I feel uniquely qualified to answer this question.

In the past year I've owned an S40 and a TU250X and I've ridden both on gravel/dirt with a passenger.

I'm 5'11" and about 170lbs, my passenger is 5'6" and slim

I bought a TU250X in March with my girlfriend at the time in Northern rural NM and we gallivanted around the countryside for about a month on the TU250X. We both have a license, sometimes she would drive and other times I would. It was an absolute BLAST. I loved riding that TU250X around the dessert. Granted, it only topped out around 65mph with both of us on it, so highways were out of the question.

After spending a month out in NM, it was time for me to head home to the east coast, and since flying was more or less out of the question back in May/June, I bought myself a slightly larger bike to head home on, my 2009 S40. It was the right price with very low miles and seemed pretty easy to maintain. We had both bikes for a few weeks, and occasionally we would take the S40 out together instead of the TU250X. I've got to say that the S40 was much less fun on dirt/gravel. If it weren't for the fact that I had to ride across the country, I would much rather own a TU250X than the S40. I do still take the S40 on the highways back east occasionally, and I'll say that it's way better than the 250 for highway riding.

Also, quick note about the Intruder shocks (I have them on my bike). I don't think it's as simple as people here are letting on. It's a bit of an "if you give a mouse a cookie" situation.
If you put intruder shocks on your savage, you're going to need to either remove your passenger footpegs, or swap your muffler out for a harley muffler. This involves fabricating an adapter pipe and finding the right muffler (easier said than done). You're also going to have to change out a few screws that will now be rubbing on your belt, but a chain drive would negate that. Also, you'll need to grind down three parts on your belt cover that will now be grinding on your belt/pulley. Next, you'll need to adjust your seat, because it'll be pushing you forward into your tank even more than it was before the shock swap since the bike is leaned forward. Also you'll need to adjust your headlight, which will now be pointed at the ground. All of this stuff is easy, but it involves a few trips to the local Ace and takes a few days to get right.
Also, now that you've changed your muffler, you'll need to retune your carb. That white spacer is an absolute b**** to get to if you're a novice wrencher like myself.

Lastly, those forward controls are really inconvenient for riding on gravel/dirt, and I'd like to change mine out as soon as I have the time and money (who ever has both at the same time???)

I do enjoy riding around on my savage, and wrenching on it, plus it was a great price, but it's not the best option if you want something that's dirt/gravel friendly.

I personally like the bike a lot more with the intruder shocks. It's more responsive on pavement for sure, the ride is a little gentler over potholes. Biggest difference offroad is the ground clearance. I bottomed out at least once back in NM, but that hasn't been an issue since getting back east and swapping the shocks. There isn't much dirt or gravel here though, so I'm mostly on pavement now anyways

[img][/img]Just picked up a 2016 that had been dropped. Tested her out today and am pleasantly surprised. Nice ride. Good suspension. Very adequate power. Handles not bad on moderately loose gravel roads. A real pleasure on pavement. Got it for a song. $2000 canadian or about $15 US dollars.
But it needs some work. Needs a battery, The famous head plug oil leak needs  fixing. Tank was damaged and filled and painted with a rattle can.
I'm turning this one into a bobber so it needs some mods anyways. Bar hopper / city bike.
I think I might pick up another to use as my camping bike for occasional 2 up riding.
Thanks all. I appreciate all the input.

DustyCrusty wrote on 12/02/20 at 16:34:50:


In ayway, I love all I can see in the picture.
Its black as my 2000 Savage, but I altso have grey strips on the fuel tank!
And I got the sissybar, dont know if its comfortable at all.. but its on my bike.
WTF.. a 2016.. its amoste brand new, could anybody have destroid that much.. exept the paintings?
And to the oil leak.. I got somting similar, but not don enything about it, becuse its not getting any worse, a cosmetic issue. Coul be that extra nut in the front that need some thightening?