Suzuki Savage reviews

I bought a Savage for my wife as a starter bike. I figured it would be big enough that she would not have the need for a larger bike in a hurry with one of this size. I rode it of course, and found it to be one of the better bikes I have ridden. It was a blast, only a bit small for a person of my size. Not a lot of fast rpm build up but the torque is outstanding and keeps on coming. Had it up to 85 on steep highway grade and had more power to go. Enough to keep up with most cruisers on the run. Its one high tech bike in a small package. Great for smaller people or beginners. I wish I could say more. Show less

Love this bike... It's my first bike and I am very happy with it. Enough power to cruise the highway with ease and very maneuverable. Would recommend for anyone who wants to learn to ride. Show less

Great bike, my first one, but not my last. I love bikeriding, especially with this one. It is a bike for the beginners. Show less

One of the best handling bikes I've ever owned. Engine pulls good with low-end torque. Easy to maintain, and the belt drive is a big help. Maintained and taken care of the Savage is reported by many of it's owners to have a very long life; up into the tens and tens of thousands of miles. Good for solo trips of medium distance. the passenger seat is NOT comfortable however. Light weight and low seat height make the Savage a very easy bike to handle in traffic in town. I've had mine to 70 and there is still plenty of throttle left, but I'm chicken!! The Savage IS the best kept secret in Motorcyles!!! Price is reasonable! Fine little 650! Show less

Bought my '03 Savage after spending 3 months learning to ride on an '85 Honda Rebel. Loved the Rebel, but wanted something with a little more "punch" and was attracted to the Savage's chopper-esque style, low seat and weight. The Savage is the perfect up-grade for Rebel Riders, as the both bikes are very similar to each other ... except the Savage has more power for climbing hills and the occasional highway jaunt. It's also perfect for day trips and the like. The Savage is a unique Ride with a unique "Thumper" sound that Harley riders seem to be drawn to it! Why not 5-stars? Well, the spark plug is extremely inaccessable, requiring partial disassembly of the Bike to service it ... a pain for those who aren't mechanically inclined. You would think that Suzuki engineers would have engineered a solution to this after all of these years. Otherwise, the Savage is just about a perfect little Cruiser! Show less

I bought a new 2001 Suzuki Savage in September of 2001. I am 57 years old and had not ridden a bike in many years. I FINALLY got MY license in February of this year. I like the bike very much. I take my cell phone and take off by myself quite often. My husband does not like to ride as much as I do. I have found the bike to be very manageable and quite easy to handle on the road. I would highly recommend this bike for women especially. It is not so big, but has lots of power. Show less

Speed/power is totally adequate up to 70mph. Weight is very low at 352 lbs. Frame easily accommodates up to about 6'1" or so. Bike is kind of a throwback; very utilitarian, no frills. It's the perfect bike for my needs, which is cruising around the hills outside of Austin. Good city bike, too. Show less

Hi! Recently replaced an old 85 Honda Rebel with a new metallic green 2003 LS650 Savage. I love this Bike ... the low weight and seat height make this a perfect upgrade from the Rebel, especially for shorter/smaller framed Motorcyclists like myself. This Bike as plenty of power and gobs of torque that makes hill climbing a breeze. Style-wise ... well it is unique and beautiful in a sparse, simple sorta way. At my local m/c hangout, Harley guys seem to be fascinated by the Savage! I love this Bike and would have given it 5 stars 'cept for one beef ... the damn inacessable spark plug ... Suzuki has had this horse in its stable long enough to have Engineered a solution to this aggrivating problem ... oh yeah, lack of a center stand too (are you reading this Suzuki Engineers?). Otherwise, as I said I love my Savage. So if you are mechanically inclined (unlike myself) or can put up with the annoyance of minor routine maintenance issues and you like no-frills Bikes that represent motorcycling in its purest form, or you are a "Newbie" who wants a bit more grunt than say a Rebel or Suzui's GZ250, then the Savage won't disappoint! Go with the '04 model though ... the new bullet-style turn signals and oval mirrors look gorgeous! Just don't know about that new purple color though ... Show less

I bought my five year old '98 Savage with 2100 miles on it, and have put on that many more in five months. It is an elemental throwback, a pure motorbike. The tachometer is your butt and your ears, the gear indicator is what it feels like when you let the clutch out, and it can take you from cowpaths through pastures to the passing lane on the interstate, but its element is back roads and state highways. It handles like a dream, is easy to maintain, will last longer than you will, and get more admiring glances than you deserve. You can get new repair manuals and parts to service Savages dating from the '80s. If it ain't broke, go ride it! Show less

This is my first street motorcycle and I love riding it. I've had it for a few months now and I'm really starting to settle into the ride. All the power you need for cruising around town and touring ther back country. It has a very "punchy" feel to it, coming from the single-stroke engine. Definitely a thumper, and it pulls you up to about 70-75 MPH without being too uncomfortable. Anything faster gets a little shaky. Foot pegs vibrate my feet to sleep at around 70 MPH. Although it's not really fit for 70+ riding, unless you're a highway rider you're not going to care. And when you need to get on the interstate you've got plenty of power for the slower lanes. I LOVE the way this bike handles, it takes corners like a champ. It must be the smaller body, but it really responds well on backroads, etc. Overall, I really, really like this bike. It is tons of fun, handles great, has plenty of speed and power - great first bike. Reasons for not giving it a 5-star rating: * seat could be a bit larger * not really meant for people over 5'9" (person might feel a bit cramped) * rear drum brake is pretty weak for quick stops. Be sure to always combine front and back brakes when making a fast stop. * uncomfortable at 70+ MPH Show less