Suzuki Savage reviews

This was my first motorcycle and I absolutely loved it. I felt it had just the right amount of power for me. Really fun to ride. It was a little unstable at highway speeds. It's a lighter bike and it's naked so that's expected. Top speed was about 130mph. This motorcycle seems super reliable. Seems like you would have to really neglect it before it started giving any problems. If I could upgrade without selling the SV I would keep it forever LOL Show less

I bought the 650 Savage new because I liked singles . (The bike before this one was a Suzuki GN400 (400cc single) that I put 40,000 miles on.) Put a loud muffler on the 650 Savage and it became a first class “THUMPER”. I liked it a lot , not very fast but lots of low end torque , and felt like you were really riding something . You were emmersed in the machine , singles are not smooth , you feel the engine throb at the same beat , as you hear the single pipe , deep and throaty, respond as you “ sing” the throttle . I had mine setup where it backfired when I de-accelerated quickly , I used to love tunnels and narrow streets between buildings. It was impressive! As much as I liked it when I went into prisons on it with other Christian riders , the inmates were not impressed and would make comments like “ we want to see real motorcycles, we want to see Harleys” . I never really cared about Harleys but after thinking about it , I thought well , if I can help turn the life around of at least one inmate , because he came over to talk to me because I rode into the prison yard on a Harley , in the grand scheme of things it was worth it. So , after only one year and 24,000 miles my “Thumper” sat in the garage, while I became a Harley guy. Multiple prisons later , about 50,000 miles on a 1200cc Sportster and then another 80,000 miles on an ‘03 Superglide . I made the right decision for the right reason . In my experience much of the “ motorcycle experience” was the same , whether on a large Harley or a big bore single. However , If it is a requirement to impress people then , you might need a Harley or some other large motorcycle , on the other hand if you just want to experience the joy of riding , and don’t really care what other people think , there are lots of options! It has been a lot of years and I am 72 years old now and although I still ride the ‘03 SUPERGLIDE some , I am really beginning to miss the Suzuki 650 Savage “THUMPER” . I still have it , and even though it hasn’t started in a long time I think that with a little work , it has an exciting future ahead of it . I am anxious to get started on it . God has been very good and protected me all of these miles , I ask for His continued protection , not only for me but for everyone on two wheels ! Show less

This is a really good beginners bike. I purchased mine in 2000 and although it comes with a passenger seat, I do not recommend taking a passenger with you when venturing onto the highways. This bike does have the power for short trips in the slow lane while on the highway, but definitely not enough to feel comfortable with when carrying a passenger. I had no mechanical problems with it whatsoever and for taking the bike out on secondary roads, or in city traffic it was a great ride, even with a passenger. For saftey reasons I highly recommend that if you're getting a bike for you and your spouse or significant other to enjoy together for long rides on the freeway, this is not the bike to do it with. It doesn't have the power needed to keep up with todays faster (and more inconsiderate)four wheeled drivers. When traveling on highways with a lot of semi's on them you will definitely notice their winds pushing you around because of the light weight of this bike. The other thing is, your passenger will have to be a small framed person because there just isn't enough room for them to fit behind you very comfortably. Even with all this being said, it's still a really good bike for a beginning rider (or a single seasoned rider) who doesn't need or want any more power. Show less

I took the MSF course, (NEVER RIDDEN BEFORE) and had a Harley Sportster 1200 to ride. Actually felt very uncomfortable with the gas tank sitting high with me over it. After talking to my instructor, he suggested I get a Savage to start out on. I am very happy to have taken his advice. What a great handling bike, very nimble and easy to take around corners. Made me feel like I'd been riding for years. I would eventually like to get a Suzuki M50 for more power and looks. But this has been an awesome ride and great training. I am sure it will be a while before I up grade. Show less

I'm writing this review on behalf of my wife who is in the process of learning how to ride. The first day was a hoot. My wife picked up on the basics of start/stop and turning right away. Some starts are a little shaky and the left runs in a corner is frustrating when she accidentally guns the throttle, but the process of learning is on track. The seat height is appropriate for shorter riders, and the displacement is a little stronger than the current 250cc starters, but the weight and characteristics of this single cylinder marvel are manageable from start to finish. The spark plug, as explained to me, is quite tedious to replace, having to remove quite a few parts of the bike to get to "it". The Savage is a good looking bike for few bucks, strong and agile. Show less

I own a Suzuki Savage, although not a beginner, I grew up on dirt bikes, I am a 23 year old college student and the Savage is perfect for my budget. The review that says it will not see 80 unless going down hill is untrue. My bf rides a Yahmaha R1 Sport bike, I was always behind the group of course, but in my effort to catch up with there fast bikes I ride everywhere at 95ish (we ride on the interstate a lot) My bike has no problem between 80 and 95, so the only thing I can think is the reviewer weighs 300 pounds and the bike would go slower as its not rated for bigger riders. I am not a Savage lover, I want a duece more than anything but you can't be telling untruths!! Show less

I have a 2005 S40 and it has way more power than a 250 which I have owned. This bike has helped me outrun almost every bike out there with the exception of crotch rockets. I can maintain 85-90mph easily in a headwind. This bike is awesome. It is not for beginners and not for somebody who wants to take cross country trips, but it is great for around town riding. Anything that is as reliable and cheap as this bike that gets almost 60mpg and can outrun all cars is definitely a great bike. Show less

I've graduated from my Honda Rebel to a Savage. I got it used with 888 miles on it. I just started biking in August 2003. Its balance point is so great. I don't think I could drop it if I tried. The backfire is cool & I've taken it on the road to my office which is 25 miles away. In the city, it's easy to manage. On country roads it's fun & when I get to the getting on & off the ferry to get to the mainland it's great too. I put a wind screen on it & that made it an easier ride. I'm very pleased with my new bike. I gave my Honda to my husband (heehee)! Show less

The last motorcycle I had was a Triumph 650, which I purchased new in 1971 in London. It was a great motorcycle if you didn't mind tightening everything on a constant basis. Its undependability led me to abandon cycling for almost a quarter of a century until I awakened one bright sunny Florida morning and wondered why I didn't own a bike anymore. A little research led me to Suzuki's LS 650 Savage. I purchased my '99 model used and have ridden it now for almost 3 years. Since that day, I've replaced the battery, the oil every three months, and the spark plug every year. It's been an absolute delight to ride. It's also been a delight to read the reviews of the Boulevard 650, the Savage's successor. I'm glad the new model is at least the equal of the previous model. I couldn't recommend this line of bikes more highly. As for me, I'm entertaining fantasies of the S50 Boulevard. Ain't nothing like a good thing. Show less

Ok after working at the local Suzuki dealers for awhile I convinced my mother to buy one for her first bike. She loved it as it's sleek and has plenty of chrome. She wasn't impressed with the backfiring but tried to ignore it. However, I had to ride it back from the shop to her house which was about 25 miles. I know I'm a pretty big guy but that bike vibrates and the seat is awful. While slowing down for an intersection an almighty bang from the pipe was enough to make anyone wet the bed and I'm a veteran rider. Overall for a first bike it really is a good bike; it's more at home in single lane traffic than the open highways as the air stream from a passing Geo Metro is enough to put you in the ditch. Show less