This thread has lead me to a revelation that I never realized and why I love my savage. Let me explain.
Go-carts when I first became able to walk. Mini-bikes when I could ride on two wheels. From there, Sears was having a sale on 106 cc motor-bikes for 106 dollars plus tax. Armed with my life’s savings earned from lawn work, weeding the family garden and picking potato bugs, I’d leave the big ones, Dad drove me to Sears and loaded it on the pickup truck. It was a great bike until the plastic gear fell off the cam.

Soon after, driver’s license in hand, I bought what I believe was a bike before its time – a Bridgestone 175 Hurricane Scrambler. With the stinger baffles removed, my 305 Honda buds only laughed when I would brand the inside of my legs with the heat shields. College expenses and freshman not being able to have motor conveyances was her demise.

As soon as I could afford it, and here’s where I start seeing the pattern, I bought a Matchless 500. Reliving the 106 Sears days with bugs in my teeth and a silly grin, I was in heaven. I wish it was as nice as the one below, but it was a single cylinder not a multi thus the pattern. Family coming and a wife that wanted a live husband was the bike’s demise.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/tartard/matchless.jpgRaised two boys then a empty nest and peer pressure produced another multi – 2002 Triumph Trophy 1200. Great sport touring motorcycle that put Goldwings and H-Ds in their place, the rearview mirror.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/tartard/tt1200.jpgThe wife started having health problems and two up rides were out of the question so the Trophy was sold and the silly grin and buggy teeth of a twelve year old returned along with a large deposit to the bank with the purchase of a used 2001 Savage. Returning to my roots, that 106 Sears, and the realization that one lung is all a motorcycle needs, and that I am like a dog returning to his own vomit is something that I have learned through this post.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/tartard/savage.jpgTruly simple things are great – thump – thump – thump.