Posted by Witch Doctor on June 10, 2000 at 19:01:04:
Since the aftermarket offers so little in the way of reasonably priced, Savage specific parts, I thought I would try my hand at coming up with some prototype units for us.
1) I managed to figure out how to make the luggage rack that will bolt on in place of the pillion pad, without cutting off the rear mounting hoop or removing the side rails. The test unit will be painted, made of mild steel that I can weld up myself. The rack can come off and the pad go back on if needed, unlike most other similar units.
2) The mounts for a pillionless, fender railless rider backrest are rough cut and ready to finish machine. Lisa has an 18" sissybar for the Rebel that I'm reforming into a backrest for the Savage. I can duplicate the bar without too much trouble, as we have a forge on the farm.
3) Better saddlebag supports are in the making. The factory units seem kind of flimsy, and I don't like how they are attached to the fender. This style of mine will attach under the seat, there is more room between the fender and the tire at full rear suspension compression.
4) The hardtail kit is coming along. I have to do some more welding and machining, as I cut the axle support plates wrong. This is a bolt-on unit for those folks who like more traditionally styled choppers, not for everyday riders. It also will follow the angle of the frame backbone, unlike the shocks, which will clean up the look of the rear section.
5) The fuller rear fender is finally starting to take shape. It is a weld on extension that looks more like an early EL or FL fender, allowing more customizing options in the rear of the bike. Will alow the turn signals to be relocated for using larger saddlebags.
On another front, I finally found my pattern pack for making old style saddlebags, tool rolls, sissybar bags, and small leather covered hard trunks. I don't like Suzuki's offerings in Savage specific luggage (denim bags, yuck). I can provide color matched, custom stitched soft or hard luggage with about a six week turn around. And the price should be comparable to the mass produced commercial units that don't fit the bike correctly.
If ya'll haven't figured it out, I'm keeping the baby bike. It has officially become the test mule for my little shop. There are enough shops out there catering to the big bike crowd, and I don't mean just HDs either. Suzuki is still considered more of a novelty bike, as are most of the small displacement cruisers. If we can design and market Savage specific accessories, than maybe we'll start seeing a few of them from their first introduction rolled back out and returned to the road. I have a feeling that the lack of customizing options is one of the reasons the bike didn't catch on too wel here in the states. The more we can bring back from hibernation, the better. There are enough Shadows, Gold Wings, Harleys, crotch rockets, etc on the road already. I for one would like to see a Savage or two every now and then. In the two plus years I've had mine, I've seen ne othe orange 98, a dark green one in Alabama, and a couple of junk ones pushed behind a shed in Mississippi. They are out there somewhere, or they wouldn't still be on the market.
Ya'll ride free. I'm stuck in the house sick this weekend, so one of ya'll has to put in sme extra saddle time for me. Catch ya'll later,
-The Witch Doctor
Watch Tower Customs: Specializing in Suzuki Savages
Brighton Tennessee USA