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



My only real complant about having a 86 is the darn 4 speed. I think this bike is more comfortable with the 5 speed. My opition my preferance. I haven't riddin a 5 speed but an savy enough to tell the gearing is not ideal 8)

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


Lancer your bike is peped up from stock When I got mine a few months ago it was TOTAL stock and the 4 speed lugged with low to mid throttle the gears are a LITTLE to far apart for my taste as I said that is my opition and I am entitled to it. I almost did not buy this bike because of it. On the Plus side of it this bike has a broad torque curve that helps a great deal. I said that the gearing was not ideal  and I don’t think it is. That doesn’t mean that it is horrible. Don’t read too much into it I am just saying I think I would like a 5 speed more, more options and options are good.  8)

Hi, I'm back!  Yesterday was a longgggg day, so I thought I'd wait until today to reply.

bobo, should I get the bike, you bet I will post photos!

Mike, the question about how he knows it only happens at high speeds is a very good one.  I can't answer that, but my solution is simple...my extra $ to put into the bike will include at least a top end.  Of course, I also have to ride the bike to check it out.

Slavvy, most of my riding will be at 60-65mph.  That's the info I was looking for regarding the prices.  I will let you know about the forks!

Paladin, helpful as always

Lancer,

Regarding Mike talking about his "d**n 4 speed" , can someone post the gear ratios for the 4 versus the 5 speed?

Greg, great point re: the $.  Here's the deal.  I race Formula Vee.  My car has been in the shop for close to a year (supposed to come home this next week so I can get it ready for the track), getting new rollbars and a whole bunch of other stuff.  That's where my "fun" $ has been going.  I do some extra "fun" work for my brother to pay for the motorcycle, otherwise I would not be able to buy one for another year.  So:
1) I don't have the $1500 right now
2) I want to tear the bike down and restore
3) I want to refinish each piece, one at a time in my spare of spare time.  

So I can get the bike now, take my time and get it back to top condition, painted the way I want it, and end up in the end paying $1500+, or I can wait a year, then buy a bike for $1500+, and STILL have to put more $ into it since it will also be used.  

Now here's the key, if I do buy a bike that's in great shape from the get-go, I won't take it apart and I won't end up painting it the color I really want it to be.  For me, there are 3 parts of joy to having a motorcycle:
1) riding,
2) restoring/customizing (I don't mean full-out customizing, I mean making the bike just the way I like it)
3) sharing the whole experience with others.

If one of the parts is missing, it takes away from the whole experience.

I contacted the owner last night and if he contacts me back, I will go to buy

One more point Greg, after looking at prices for older Savages, it seems to be a fair price, perhaps a tad too much, but since the bike is in my area and that saves me ALOT of time (which = $ to me), that saves me enough $ to bring the cost down to what I think is the correct price.

PS.  My brother (Hi Bro!) likes to buy vehicles in great operating condition, and doesn't enjoy having to do repairs to bring it up to good condition.  I do enjoy that, as I can tell some of you here live for that experience, others of you don't

Tom

TVRacer, this sounds like the perfect bike for you. $700 is a good price IMHO. You gotta get it.

I bought my 98 brand new. Within a couple months of purchase, I was modifying it. If you love to tinker, a used Savage is a good toy to play with.
-WD

Well, I was all excited early this morning as I couldn't wait to take a picture of my "new" bike on my trailer on the way home.

But I was just dreaming, as I went to take a look at the '87 today and it needed wayyyyy too much attention, so I turned it down

Paladin, yep, the one in Gilroy that was for sale for $999 or $995.  The seller said he would take $700.

So if anyone is looking for a fixer-upper that needs almost all the chrome replaced and all the aluminum needs extreme attention, let me know and I'll get the seller's # to you.  Oh, Gilroy is in California, for those who are not in this state.

Tom

The kid who's selling it had it on consignment at the Gilroy Cycle Center, but decided to take it off consignment as it wasn't selling at the higher price.  But the bike is being kept there at the shop.

It hadn't been started in some time.  The mechanic at the Gilroy C. C. charged up the battery and it didn't take too long to start up.  Sounded nice, quieter than I thought.  That's all I can say about how it ran.  I didn't ride it (and here I have been looking for one to ride) as I felt badly enough about getting the kid's hopes up without adding a ride to it and THEN telling him no.

Beater bike, I'd say yes.  But if you are serious, we can talk and I can tell you all the things that need to be done.  The belt was fine, the tires were SHOT!

Tom