[Bluejeans]

Woohoo! I passed my MSF today and brought my new Savage home. What a trip! My very first ride was through Saturday afternoon traffic through the capital city (Augusta, ME). It was a bit scary, but it was exhilirating at the same time. After several miles through town, including TWO traffic circles, I hit the open road for 10 miles of open highway (not interstate, just county highway). I rode home, and stayed there for about 10 minutes, before heading out again for a nice country ride.

All in all, I was able to get about 35 miles in today. I love my Savage!

Question: Does the Savage tend to vibrate a bit around 50-60 or is that just mine? Is that something I need to have look at or is it normal?

 

[ion54]

The vibrations tend to increase with speed. At 70-80 will be worse.
You'll get used and like the way your bike rides @ 60-70 mph.

 

[maniacmedia]

From one Mainer to another, congratulations and keep it upright (except in the turns). Sounds like you got the break in ride out of the way. Just remember everything from the MSF, embrace the paranoia that the other drivers for some reason can't see you, and you'll be fine.

 

[Bluejeans]

The vibrations tend to increase with speed. At 70-80 will be worse.
You'll get used and like the way your bike rides @ 60-70 mph.

Thanks. That is helpful. It's not too bad, but having never owned a bike before (other than a little Honda scooter) and certainly having never gone 60mph on one, I just wanted to be sure that everything was ok with my new toy. I seriously love my bike and she corners like she was made for it! The Maine back roads (up and down and twist and turn) are perfect for this bike.

I can't believe I waited so long to get started! Now hubby wants to ride my bike Guess we'll have to buy another. I don't have time to give up good riding time to him.

 

[Bluejeans]

From one Mainer to another...

Oooh a Mainer in exile! Check here...

The MSF was a great course and it went a LONG way toward boosting my confidence.

 

[maniacmedia]

Whoopie Pies!!!! No one else understands. I wonder if Mom still has the recipe.

 

[Bluejeans]

Well, I dropped my bike today. Shoot. That didn't take long. Neither me nor the bike was hurt (aside from a scratch in the tank), but it was frustrating none the less.

I know exactly what I did wrong, and I can't blame it on anything more than basic inexperience. I was pulling out of parking lot, going uphill from a standstill and making a right turn out of the lot onto the road. The combination of trying to hold my bike on the hill and accelerate into traffic was just brain overload. I squeezed the front brake at the same time as rolling the throttle and releasing the clutch. The combo of a front tire held in place and a back tire trying desperately to go, going uphill and turning right, well, the back tire just ran an end run on me and I ended up dropping the bike onto its right side.

But, all is well. I got back up and got back on the bike and continued to my destination anyway. Hubby was behind me in the van with my son. My son was in worse condition than I was. Kids hate to see their mommy on the ground!

 

[Wiccan1]

Everyone drops thier bike at least once and it seems like its always when you are going slow. At least you have it out of the way. I am glad you were not hurt.

I am new here and to the savage as well. I picked one up for my wife, it's an '01 with 2k miles from a buddy of mine. I mainly ride litre sport bikes but have to switch to cruisers because of my knees. I have been riding the Savage and it is quite a bike for a 200lb 6ft rider like myself.

 

[oldgeezer]

In this situation, it is best to use your left leg like a kick stand, keep your right foot on the rear brake. Slowly release the foot break while letting out on the clutch and rolling the throttle. Practice this on flat ground, then try some small inclines before moving up to steeper inclines. Once you master this, you'll never have that problem again. The MSF says you can let out on the clutch to hold the bike while you get going but I much prefer the first method. Your Savage isn't that heavy so you won't have a problem. My wife has a Savage and this is one of the first things I taught her. Ride safe and have a blast!

 

[Bluejeans]

Wow, thanks for that tip! I will practice that. In theory, while sitting here at my desk (looking out the window at my bike, wishing I could go home from work NOW) it sounds very simple.

This is why I love this forum! Thanks again for the tip and I'm sure it will help. Hills scare me now...but I'll get over it.

 

[Bluejeans]

Once you master this, you'll never have that problem again.

Hey, Oldgeezer, I just wanted to let you know something cool. I didn't get a chance to practice your suggestion. Today, I was on new ground and I accidently found myself stopped at a redlight on a uphill slope! My heart was in my throat...but I thought about what you said and decided that trying it your way was better than dumping my bike again the same old way...

And, by doing it your way, I was able to flawlessly execute the turn from a standstill on an uphill climb! I was totally psyched! It did WONDERS for my self-esteem and my confidence to have conquered that hill. Thanks again so much!

 

[oldgeezer]

Congratulations! This technique really makes starting from an incline a snap and actually you can do it on any sized bike regardless of the weight. It's all about balance. Remember, when you come to a stop, you can put both feet down. Once you get stopped, shift the weight of the bike to your left leg then put your right foot up on the rear brake and you are all set.

You are going to have a great time on your Savage, especially since you are trying to learn the correct and safe way to ride. Have a great time!

the old geezer

 

[Va bene]

...Question: Does the Savage tend to vibrate a bit around 50-60 or is that just mine? Is that something I need to have look at or is it normal?

Hey BlueJeans -- Congrats and it is quite normal. I ended up putting heavier footpegs on my Savage to counter the feel (I felt the vibration most in my right foot). Here is a link to a discussion on it: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=news;action=display;num=1092337836

Well, I dropped my bike today. Shoot. That didn't take long. Neither me nor the bike was hurt (aside from a scratch in the tank)...

I had a similiar experience about a week after I bought the bike... I have been riding just two months. I love it though. I have almost 800 miles on my bike already. It is sooo much fun. After about a month I wrote a summary of what I had experienced and learned. It is posted here if you are interested: http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=news;action=display;num=1091023232

Glad you are enjoying your Savage. It is a cool bike with a loyal following. Ride safe and have fun!

 

[Bluejeans]

Susan! Welcome to another girl rider!!!!

Thanks for the links, they were very informative. I enjoyed reading your log from the first month. I am on day 5 with my new Savage, so I am terribly new...

If you are interested though, here's some reading from my perspective. I don't know any riders and hubby's not a rider so all I know I learned from MSF and here...and practice, practice, practice.

My Travelog

 

[Va bene]

Susan! Welcome to another girl rider!!!!

Thanks for the links, they were very informative. I enjoyed reading your log from the first month. I am on day 5 with my new Savage, so I am terribly new...

If you are interested though, here's some reading from my perspective. I don't know any riders and hubby's not a rider so all I know I learned from MSF and here...and practice, practice, practice.

My Travelog

Thanks! Glad you liked the links. There are actually three forums dedicated to the Savage:

• http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=news
• http://www.heise-workstations.de/ls650/Fragen/LS650-Fragen.html
• http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/be_savage

They are all different. I visit/belong to them all but frequent the first one the most because it is focused; easy to use; and very friendly.

Thanks for sharing your Travelog. I enjoyed your perspective and I KNOW how you feel. I can't get enough of my Savage and riding! It is such a blast!!

 

[Va bene]

Susan! Welcome to another girl rider!!!!

Thanks for the links, they were very informative. I enjoyed reading your log from the first month. I am on day 5 with my new Savage, so I am terribly new...

If you are interested though, here's some reading from my perspective. I don't know any riders and hubby's not a rider so all I know I learned from MSF and here...and practice, practice, practice.

My Travelog

Thanks! Glad you liked the links. There are actually three forums dedicated to the Savage:

• http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=news
• http://www.heise-workstations.de/ls650/Fragen/LS650-Fragen.html
• http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/be_savage

They are all different. I visit/belong to them all but frequent the first one the most because it is focused; easy to use; and very friendly.

Thanks for sharing your Travelog. I enjoyed your perspective and I KNOW how you feel. I can't get enough of my Savage and riding! It is such a blast!!

 

[tronbunny]

Oh, I can't wait to say that...
I'm a real brand-newbie.

Hubby and I just got a new 2004 Volusia 800.
I'm just a little thing on it. 5'4" 140ish.
I dropped it just trying to walk it backwards into my garage.
Got the crash bars that day.
Hubby starts his MSF course on Monday. I'll go next month or December.
I've driven the bike for about an hour at our local abandoned KMart.

The best advice I've gotten so far is
1. lay off the front brake on a turn from stop...use your left foot to balance and use the rear brake in that situation.
2. The clutch is your friend.
3. If your afraid of your bike, it WILL bite you.

I need at least 2-3 more parking lot hours before I'm even gonna get out of first gear, I think.

I'm glad the bikes at the MSF course are smaller. That'll give me more confidence.

 

[tronbunny]

Oh, I can't wait to say that...
I'm a real brand-newbie.

Hubby and I just got a new 2004 Volusia 800.
I'm just a little thing on it. 5'4" 140ish.
I dropped it just trying to walk it backwards into my garage.
Got the crash bars that day.
Hubby starts his MSF course on Monday. I'll go next month or December.
I've driven the bike for about an hour at our local abandoned KMart.

The best advice I've gotten so far is
1. lay off the front brake on a turn from stop...use your left foot to balance and use the rear brake in that situation.
2. The clutch is your friend.
3. If you're afraid of your bike, it WILL bite you.

I need at least 2-3 more parking lot hours before I'm even gonna get out of first gear, I think.

I'm glad the bikes at the MSF course are smaller. That'll give me more confidence.

 

[Va bene]

An 800 is a big bike to learn on. Hang in there though and definitely take the MSF course. They pack a ton of great info into a short amount of time. A great book to read is "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough. You can get it at Amazon or any major bookstore.

 

[hecky]

Congrats on passing the MSF. I recently passed it also. Except for having to take the Riding test in the Pouring Down Rain! It was great learned a lot most valuable tip I think I learned was the bike goes where you look turn your head for turns especially the one in tight areas.