I just picked up a black 2006 Boulevard with just over 2k mi for free. Previous owner rarely rode it and was sad that they couldn't give it the love and attention it deserved. It just sat for the last 10 years untouched and unloved. They were just happy that someone wanted to put the time and effort in to get it back into the wind. I just came along at the right time.
Thanks, Phil, needed that info as I just collected a new-to-me 2007 pearl-white S40, last Saturday, with 45000 kms on the clock and no owner's manual. Man, the difference in power from my Honda 150cc starter bike was shocking (in a good way). Rode it 65kms back home on a 110 km/h motorways (NZ) and it roared up the road like a charging bull! It was fantastic. Love this bike.
A few other things to add as part of periodic maintenance: Lube all pivot points and cables. Check battery terminals for tightness. Check various bolts for tightness. Do as many of these checks as you can with the tools on the bike, and add the missing tools. Remove (or reposition against the valve cap) the tyre valve stem nut so if the tyre turns on the rim you'll see it, and it won't rip the valve out the tube. Run a spanner over the spokes and listen for loose ones. Move the rims side to side to inspect wheel bearings.
@@ColinKlippenstein-qj1zu why 3 question marks??? Do the work with the tools you already carry on the bike, not with the workshop/garage toolbox, otherwise you’ll find out a tool is missing etc when it matters the most and have no convince of rummage for it through many tool boxes/draws, makes sense???
You have a tool storage on your Suzuki s40? I was under the impression there was no space for stuff like that on this bike so if there's a tool stash on it to that is news to me!
@@ColinKlippenstein-qj1zu Replaced the s40 long ago with a thunderbird 1700 commander and wide glide evo as my 1st full size cruisers but from memory it had a small inadequate tool pouch storage I think, but that’s irrelevant as I never travel without tools - in my luggage, camelback, strapped to the bike in a plastic tool-tube or in a purpose made heavy duty bum bag when enduro/adv riding. Short trips, trials competition and mx I don’t bother with tools of course but otherwise yes, at least basic tools that I’m familiar using for maintenance on each particular bike, and I have over dozen
Wouldn't it be great, if other things were as uncomplicated and straight forward on other products? I would buy a vehicle with no computers and hand crank windows!
Wouldn't it be great, if other things were as uncomplicated and straight forward on other products? I would buy a vehicle with no computers and hand crank windows!
Just bought a brand new 2018 leftover s40 in purple. It’s an awesome first bike for me. I’m 5’7” and 135 pounds, so not too big. It’s fast enough for highways and light enough for city corners. I’ve had it for 4 days and I’m already at 1000 miles!!
Awesome! I have a different 2nd bike, and I get to re-experience how the s40 is a great, easy handling bike. I almost bought another s40 for my 2nd bike!
Phil, thank you so much for your informative videos! I recently bought a 2008 metallic silver S40 and absolutely love it. I wish more manufacturers would make bikes like this. More brands should look into making motorcycles the way they used to be, simple and affordable.
VERY NICE. I agree. Not everyone wants to or, can afford to spend 10--20 k on a bike. I really like how manageable s40's are. I can duck walk reverse/park my s40 easily and safely. We are having a cool 50 degrees spring here, I am hoping it will warm up soon, so i can plate my bike and ride.
That is one clean bike my dude! I went out yesterday and bought that same one, a 2012 version just over 9k miles, with same color combo as yours, I fell in love with that combo, altho the case has apparently never been cleaned or maintained, so I need to find a way to bring back the nice finish, I don't mind the work at all, it's one of my favorite things to work on my bikes. Only one regret so far, it's WAY too loud, weird to say, but the pipe the guy put on it, seems like a straight pipe extension, sans baffling, with a nice slant cut exhaust, but I noticed he didn't remove the old hardware for the stock pipe, and the new pipe interferes with the rear brake cable, so that's a priority fix. It's sounds incredible, but I'm not out to annoy my neighbors, we have a 25 year long peaceful respect for each other, and I intend to maintain my part of that. I love loud pipes, but this one has to go eventually :(
Hi, Jay , and, thanks for the note. These bikes really are great looking. Mine still sports stock, unmolested exhaust. I really like how quiet it is. I was riding around last night with no ear plugs in, putting around town. I was talking with friends, and bike was running. I shut it off only to be polite, not out of necessity. Loud pipes cause headaches for ME! If you can get your hands on PLEXUS it will make your paint, chrome, and polished aluminum SPARKLE. It is expensive but it works great. I do not get any commission for recommending it, It makes ME very happy to have a clean and shiny bike. RIDE SAFE Jay.
Got me a 2011 S40, same colors. 10,500 miles. Gots a ton of low end torque, lovin' it. Indiana, USA. NIce bike to get back into riding after about 25 years off of one.
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 monocylinder. 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 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....
I am a big fan of the mechanical simplicity of the suzuki s40 as well. I like to say; "if my gravity-feed fuel system ever fails, we have much bigger problems" my arthritic joints also love the suzuki s40! - you are right. oil level and regular maintenance spells reliable.
2015 Dark Steel Blue. Barn find with 525 miles two months ago. I love it once I cleaned the carb, purged the fuel tank and did a thorough general cleaning and polish now looks and runs new again. People that own this bikes get it's appeal. Most critical people have never owned or ridden one. You like the S40 or you don't. I don't think there is an in-between. But owners, now I am one, love them. Going to keep her until I can't ride anymore.
I find that SEAFOAM in the gas helps keep the petcock/carb all functioning flawlessly. I use it as a fuel stabilizer over the winter. I sure like mine. Your bike is due for it's first oil change at 1000 km or 600 miles. I use AMSOIL metric 10/40.
Thank you so much!!! This is so helpful!!! I have a 'fox orange and sparkling Black' 2014 s40 with 2,852 KM (I've only put roughly 900 km on it though just practicing). I live in Ontario! I've been having to teach myself mostly but it really helps to have someone who speaks straightforward with a visual follow-up! I'm really interested in exploring different types of bags I can put on the bike because I go camping alot. This is such a helpful heap of information!!!! I appreciate your taking the time very much 😊😁
I picked up a soft removable saddle bag, it is expandable for increased room, I like it because it will strap on to either of my bikes easily, and if I go on a longer trip where I get a motel room or camp, or stay at someone's house, I can bring it in so nobody can snoop or steal my stuff. I saw a VIKING bag setup on an s40 youtube vid, they were a very nice shape and fit, kind of pointed at the bottom, at the back, but they had to relocate the turn signals to make it work. The detachable soft bag I have does not interfere with my rear signal lights, and i could still have a passenger! I rarely have a passenger. I have them for 2-3 years, never used them yet. I made a vid showing them off a couple years back. Mine were about $200 cdn. My buddy's wife has an s40 same paint as yours, I hope you got a good deal!
@@PhilHewkin Hi Phil! I wanted to ask how you charge your battery? Do you have a portable trickle charger or do you take your battery out of your bike and charge it in your house? I just moved my bike To my new house and there is no outlets in the garage. 😭
@@FroggiesAnonymous I have a charger I bought at Princess auto, it is 2,12, and 15 amp for jump starting. The 2amp is right for motorcycle batteries. My battery was low this spring, one cell was almost dry. I thought it was toast. I took it to a battery place, they added new electrolyte fluid, and it took a near-full charge again. I thought I would have to replace it, they charged me only $10! So,. So far, so good. Manufacturer recommends topping up battery fluid levels once a month with distilled water. I have been checking about every 3 months. I am using the original battery still, my bike is 2014. I am happy it lasted this long. I recommend talking it to a battery place to get them to service and test your battery at the beginning of riding season. I do not use a trickle charger over winter, I usually start and warm up the bike several times when there are warm spells. I am not the most consistent, at battery winter maintenance, I do more than some who do nothing, and it seems to pan out well. I have a 2008 atv, still running original battery, and it tests strong. You can get a multi meter for about $10 which makes assessing battery strength simple. they should show 12.5-13 volts. Less means check fluid level, add as needed, and charge. watch out for brownish-yellow accumulation in bottom of battery. This is a sign of old age, but with a infusion of new electrolyte, new life can be added to a failing battery.
Hi Phil,I'm the guy that also has a Honda Aero 750 and a 2006 S40 Boulevard. Mine is a beautiful black with 7000 miles on it. It runs perfectly. Silent stock exhaust and great low rpm torque allow me to leave cars in the dust effortlessly from stoplights. Such a narrow,nimble motorcycle and great handling. It is so much fun. Love my Aero 750 Honda too. Thanks and happy riding.
I got a 2006 red one with 10,000 miles on it. Great bike. I went to do an oil change and found out that the filters were on sale for $.03 each, I got all they had and the guy at the parts store paid for them. That's an awesome veterans' discount.
Got the a 2012 but the same color as yours. Its my first bike and it started with 3500 miles but I already got it up to 6000 in 6 weeks of owning it. Plan to ride it well this year and the start of the next riding season doing a complete maintenance for every part of the bike + some modifications
About to pick up a 97 savage with 6k miles on it been parked 12 years under a cover in a clean garage looks gorgeous looks just as clean as the 2014 in this video shocking I’m excited I used to have a z125 and have been dying for a bike picking up the 97 to see if I really want to invest in something bigger because my dream is a chief sport chief
Just got a 2014 with 7860 k's. It came kitted with screen, digital speedo on the barrs so you don't have to look down, top box wired for stop and blinkers, extra set of blinkers on handle bars, camera and a charging system and an extra one for the peon. Drive's really well lots of torque. There should be a world wide club for a bike thats lasted longer than most marriages. Only issue that bugs me is too much vibration from the bars, suggestions?
I notice some vibration, but I find if I run in fifth gear at higher speeds, vibration is much less than in 4 th gear at hiway speeds. I have good riding gloves, helps also. Best torque is at lower rpm with the s40, I like to downshift for quick acceleration situations on the hiway, What color is your s40? Likely stock original tires on your bike with low k's like that. What was done with the factory tank speedometer, is it still on the bike, or did they remove it and put a cover plate?
Thank you. I knew doodle when she had an 06 white s40 she named "Charlie" - i just put insurance on my bike today, it is too cold to ride today, I am hoping for warmer weather. it is 5c/22f. brr
@@PhilHewkin im in kansas city here. We just came out of our s ow and ice. Had a couple days of 70 degree weather and i put about a hundred miles on the bike. Wore me out like riding a horse when you're not used to it. Where are you located
@@ricksiegel8017 I am in Prince George B.C. CANADA (the frozen North) We wont see 70 degrees till June, maybe! We had 42 degrees today! I have to get my motorbike legs back every year, I start out slow. They might get the gravel from winter off the roads in 3-4 weeks. If it gets warm enough to ride, before then It can be treacherous. Snowmobilers here are still heading into the mountains till the end of march.
Just picked up a 2007 with just under 9k miles. picked it up for $2100. I'm the 3rd owner but first owner never rode it. last owner had it for 9 years. comes with windshield and saddle bags, cream white.... absolutely love it os far. My first real bike :)
@@PhilHewkin tires are next. I think they are original and that means they need to be replaced 😂. Probably safe for another few thousand more miles tho. Just long enough to wait a few to buy
Hi... thanks alot super useful information I just bought Red one the same year and model it was 55M 2days ago now it's 60M and I will go and buy some oil right now this is whey it's not smooth I will change it with the filter thanks sir ..
Nice. I could have bought a 2011 m109 for 3800.oo cdn, I knew it was a bargain, it was red, I decided against it because it was a large heavy bike and i have arthritis in my feet ankle knees etc. ALSO i was afraid i would kill myself on it because, such a powerful bike.
True. bought mine from asuzuki dealership in 2015, it was previous years stock.Im on 2ndset of tires, 2nd battery allready. 17000 kliometers. on it now. time flies.
@@PhilHewkin in 2014 mine developed the head plug leak. I tore it apart and fixed it. Just put it together two weeks ago. Not sure why I waited 8 years for 45 minutes of work. Put 20 miles on today, and no leak. Yay!
PhilHewkin try Redline Oil: www.redlineoil.com/10w40-motorcycle-oil It’s pretty good, a little expensive as well, idk if (Penzoil) has a 4 stroke option as well, Penzoil is pretty good oil overall...
just picked up a 2006 s40 from my neighbor for 800 dollars. needs a new battery I assume. charge is at 4.00volts. or maybe I just add some distilled water and recharge it? good video.
it is worth a try. if you see any brown color fluid at the bottom inside batter reservoir, you might want to add distilled water and shake and dump a few times. most battery warehouse retaillers will add new clean electrolyte fluid and charge and test for free or very cheap.
I’ve heard that removing the restrictor on the carb makes a world difference on throttle response and power, i’ll be doing that when i pick mine up this weekend
I do not know anything about carb restrictor, I do not find the performance lacking on my s40. the only restriction i am concerned with is air flow from a dirty air filter that may need replacement.
Yep I did that on the S40 I had + rejet the carb & put on an after market slip on muffler. The bike went way better than stock. Better throttle response with more top end + it got upto speed alot quicker. The bike felt restricted & laggy when Inn standard form.
I picked up a new 2018 leftover last month. Great for quick trips where speed isn't an issue.Smooth at 80-100km.I call it my slowrider as it seems like a minibike compared to my Harley (2017 Lowrider) that I bought new in 2019
congratulations! s40 = 385 lbs, harley, 700 lbs. my 2nd bike is a 580 lb 750 honda shadow aero. My arthritis appreciates the lighter bike. my broken tailbone prefers the cushy honda seat. I do like having variety.
@@PhilHewkin My last thumper was back in '84 when I was lucky to get one of the scarce KLR 600's. I loved the kickstart but I must have been the minority because the next year they were electric start
@@mayesfoster4573 I am impressed that you have a Harley and a Suzuki s40. I have met some HARLEY FAITHFUL who have been VERY dismissive of me, and my s40!
@@PhilHewkin Before I got my new job a couple of weeks ago I was driving 140km round trip to work and with the price of gas I figured I could save $50/month if I took a bike once a week and I didn't want to take my Harley as it would be too loud to leave at 5:30 am (Bassani RR3 Greg Lutzka).The s40 is too quiet but I hate the sound of loud singles but a good aftermarket pipe on a v twin,triple or 4cyl is nice when used with consideration of others
Got a 1995 blueish purple, not sure if its a stock color. Great bike, got it from FB Marketplace couple months ago. Any anecdotes on that specific year?
Those ones have a 4 speed gear box, i think. watch for oil leaks, on head especially. repair asap! these engines run low fast with a leak, and your next step is a rebuild if it is run low. The SAVAGE bike shave the best handlebars and most comfortable seats, I think.
Hey man, I love my 2018 purple S40, with almost 13k miles… I added a sissy bar and I replaced the air filter element with a K&N and has a better response without extra fuel consumption, I also changed the shock absorber and replaced with a Harley’s… I am looking for a ventilated brake disc because the original is so noisy, specially when rains and get wet. Thanks for your video, if you know how to do it you should share how to remove the fuel tank and the rear wheel, this is a mess at least for me.
Savages are a great bike! I made the mistake of selling mine, thinking I would be happier with at two cylinder, mega-cruiser .. 1200cc+. Big mistake. Fun bikes like the L40 (aka Savage) are light, torquey, indestructible, and never-worry-about-theft sweethearts. If you have one, please do yourself a favour .. don't sell it, and take loving care of it. Down the road, after you recover from the need to pose with a power bike, especially if you get too old to ride a power bike, you'll look at the 650 Savage with love .. the one you never should have left. I am serious. (That's how special this bike is.)
Thank you, Gerry. Im allready there. i am 1962 vintage, with arthritis. I have never been wealthy, but had the opportunity to ride a few other bikes. the "fast" bike, a gpz 750. it was the model preceding the ninja. I hated it. Most uncomfortable riding position. In CANADA, HD is very overpriced. the Shadow 750 is 560 lbs, which i notice. the ease of operation of the s40 makes it a keeper in my opinion. I got to try a vulcan 650, i admit, i might kill myself with that bike.
Hola, tengo una S-40 2016. Todo muy bien, solamente me resulta muy dura la suspensión trasera, a pesar de tener la graduación en lo más suave. ¿Algún comentario al respecto?
Hey Phil, I am buying a 2009 s40 this week, first bike. Wondering if it’s worth swapping the exhaust tip for a different brand to be more apparent when cruising around. Been reading about having to rejet the carb because of how lean the bike runs. Any take on this? Thanks 👌🏽
Try riding it stock, before you spend money. The l"oud pipes save lives thing" fails to signal your presence to anyone ahead of you on the road, 99% accidents occur in front of motorcyclists. I hate make-work projects involviing fixing things that are not broken, myself.
I bought a 2007 new in 2008. It was left over from the previous season. They had a sigh out front of the dealership that said 80mpg. I bought it not believing them. But pure stock on back roads it got 80+ 50mph and below. I changed the muffler and it backfired like crazy. I was commuting to work on it and found sitting in traffic it would overheat. My drive was part city, part interstate. I found it to be really strung out from 70 to 80 mph on the interstate. I eventually bought a bigger bike, but I still have this bike and still love it. I fixed all these issues with it. After reading hrs of threads on the net, I found a lot of bad info, and some good. Mine is also chain drive now, I changed the ratios 3 times before I found the best combination. Mine has over 30 thousand miles on it now. I would have a lot more than that, but my riding slowed down because I found a job 4 minutes from my house. That's over now, so I'm commuting again. If you did buy the bike and would like some help, I would be happy to let go of some info. Hopefully I could help you save some time and money.
@@nickdb9043 Im an old guy, never thought it would happen to me. When I was younger, hot-rodding and performance mods were what I dreamed about. With all this economic uncertainty, Im less likely to buy any mods. I had my cam chain checked (2021)at 17,000 km, everything was within spec. so my non-repair bill was $500.00 cdn! peace of mind is valuable AND expensive. I try to mostly stay on top of maintenance. It is usually cheaper to keep 'em running good, than repair after neglect. Michael Harris sounds like he has some experience with modification for s40. I also like the fuel economy. Im not insured yet, it could still snow + freeze here. Maybe April. ride safe.
@@PhilHewkin The parts I bought weren't expensive. My cost was in time. With the carb and exhaust mods I lost fuel mileage, but got most of that back with the re-gearing. I'm up in years myself.
nice. This color scheme is my favorite of all the paint Suzuki offers. It looks different color in sun/shade, blue, teal, grey, the RED/WHITE on tank is also very nice.
@@Voltomess I think SUZUKI s40 is a good first bike, yes. it will go 75 mph, but I would not recommend going that fast to a new rider! I would suggest sticking to secondary roads, with less traffic and lower speed to really get use to riding before hitting the hiway. Ride safe!
@@joecamel6835 Check your oil ! -and your fuel petcock. Suzuki has3 settings. fuel/prime/reserve. If your bike was set to prime by accident, it can fill your crank case with gas. If this is the case, drain/change oil/filter. (you do not want to run it with gas/oil in it . Your gas tank may be empty also. reset petcock to fuel. Prime position is only for starting after tank has been drained.
Great video!!! I just purchased a 2017 s40. Where can I buy aftermarket seats and accessories? I just want a trusted site. If you have any input I’d appreciate it. Cheers. I’m located in the us. Thank you for your time
Mine has become a well-grown lady by now :) she was born deep red in 1986 and even though her age is just starting to show, she is still pretty with her 38,000km and 5 previous relationships before me, she will probably stay with me for a while 🙂😍
I would recommend a good inspection with a flashlight and magnifier! Did the seller give you any maintenance history? oil, oil filter, air filter, and look close for oil leaks on the head. Brake pads? If you are not mechanical, and dont want to do it, find a reputable service in your area. -tire pressure! check for cracked tires on tread/sidewalls. Also, check for loose spokes.
Hi! I have this exact color S40, 2014, got it used last year, put a few thousand km's on it, great bike to learn on! I had the battery on a trickler for the winter, installed it and took it for a longer ride last week, no issues. Tried to start it today, not enough juice to turn over:( Is there a way of charging it without taking the battery out? I saw a few other videos with other bikes where they attached the positive end to part of the bike and grounded it on the chassis. Can I do that with this one? MUCH appreciated if you can comment:):):)
Hi, Kathy! -YES! the positive terminal on the battery is on the right side of the bike right side when sitting on it).(or it sure should be) same side as the air filter access. Hook positive to that, and negative to a bolt on the engine. That is how I do it so I do not have to remove the battery to charge it. The frame is painted, so not the best ground. I was riding today, first day back on the road. I did not make any content to upload yet, Tomorrow is the day. I am thinking about what I want to say. I had to get more cards for my gopro today.
I'm looking into getting one of these, would you say that it'd be capable of touring/driving long distances or should I look for something larger? Thinking about going from Vancouver to Bakersfield California. Thanks
The s40 is capable. If you are a young person, even better. I have not done long distance touring on my s40 yet, mostly 60 miles of local roads on a leisurely cruise. My youngest son went from Prince George B.C. to Vancouver B.C. and back, 1000 + miles round trip. He went to Vancouver island as well on that trip. Truthfully, the slightly larger, heavier s50 C50 M50 suzuki might be better if you tour a lot. I have a 2014 Honda shadow aero I took on a 1500 mile (2400 km) ride last year. I would like to try the s40 on a longer tour. My buddy's wife went 2000 miles in one trip on hers a few years back. Her bike is the orange 2014 on one of my vids. She got a 3-wheel bike now,
Hello, I have a Silver one 2018 model. Do you know any crash guard for this, suzuki original crash guard looks very small, any others which are bigger and matches to this please ? Thanks
In CANADA I recommend FORTNINE for a look at what is available. Im not sure what country you ae in, I suspect the supplier I mention will have some examples at least to consider.
Hey Phil! Almost 18000 miles on my 09 s40. Great little city cruiser. I was wondering about the seat on your bike, I'm looking for a good aftermarket seat. Which one is that?
I heard mustang seats were good. Im still using the stock seat. sometimes I use one of those camo seat cushions you can get for hunting, it is an inexpensive solution. Im too chep to but the aftermarket seats, they are overpriced in my opinion. I have over 17,000 km on my s40, The forest fires here in B.C. are keeping me close to home.
I have a 2019 Suzuki S40 Boulevard 650 currently once my bike gets running I notice white smoke coming of my exhaust pipe right with the oil level is checked so I want to check my coolant level so I can see if I have blown head gasket but I don't know where the coolant reservoir is located or where to check the coolant level? If you can help me that would be much appreciated
s40 is an air cooled engine. the white smoke is most likely over filled crankcase oil, or could be condensation from cooling. i would check oil level on level ground. a little over filled is not a big deal, but too much or not enough is bad. make sure you are using a 4stroke motorcycle oil for wet clutch.
My bike doesn’t accelerate nearly as strong as it used to. Takes a bit to get to even 50mph. My last mechanic visit, he mentioned I need a new air filter. Could this be my issue ?
I would hazard a guess that a new air filter would help, it sure cant hurt! There are usually a few options. I bought the factory replacement once, cost under $20.oo next time I bought the overpriced high-performance option, $37.oo! The maintenance schedule suggests air filter replacement at 5000 to 8000 km, or, 3000 to 5000 miles. depends upon where you ride. country roads (gravel) cause filters to clog quicker. Also, if the city street sweeper is negligent, same. spark plug should be changed every 10-15000 miles, i recommend adding 1/8 can of seafoam to full tank of gas every spring/fall and following extended wet season (rain)
Good day buddy I from Trinidad and Tobago I bought a suzuki s40 2004 with 12750 miles in Florida 2022 i have a lot of smoke blue and white when I start i need some help please thanks
it is normal to get some smoke starting with the choke on. I would recommend talking with a motorcycle tech to confirm this, to make sure tere is nothing unusual going on with your bike.
installed battery of my 2001 silver savage but cant figure out where a piece goes because it was a stupid friend who took it out lol and. ant remember where two pieces go
I know the pieces you mean. I have not made a video about that, but I probably should. There are a few install battery / battery change s40 vids, search those and watch carefully. be careful not to lose any parts! I lost a bolt, they are JAPAN size METRIC Thread pain-in-the-butt- to replace!
Have you had any issues with the belt squeaking at the recommended belt tension? I read online that most people recommend loosening it enough that it gets a quarter turn but I did that and it still squeaks. I've just been soaping the belt to get a few days of quiet.
I SURE DID, JASPER! Holy cow. When my bike was new, My first belt drive, I admit I knew nothing about drive belts. I pressure-washed the teeth, the spools, that helped a bit. I scrubbed the teeth with a bronze brush. Temporary fix. Finally I took it back to the dealer and they set it up right. They seemed pissy because i waited so long to bring it in. They fixt it finally. Now my bike squeaks if I leave it in the rain or ride in the rain. It is due for adjustment once more. The bike comes with an odd looking brass tensioner. There is vids about how to use them. I know how to do it, but have not done so yet. I will make a vid when I do. My bike is put up for winter now, wont be till spring.
I have the stock handlebars, they measure 1inch. the windshield brand is MEMPHIS SHADES 11x17 tint= blue. they have color tints, if you prefer. I got mine in CANADA at fortnine, about $165 with mounting hardware. Maybe prices went up, due to inflation? i use soapy cotton cloth (dishsoap) to clean, also, plexus for the clearest view.
Any info on replacing ignition switch with a universal? I've got a 4 pin 5 wire hookup but three prong universal and only the BAT lead is labeled. Doesn't have positions on face of ignition either. Bought manual but can't figure out which cables go where on new switxh
I cant watch it with sound at the moment. I also have s40 which position should the petcock be on?and should you change position on it from time to time?
PET COCK should be straight up and down position. ONLY use RES (reserve) if you run out of gas ! (you can switch to reserve from running fuel position when bike sputters while riding with practice, if you pay attention to your mileage when you fuel up, the run-out stall is very predictable) ONLY use prime to get fuel to carb quickly. as when you run bike completely out of gas, then fuel up. Be very careful not to leave petcock on prime position. It will fill your engine with gas, potentially causing damage to your engine.
that is not normal. How does your air filter look? clean or dirty? Also- never leave your petcock on PRIME position, that is only for getting fuel to the carb after running out of gas. If left on, it can fill your engine with gasoline which will thin your oil out and cause premature engine wear. check your oil-level site glass and make certain your engine is not overfull. If it is, change oil/filter, asap. 2.2 litres metric motorcycle oil.
@@PhilHewkin Thank you for the prompt response Phil! The air filter looks a bit dusty, not too much. But it seems to be wet because of the gas. I always keep the petcock in the ON position, except couple times when I run out of gas. Then I put it in RES till I got to the nearest gas station. Put to ON right away. I checked the oil level - your are right, it is overfull.
@@innarosales3947 I suspect maybe you put it on PRIME instead of RES, Change your oil-filter as soon as possible. My son made this mistake with his 2000 savage, (same bike) He had to rebuild the engine. The oil is too thin from gas, and excess wear results from running like this. check the petcock carefully, whenever changing settings. I have to use reading glasses when I do it to avoid setting it wrong.
@@PhilHewkin We ended up fixing the issue at the dealership, as we are the beginners and do not understand too much (yet). So, the float needle was replaced, the float adjusted, carburetor cleaned, o-ring changed, oil and filter replaced.
I am using amsoil synthetic 10 W 30 metric right now in my S40. So far, no issues. 3000 kms on this weight. I bet it is NOT recommended.It almost never hits 40 degrees here!
I just picked up a black 2006 Boulevard with just over 2k mi for free. Previous owner rarely rode it and was sad that they couldn't give it the love and attention it deserved. It just sat for the last 10 years untouched and unloved. They were just happy that someone wanted to put the time and effort in to get it back into the wind. I just came along at the right time.
a windfall! hard to beat FREE .
I just bought a 2017 s40 with only 400 miles! Black and chrome makes this thing amazing
nice!
Thanks, Phil, needed that info as I just collected a new-to-me 2007 pearl-white S40, last Saturday, with 45000 kms on the clock and no owner's manual. Man, the difference in power from my Honda 150cc starter bike was shocking (in a good way). Rode it 65kms back home on a 110 km/h motorways (NZ) and it roared up the road like a charging bull! It was fantastic. Love this bike.
Enjoy your thumper! -beware oil leaks. these engines are strong, but they can not withstand low oil operation.
A few other things to add as part of periodic maintenance:
Lube all pivot points and cables.
Check battery terminals for tightness.
Check various bolts for tightness.
Do as many of these checks as you can with the tools on the bike, and add the missing tools.
Remove (or reposition against the valve cap) the tyre valve stem nut so if the tyre turns on the rim you'll see it, and it won't rip the valve out the tube.
Run a spanner over the spokes and listen for loose ones.
Move the rims side to side to inspect wheel bearings.
Tools on the bike??? Please elaborate!
@@ColinKlippenstein-qj1zu why 3 question marks??? Do the work with the tools you already carry on the bike, not with the workshop/garage toolbox, otherwise you’ll find out a tool is missing etc when it matters the most and have no convince of rummage for it through many tool boxes/draws, makes sense???
You have a tool storage on your Suzuki s40? I was under the impression there was no space for stuff like that on this bike so if there's a tool stash on it to that is news to me!
@@ColinKlippenstein-qj1zu Replaced the s40 long ago with a thunderbird 1700 commander and wide glide evo as my 1st full size cruisers but from memory it had a small inadequate tool pouch storage I think, but that’s irrelevant as I never travel without tools - in my luggage, camelback, strapped to the bike in a plastic tool-tube or in a purpose made heavy duty bum bag when enduro/adv riding. Short trips, trials competition and mx I don’t bother with tools of course but otherwise yes, at least basic tools that I’m familiar using for maintenance on each particular bike, and I have over dozen
Driven many bikes but now @ 70, love my white 05 s40!!! enjoy adding to the new old bike.
hope I can ride when I am 70! -10 more years...
1996 Savage love it. I’ve had all the crotch rockets and Harleys, but I really like this bike it’s just nice simple straight forward to work on.
Wouldn't it be great, if other things were as uncomplicated and straight forward on other products? I would buy a vehicle with no computers and hand crank windows!
Wouldn't it be great, if other things were as uncomplicated and straight forward on other products? I would buy a vehicle with no computers and hand crank windows!
I did an oil change to a 2019 Kawasaki ZX-6R not so long ago using AMSOIL! One of the best out there!
Just bought a brand new 2018 leftover s40 in purple. It’s an awesome first bike for me. I’m 5’7” and 135 pounds, so not too big. It’s fast enough for highways and light enough for city corners. I’ve had it for 4 days and I’m already at 1000 miles!!
Awesome! I have a different 2nd bike, and I get to re-experience how the s40 is a great, easy handling bike. I almost bought another s40 for my 2nd bike!
Phil, thank you so much for your informative videos! I recently bought a 2008 metallic silver S40 and absolutely love it. I wish more manufacturers would make bikes like this. More brands should look into making motorcycles the way they used to be, simple and affordable.
VERY NICE. I agree. Not everyone wants to or, can afford to spend 10--20 k on a bike. I really like how manageable s40's are. I can duck walk reverse/park my s40 easily and safely. We are having a cool 50 degrees spring here, I am hoping it will warm up soon, so i can plate my bike and ride.
Keep an eye out for the new Royal Enfield Meteor; it's a 350cc single cylinder and should be quite torquey
@@sausagedogz will look for it online.
@@sausagedogz Honda has a single cylinder called CB350 H'ness, but as far as I know, it's not available in North America.
@@PhilHewkin Which brake fluid do you recommend for the S40?
That is one clean bike my dude! I went out yesterday and bought that same one, a 2012 version just over 9k miles, with same color combo as yours, I fell in love with that combo, altho the case has apparently never been cleaned or maintained, so I need to find a way to bring back the nice finish, I don't mind the work at all, it's one of my favorite things to work on my bikes. Only one regret so far, it's WAY too loud, weird to say, but the pipe the guy put on it, seems like a straight pipe extension, sans baffling, with a nice slant cut exhaust, but I noticed he didn't remove the old hardware for the stock pipe, and the new pipe interferes with the rear brake cable, so that's a priority fix. It's sounds incredible, but I'm not out to annoy my neighbors, we have a 25 year long peaceful respect for each other, and I intend to maintain my part of that. I love loud pipes, but this one has to go eventually :(
Hi, Jay , and, thanks for the note. These bikes really are great looking. Mine still sports stock, unmolested exhaust. I really like how quiet it is. I was riding around last night with no ear plugs in, putting around town. I was talking with friends, and bike was running. I shut it off only to be polite, not out of necessity. Loud pipes cause headaches for ME!
If you can get your hands on PLEXUS it will make your paint, chrome, and polished aluminum SPARKLE. It is expensive but it works great. I do not get any commission for recommending it, It makes ME very happy to have a clean and shiny bike. RIDE SAFE Jay.
Got me a 2011 S40, same colors. 10,500 miles. Gots a ton of low end torque, lovin' it. Indiana, USA. NIce bike to get back into riding after about 25 years off of one.
agreed! -welcome back to riding. Ride safe, have fun.
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 monocylinder. 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 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....
I am a big fan of the mechanical simplicity of the suzuki s40 as well. I like to say; "if my gravity-feed fuel system ever fails, we have much bigger problems" my arthritic joints also love the suzuki s40! - you are right. oil level and regular maintenance spells reliable.
2015 Dark Steel Blue. Barn find with 525 miles two months ago. I love it once I cleaned the carb, purged the fuel tank and did a thorough general cleaning and polish now looks and runs new again. People that own this bikes get it's appeal. Most critical people have never owned or ridden one. You like the S40 or you don't. I don't think there is an in-between. But owners, now I am one, love them. Going to keep her until I can't ride anymore.
I find that SEAFOAM in the gas helps keep the petcock/carb all functioning flawlessly. I use it as a fuel stabilizer over the winter. I sure like mine. Your bike is due for it's first oil change at 1000 km or 600 miles. I use AMSOIL metric 10/40.
Just bought a 2006 650 boulevard with 7713 miles on it
Mine is red,
Nice bike
Thx for the informative cideo
I have the same Savage 650 1998 since 2002... 185 thousand kilometers through Brazil and the south of South America...
Wow! Still runs fine, I hope.
I got a 2004 red s40, and it is the love of my life, i want to keep it with me as long as i can
nice. finally nice riding weather here.
2018 Suzuki boulevard s40( Grey tank/ black seat/ chrome accents). Informative vid. 👍🏽
just bought a 2014 black and orange sk40 im loving it so far
nice. snowed a bit here today.
Thank you so much!!! This is so helpful!!! I have a 'fox orange and sparkling Black' 2014 s40 with 2,852 KM (I've only put roughly 900 km on it though just practicing). I live in Ontario! I've been having to teach myself mostly but it really helps to have someone who speaks straightforward with a visual follow-up! I'm really interested in exploring different types of bags I can put on the bike because I go camping alot. This is such a helpful heap of information!!!! I appreciate your taking the time very much 😊😁
I picked up a soft removable saddle bag, it is expandable for increased room, I like it because it will strap on to either of my bikes easily, and if I go on a longer trip where I get a motel room or camp, or stay at someone's house, I can bring it in so nobody can snoop or steal my stuff. I saw a VIKING bag setup on an s40 youtube vid, they were a very nice shape and fit, kind of pointed at the bottom, at the back, but they had to relocate the turn signals to make it work. The detachable soft bag I have does not interfere with my rear signal lights, and i could still have a passenger! I rarely have a passenger. I have them for 2-3 years, never used them yet. I made a vid showing them off a couple years back. Mine were about $200 cdn. My buddy's wife has an s40 same paint as yours, I hope you got a good deal!
@@PhilHewkin Hi Phil! I wanted to ask how you charge your battery? Do you have a portable trickle charger or do you take your battery out of your bike and charge it in your house? I just moved my bike To my new house and there is no outlets in the garage. 😭
@@FroggiesAnonymous I have a charger I bought at Princess auto, it is 2,12, and 15 amp for jump starting. The 2amp is right for motorcycle batteries. My battery was low this spring, one cell was almost dry. I thought it was toast. I took it to a battery place, they added new electrolyte fluid, and it took a near-full charge again. I thought I would have to replace it, they charged me only $10! So,. So far, so good. Manufacturer recommends topping up battery fluid levels once a month with distilled water. I have been checking about every 3 months. I am using the original battery still, my bike is 2014. I am happy it lasted this long. I recommend talking it to a battery place to get them to service and test your battery at the beginning of riding season. I do not use a trickle charger over winter, I usually start and warm up the bike several times when there are warm spells. I am not the most consistent, at battery winter maintenance, I do more than some who do nothing, and it seems to pan out well. I have a 2008 atv, still running original battery, and it tests strong. You can get a multi meter for about $10 which makes assessing battery strength simple. they should show 12.5-13 volts. Less means check fluid level, add as needed, and charge. watch out for brownish-yellow accumulation in bottom of battery. This is a sign of old age, but with a infusion of new electrolyte, new life can be added to a failing battery.
Hi Phil,I'm the guy that also has a Honda Aero 750 and a 2006 S40 Boulevard. Mine is a beautiful black with 7000 miles on it. It runs perfectly. Silent stock exhaust and great low rpm torque allow me to leave cars in the dust effortlessly from stoplights. Such a narrow,nimble motorcycle and great handling. It is so much fun. Love my Aero 750 Honda too. Thanks and happy riding.
Happy Riding Anton.
I got a 2006 red one with 10,000 miles on it. Great bike. I went to do an oil change and found out that the filters were on sale for $.03 each, I got all they had and the guy at the parts store paid for them. That's an awesome veterans' discount.
WOW that is a bargain. best deal i ever got was $8 cdn each, 10 yrs ago.
Great vid I got myself a 2013 colour orange with just over 50000km on her still running like new never missis a beat :)
Thank You. Happy riding! -fox orange with black panels. nice.
Excellent tips! Thanks for uploading. 1986 Black S40.
welcome.
Got the a 2012 but the same color as yours. Its my first bike and it started with 3500 miles but I already got it up to 6000 in 6 weeks of owning it. Plan to ride it well this year and the start of the next riding season doing a complete maintenance for every part of the bike + some modifications
Very nice. So far, my only mod is a windshield.
Great video thank you!! I have a white 2016 with 15k on the clock so far. Loving it.
thank you, Nykoal.
About to pick up a 97 savage with 6k miles on it been parked 12 years under a cover in a clean garage looks gorgeous looks just as clean as the 2014 in this video shocking I’m excited I used to have a z125 and have been dying for a bike picking up the 97 to see if I really want to invest in something bigger because my dream is a chief sport chief
I think you will like your savage. may need new tires ? The savage is a great value choice, regular gas is what they run on. ride safe !
Watch out for the timingchain tensioner!
Bought a 2009 S40 with 4000kms on it, clean bike. Starting to ride it now
nice. What color?
@@PhilHewkin all black
Just bought a 2015 with only 3700 km on it for my wife. Great bike
Just got a 2014 with 7860 k's. It came kitted with screen, digital speedo on the barrs so you don't have to look down, top box wired for stop and blinkers, extra set of blinkers on handle bars, camera and a charging system and an extra one for the peon. Drive's really well lots of torque. There should be a world wide club for a bike thats lasted longer than most marriages. Only issue that bugs me is too much vibration from the bars, suggestions?
I notice some vibration, but I find if I run in fifth gear at higher speeds, vibration is much less than in 4 th gear at hiway speeds. I have good riding gloves, helps also. Best torque is at lower rpm with the s40, I like to downshift for quick acceleration situations on the hiway, What color is your s40? Likely stock original tires on your bike with low k's like that. What was done with the factory tank speedometer, is it still on the bike, or did they remove it and put a cover plate?
2009 with 8000 miles (just put 500 on this month) Pink with white trim
Nice! is that a repaint?
am here from the "doodle on a motorcycle" channel. nice bike you got there, and very helpful tips for beginners!
Thank you. I knew doodle when she had an 06 white s40 she named "Charlie" - i just put insurance on my bike today, it is too cold to ride today, I am hoping for warmer weather. it is 5c/22f. brr
yeah for sure it will warm up soon. thanks again for all the useful information in your videos. have a nice day and be safe. cheers
@@awesmax8010 cheers
Nice video. Mines a 2006 s40 in candy apple red with 6500 miles on it
Thank you. Low mileage! I hope we get a good riding season, we have too much snow and ice here, maybe in a few weeks.
@@PhilHewkin im in kansas city here. We just came out of our s ow and ice. Had a couple days of 70 degree weather and i put about a hundred miles on the bike. Wore me out like riding a horse when you're not used to it. Where are you located
@@ricksiegel8017 I am in Prince George B.C. CANADA (the frozen North) We wont see 70 degrees till June, maybe! We had 42 degrees today! I have to get my motorbike legs back every year, I start out slow. They might get the gravel from winter off the roads in 3-4 weeks. If it gets warm enough to ride, before then It can be treacherous. Snowmobilers here are still heading into the mountains till the end of march.
Just picked up a 2007 with just under 9k miles. picked it up for $2100.
I'm the 3rd owner but first owner never rode it. last owner had it for 9 years. comes with windshield and saddle bags, cream white.... absolutely love it os far. My first real bike :)
nice. I ope the tires are good, I replaceed mine at 11,000 km. Too cold still to ride here yet. maybe nxt week.....
@@PhilHewkin tires are next. I think they are original and that means they need to be replaced 😂. Probably safe for another few thousand more miles tho. Just long enough to wait a few to buy
Hi...
thanks alot super useful information I just bought Red one the same year and model it was 55M 2days ago now it's 60M and I will go and buy some oil right now this is whey it's not smooth I will change it with the filter thanks sir ..
I like the red color Suzuki chose. A very nice shade.
Has a Silver 2008 S 40 Boulevard doing 2801 Kms. It's my "Around the Town". My Long Distance Bike is a Silver M109.
Nice. I could have bought a 2011 m109 for 3800.oo cdn, I knew it was a bargain, it was red, I decided against it because it was a large heavy bike and i have arthritis in my feet ankle knees etc. ALSO i was afraid i would kill myself on it because, such a powerful bike.
I have a 2012 and I run 93 fuel and it runs so much better than any other gas in it. I also made it a bobber btw
I can not tell the difference in performance from regular to premium with my s40, except I have more money for a hamburger with regular !
Mine is a 98 savage, color red candy yow with 76.000 km. Cheers from Brasil 🇧🇷
cool, red candy yow!
I have a 2004 in purple with 4,700 miles. Hard to believe I bought it off the showroom floor 18 years ago!
True. bought mine from asuzuki dealership in 2015, it was previous years stock.Im on 2ndset of tires, 2nd battery allready. 17000 kliometers. on it now. time flies.
@@PhilHewkin in 2014 mine developed the head plug leak. I tore it apart and fixed it. Just put it together two weeks ago. Not sure why I waited 8 years for 45 minutes of work. Put 20 miles on today, and no leak. Yay!
Excellent video. The correct spark plug for the S40 (LS650 savage) is DPR8EA-9. Check the NGK spark plugs catalog. Best regards.
thank you.
I have a 09 black s40 with 47,000 miles runs great
nice!
My Bike is fox metallic orange and black. I have 600 miles on it 2011 model.
WOW ! low miles. NICE.
i owned bunch of bike before and i figured smaller bike is more fun for me ! love my 2003 !
Yours is a SAVAGE then? I lie that bit of riding wisdom "is it more fun to go slow on a big bike, or fast on a small bike?
@@PhilHewkin I got savage 650 . I like it’s a smaller and little, fun bike
Great overview and some great info as always! 👍🏼
thank you. Do you have experience with any other brand name oil products for motorbikes? So far, I have tried only AMSOIL and HONDA.
PhilHewkin try Redline Oil: www.redlineoil.com/10w40-motorcycle-oil
It’s pretty good, a little expensive as well, idk if (Penzoil) has a 4 stroke option as well, Penzoil is pretty good oil overall...
I really apreicate this i just bough a 2005 cream white s40 and i loved it but sadly my piston rings are toast
That is unfortunate. Will you repair it? (I bet oil leakage or infrequent oil change caused that)
just picked up a 2006 s40 from my neighbor for 800 dollars. needs a new battery I assume. charge is at 4.00volts. or maybe I just add some distilled water and recharge it? good video.
it is worth a try. if you see any brown color fluid at the bottom inside batter reservoir, you might want to add distilled water and shake and dump a few times. most battery warehouse retaillers will add new clean electrolyte fluid and charge and test for free or very cheap.
I’ve heard that removing the restrictor on the carb makes a world difference on throttle response and power, i’ll be doing that when i pick mine up this weekend
I do not know anything about carb restrictor, I do not find the performance lacking on my s40. the only restriction i am concerned with is air flow from a dirty air filter that may need replacement.
Yep I did that on the S40 I had + rejet the carb & put on an after market slip on muffler.
The bike went way better than stock.
Better throttle response with more top end + it got upto speed alot quicker.
The bike felt restricted & laggy when Inn standard form.
I picked up a new 2018 leftover last month. Great for quick trips where speed isn't an issue.Smooth at 80-100km.I call it my slowrider as it seems like a minibike compared to my Harley (2017 Lowrider) that I bought new in 2019
congratulations! s40 = 385 lbs, harley, 700 lbs. my 2nd bike is a 580 lb 750 honda shadow aero. My arthritis appreciates the lighter bike. my broken tailbone prefers the cushy honda seat. I do like having variety.
@@PhilHewkin My last thumper was back in '84 when I was lucky to get one of the scarce KLR 600's. I loved the kickstart but I must have been the minority because the next year they were electric start
@@mayesfoster4573 I am impressed that you have a Harley and a Suzuki s40. I have met some HARLEY FAITHFUL who have been VERY dismissive of me, and my s40!
@@PhilHewkin Before I got my new job a couple of weeks ago I was driving 140km round trip to work and with the price of gas I figured I could save $50/month if I took a bike once a week and I didn't want to take my Harley as it would be too loud to leave at 5:30 am (Bassani RR3 Greg Lutzka).The s40 is too quiet but I hate the sound of loud singles but a good aftermarket pipe on a v twin,triple or 4cyl is nice when used with consideration of others
@@mayesfoster4573 im not a fan of loud, because im old! (tinnitis) -Happy riding Mr Mayes
Got a 1995 blueish purple, not sure if its a stock color. Great bike, got it from FB Marketplace couple months ago. Any anecdotes on that specific year?
Those ones have a 4 speed gear box, i think. watch for oil leaks, on head especially. repair asap! these engines run low fast with a leak, and your next step is a rebuild if it is run low. The SAVAGE bike shave the best handlebars and most comfortable seats, I think.
Good basic guide for new rider's, gg!
💥 S 💨 A 💨 V 💨 A 💨 G 💨 E 💥☮️
Best wishes from Germany!🤞🏻 🕊☮️
Hey man, I love my 2018 purple S40, with almost 13k miles… I added a sissy bar and I replaced the air filter element with a K&N and has a better response without extra fuel consumption, I also changed the shock absorber and replaced with a Harley’s… I am looking for a ventilated brake disc because the original is so noisy, specially when rains and get wet.
Thanks for your video, if you know how to do it you should share how to remove the fuel tank and the rear wheel, this is a mess at least for me.
Since you mentioned adding a sissy bar, how is your two-up experience? Comfortable for the passenger? Power for the bike?
Savages are a great bike! I made the mistake of selling mine, thinking I would be happier with at two cylinder, mega-cruiser .. 1200cc+. Big mistake. Fun bikes like the L40 (aka Savage) are light, torquey, indestructible, and never-worry-about-theft sweethearts. If you have one, please do yourself a favour .. don't sell it, and take loving care of it. Down the road, after you recover from the need to pose with a power bike, especially if you get too old to ride a power bike, you'll look at the 650 Savage with love .. the one you never should have left. I am serious. (That's how special this bike is.)
Thank you, Gerry. Im allready there. i am 1962 vintage, with arthritis. I have never been wealthy, but had the opportunity to ride a few other bikes. the "fast" bike, a gpz 750. it was the model preceding the ninja. I hated it. Most uncomfortable riding position. In CANADA, HD is very overpriced. the Shadow 750 is 560 lbs, which i notice. the ease of operation of the s40 makes it a keeper in my opinion. I got to try a vulcan 650, i admit, i might kill myself with that bike.
Hola, tengo una S-40 2016. Todo muy bien, solamente me resulta muy dura la suspensión trasera, a pesar de tener la graduación en lo más suave. ¿Algún comentario al respecto?
Hi ISABEL. English?
Mine is a 2014 with 2000 miles one owner color is coral and black
nice, low mileage! First oil change should be at 1000 miles.
Nice information, nice shirt also mate. Haha.
Just bought a white 2005 with 6k miles on it 🙂
LOW km's! Very nice. I plan to plate mine tomorrow. That will GUARANTEE a snow-storm, for sure!
Hey Phil, I am buying a 2009 s40 this week, first bike. Wondering if it’s worth swapping the exhaust tip for a different brand to be more apparent when cruising around. Been reading about having to rejet the carb because of how lean the bike runs. Any take on this? Thanks 👌🏽
Try riding it stock, before you spend money. The l"oud pipes save lives thing" fails to signal your presence to anyone ahead of you on the road, 99% accidents occur in front of motorcyclists. I hate make-work projects involviing fixing things that are not broken, myself.
@@PhilHewkin totally understandable, thanks for the input
I bought a 2007 new in 2008. It was left over from the previous season. They had a sigh out front of the dealership that said 80mpg. I bought it not believing them. But pure stock on back roads it got 80+ 50mph and below. I changed the muffler and it backfired like crazy. I was commuting to work on it and found sitting in traffic it would overheat. My drive was part city, part interstate. I found it to be really strung out from 70 to 80 mph on the interstate. I eventually bought a bigger bike, but I still have this bike and still love it. I fixed all these issues with it. After reading hrs of threads on the net, I found a lot of bad info, and some good. Mine is also chain drive now, I changed the ratios 3 times before I found the best combination. Mine has over 30 thousand miles on it now. I would have a lot more than that, but my riding slowed down because I found a job 4 minutes from my house. That's over now, so I'm commuting again. If you did buy the bike and would like some help, I would be happy to let go of some info. Hopefully I could help you save some time and money.
@@nickdb9043 Im an old guy, never thought it would happen to me. When I was younger, hot-rodding and performance mods were what I dreamed about. With all this economic uncertainty, Im less likely to buy any mods. I had my cam chain checked (2021)at 17,000 km, everything was within spec. so my non-repair bill was $500.00 cdn! peace of mind is valuable AND expensive. I try to mostly stay on top of maintenance. It is usually cheaper to keep 'em running good, than repair after neglect. Michael Harris sounds like he has some experience with modification for s40. I also like the fuel economy. Im not insured yet, it could still snow + freeze here. Maybe April. ride safe.
@@PhilHewkin The parts I bought weren't expensive. My cost was in time. With the carb and exhaust mods I lost fuel mileage, but got most of that back with the re-gearing. I'm up in years myself.
Mines 2012 same color! Almost 5,000 miles on it(:
nice. This color scheme is my favorite of all the paint Suzuki offers. It looks different color in sun/shade, blue, teal, grey, the RED/WHITE on tank is also very nice.
do you recommend this bike as first motorcycle? does he go on hwy 75mph? or its too much for him?
@@Voltomess I think SUZUKI s40 is a good first bike, yes. it will go 75 mph, but I would not recommend going that fast to a new rider! I would suggest sticking to secondary roads, with less traffic and lower speed to really get use to riding before hitting the hiway. Ride safe!
Got a teal color 2003 yesterday only 3900 miles ...Savage
i bet it looks great in TEAL color. I wonder if it is a factory color?
@@PhilHewkin It is the factory color . Sadly now it won't start , carb problem maybe.
@@joecamel6835 Check your oil ! -and your fuel petcock. Suzuki has3 settings. fuel/prime/reserve. If your bike was set to prime by accident, it can fill your crank case with gas. If this is the case, drain/change oil/filter. (you do not want to run it with gas/oil in it . Your gas tank may be empty also. reset petcock to fuel. Prime position is only for starting after tank has been drained.
Great video!!! I just purchased a 2017 s40. Where can I buy aftermarket seats and accessories? I just want a trusted site. If you have any input I’d appreciate it. Cheers. I’m located in the us. Thank you for your time
I order from FORTNINE in Canada, (Im Canadian) I hope a subscriber can recommend a good USA retailer for you. I bet you gt a better price in the USA!
Mine has become a well-grown lady by now :) she was born deep red in 1986 and even though her age is just starting to show, she is still pretty with her 38,000km and 5 previous relationships before me, she will probably stay with me for a while 🙂😍
they run a long time with a bit of tlc, oil/filter+ air filter proper tire pressure.
2018 Silver S40
NICE!
Tomorrow, I am buying a yellow 1996 Suzuki ls650 for $1,600 with 70k miles on it. Hope it serves me well. Open to suggestions.
I would recommend a good inspection with a flashlight and magnifier! Did the seller give you any maintenance history? oil, oil filter, air filter, and look close for oil leaks on the head. Brake pads? If you are not mechanical, and dont want to do it, find a reputable service in your area. -tire pressure! check for cracked tires on tread/sidewalls. Also, check for loose spokes.
Check the chain tensioner, very important!
I have a 96 savage ls650 with 680 miles and a 2001 savage Ls 650 with 7100miles
Nice! The older bike. = speed trans, does it make much difference in performance?
I just acquired a 2013 S40 identical to your’s with 1500 miles on it.
Do you follow the Suzuki published procedure for checking the oil level?
I believe so. level ground, holding bike straight up and down, not leaning on stand, 1/2 way up on oil sight window. a tad more hurts nothing.
Well, I bought 2012 Suzuki Boulevard S40 with 2523 miles orange color, paid $2000 yesterday
a bargain!
Hi! I have this exact color S40, 2014, got it used last year, put a few thousand km's on it, great bike to learn on! I had the battery on a trickler for the winter, installed it and took it for a longer ride last week, no issues. Tried to start it today, not enough juice to turn over:( Is there a way of charging it without taking the battery out? I saw a few other videos with other bikes where they attached the positive end to part of the bike and grounded it on the chassis. Can I do that with this one? MUCH appreciated if you can comment:):):)
Hi, Kathy! -YES! the positive terminal on the battery is on the right side of the bike right side when sitting on it).(or it sure should be) same side as the air filter access. Hook positive to that, and negative to a bolt on the engine. That is how I do it so I do not have to remove the battery to charge it. The frame is painted, so not the best ground. I was riding today, first day back on the road. I did not make any content to upload yet, Tomorrow is the day. I am thinking about what I want to say. I had to get more cards for my gopro today.
I'm looking into getting one of these, would you say that it'd be capable of touring/driving long distances or should I look for something larger? Thinking about going from Vancouver to Bakersfield California. Thanks
The s40 is capable. If you are a young person, even better. I have not done long distance touring on my s40 yet, mostly 60 miles of local roads on a leisurely cruise. My youngest son went from Prince George B.C. to Vancouver B.C. and back, 1000 + miles round trip. He went to Vancouver island as well on that trip. Truthfully, the slightly larger, heavier s50 C50 M50 suzuki might be better if you tour a lot. I have a 2014 Honda shadow aero I took on a 1500 mile (2400 km) ride last year. I would like to try the s40 on a longer tour. My buddy's wife went 2000 miles in one trip on hers a few years back. Her bike is the orange 2014 on one of my vids. She got a 3-wheel bike now,
2001 Savage, blue
nice, how many miles on it?
Hello, I have a Silver one 2018 model. Do you know any crash guard for this, suzuki original crash guard looks very small, any others which are bigger and matches to this please ? Thanks
In CANADA I recommend FORTNINE for a look at what is available. Im not sure what country you ae in, I suspect the supplier I mention will have some examples at least to consider.
Mines a 2011 same color as yours! :P
dang! nice bike man! oooo!
Thank you!
no problem!
Hey Phil! Almost 18000 miles on my 09 s40. Great little city cruiser. I was wondering about the seat on your bike, I'm looking for a good aftermarket seat. Which one is that?
I heard mustang seats were good. Im still using the stock seat. sometimes I use one of those camo seat cushions you can get for hunting, it is an inexpensive solution. Im too chep to but the aftermarket seats, they are overpriced in my opinion. I have over 17,000 km on my s40, The forest fires here in B.C. are keeping me close to home.
I have a 2019 Suzuki S40 Boulevard 650 currently once my bike gets running I notice white smoke coming of my exhaust pipe right with the oil level is checked so I want to check my coolant level so I can see if I have blown head gasket but I don't know where the coolant reservoir is located or where to check the coolant level? If you can help me that would be much appreciated
s40 is an air cooled engine. the white smoke is most likely over filled crankcase oil, or could be condensation from cooling. i would check oil level on level ground. a little over filled is not a big deal, but too much or not enough is bad. make sure you are using a 4stroke motorcycle oil for wet clutch.
the battery box is also a tool box 🙋♂️
1:34 Hot day huh?
was too.
My bike doesn’t accelerate nearly as strong as it used to. Takes a bit to get to even 50mph. My last mechanic visit, he mentioned I need a new air filter. Could this be my issue ?
I would hazard a guess that a new air filter would help, it sure cant hurt! There are usually a few options. I bought the factory replacement once, cost under $20.oo next time I bought the overpriced high-performance option, $37.oo! The maintenance schedule suggests air filter replacement at 5000 to 8000 km, or, 3000 to 5000 miles. depends upon where you ride. country roads (gravel) cause filters to clog quicker. Also, if the city street sweeper is negligent, same. spark plug should be changed every 10-15000 miles, i recommend adding 1/8 can of seafoam to full tank of gas every spring/fall and following extended wet season (rain)
Good day buddy I from Trinidad and Tobago I bought a suzuki s40 2004 with 12750 miles in Florida 2022 i have a lot of smoke blue and white when I start i need some help please thanks
it is normal to get some smoke starting with the choke on. I would recommend talking with a motorcycle tech to confirm this, to make sure tere is nothing unusual going on with your bike.
installed battery of my 2001 silver savage but cant figure out where a piece goes because it was a stupid friend who took it out lol and. ant remember where two pieces go
I know the pieces you mean. I have not made a video about that, but I probably should. There are a few install battery / battery change s40 vids, search those and watch carefully. be careful not to lose any parts! I lost a bolt, they are JAPAN size METRIC Thread pain-in-the-butt- to replace!
2008 black 14250 kms 🤙🤙
Have you had any issues with the belt squeaking at the recommended belt tension? I read online that most people recommend loosening it enough that it gets a quarter turn but I did that and it still squeaks. I've just been soaping the belt to get a few days of quiet.
I SURE DID, JASPER! Holy cow. When my bike was new, My first belt drive, I admit I knew nothing about drive belts. I pressure-washed the teeth, the spools, that helped a bit. I scrubbed the teeth with a bronze brush. Temporary fix. Finally I took it back to the dealer and they set it up right. They seemed pissy because i waited so long to bring it in. They fixt it finally. Now my bike squeaks if I leave it in the rain or ride in the rain. It is due for adjustment once more. The bike comes with an odd looking brass tensioner. There is vids about how to use them. I know how to do it, but have not done so yet. I will make a vid when I do. My bike is put up for winter now, wont be till spring.
Did you get that windshield for the 1 inch diameter handlebars? I need to get one and I have the exact bike.
I have the stock handlebars, they measure 1inch. the windshield brand is MEMPHIS SHADES 11x17 tint= blue. they have color tints, if you prefer. I got mine in CANADA at fortnine, about $165 with mounting hardware. Maybe prices went up, due to inflation? i use soapy cotton cloth (dishsoap) to clean, also, plexus for the clearest view.
Any info on replacing ignition switch with a universal? I've got a 4 pin 5 wire hookup but three prong universal and only the BAT lead is labeled. Doesn't have positions on face of ignition either. Bought manual but can't figure out which cables go where on new switxh
wiring electrical is beyond my scope. Maybe someone will respond with help, sorry I just do not know.
@@PhilHewkin thank you much anyhow
I cant watch it with sound at the moment. I also have s40 which position should the petcock be on?and should you change position on it from time to time?
PET COCK should be straight up and down position. ONLY use RES (reserve) if you run out of gas ! (you can switch to reserve from running fuel position when bike sputters while riding with practice, if you pay attention to your mileage when you fuel up, the run-out stall is very predictable) ONLY use prime to get fuel to carb quickly. as when you run bike completely out of gas, then fuel up. Be very careful not to leave petcock on prime position. It will fill your engine with gas, potentially causing damage to your engine.
Hi Phil, I discovered that there is a fuel on the bottom the air filter box. Is it normal? Please advise.
that is not normal. How does your air filter look? clean or dirty? Also- never leave your petcock on PRIME position, that is only for getting fuel to the carb after running out of gas. If left on, it can fill your engine with gasoline which will thin your oil out and cause premature engine wear. check your oil-level site glass and make certain your engine is not overfull. If it is, change oil/filter, asap. 2.2 litres metric motorcycle oil.
@@PhilHewkin Thank you for the prompt response Phil!
The air filter looks a bit dusty, not too much. But it seems to be wet because of the gas.
I always keep the petcock in the ON position, except couple times when I run out of gas. Then I put it in RES till I got to the nearest gas station. Put to ON right away.
I checked the oil level - your are right, it is overfull.
@@innarosales3947 I suspect maybe you put it on PRIME instead of RES, Change your oil-filter as soon as possible. My son made this mistake with his 2000 savage, (same bike) He had to rebuild the engine. The oil is too thin from gas, and excess wear results from running like this. check the petcock carefully, whenever changing settings. I have to use reading glasses when I do it to avoid setting it wrong.
@@PhilHewkin We ended up fixing the issue at the dealership, as we are the beginners and do not understand too much (yet). So, the float needle was replaced, the float adjusted, carburetor cleaned, o-ring changed, oil and filter replaced.
@@innarosales3947 I hope PROBLEM-FREE for you now. happy, safe riding. My bike is away for winter now....frozen north B.C. Canada winter here.
05 pearl white with 10k miles
-should be good for 50,000 miles ! with proper maintenance.
Hey mate, is there a problem if i use 10w30 in my S40?
I am using amsoil synthetic 10 W 30 metric right now in my S40. So far, no issues. 3000 kms on this weight. I bet it is NOT recommended.It almost never hits 40 degrees here!
I just bought a susiki s40 last weekend It is my first bike does anyone know what the speeds that you shit at are like on it
I shift according to the sound of the revs of the engine.
Watch a few vids, listen how high I rev to shift. Worth a try.