Tom, can't remember if anyone is on this forum from CA, but I think there used to be a NoCal person on the besavage yahoo site. Might want to check there. Also on the home page of www.ls650.net , also known as Bert's site, there is a directory and it may show a rider in your area. wish i was close enough to let you ride mine. I believe it is about the best value for the money in the mid-cruiser range. I also have ridden and worked on the VS800 Intruder and it has different ergo's and is much more complicated to work on, have to pull one carb to adjust the valves. It is water cooled so has all the plumbing for that and delicate radiator where rocks can hit it. Has got some squirt (will let you get sideways on gravel with ease) though and sounds kinda HD like even with stock mufflers. Max

Hi Tom,
If You feel like coming to Phoenix, I'll let You have all the fun on one of my Savages.
About Your concerns:
Cruising with 70m/hr is not a problem.
The feeling of the pull comes from the acceleration and up to 65-70 mph the bike is pretty quick, not so much because of the powerful engine, but because of the very low weight.
 The vibration factor- it is not unpleasant feeling. You might feel exsessive vibration if You shift too early on  higher gear and You try to make it up with a lot of gas. The other bikes will bog down. The Savage will pull thru, but there will be a vibration. This is more notisable in the early models- 4 gears.
Now here comes the tricky part:
-There is no way to have a light bike with these dimentions that doesn't feel just light on the highway at speeds of 75 and above. You get used pretty fast. The Intruder 800 is way heavier bike and even it feels just small over 80. I had one years ago and I loved it. The only thing is I think now the new models come with only one carburetor and this robs the bike of a lot of the power. The old ones were a nightmare to do the carb's right, but once done right they were fun
And here is the trickiest part- the exhaust:
If You read the posts, You will notise, that almost everybody here is talking about carb and exhaust modifications. The good part is that one of the cheapest modifications is to replace the stock super quiet exhaust with a stock Sportster  one. It is just a tad louder/ still EPA regulated/, but it adds notisable power.
 Now my oppinion:
You will not make a mistake not with the Savage, not with the Intruder.  I have the feeling the Savage is more fun, more unique and cheaper and easier to sell without lusing money. Get Yourself a nice 95 or newer Savage in the $2000-2500 range and You will not be sorry!

Slavy,

Thanks for your offer (oh, you too Max!). I do make it down to San Diego one or 2 times a year, but not to Phoenix

You helped with all your answers.  I have to remember that my Suzuki 350 (I've had 5 or 6 other bikes too) was a 2 stroke and NOT a 650 4 stroke with I'm sure lots more torque  Oh, I did test drive a BMW F650GS one-lunger and really liked that too.  Plenty of power for me.  I just didn't like the price tag.  I also want something that I can work on, plus I just like the looks of the thing (Savage)!

Ed, "Windshields also increase the helmet noise at highway speeds"?  Huh?  Don't they DEcrease the helmet noise?

I have read a bit on the Sportster exhaust (Hey, maybe that's all of a Sportster I will need ).  Someone here had a post with a short video and sound.  Pretty neat!!

My brother just got a Ducati Monster and I want to ride with him.  But I also race Formula Vee's, and need to wait until after this racing season to buy a bike.  But those of us over 50 (heck, over 40) know how fast each year goes by, and before you know it, year's end is here.  That's why I'm starting now, looking for a test ride.  

At this point, I would say I'm 80% sold on the Savage, 20% on the Intruder 800/S50.  Your posts are just making the % increase, as my concerns get answered.

Funny thing is, I have a folder (computer) that I save neat Savage photos in, but I have none of the Intruder 800/S50.  What does that say

Tom

Slavy,

You hit the nail on the head...you don't know how important that is to me.  

Thanks!

Tom

Paladin,

I worked at a pizza restaurant in Gardena in 1969 during a summer off from college when I was living in Hawthorne

I just may take you up on that, unless I can find someone sooner.  I don't plan on coming to see my family in Carlsbad until later in the year.

I just ran across your bike photo this AM when I found your "Savage Map".  What a VERY cool thing to have.  I hope I can put a 3rd bike on the California map!

Don't count me out, I often have year-long projects, and when I do, I usually end up getting what I want.  

You know, I mention being able to cruise at 70mph on the freeway, but the fact is, I don't enjoy the freeways on a bike, other than trying to get from one 2 lane to the next.  My brother lives about 160 miles away from me in the Bay Area and I will mostly be riding to see him.  Most all the roads are 55mph, on which I do @ 62mph, so I think that will work fine.

Thanks for the muffler info.

I'll keep in touch about the test ride

Tom

Ed,

Never looked at it that way.  I'll have to pay attention next time I ride

Tom

For an honest seat of the pants LS650 -vs- VS800 Intruder, you can't beat my house. I ride a Savage, my wife rides a 96 Intruder. Two words per bike: Savage-LOVE it, Intruder-despise it. Intruder, is heavy, delicate, cramped, and slower than my Savage off the line and around town. Don't get me wrong, the Intruder IS a good bike. Just not my thing, but the wife adores it. Although even she had to replace the non-adjustable stock handlebars. Servicing an 800 is an unholy nightmare. When it needs air filters or valve adjustment, I may just put it in the dumpster and wave bye-bye. The driveshaft rear seal leaks, regardless of how/how often it is changed out. The petcocks leak regardless of setting, even the updated ones. The muffler topipe union leaks, so she is always having to wipe the head pipe clean after a ride (she likes chrome  ).

Head to head, if you want a toy, buy an Intruder. There is (was?) a very decent online community, IntruderAlert.com, staffed by a former LS650.net guy named Intrudn (great guy). The Savage is more of a meat and potatoes working mans bike. It is anvil reliable if you watch the oil level. It almost never needs major adjustments. Even stock, it will hold its own with anything you care to ride by in town. It can get left behind by the crotch rocket crowd, but, no one here is a kid anymore. Usually anyway... ...Sluggo and me excepted.

Ride the "Scam-trak" up to Tacoma. You can do a side by side test ride.
-WD