I was out exploring again today and was down a county road in part of Mark Twain National Forest. I was turning around in a pullout and got a little careless and killed it when I let out the clutch. It blew a fuse when it died (a surge I guess). So, I'm well off the road with no juice; no starter, lights, neutral light, anything. I had put a box of fuses in when I blew one installing the saddlebags and had practice from that event. So, I was able to pull the seat and replace the fuse. Everything was okay then, much to my great relief. It would have been a LONG walk to a phone since my cell phone was dead.
The point to this woefull tale is to caution others to have a fuse and know how to install it if needed. I know others find it simple, but some others may need to learn.  This was a first for me on this bike, have others had this happen? It's pretty spooky to not be able to go and have to fix it "in the field."

short round wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


a couple of fuses come with the tool kit. you are correct about learing how to do it.. there are several othere things you should learn before hitten the road.  
1.  how to change tire with took kit only.
2.  how to push start.
3.  start and ride without clutch.

short round wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


i carry my spare tire around my waist.  
the tire change isn't as important as the other two.
it's easier to get someone in a cage to take you to a service station if you have the rear wheel off.  that or you can carry it your by hand if neccessary. i see someone carrying a tire i would stop to see if i could help.
2. your pretty close on the push start.  first thing to do is put in 3rd or 4th and push it BACKWARDS till you can push no more. that puts the engine in the right portion on the 4 stroke.  then hold clutch  push push push  jump on pop clutch and go.  this works well if you be out and leave the ignition on. not enough juice to start, yet enough to run.
3. there are two methods, one  blip throttle pop it in first and hang on.  that's the method given in owners manual. second  start in neutral  push the bike to get some movement jump on pop into first   hang on.

very seldom do i use the clutch in everyday riding   just to get it started, and first to second.

it is ok to do these things without damage.

i've done all three of these things with both my last thumper, and learned how to do them when i got this one.  it sounds radical but when you do as many miles as i have you will get stranded at some point..

been riding bikes all my life and have never broken down or had a flat tyre(out on the road)........you all getting me worried now

sluggo wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


FYI

I always run TWO clutch and throtle cables and tape them together with black electrical tape, after much bother trying to get through London with no clutch on another bike... I learned the trick from a courier....  8)

Thanks for the info all 8)

Jazzdude wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:


See the post
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1108327792
for the factory toolboz contents. Dont throw all of it away ( acc WD). You'l love the sparkplug socket. the rest gives you a very good idea what to carry around in [glow=red,2,300]your [/glow] toolbox beside your celphone.

Greetz
Kropatchek

I run a non-Suzuki plug, so I carry a 5/8" spark plug socket, 6" extension and ratchet. Metric open end wrenches, real philipps and flathad screwdrivers, and at least one of every socket size needed for the bike. Plus the factry axle wrench, because I can't afford a 24mm socket right now. And a pocketknife style metric hex key (allen wrench) set. I've still got (most of) the factory tools if anyone is desperate to acquire them. The Intruder 800 that is my Savage's stablemate came with real tools from the factory. Except for the screwdrivers, same cheapo part as the savage kit.
-WD