Posted by Andrew on June 25, 2003 at 21:23:56:
In Reply to: Savage info ??? posted by Paul on June 25, 2003 at 18:31:15:
Hi Paul,
There is a strong following for the Savage and we love our bikes.
With all bikes, there are strengths and weaknesses.
The Savage is a light bike. This means very good handling (for this type of bike)on twisting roads. The engine is very low on power (only 30 something horse power) but quite high on torgue. This means very lively performance at low revs, leading to a relaxing ride. The combination of low weight and low power results in really good fuel economy. I get around 65 miles per gallon. (That's a UK imperial gallon that's a little more than a US gallon). And good insurance rates. And low tyre wear. The low-maintenance belt drive is a real bonus.
The downside is a bike that runs out of steam pretty quickly. If you never want to go over 70 mph, then you can cruise all day in effortless luxury. Faster than 70 mph is straining the motor. If you want to ride with a passenger and luggage at speeds over 80 mph, forget the Savage.
The Savage is not a high speed tourer. It won't keep up with the BMW's and Pan Europeans on 100 mph motorway cruises. If you want to keep up with your friends on their CBR600's and ZZR 600's, again forget the Savage. These bikes both make more than 100 horsepower and will accelerate to the dark side of 100 mph with ease. The Savage runs out of steam at 80 mph.
But give me a twisting road and some rain, then the Savage is as quick as anything (Providing they don't go much over 80 mph ! )
Will you keep up with your friends on their 750 and larger bikes ? The answer depends on how fast they go. If they ride at 50 to 70 mph, you will have no trouble what so ever. If they ride at 70 to 90 mph, you will have to ride the little Savage flat out to keep up. If they ride at 100 mph + then forget the Savage.
I've had no problems at all with overheating. But then I do live in England where it's cold and raining most of the time. Even in summer, the temperature rarely rises above 25 degrees (celcius) so it's not exactly desert conditions.
I don't know what country you are in, Paul. Most people here are from the USA, a country with a 55mph speed limit and (from what I've seen on the TV) a very enthuiastic law enforcement team. The Savage seems perfect for these conditions. In England and Europe, people actualy do go touring at 100 mph plus and ride a lot faster on their sports bikes. Riding down a German autobahn with no speed limit has to be experienced to be beleived. The noise an air-cooled Porche 911 makes at 150 mph just has to be heard. They roar.
And a Savage is not the bike of choice for riding the mountain section of the Isle of Man TT course on Mad Sunday when the traffic is one-way and there's no speed limit.
Common problems - none really.
There's the anoying oil weep (not enough to be called a leak) from the head - but that's easily fixed. There's nothing I know of particular to the Savage. Change the oil regularly. Use good tyres. That's all I can say. Oh yes - buy a Savage. Who want's to ride at 100 mph or faster anyway ?? And change the oil regularly too.
I'd recommend a Savage to anyone new to motorcycling. It's a great bike on which to learn the art of biking. You'll learn about riding smoothly and taking the correct line through corners and control under braking. Then when you move on to a larger bike, you'll be that much safer.
I'd also recommend the Savage to the older, more experienced rider who has spent years with high speed and expensive to run sports bikes and tourers who now wants a breath of sanity in his or her life.
Happy Savage riding.