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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
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Message started by StevieK on 01/23/06 at 08:24:40

Title: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by StevieK on 01/23/06 at 08:24:40

Hello all and greetings from a new member.

After a long time on 4 wheels I'm considering buying another bike and the Savage is at the top of my list as I love big singles with the classic look and I'm only about 5'4" (wish they still made the SR500, though!). I have a few questions I hope someone can answer...

I've read lots of posts about the carb settings and the backfire caused by the factory settings running the engine a little on the lean side, but does anyone know if this also afflicts UK/EU versions of the bike or is it a US-only emissions workaround?

Do any UK/EU owners know of a good one-stop shop for accessories? Google isn't giving me much at all other than manuals and spare brake handles. I'd be looking at crash bars, maybe a new muffler and re-jet after a while, saddlebags and the usual kind of cruising add-ons like a windshield.

I only weigh about 150lbs so I don't know if the hard seat and the stock rear springs would cause me any bum/back issues - anyone got experience of stock shocker/seat performance with a relatively lightweight rider?

Is the lack of a centre stand a big pain when carrying out maintenance on the bike? I've never had a bike that had no centre stand.

Has anyone carried out the carb mod to sand down the spacer and re-jet the main jet without changing from the stock muffler? If so, did you get a power boost or just get rid of the backfire?

I know it's torquey, but will it pull a caravan? ;)

Safe riding!

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by lancer on 01/23/06 at 08:48:19

For starters, you should at least richen the pilot system which will help with the backfiring issue and improve performance. And maybe go with a one size larger main jet as well. Even if you do not change the exhaust this would be beneficial. For exhaust changes you could go with a Raask pipe, made in Sweden I believe, and with that you would definitely need a complete rejetting.
Proper jetting is important for engine health because an overly lean condition is not good, and it makes more power as well.
If you have read the thread on this site about the Savage Birthday in Finland, you could contact Peter who is the president of that organization, and he can help you with other parts that may be able on your side of the ocean.
Take care and stay plugged in here for good info and help.

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by Paladin on 01/23/06 at 09:50:00

StevieK wrote:

....
....
Is the lack of a centre stand a big pain when carrying out maintenance on the bike? I've never had a bike that had no centre stand.

Has anyone carried out the carb mod to sand down the spacer and re-jet the main jet without changing from the stock muffler? If so, did you get a power boost or just get rid of the backfire?

I know it's torquey, but will it pull a caravan? ;)

Safe riding!

Make a 2x6/pipe bike lift thing.

I bought my with the stock muffler. I think the previous owner had done the carb as (1) screw is uncovered (2) have minimal backfires and (3) it loves my more open fishtail.

I pushed a '61 Mercury Convertable with my 36hp Volkswagen. Could only get it up to 15 mph. At the end I found that the guy had left it in gear. The Savage will pull a small caravan if I could only find a hitch for it.

I tried unsafe riding -- it hurts.

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by Savage_Rob on 01/23/06 at 09:51:25

Welcome to SuzukiSavage.com! When it comes to European Savage owners who frequent this community, kropatchek and mpespatori are the first folks to come to mind though we have a few others from Europe who stop by from time to time. Please take a look in the Marketplace forum at the Best Sources for Savage Parts and Vendor Reviews threads. Also, for a cheap lift that works well for a lot of everyday maintenance, see the Rikko's Build Your Own Bike Lift/Stand topic in the Tech forum.

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by torque on 01/23/06 at 10:32:26

i've pulled a 88 ford ranger with my savage for over two miles with my brother steering the truck,i got it up to around 40 mph on the straights,i put the tow hook around the sissy bar...can anyone say wheelies ;D

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by Savage_Rob on 01/23/06 at 10:59:32

Daaaaaaaaaaaamn!

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by StevieK on 01/23/06 at 11:38:11

Thanks for the replies guys. If I do get a Savage and can find some good UK/EU sources of bits and pieces I'll post in the marketplace.

Given some of the luvverly piccies I've seen of people's paint jobs and mods I reckon the temptation to tinker will be too much for me. Dang - and we just knocked down the garage to make way for more living space ::)

I never could be bothered messing with a car as it's just a tin box with wheels on the corners that gets you from A to B, but as soon as I think about a bike I start hearing socket wrenches, impact drivers and muffled curses. ;D

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by r80rt on 01/23/06 at 17:29:26

My wife is 4'9" and weighs in at 90lbs, she has no problems with the Savage, now that the proper carb mods are done it'll scream with her light butt on it.

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by threezukes on 01/23/06 at 19:15:39

My Japanese model didn't even come with a plug over the idle mixture screw, but it was still lean and backfired a lot before adjusting the carb. Suzuki probably just makes them all lean.

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by StevieK on 01/24/06 at 00:56:20

Thanks threezukes. Sounds like all the bikes are factory tuned this way - weird, but hey. I've managed to locate a couple of second hand Savages in a bike shop not far from where I live so I'll check them to see if they have the brass plug. I don't like the idea of having to drill out a plug put there to deliberately stop me from adjusting something I as owner should have full control over! ???

r80rt - did you change muffler as well, or do the carb mods and keep the stock unit? I've seen a post from someone whose sig says he just drilled a couple of holes in the stock baffle. If I can manage it without having to buy a new muffler then so much the better.

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by r80rt on 01/24/06 at 04:27:02

I put a Dynaglide mufler on my wifes bike along with 1/2 white spacer 152.5 main jet and 2 1/2 turns out on the air screw. Those small changes stopped the backfire and made the bike a lot better to ride.

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by Savage_Rob on 01/24/06 at 05:44:54

StevieK wrote:

I don't like the idea of having to drill out a plug put there to deliberately stop me from adjusting something I as owner should have full control over!

In the U.S. all of them, from some point in the 1990s have the plug. It's an EPA thing and is supposed to discourage tampering and making it pollute more.

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by StevieK on 01/24/06 at 14:21:29

They allow Hummers, 5 litre jeeps, Range Rovers that get 10 to the gallon with a following wind and goodness knows what other environmental disasters wallowing around on four wheels, yet they make a small number of bike owners suffer hot lean-burning, backfiring engines.... sigh....

::)

r80rt - thanks. I'll search for sites that might be good places to try for stock Harley mufflers that have been swapped out by the owners. I also like the look of the Supertrapp slip-on but it's probably a lot more cash.

If any UK Savage owners read this, I've started a thread in the marketplace to list UK Web sites that sell spares and accessories for the bike. Chip in with any you know of, coz they seem to be in short supply!

Title: Re: Thinking about buying a Savage - some Q's
Post by Paladin on 01/24/06 at 19:11:43

StevieK wrote:

When speaking of vehicles they favor they talk about harmful emissions -- CO, NOx, etc. When speaking of vehicles they disfavor they simply say emissions -- most of which is water and carbon dioxide, same as what we emit.