Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi,

so I did everything by the book, took a course, got my licence, did a lot of reading and brought it down to the decision between those two bikes: virago 250 and Suzuki S40. Both new (used market is just crazy up here in Canada)

So, I can get S40 for $450 more than v-star (virago) 250 - at the same dealer, so it makes it easier to compare. I was sitting on both of them ( 5.11 160 pounds) they seam similar in size, but S40 feels just a little bit more substantial (small things, the quality of mirrors, handle bars, grips, stand, fenders ...) and somewhat wider. If S40 was v twin, I wouldn't think for a second

What would you do?

Also additional question - if I manage to find something reasonable used - what is a reasonable percentage of depreciation for the first year (warranties up here run for 12 mths.)

thks a bunch

Both are good bikes. Plain and simple
The only thing I'd be worried about is the Virago's ability to get up to and maintain any kind of higher speed.
I've also heard though that the S40 (AKA Suzuki Savage) has a tendency to leak oil. Apparently Suzuki has put out two service bulletins for it and still hasn't been able to stop it from leaking oil from the head gasket, even when you use a regular rubber gasket and liquid gasket.
Wrider

Wrider wrote:Both are good bikes. Plain and simple
The only thing I'd be worried about is the Virago's ability to get up to and maintain any kind of higher speed.
I've also heard though that the S40 (AKA Suzuki Savage) has a tendency to leak oil. Apparently Suzuki has put out two service bulletins for it and still hasn't been able to stop it from leaking oil from the head gasket, even when you use a regular rubber gasket and liquid gasket.
Wrider

I don't imagine it is the head gasket as that would cause a loss of compression. The valve cover gasket perhaps?

A reprise of my various reviews / remarks about the S40:

The Suzuki S40 is a great bike, and a respectful beginner could handle it, especially one with an MSF course under his/her belt. I say that from direct experience. We have a 2006 model.

My wife really took a shine to our S40. She liked that she could comfortably flat-foot at the stop lights (she's all of five-foot-three, maybe 110 lbs. soaking wet). I was impressed by the 650-cc, one-cylinder engine: It's relatively easy to maintain, with all the parts pretty much out in plain view.

On the road, the bike is nimble, well-behaved and easy to control. The lower gears are close together, and the best torque seems to be at lower speeds. Fifth (top) gear comes in at about 50 mph, but it has long legs. There's a sweet spot at about 62 mph at which the bike seems like it could happily run all day.

However, when you hit about 70 mph, it's starting to max out, and lots of vibration comes through the hard, narrow seat. This is not a good bike for iron-butting from Chicago to L.A.

But anywhere other than long stretches of interstate, it's a blast to ride, and seems to be the perfect ride for a biker with at least a little experience, a smaller person, or anyone else who likes cruising around on the blue roads. It's a fine-looking bike that turns heads, too.

A trip odometer would be nice. Also, our bike had a tendency to backfire like a shotgun on deceleration - it's factory-set to run extremely lean (supposedly easy to fix, but my wife didn't want me to). Nowadays, it only barks on shutdown, but then my wife likes to make the "grand entrance."

I eventually bought the S50 model, but I still take the S40 for a spin every once in a while because it's just so much fun to ride. There's something very pure and elemental about that big 'ol one-cylinder engine banging away down there and the responsiveness of the bike.

Whichever one you really want. Can't tell? Here is a goofy, but for me effective, way to sort that out.

Flip a coin! Assign heads to one bike, tails (or the Canadian equivalent) to the other. Whichever one you find yourself rooting for before you grab the coin, that's the one you really want.

As I said, goofy, but effective. Good luck. Oh, and if you don't find yourself rooting for a favorite, just go with the results of the coin.

I agree 110% with Wordherder. I own an 07 S40 and it's a blast to ride. I'm a newbie rider also. I'm 5'4" and my inseam is 29. It's perfect for me. You won't have a problem with it. Yes, it does backfire when I turn it off, so I just say 'excuse me...bad gas' and leave it at that.

I love big thumpers so I prefer the Savage.

'excuse me...bad gas'

Oh, if only you knew my family and our adolescent humor!