New to me Suzuki S40 650.  By  job (Read 6,215 times)

Actually the last time I rode with a Savage the rider commented that he had trouble keeping up with me with the way my bike zipped right up the 70 mph from a standing stop. He was one of those who was convinced I had somehow slipped a 750 into my Sport City and could not understand how a 250 could pull away like it did.

His last words on that ride were: "Aprilia? Isn't that like a Ducati? Ok that explains it."

Nice bike for what it is and will probably last about forever since they are not pushing the envelope in stock trim.

If I had to wear "gear" I would had never rode.
When California mandated helmets 40% of riders sold their bikes, or left the State.

It's a start, I suppose.

Here in Florida they did it differently. You can ride without a helmet if you have sufficient insurance or a high enough personal bond to pay your medical expenses if you get into an accident. Its about avoiding huge medical payouts for truly avoidable head and facial injuries in minor accidents.

I chose to wear a full faced helmet and gear instead or relying on insurance and found it cooler to ride out in the scorching sun with the gear on and last June when I slid on some sand blowing across the road while traveling at 45 MPH I walked away with a few bruises while my helmet was all ground up along the left side of my face and chin. The jackets armored areas were scuffed but fully protected my arms, shoulders and back and the carbon fiber sliders on my gloves showed my knuckles would have been ground down including the bone if I had not been wearing them. Without the gear it would have been lost weeks (maybe months) at work and a long stay in the ER or potentially a trip to the morgue.

Insurance companies hate giving large payouts to potential Darwin Award candidates so they just push legislation to encourage what should be Common Sense.

Here they simply list in your policy the type of accidents they will not cover and one that many now list even in regular health insurance and some life insurance policies is riding a motorcycle without wearing motorcycle helmet/jacket/gloves/long pants/boots. This is standard for the US Military too and can result in denial of benefits/pay and potentially a dishonorable discharge.

Look at your health, accident and life insurance to see whats listed under extreme activities not covered. Some may be surprised.

Riders that wear helmets tend to ride faster, crash harder, and statistically have more deaths. Helmets should be left on the race track, not racing on the streets. Why don't you ask helmeted riders also be left to bleed out? Why do you hate people that simply enjoy riding.

The S40 is not a racing motorcycle. Mostly, people that ride the S40 do not ride stupid. That is why Progressive listed the Savage in the first and third slots on least crashed and least stolen motorcycle. (less crash = less stolen for parts.)


Note: Took off the helmet at the California/Arizona state line and didn't use is again until back entering California. ('cept about an hour riding thru a rain/hail storm.)  The Suzuki LS650, S40 or Savage depending on the year, is an excellent city bke that can do just fine touring the Interstates.

"(it's cheaper to get another one than fix one)"
That is why most automobiles and motorcycles are scrapped when the engine gives out, rather than restored.
"Mostly, people that ride the S40 do not ride stupid."
I have never seen an S40 (or anything except sport bikes) doing wheelies in the left lane.
"If you consider a Savage a "touring bike", you must have some REALLY low standards"
Or, you really enjoy vibration.

As I said, Suzuki did too good of a job on the counter-balancer, very low vibration. At touring speed the the vibration is like the massage bed in a cheap motel. A sport bike has a higher frequency vibration, like the drill in a dentist's chair.