Posted by Jim McW on January 11, 2002 at 02:32:16:
In Reply to: Do I have a Savage in My Future? posted by Paul on January 10, 2002 at 16:59:09:
I too am trading up from a GZ250. When I was first cycling in the mid 1960's, I went crusing on a Jawa 250cc 2-stroke that out ran my other bike, a BMW R-50s (500cc). This time last year, I rode my GZ250 on 1,000 mile round trip (McAllen, TX to San Angelo, TX) and the bike was very comfortable. My butt didn't begin to hurt until I had been in the saddle for 10 hours of the 16 hour trip (one way). I did wish for more horses down below when I was going up some of the Texas Hill Country inclines. I averaged 31mph on the trip both ways.
After 6 months of research for me it is either the Savage or the Vulcan 500. Both will serve me well. Drawbacks to Savage for me: no trip odometer,very small fuel tank, only 31 horse power, and notoriously bad seat on trips. I can live with those. Vulcan 500: radiator which has to be drained for valve adjustments every 6,000 miles, only 50 horsepower pegs a bit too forward for my 5' 6" frame. After looking at the other brands (VLX: expensive, no torque and slower than Savage, though I like the air cooling; and the Yamahas which, for me, are much too pricey and heavy for what I would get with them), I can get an excellent bike used in the Savage or Vulcan for $2,500 - $3,000 respectively all day long. And for a small chunk MORE I can get either bike brand new if I choose.
For me it is one of these two. The Vulcan will cruise faster (with higher rpm) than the Savage because of it's 6 speed transmission, but thumpers are fun and feel great when they rev at a reasonable rpm. I'm much more concerned about the Savage's SEAT on a long trip than I am at cruising at 70 mph all day long on the thumper. My GZ 250 ran at absolutely full wide-open for 16 hours each way on a round trip of a thousand miles. When I got back, it had 6,400 miles on it. So the dealer set the valves. Didn't need to do anything, he said, they were in tolerance for the 6K check up. Speaks a great deal about Suzuki's singles. By the way, the complete dealer 6K check up BY THE SUZUKI BOOK cost me $125. Don't think I could get the valves set and cooling drained and re-done on the Vulcan 500 for that. Either way, I'd be proud to own either of these bikes. The only ohter bike I would even consider owning is the volusia, but I won't spend that much money on a motorcycle. So: 500 Vulcan or 650 Savage it will be this winter.
(Hope this helps)
Jim