have a Suzuki SV1000 and my beloved Suzuki SG350 Goose.

Have to say Ive never liked crusiers regarding them as fat ugly and wallowy things, slow too. And while seeing many Suzuki S40s over the years ive never given them a second glance but my dad used to own A Velocette Venom 500 and a Matchless 500 g80 and so the big S40 lump was sort of familiar.

I also have been riding a little Suzuki vanvan 200 and loving it. Anyway a 2017 s40 came up for sale with only 2000kms on it and pretty much as new. Went for a ride and loved it and on impulse bought it  

Already put a superbrace on it, just looking at those raked forks gave me the shivers after my sportsbike riding.

Impressions? Well very comfortable after i adjusted to what, for me, is very strange feet forward, and high bars set up. Its super in town and love the torque. Being used to some pretty dubious build quality ( especially plating ) on various Suzukis ive owned, ive got it slathered in anti corrosion spray on various parts.

The large skinny front wheel is taking a bit of getting used to and im definately noticing the way it can flop into a corner. Dont mind the vibes one little bit but then im a girl haha.

Honestly my only real complaint so far ( given the nature of the bike) is the crap rear suspension. Bought a set of progressives 11 inch on ebay last night.

Hugely informative forum by the way, so impressed  

Juliana.

pic My Goose

Welcome...  
I've admired the Goose for years, if they sold them here in the US I'd have one.
PS.. those 11" shocks will help a lot.

Some things depend on your height, I find I wouldn't want the bike sitting higher at the rear as it makes it harder to reverse the bike into garages and parking spaces. The stock S40 is easier to reverse than the GN 250 I used to own. After nearly 80000 km I've got used to it, I do use an Airhawk seat pad for a little extra comfort.

batman wrote on 01/21/20 at 08:54:59:

Thanks and yes im hoping so. The fueling seems spot on at the moment although i suspect its on the lean side.

Welcome Juliana

I've ridden my Savage (S-40) on some 3000 mile per/week trips and its plenty capable of going anywhere its pointed.   Actually I re-fit-ed a Harley Soft-tail two piece seat to it.  A few of us have put the larger 25 tooth front pulley off a old belt drive Kawasaki 500 - onto the LS650's to take advantage of that long stroke engine.  But all those "MOD's will come along in their own time ... or lots of folks just ride-em like they are forever.   Our buddy in Texas YouzGuyz is coming up on 200,000 miles on his and it still looks stock w/shield and bags.

That fork brace is a mighty thing in the mountains !  
 

Longest day ride I've done was Hokitika to Ivercargill a few years ago. yes I felt it at the end of the day. but I kept up with Triumph Bonnies, new ones, Harley 1200 sporster and a 1984 large Kawasaki. Covered Crown Range and Napier Taihape on the way home. Just play it easy on metal roads.

Since you are still up a couple of pointers. The rear brake is very prone to lock up, so watch it in the wet. There are solutions on this site. I don't care what anyone else says, but the original IRC rear tyre is shyte. It terrified me in wet weather and on tar snakes or differences between tar heights in the wet. I don't have much skill but I rode reasonably hard, within the bikes capability and the rear tyre was worn to the canvas or nylon, whatever, in 6000 km, the front lasted better. I changed to a 140/90/15 Continental and the difference was profound, I now run 140/90/15 Michelin Commander and that's good too. Having said this some of the tech savvy people on this site prefer 130/90/15 because they maintain it improves handling. Watch that rear brake, even when it's dry.