SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> New Savage Owner Steering Question
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1169720359

Message started by malachi on 01/25/07 at 02:19:19

Title: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by malachi on 01/25/07 at 02:19:19

Hello I just purchased a 1987 savage for my girlfriend and the steering seems really heavy to me, like it wants to flop over to one side or another. Is this common to savages? Is there anything I can do to improve it? Also it seems stock what mods I should do? I looked around the site a bit and it seems like a new exhaust and air filter along with rejetting the carb are fairly common musts, but are there any others? Thanks

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by Reelthing on 01/25/07 at 03:30:00

Welcome aboard.

First off the carb on the 87 is a different beast than these '95 and later bikes we generally up the jets on several sizes as they are very lean from the factory - the 86/87 models were not this way - and had 155 main in the first place - so you would need to take a more normal aproach to it - say a free flow airfilter with a exhaust might need 1 size up on the main 157.5 - but might not need anything at all.

On the steering feeling like it flops to the side when when you turn - the easiest thing is the front tire either being worn flat in the middle or low on air or both - the harder thing are the stem bearings -

I'd go for easy first - maybe even replace the front tire if shows wear or age cracks in the rubber.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by sparkett on 01/25/07 at 03:37:45

Welcome to the "Savage world" ;D
You didnt say if she is just learning or if she is already a rider. A seat mod would be great if she is riding any length of time.
If she is just learning, wait till she is comfy with riding. unless the bike needs work.
Then you can add things lik a wind sheild, ect that make it fit her wants.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by thumperclone on 01/25/07 at 06:35:59

friend with a road king got on my suzi and had a lil bit of a scare becuuse he wasnt used to the rake of the front end..once youre used to it the heavyness turns oput to be a good solid feel..as
long as all front end components are up to specs...

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by slavy on 01/25/07 at 07:13:44

I've had couple of early Savages and there is nothing weird about the hadling. It feels 100% like the "96 and later model. Why don't You check the front and rear tire pressure ?

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by Reelthing on 01/25/07 at 08:55:34

1995 and up -

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by Rockin_John on 01/25/07 at 09:09:07

I understand where you are coming from with your "heavy steering" comment. Even though I've ridden for 35+ years, and even had several crusier type bikes, none had the 35º rake or forward controls of the Savage. It only took me a few hours of riding time to adjust to the different feel of the front, and for my feet to start naturally finding the pegs. Once familiar with it, the Savage is really very easy to handle at about any speed.

The other poster's suggestions of checking tire pressures is also dead on. I've had several incidents of buying motorcycles and immediatly discovering low pressure in the tires.

I wouldn't worry too much about modifications until the bike is 100% on all maintenance issues that can be neglected on a bike approaching 20 years old. How many miles does it have on it? Tires been replaced yet? etc...
Good luck and welcome to the group!

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by malachi on 01/28/07 at 01:10:16

Hey Guys thanks for the help. Bike is running good doesn't seem to have any problems and well taken care of. I took it out for 2 hours the other day fun to ride a little slow on the acceleration but it is fun to ride. It does need a new front tire so hopefully that will help with my steering uneasyness. My girl is just starting to ride so this should be a good bike for her. She's already looking at the windshield and a new seat. Its funny to me I think she cares more about how it looks than how it rides completely opposite of me.

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by georgekathe on 01/28/07 at 19:47:30

think a number of people care more about look than ride (why HD sells so much stuff - same for Goldwangs - no offense to any who ride them, but boy there is a LOT of stuff to make them look more if not lit up then gussied up!) ;D

Title: Re: New Savage Owner Steering Question
Post by Dynobob on 01/28/07 at 21:35:26

malachi wrote:

Hello I just purchased a 1987 savage for my girlfriend and the steering seems really heavy to me, like it wants to flop over to one side or another. Is this common to savages?

No, I don't think it's common. It sounds like your steering stem bearings are either worn out or adjusted too tight. The steering on my Savage is light with no "flopping" at all.

Once you do a few simple mods, you won't complain about the performance anymore ;) Even stock your Savage should scoot pretty good.