I went from a grom to a s40. It’s a huge upgrade. From going 50mph fully pinned to being able to hit 80mph with ease.

great size for mostly everything. I know guys with big baggers that never go anywhere. This a great bike for taking all the back roads and enjoying biking. Simple is good.

The V-Star 650 is a great bike and is rightly loved, but it's kind of big and has a shaft drive, which is good for being low maintenance, but causes the bike to lose a bit of power. The S40 is mechanicaly an extremely simple bike so it's easy for a beginner to work on. It's very light, nimble, easy to ride, and super reliable.It's perfect for beginners, people who want a bare-bones bike or as a platform for a custom project.

Definitely big enough for the highway, this was my first bike and I put over 27,000 miles on it commuting on the highway. Great first bike because of how light, maneuverable, and easy to work on it is. I am about to upgrade to something bigger now, maybe a Honda Valkyrie gl1500 or a Indian Scout. The new scouts are sexy!

I actually went down to this. I got one for free off my mom because she's getting too old to ride. I had a vtx-1300 for a couple years, put 30,000 miles on it going all over California then got rid of it. I decided to commute with my mom's boulevard and just fell in love instantly. Im 6' and 230lbs and it still has plenty of power for me. It feels a little small but handles so great, has enough power to get me up to 90mph on freeway and is light enough to throw around any turn. Great starter bike, great commuter, and great if you just want to enjoy a curvy back road.

I remember seeing the Savage at the dealer back in the 90s; my Dad ended up purchasing the Intruder 800 but to me, there's an appeal to having something different. That giant 650 single is a little different and I think pretty sweet. That S40 sounded pretty good in the video! Still, I hardly ever see any of these Suzuki cruisers around...

I wouldn't just say its a good starter bike (which it is), I'd say its a good bike full stop. I've had mine coming up to 2 years now, and I must say, I love it. Yes, there's been times where it would have been nice to have an extra gear for highway speeds, but its a great all-rounder. Still big enough to hang out with the bigger boys, but also nimble enough to zip through cities and towns with ease. Plus, it sounds mean when you put a Screamin' Eagle II on

i think this is a HUGE step up from the grom, the grom cant get on the highway, this thing can lol

I just bought an 07 boulevard S40. I haven't ridden in probably 20 years or so. This bike is perfect for someone easing back into riding or for the first time rider. I don't think I'll ever sell it tho. I do love this bike.

Think I found my 1st bike. Love the fact that it's a smaller bike with some displacement - even if it's just a single thumper. I built a motorized bicycle with lights, speedometer/tach, etc but it's a 70cc 2 stroke that has to wind up pretty hard just to do 35mph. Would be nice to be able to keep up effortlessly no matter where I'm riding.

Cool info. Thanks for sharing.

Im a smaller dude im like 5'7 ish and this bike is great, its the one I learned on and I still ride it almost everyday

We have 2 S40's! She has a 2005. 71 years old and sold her Softail Slim. Too heavy for her now. Mine is a 2007. I sold my Road King. We live in the Florida Keys and speed limits are perfect for this bike. Lots of gravel parking lots make a light bike easier to ride.

Your talk on starting with a grom and moving to a s40 is exactly what I did. I will tell it felt like a step up 100%. So funny you say that

So yeah I'm stepping up from the rebel and was looking for more power but still light weight for a short girl like me, thanks for the ride 🏍

You are the only motorcyclist I have ever seen that doesn't gear down to decelerate.

Short form answer: Hell Yeah. Rode mine back and forth between Daytona and Savannah many times. Not quick or fast, but it's definitely big enough. Considerably bigger than the 250 Rebel; I owned one of those too. It just doesn't FEEL that much bigger. it ain't much on the freeway; it needs more cam. Mine benefited from a Mikuni flat-slide carb and Sportster muffler ... but it still needed more cam. If ya search, one might still be available; not a lot of aftermarket for this bike.

I took one of these from Denver to North Platt Nebraska and back in November of 09 without good gear. You don't know Pain! lol, Love this channel.

I own one of these, it’s a great little bike. Their tough and a lot of fun for a new rider

I had a 1996 Suzuki Savage for like 10yrs. I just got rid of it a couple months ago and got a 2002 Honda Sabre VT1100C2. I upgraded. But I loved that Savage, I put a ton of miles on it too.

I had one a long time ago. I’m 6ft, seemed a little short in legroom for me, but I got by ok. Good power and low maintenance. Belt drive, no messy oiling. Was fun to ride. Low to the ground seemed going faster then actually going. I would think of getting another one.

Cool looking bike and very affordable. This is a “sleeper” bike. I believe it is better than a Rebel but more affordable. People in my area quite often mark up Rebels by $500 to a 1k above market value. Not so with S40’s. If it had fuel injection, I’d have one. I’d really like to avoid carb cleaning and carb rebuild projects which I fear are inevitable with our gas containing 10% ethanol.

"Nothing to counterbalance..." I thought Suzuki had built a counterweight to reduce vibration at low rev? I didn't have one but two Suzuki "Savage" with a Yamaha 535cc in between. Since I had a 650cc BMW Scarver & I'm now riding a Yamaha MT03 660cc mono cylinder. I loved the Suzuki & as I'm getting 74, I think I might end my rider life with a third Suzuki Boulevard 40. It's the perfect city bike with its KISS design (Keep It Simple, Stupid!). Single cylinder, carb & above all a belt instead of a chain! Dream bike for a lazy old fart like me, provided you check oil level & do the normal maintenance. Also, my wife loved it with its backrest & relaxed position...

Question for any who've ridden both version: is there any advantage to the 5 speed over the older 4 speed model? Does 5th act as an overdrive at freeway/interstate speeds, or did they just shuffle the ratios around so you have to shift once more?

I’m a new rider and this is what I bought. It’s great to learn on. I am loving it.

Suzuki Savage LS 650 P was my first "big" bike, and it served me well for almost three seasons. It's really light (173 kg dry weight), provides enough torque and power for cruising rural roads at 80 kmph as well as for riding highways (comfort level at 120 kmph is yet acceptable) and requires very little to no maintenance. I still have that one of mine and one day, I might get it back to operational state, just for fun 🙂

I currently have a, 2001 Ls650 and I love it !!!

S40 great little bike have 40k miles on mine Fork seals 2x. Tires too many to count Cam chain adjuster put in modded adjuster Carb rebuilt once Funnest bike I have I run the dog out of it Got it cheap a fun get me to work bike love it! By the way Praise The Lord!

i like my S40, can ride it for HOURS

Just bought one to make my first Bobber! Absolutely best canvas to work on, customise and just simply pleasing!

Looking for a first motorcycle. I luv the mechanical simplicity. 1 bbl, 1 carb.. make it a 1 seater bobber. An owner & $50 tools can maintain

I want to see how it went on the freeway before I buy the one I am looking at but the video cut off

Just bought a 2002 savage650 5,000 miles and paid $800 bucks. I’m a pretty average sized guy. 5’10 180 and it’ll do highway speeds pretty easily. I’ll be doing 60 in 5th and still have plenty more if I need it. So far I love it. Enough power to get anywhere but small and forgiving enough for a beginner. Great bike and you can find great deals on them.

I just got a rebel to learn on I am getting very comfortable and want something with a little more power would this be a smooth transition

Got a s40 awhile back after my dad could no longer ride I did some mods sofar it's such a easy bike to work on i love it and am glad I got it over my brother's

Looks fun!

good for a commuter bike it has all them torque down low, the seat and riding posture is comfortable, good on gas

Every video i watch I expect to hear "Sorry to interrupt the test drive.." Its gonna be weird after the give away lol

I wasn’t expecting the words of wisdom in the beginning but that was really appreciated! Haha

Cool channel brother!

Me and my bro are looking into buying one of these man, I love these cruisers.

You can call it entry level if you want. But I like lightweight cruisers. Thumpers are easy to work on. You dont have to sync carbs or take too much apart to fix it.

I have had one for 1 session I love it I have been writing for a few years now. On a different bike this one I definitely enjoy more however i will say it does lack a little bit in top and an acceleration. It is still A-blast and I love it

I bought a new 2018 leftover,just waiting for dealer to deliver.i plan on taking it to work once a week to save on gas plus my Harley is too loud as I leave for work around 5am

There is something to be said for being able to use all of the power. They may laugh at you but deep inside you can laugh at them.

Lol I really appreciate you making this video I own a 2003 s40 it's my first bike I got when I was 18 19 now working on her to go fast because it's not about the best bike it's about how much I really cherish her and she's my first.

Light weight, very comfortable and gets the job done 👍🏾

Probably going to be my second first bike (had a knee injury years ago and sold my first bike). I love air cooled engines and eventually want to work up to having a CB1100 but the S40 has a lot of character and a little more power than the bike I used to have.

I'm 6'3 and lanky, looking for a good beginner cruiser for my height. I tried riding a rebel but was pretty tight. Would this bike fit me better?

I'm considering purchasing an S40 boulevard for my first bike. I'm 6'5 440 lbs. Hope it works out since it's an entry level, can't be that bad.

If it ain't big enough, chop the rear off and stretch it with a hard tail. I have an '01 Rebel that had 4100~ miles. I put 400~ on it before I had to tear into it and rebuild the forks, carb and the wiring on the rear lights.

Do u have a picture of ur self on the bike? Cause I’m looking for a beginner cruiser for a young 6’0 rider

trying to get a first bike is this an okay size for someone thats over 6 foot tall ?

any difference in specs with the ls650 or s40?

I just subbed! Love the fact you had a verse at the start of the video. Perfect way to start anything. Blessings brother!

Short answer, yes. Some rider pegs would be nice, to let ya stretch out a bit; but I rode my Savage between Savannah and Daytona several times, no problem.

Looks like a great starter bike? I have seen them used on craigslist for 1000 to 1500 dollars. I'm sure you could sell it in a year or two for around the same price you payed??

My favorite part of the video is you reading the verse! Great video

i compare mine to my old 68 bonneville in the 70s..love it it rides better than the old bonny. camparing it to a rebel is ridiculous. it has the same physical size as a sportster 883 or 1200. it cruises at 70 all day long. we need to quit saying they are beginners bikes or girl bikes. theyre just motorcycles of another size

These bikes are the epitome of simple

Advantage of a thumper is that it's easy to fix. 1 carburetor you don't have to sync them

I was waiting for him to ride on the highway. WTF?

Do the brake lock up easy?

I love my 650 in town, got the c50 for longer rides

Me i have a 01 650 savage love it but have to get a few things done

I got a s50 with is a 800cc. great bike, got plenty of get up and go but it’s not way overpowered.

the things that troubles me is the horsepower: it's got just 30, which for a 650cc is a very small amount, in comparison the 535cc virago has 10 more; either way I'm gonna choose between these two

My coworker has one for his daughter and i rode it and im 6' 3" and my legs were super cramped. But could also be a different seat setup. Definitely quick for a little single cruiser.

I might get the S40 tomorrow! It'll be my first motorcycle

Great video. I'm brand new to riding. I think this is the bike for me.

I have a 1988 savage and to be honest one of the most fun bikes I have ever rode plan on keeping it for long time

Are you comparing it to a rebel 300 or 500

The way I see that bike, if you're a small person and you want a cruiser that's manageable and still has a decent amount of power, maybe you've been riding a Rebel and you want to upgrade without getting a huge bike, it's a good choice. Single cylinder bikes are cheaper to maintain too.

“Might be a step up but not much”. Yeah, going from a 125cc to a 650cc. “Not much”. I think this whole “manly man” shit in the biking world is kinda toxic to new people just wanting to get around

Love your videos man, don't listen to all these negative Nancys in the comments. Keep it man. God Bless.

I have one of these but it’s a custom bobber fully custom. It’s fun.

I had one..good Bike but really needs better handlebars (the oem is too narrow)

Sean, I like what you Preach! The Savage is a Revelation! It is an alpha & omega bike. It's very user friendly for a beginner or alpha rider. And it's ideal for an older & experienced or omega rider who still wants to ride but could do without the bulk & weight of a cruiser, bagger or a very tall adventure type bike.

thanks for words of wisdom. Im down around Red Lion one day I'll stop by..

It is big enough for a man - consider this.. Harley Davidson 883 Sportster, is 2 inches longer, seat height is about the same, but weights 200lbs more than the Suzuki (580lbs vs 380lbs).. Carburetor version of the Sportser develops 45 foot pounds of torque (newer fuel injection versions about 50).. Suzuki develops 37 foot pounds of torque.. I am not sure what RPM the Sportster reaches top torque, but the Suzuki reaches 37 foot pounds of torque at around 3400 RPM - which means that just off idle you probably have around 1/2 or around 18 or 19 which is plenty to move the 380 lbs (meaning that you don't have to rev the daylights out of it to get moving).. The weight to torque ratio is about 12lbs per 1 foot pounds of torque for the Sportster and about 10 lbs for the Suzuki - so the Suzuki has a better power/torque to weight ratio.. I have not tried it, but I would venture to say that you can lug the Suzuki down lower in a higher gear and accelerate on upwards without it bucking or stalling.. Which means you don't have to scramble to downshift if you happen to be in a taller gear (this is a benefit for everyone including beginners).. There is just something magical about a single cylinder thumper that just can't be explained, but fun to experience..

I have the same bike but I don’t know what speed to shift

Man that thumper sounds nice

Less cylindres more fun! Bought another one. Greets from Germany.

Is this a Japanese version of the Royal Enfield ? Does it vibrate like the Enfield?

Quit logging it, keep the r's up.

I road my 2014 from colorado to california

do you get the death wobble on this hog?

S40 Project Bike, Bobber-Rat?

It certainly lugs good, you've shown that!!! 😨

I've been thinking of getting one of these because they are simple, easy to work on, low maintenance. But I'm a big guy. I don't know if it is big enough to be comfortable. This guy doesn't address that very well in this video.

Gloves are recommended

Absolute joy in the city,Love my bully!

I have carpal tunnel syndrome in left hand, very sensitive to handle bar vibration. Can any body tell me if this bike vibrates a lot, particularly on the handle bar at 100 kph (62 mph)

Im currently riding a scooter and looking to step into bikes lol XD your right.

I like the motorcycle, even though I'm with 6,2 too big for it. Also the smooth sound. Maybe I can do a bobber seat on it and move it to the back?

No such thing as a bike that's "to small for a man"

My first bike and I love her....

Never knew this suzuki single was exist until today . . Thanks for the internet

Yay we’re going to do a 0 to 60 in and they don’t do 0 to 60 and have a stupid little banter thing that’s great!

Love my savage once I replaced the exhaust and got better air flow out of it.