Boulevard S40 question

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MarkRB · #1 Unread post by **MarkRB** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 8:17 am

My wife and I just finished the first part of our riders saftey course, one more to go, it was fun but tiring. I have a Vulcan 500 which my wife feels is to big for her and she is leaning toward the S40 which she has sat on and so far likes. One of the instructors said he felt it was "unbalanced". any thoughts. Most of our riding will be back country roads with little highway driving.

Super Dave · Sat Sep 08, 2007 9:16 am

the s40(652cc) is actually a bigger engine but I'm not to familiar with cruisers. Sit on the suzuki and tilt it left and right to get the feel of the weight.

Thumper · #3 Unread post by **Thumper** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 6:55 am

The S40 runs a bit lean and is prone to backfiring. If she can live with that (it would drive me nuts) it's a decent enough bike. Has she tried sitting on a Honda VLX? It's the same class of bike, rides nicely, and doesn't backfire. Neither will have the oomph of your Vulcan...I ride the Spouse Thingy's VLX once in a while and it's a good ride, definitely a good first bike once you get used to the weight of it.

MarkRB · #4 Unread post by **MarkRB** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:22 am

She sat on a VLX and it seemed to wide for her. In fact it seemed to wide for both of us as we both have short legs, it was like sitting on a cow, no insult to VLX owners. That is one reason she leans toward the S40.

Thumper · #5 Unread post by **Thumper** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:01 am

Not all bikes fit everyone (The VX is a fun ride, but I admit, I hate the air cover, it's a pain in the knee...) If she really likes the S40 and it fits, if it backfires the problem can likely be solved by rejetting the carbs. If that doesn't appeal to either of you, maybe jump up to the S50? It's an 805cc bike but it's narrower than most, well balanced, and she'd never need to worry about outgrowing it.

Heck, if I could go back to Day One and re-pick my first bike I'd probably get the S50. I bought a Honda Rebel instead--terrific learner bike, great fun--but within 2 months I was itching for a slightly more powerful ride. I opted for small because I didn't think a new rider could handle anything bigger, but I know several women now who started on the S50 and are in love with their bikes.

When picking my 2nd bike it came down to either the S50 or the Suzuki SV650...my inner teen opted for the sport bike instead. I'dve been happy with the S50, though, no doubt about it.

Wordherder · Sun Sep 09, 2007 1:58 pm

My blushing bride (that's her at left) drives an S40 and she loves it. She's 5'3" and weighs maybe 110 lbs. soaking wet. (Sorry, guys, she's taken.)

I don't know what they mean by "unbalanced." I drive her S40 occasionally because it's just a fun bike to ride: light, nimble and fairly quick off the line.

The backfiring (technically "afterfiring," my engineer friends tell me) is supposedly easy to fix. The bike is factory-set way too lean to meet some Calif. emission standard. There's a plastic washer in the carb, the equivalent of a restrictor in a shower head, that's easily dealt with. A quick Google (or try http://www.suzukisavage.com/) will bring up detailed instructions.

However, the Mrs. actually likes the occasional bang on deceleration: it lets the cages know she's there (Bang! I'm slowing down!). Or maybe she just tells me that to keep her ham-handed husband from goofing around with the carb on her bike

PM me if your "trouble 'n' strife" wants to contact mine.

Zohw · #7 Unread post by **Zohw** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 3:18 pm

I own a s40, well actually it's a 96, so LS650. It's a great little bike (my first). 650 means it's got enough power to keep for a while opposed to getting bored of it within a few months. It's also more based on torque then HP. You can accelerate pretty fast on that thing. For some odd reason the 96 has more power then the newer ones you find today, but I don't think it's a big difference.

Ah, yes the backfiring, I've read on how to fix it, but also heard it gets a little thirsty when you do fix it. I'm ok with it, even though it's guaranteed to backfire every time I shut her off after a while of riding, or decelerate too fast.

She's got plenty of passing speed on the highway too (although I hear you guys down south have higher speed limits on highways/freeways). Only problem is vibration. She starts to shake a bit when you pass 110km, so I can't see long trips on the highway being too pleasant.

For a cruiser I say she's one of the best starter bikes around. Just a tad small for me.