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Message started by Midee1 on 05/22/14 at 01:30:30

Title: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by Midee1 on 05/22/14 at 01:30:30

After only owning and riding Harleys for the past 26 years I recently acquired an 88 650 Savage. Already named her Little Misfit because she don't fit in at my house at all. She is going to be a starter bike for my wife and my boys to learn to ride on.

A little back story. Neighbor up the street owned the bike that belonged to her late daughter. It set on their back porch for about 6 years. They know I tinker with lots of things so they asked me if I wanted it. After we settled on a price (FREE) I finally went up and rolled it down the hill to my house. Surprisingly other than the paint the rest of the bike was in decent shape. I actually aired the front tire and hopped on and costed down the hill to my driveway. Brakes even worked.

Haven't started it or even tried yet. Have to pick up a battery and I am going to go through all of the fluids and give it the once over first.

What seems to be the allure of these little machines and is there anything I should make sure of before I try to fire her?

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by Midee1 on 05/22/14 at 01:31:16

Here's a pick as she looked when I rolled her home

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by iamgodzi1la on 05/22/14 at 02:05:00

That looks a lot nicer than mine, and it only sat for a year or two. The allure, for me, was that a guy was selling one for almost the exact amount of cash I had in my pocket. I thought it would be a cheap ride to work and I bought it. I fell in love with it because it's so easy to work on and customize. They're like the 10/22 of motorcycles. One of the pros can advise you better than me, but all I did with mine was drain the old gas and oil and soak the carb in seafoam. It started right up and hasn't coughed or hiccupped, since.

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by Steve H on 05/22/14 at 03:47:19

Sort of small. Light weight. Lots of torque. Tolerable handling. It's a single so it makes a different sound than just about everything else. Many people mistake it for a small Harley. Mechanically, it's a throwback to the early 70's and electrically to the late 70's.

You already know to check your tires and rubber seals. I'd lube the cables. Carb will probably have to be cleaned. Change the oil. Drain the old gas.

When you do get it running, make sure it idles at 1,000 to 1,200 rpm or you won't get enough oil to the head. Pic looks like you might need a seat. Don't leave the ignition on for a long time without the engine running. The electronic ignition will overheat.

Check out the things every savage newbie should know sticky. Take a look in the tech section. There is an index. Can find just about everything you would want to know in there. Many very knowledgeable and helpful people here will be glad to help however they can.

Have fun with it once you get it going.

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by LANCER on 05/22/14 at 04:08:51

Rust in tank ?
I would pull it off and at least swish some gas around a bit to see what comes out.
Change the vac and vent tubes on the carb.
Pull the float bowl and check for crud ... if bad, then remove the carb for a tear down.

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by ZAR on 05/22/14 at 06:00:35

Midee the allure to a lot of us older riders from the 60's and 70's is that it is a throwback. It takes us back to the days when the Brit bikes like the Beezers and Nortons were hot stuff. Plus there's the kick of riding something that's not a Harley wannabe.

Add to that the simplicity of the mechanicals and you've got a winner!

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by Dave on 05/22/14 at 07:04:52

I wanted a bike that was a single cylinder, air cooled, carb....all the stuff easy to work on and durable. I plan on riding this bike a long time - so I didn't want radiator hoses, fuel injection and fancy stuff that was hard to repair and could leave you stranded with no chance of a quick repair.

I really like the way the big single runs on the local back roads.....and it can be made into a bike capable of interstate travel (gearing changes help).

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by WD on 05/22/14 at 07:51:57

It is a cute little toy bike that not a whole lot of people in the USA ride.

It is an engineering throwback: Engine is mechanically a roughly 1961 Honda CL/CB other than the tower bedded camshaft (even the old Hondas had cam bearings), with a mid to late 1970s ignition system scabbed on. The rear brake is straight out of the 1930s, the front about 1969. The fork is a mid 60s at best. The rear shocks are functionally dead on for early 60s. Gas tank mimics 1950s racing tanks. Speedometer location is the same as a 1930s Big Twin. 15 inch rear tire screams 1970s chopper heyday, as does the stock buckhorn handlebar.

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by Midee1 on 05/22/14 at 08:54:07

Thanks for all the replies and insight so far everyone.

I am certainly going to give it a mechanical once over before I try to fire it. Change all fluids and look the fuel system over. If she runs ok I'll change the tires (dryrotted) then i'll tear the forks down to change the seals and fluids, check all the bearings and scrub the crud off of all the aluminum. I'll go through the rear as well. Get her mechanically sound then teach the wife and kids to ride on her. Once they get comfy she will come down again for the cosmetic side.

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by old_rider on 05/22/14 at 13:42:27

Make sure the petc0ck is a manual, most change out the zuki one with a yamaha raptor 660 and cap the vacuum on the carb.

Also since it is an 88, might want to look at the cam chain and tensioner.

Starter mod would be the next thing after the first two.... if you think it needs it, some don't.

Oh..and DON'T you ride it very far..... LOL... as a former harley rider (and others) I ended up getting me one also.... to mod this coming winter after the meet with the fella's in june.

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by jcstokes on 05/22/14 at 14:02:58

Since the exhaust isn't stock, it may pay to post your jet sizes if you do strip the carb. I'm no expert and I ride strictly stock, the experts here say that re jetting is necessary after an exhaust mod. Be sure to buy the correct Raptor petcock, someone will post the correct part number, as there are several variants and some are a little small. The Shinko 140/90 rear tyre is a popular choice on this forum as is a certain grade of Shell Rotella engine oil. The experts will tell you which one.

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/22/14 at 22:14:16

Rotella 15/40.. Has the goodies to keep the rockers & all such stuff "Up Top" happy & its cheap,,

Looks like you got as much comfort as the stock seat provides.

You may like the noise of that pipe, if its too loud to keep the peace with your neighbors youll find the HD Dyna muffler produces a healthy exhaust tone AND is easy to tune/jet the carb to.

YOur little Missfit has a few common, built in hassles. The petcock is a POS & the cam chain tensioner can cause an engine destruction. If the miles are approaching 15,000, its time to go look inside there,,Verslagen sells a modified tensioner that squeezes the last miles out of the cam chain AND prevents the tensioner from spitting its guts into the spinning gears..

If tinkering is your game, youve just embarked on a game you can win easily,.
Welcome to the forum.,

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by Midee1 on 05/23/14 at 10:30:16

6C7375726F6859695961737F34060 wrote:

Thanks for the info.

Basically the wife will have all the comfort she needs. LOL it's her bike to learn on.

As far as the neighbors go I don't sweat that much. They all love me. I rode a 97 Ultra with straight pipes for a couple years and now I have a 86 EVO bagger with a Thunderheader. I've been there for 22 years so they pay me no nevermind.

I'll look into the petcock early on. I hate vacuum operated petcocks anyhow. As far as the cam chain tensioner she only has a little over 4700 miles on the clock but I will check it out none the less. I know what a cluster the cam chain tensioners are in the twin cams and i don't want any issues with the little lady getting out and breaking down.

Thanks for the welcome.

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by ToesNose on 05/24/14 at 04:51:36

Allure? For me I love the feel and sound of Thumpers, and the LS650 is the largest mass produced non-off road big single that is reliable and still in production making it easy to get maintenance parts for. I dig Royal Enfields too, and will probably pick one up some day ::)

Title: Re: New to Savages...metrics in general
Post by mpescatori on 05/26/14 at 02:55:09

Hi Midee, MPesc from Rome, Italy :)

I also ride an '88, keep in mind it should be a 4-speed, so don't go looking for 5th gear :D

Mine came with narrow drag bars, they're great for splitting lanes & cush but stiff when you ride slowly around the neighborhood.
Maybe 20", maybe less.

The buckhorns I see may look nice, but I don't know how well they may be received by the family, they keep the wrists and elbows in a position which is slightly uncomfortable to many people.

I changed my bars to 32" drag bars, also known as speedway bars, and they're extremely comfortable.