SuzukiSavage.com - My 2015 "de-cruiserized"

Bob Scogin Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 53	My 2015 "de-cruiserized" 10/02/23 at 18:08:43 I don't think we ever really finish making modifications to these bikes, but I'm at a stopping point for now. Got the 18" on the back, flat seat, mid controls, and removed almost 30 lbs of weight. Like it more than ever.
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Ruttly Serious Thumper Offline Thumpers Rule Posts: 5113 Manteca , CA Gender:	Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized" Reply #1 - 10/02/23 at 20:45:40 Neat & tidy , very nice. Take a break and ride it , enjoy your build.
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zipidachimp Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1417 surrey, b.c. Gender:	Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized" Reply #2 - 10/02/23 at 23:02:16 Nice work! Mine is somewhat similar. Makes me wonder why Suz never did this. Royal Enfield and BSA doing it now, Honda and Triumph doing it in India. Good luck! Cheers! ps: S40 with EFI ? ooooooooh!
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Ruttly Serious Thumper Offline Thumpers Rule Posts: 5113 Manteca , CA Gender:	Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized" Reply #3 - 10/03/23 at 00:25:27 EFI & tiny turbo
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oldNslow

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Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized"
Reply #4 - 10/03/23 at 05:13:22

Very nice.

Quote:

I don't think we ever really finish making modifications to these bikes,

In that case the next step in de-crusierizing might be a little more challenging. Gotta do something about the chopperesque front end. Reduce the rake from 35 degrees to around 28 or so ( cut and reweld the neck ???),lower the forks?, lace up an 18" front wheel?, or all three? Wink

Even my sportster, which is no sportbike by any stretch of the imagination, has less rake and trail.

My 2006 S40 is the slowest steering motorcycle that I've ever ridden.

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Bob Scogin

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Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized"
Reply #5 - 10/03/23 at 12:39:16

oldNslow wrote on 10/03/23 at 05:13:22:

Very nice.
Quote:

I don't think we ever really finish making modifications to these bikes,

Reduce the rake from 35 degrees to around 28 or so ( cut and reweld the neck ???),lower the forks?, lace up an 18" front wheel?, or all three? Wink

My 2006 S40 is the slowest steering motorcycle that I've ever ridden.

Yup, the steering is miserable. Incremental changes such as wheel diameter and shock length simply chip away at the problem. The only fix is to reduce the frame neck angle. I have a frame jig, and the capability, but not the commitment. I'd swap the engine into a frame with "standard" geometry first, he said, glancing over at a Royal Enfield Bullet sitting in the corner of the shop.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28890 L.A. California Gender:	Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized" Reply #6 - 10/03/23 at 15:27:48 try some with less fork offset from the spindle I put on a front end from a vz800 and I think it's quicker w/out being a sportbike feel.
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Bob Scogin

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Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized"
Reply #7 - 10/03/23 at 16:52:44

verslagen1 wrote on 10/03/23 at 15:27:48:

try some with less fork offset from the spindle
I put on a front end from a vz800 and I think it's quicker w/out being a sportbike feel.

It's my understanding that to reduce trail, all other things being equal, fork yoke offset has to be increased. Also, "raked" fork yokes will reduce trail. I'm going to play with this rake and trail calculator and see how much the offset would have to change to get the 5.8" trail down to around 4".https://www.rbracing-rsr.com/rakeandtrail.html

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ohiomoto

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Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized"
Reply #8 - 10/03/23 at 16:53:09

I think it looks great.

Honestly, who cares about the handling? If you want better handling, there are better bikes for that. (If you want more power, there are better bikes for that too.) If you want a cool little bike that has just enough giddy-up to have fun.

That said, I haven't found a corner I can't navigate on my bike. It actually reminds me of my old Triumph. And, the high trail makes it really stable for a small bike.

This isn't a knock on those who have tinkered to make the bike handle better or faster. Just saying there are much better options if power and handling are what you are after.

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Bob Scogin

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Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized"
Reply #9 - 10/03/23 at 17:13:50

ohiomoto wrote on 10/03/23 at 16:53:09:

I think it looks great.
Honestly, who cares about the handling? If you want better handling, there are better bikes for that.

Thanks, and your point about handling is well taken. I'm not committed enough to go to extremes to "improve" it. I'll probably keep the S40, but I've got my eye on the new Triumph 400X Scrambler that's supposed to arrive next year. By the way, I posted more details about the shifter and side stand in your DYI Mid Controls thread. Don't know if you saw them. And thanks for the inspiration!

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ThumperPaul Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1743 Houston, Texas Gender:	Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized" Reply #10 - 10/05/23 at 10:39:26 Nice. Where did you get the muffler? Is that a reverse cone megaphone I see?
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DragBikeMike

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Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized"
Reply #11 - 10/05/23 at 10:42:34

You did a nice job Bob. Looks factory fresh. I also don’t care much for the stock Savage handling. Slightly taller rear shocks improved mine a bunch and now it’s just about right for me.

Thanks for all the detail you added to the mid-control post. I imagine those mid controls really reduce the fatigue on your back. Allows you to take most of the jolt through your legs rather than your spine. My little Savage beats me up pretty bad.

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TheSneeze Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 1226 Northern Nevada Gender:	Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized" Reply #12 - 10/05/23 at 11:27:18 It looks good, Bob!
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Mike D T YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 5	Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized" Reply #13 - 10/05/23 at 15:33:22 Nice job, Bob. Did you fit taller shocks with the 18" tires? Also, any more pix? Cheers! Mike
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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2778	Re: My 2015 "de-cruiserized" Reply #14 - 10/05/23 at 16:48:11 I know I said "who cares about handling" in my previous reply, but I should have noted that my forks are lowered 2 inches, I have mid-controls, a flat seat, and tracker bars. (Which is why it feels like my old Triumph.) lol
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