2004 Suzuki Savage® 650

I am 72 & have owned more bikes than I can remember. My 650 is parked next to my new Harley. In town I ride only the 650. It is quick, tourney, & just plain fun to ride. Have gone on one 150 mile trip, Fun , but would have liked a windshield. Till you ride one, you will not appreciate what a great ... little bike it is.

I am a female just learning how to ride, I took the motocycle safety course and got my liscense.. My little 650 is a great bike,low maintenance and fun to ride.. I am a small frame 5-2 AND 120LBS... I fell I have control when I ride my bike . we have 2 of these bikes in the family my daughter is ... 15 and just started to ride herself she is also small frame and loves her bike and the control she feels, Highly recommend to any petite female rider

Had to rebuild engine under 9k miles.

Good torque, great power to weight ratio, low cost and infinite customizability. Can't beat it.

The Suzuki Savage is the LOW priced leader for the cruiser line, and as such has been fitted by the factory with the lowest cost parts in many cases. The engine, which is a good basic design, is underpowered in stock form but reponds well to select modifications. Basic mod's include rejet/tune ... of the carburetor and replacing the stock muffler with a less restrictive unit, which will result in a noticeable performance boost as well as a good sound.

Using a heavier wt. fork oil and adding a fork brace (tkat@tkat.com) adds significant stability up front, and replacing the rear shocks with a Progressive set really improves the ride quality and performance.

Of course there are some folks who want more, which may include a performance carburetor (many use Lancer's kit; Mikuni VM carb + needed cable & parts) as well as a custom camshaft grind for strong low-midrange power & torque, along with a free flowing exhaust system (header & muffler). This will absolutely transform the character of the bike and make for a great performing road bike.

The Savage is a small bike when compared to todays cruisers, but the light weight (350 lbs) makes it very manuverable in traffic and easy to move around by hand. A mod'd engine produces a lot of very usable torque which makes for a wonderful around town or around the mountain fun ride. When talking with the folks who hang out at the suzukisavage.com website forum, the most common reason given for liking to own & ride the Savage is that it is a FUN bike to ride. Another common remark is MILES OF SMILES.

When reading the reports of the Savage or S40, as it is called today, in the bike magazines they always describe this bike as being a low powered beginner or womans bike. They totally miss the picture. Bike owners almost always make changes ( mod's) to their bikes, and some of the mod's I've mentioned already make a huge change in this bike. In actuality, the majority of Savage/S40 owners are in the 35-65 age range with decades of riding experience and having owned many many bikes during their life. They have chosen this bike because of it FUN FACTOR, ease of maintenance, inexpensive to buy and mod to our own design, and ... well, it is just a great all-around bike.

TRY IT; YOU'LL LIKE IT !

A good basic bike, for the do it yourself enthusiast. Simple to maintain and has good bones to allow fitment of various parts from other bikes to customize.

Light and easy to handle with a low seat height, and peppy enough to more than keep up with traffic.

60 mpg, top speed under ... 90 mph, but gets off the line and up to 75mph very quickly.

Old brit bike style, light, aggile, fuel sipping, and torquey get up and go. In a time where most bikes require the removal of a half dozzen parts or fairings, changing the oil by pulling the plug and a cover to get at the filter is a relief.

Excellent bike for commuting to work and ... fun around town. A little cramped for two up. But the short wheel base makes for quick handling in the twisties.

Add to that a world wide owners group for fun and support you have the makings for a bug laden grin.