My GZ and S40(Savage 650) comparison

[Blitzburgh7sb]

It came to my attention that some of you might be interested in comparisons with the gz and the Suzuki s40 (savage 650). I own both bikes. I wanted to point out that I am relatively new to riding but I have put a fair amount of miles on both. I bought the gz to learn on and since I was not sure I would like riding I did not want to spend much money and it served that purpose well. I bought the s40 for more power and the ability to cruise more comfortably at higher speeds and it does that well.

First of all I really like them both and plan to keep them. I ride the gz to work that is all stop and go with no speeds over 50 mph. I ride the big thumper everywhere else. The s40 is very maneuverable, easy to handle for a 650 but the gz is still easier to drive in close tight traffic.

One of the questions presented to me was the difference in power. I can only speak for myself and since the 650 is the biggest bike I have ridden my opinion can only compare the 2. The 650 has considerable low-end torque and takes off quickly and very smoothly thanks to the belt drive. What I really like is the mid level throttle response when I really need it. The gz lacks that “shit I need to get past that a&^$# because I know they don’t see me while they’re staring at that cell phone” cage driver :fu: .

The s40 also feels more stable at 60+ mph speeds. It is still quite light and is vulnerable to the wind and such like the gz but that little extra weight is noticeable.

My s40 is plenty fast for me but like the gz is comes EPA restricted. Here is where the difference between the 2 is the greatest. There are many easy and inexpensive mods that can significantly increase the HP edit 10-15% not (20-25%) :rawk: . I have a Harley dyna muffler ready to bolt on and just waiting on the jet kit and K&N filter that are needed to properly tune the bike the way it should have been. Right now I get about 55 mpg avg on it and all my research has shown the mods I plan will drop it about 3-5 mpg, depending of course on the how hard I hit it. I can live with that.

I hope that I have added at least a small amount of usefull info to a site that has given me so much. I would be happy to answer any questions, if I can.

[Water Warrior 2]

Thank you. A comparison by a rider who has both bikes in the stable is always welcome. How do you find the comfort level ? Do you find the S-40 much larger physically or just a smidget ?

[Blitzburgh7sb]

Side by side the gz looks to be a bigger bike that is b/c the gas tank is noticeably larger/wider. When riding though the s40 allows me to sit back at a more comfortable position for the legs - I am 5'7" and 160lbs. They both are comfortable for my arms neither reach or scrunch.

It took me some time to mentally adjust to the maneuvering capabilities because I ride both bikes daily. You can get away with things on the gz that can cause you problems on the savage. The 650 is heavier (obviously) but where the weight is centrally/forward and higher up makes slow turns (parking lot) and tight traffic more challenging but not difficult - I guess just different. :tup:

ps I find the seat on the gz more comfortable and many savage/s40 owners replace the seat if they take longer rides. Some harley sportster seats have an easy mod as a replacement.

[alanmcorcoran]

Good comparison. I second your opinion that the GZ is really well suited to going to work cheaply, easy and comfortably if your route is not faster than 50mph or thereabouts. Easy to hop on, easy to maneuver in traffic, goes a long way on a tank and easy to hop off. I feel more relaxed and confident on the GZ and, as a result, I wear less onerous gear (blue jeans, 3/4 helmet, mesh jacket, sometimes tennis shoes/clothes.) Excellent for splitting lanes too, although, not much good on the freeway when it's actually moving.

Above a 30 minute commute, and anything more than brief bursts of 60 plus, and it's lack of power really rears it's ugly head. It's also more tiring to ride in wind than my heavier bikes.

[rhollandphoto]

Great comparison and replies.

I'm a new GZ 250 owner and really like it for around my somewhat little town. Almost like a scooter (in a good way) and the mileage is amazing. I think my only real complaint is the short first gear but no biggie.
No way I'm taking it on the highway though or on very long trips. So, I've been looking, dreaming of and riding other bikes and first considered an S 40 or S 50. Then pretty much told myself that if i'm going bigger I may as well get a very different machine. I've tried a Suzuki C 50 - it seems huge for an 800cc but I like it. Seems like a 1300cc or so would right similar to the C 50 too(?) I also see there are some great deals on brand new Honda VTX 1300's which are 2007 model years that never sold.

Bottom line - I'd love to hear more thoughts on everyone's "other bike" choices.

Thanks - Robert

[Water Warrior 2]

You might like the C-50 as a next bike once you have some experience and developed your riding skills. The GZ is a great trainer for new riders. Lynda graduated from her GZ to an M-50 and really likes the size and power but the weight was a bit of a learning curve for a 5'3" rider. I almost bought the C-50T last summer after a lot of thought and a ride.
The S-50 would be a nice upgrade too. Sportier than the other 50 series bikes and lighter too. Not my choice as it would not be a long distance bike in my opinion. The M can be made into a touring bike easier and has the benefit of shaft drive, FI, a larger tank and more aftermarket stuff just like the C-50. Any bike can be made into a tour bike when the desire is there.

Lynda's GZ and her present M-50.

[hacc81]

You might like the C-50 as a next bike once you have some experience and developed your riding skills. The GZ is a great trainer for new riders. Lynda graduated from her GZ to an M-50 and really likes the size and power but the weight was a bit of a learning curve for a 5'3" rider. I almost bought the C-50T last summer after a lot of thought and a ride.
The S-50 would be a nice upgrade too. Sportier than the other 50 series bikes and lighter too. Not my choice as it would not be a long distance bike in my opinion. The M can be made into a touring bike easier and has the benefit of shaft drive, FI, a larger tank and more aftermarket stuff just like the C-50. Any bike can be made into a tour bike when the desire is there.

Lynda's GZ and her present M-50.

Hey Water Warrior, great looking bikes you have!
Actually, I was about to ask the forum something similar as rhollandphoto did, because I've been riding for about 2 months now and, don't get me wrong, I really like my GZ!! :2tup: ... The only issue is that I just went back to school and now I have to commute everyday (about 80 kms round trip). So far I've been taking the back roads to get to the university, but sometimes when I'm late or I need to get earlier I'd really like to be able to take the highway... I tried once, and it felt like the engine was about to explode!! :cry: I mean, it sound it like it would not last long if I kept that pace :lol: (100 km/h or 60 mph). Maybe I'm just exaggerating because I guess I'm not used to the bike's engine sound :??: I don't know...

To make the long story short (even though is not that short anymore...) I'm starting to feel that probably the GZ is not the best choice for what I have to do now (daily commute) and I'm gonna need a bigger bike soon, maybe 2-3 months from now when I feel confident enough ridding to handle a bigger, heavier, and more powerful bike. Having said that, I was starting to look for bigger bikes just to have an idea of the budget, and I came across the Boulevard M50 Special Edition (black/orange, beautiful bike!) and the H-D Sportster XL883L Superlow (is more money, but they have good finance plans)... Anyway, what do you guys think about these 2 models? Have any of you driven both bikes? Any preferences? Is it a fair comparison? :??:

All comments are accepted... Thanks a lot!
hacc81

PS: I guess I'll post it in a separated discussion so I don't interfere with this one. :whistle:

[blaine]

I own a EN450 (454Ltd).It is almost the same as a Vulcan 500.I love the power and light weight.IMO They are much better than the Suzuki 650 (S40).They are much smoother,and more powerful.
http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g396/Blaine_Curran/Picture0020-2.jpg

[Water Warrior 2]

The GZ won't blow up at 100 kp/h on your commute to and from school. If you are riding on Highway #1 you will want to be very visible and very alert. The bike doesn't have much left if you suddenly need to get out of some one's way. Keep riding the GZ and love it for what it is. The longer you ride it the more it can teach you.
By the time Lynda had ridden her GZ to Manitoba and back she had experienced every road surface and scenario possible except for ice. She knew the strengths and weakness' of the bike and so the object of her search for a new bike was to address the weak side of the equation. The M-50 did the trick with some mods to make it fit better.

[rhollandphoto]

Water Warrior - thanks for info. How is the M50 on an Interstate or hwy?

[Water Warrior 2]

Rholland. The M-50 is quite nice on the highway. It will maintain 70-75 mph easily with power to spare. Equiped with a large windshield and bags it will just cruise along forever. It is also very comfy just puttering along at half that speed. All of the 50 series have the same power train except for the S-50 which has carbs instead of FI. Lynda's M has a large windshield, crash bars for highway pegs and driving lights. Nelson-Rigg soft luggage allows her to pack a multitude of articles and clothing. Heated grips, a stebel air horn, headlight modulator. Modulating HyperLights tied into the brakes are very eye catching.
I had the chance to run through some twisties and curves at speed and the bike's handling was very confidence inspiring. No it isn't a sport bike but neither am I a sport rider. It handles well enough that I will never learn it's limits. Do I like the bike ? Yes. Do I want one.......no. I would rather have the C-50 for the larger seat and floorboards. Overall the C fits a bit differently and that is the determining factor. Any V-twin in the 750/800 cc engine size is considered an entry level cruiser nowadays. Don't let that fool you. Any Japanese V-twin of this size is a very capable bike.
500/600 V-twin are rare today but still a mighty fine ride that won't break the bank when you find a good one on the used market.

[kirk]

I currently ride the GZ250, previously owned a 2003 Suzuki Savage, so I figured I'd chime in.

First off, in case you're looking to get one, the Savage/S40 are the same bike, only small cosmetic differences. Savage had the buckhorn barns, S40 more of a flatter drag bar. Turn signals on the Savage were a bit bigger, S40 has the bullet style. Savage came with a small sissybar/backrest stock, S40 you would need to add it later. Savages built since 1995 are 5 speed, older ones are 4 speed.

I got into motorcycling from bicycling. The Mrs. and I ride two-up often, having the motor is better than the old tandem bike. Together we're about 250lbs.
The Savage definitely has more power. 1st gear would get us up near 20mph, less of that lurching going into second riding two-up and hauling a load.
GZ250 can also do smooth shifting at low speed, but definitely slower.

The Savage actually felt smaller with two people, especially with winter riding gear you felt cramped. The passenger pillion pad was narrow and not as comfortable as the GZ250's. They make a Corbin saddle for the Savage which is supposed to make two-up riding more comfortable. I also find the stock GZ250 driver's seat to be more comfortable.
Passenger footpegs on the Savage are on the swingarm. GZ250 has them attached to the main body. Hitting bumps on the Savage can kick up your passenger's knees.
The stock sissy bar on the Savage was low, didn't work well for comfort. The OEM rack was expensive and the size of a postage stamp. I put a 1970s universal rack/sissybar on the GZ250. Better for the long haul.

The Savage's rear turn signals were in an awkward location, would get in the way of the saddlebags. There's a common modification to move them back to the license plate bracket.
You have more space on the GZ250 for attaching bags and racks. The only drawback is the GZ250's exhaust pipe. It arcs up and can touch the underside of your right saddlebag. I'm wondering if it'd be worth it to get a different muffler to hang a bit lower.

The Savage's speedometer is on the tank. You need to look down, sometimes take your eyes off the road.
The Savage is definitely heavier, feels a little more top-heavy. I store my bike on a porch, pushing the Savage up and down a step was a challenge.
The Savage is known for certain minor oil leaks (oil plug near the exhaust port, head gasket). Mine had one, always had a burning oil smell. There's also a cam-chain issue at higher mileages.

Like the GZ250, the Savage is tuned lean. Similar carb adjustments to fix that.
Beltdrive is really nice, though. I wonder why more manufacturers don't make bikes with them.

Overall I love both bikes. If I could, I would have kept them both.

[Water Warrior 2]

Great comments Kirk. The differences in the S-40 and Savage are not always apparent to the untrained eye.

[sankethm7]

Hello,
I have the same story as hacc81. I need a commuter motorcycle to ride total 20-25 miles daily from San Jose to Mountain View (on highway 237 and freeway 101). And for 1-2 times a month, I would like to ride motorcycle to 120 miles to Sacramento, ca.. I have read few blogs about commuter motorcycles, and I feel that gz250 is the most reliable and cheap among all 250 cc bikes.

- Is it advisable to ride gz250 for 60-70mph daily?
- Is it possible to ride gz250 non-stop for 120 miles on an average 60-70mph? Is it advisable to do so?
- The way from San Jose to Sacramento has few hills.. Can gz250 cross those hills without problem??

Thank you..

[alantf]

I've had my GZ for 4 years now, so I think I'm qualified to answer you. I reckon the answer to all your questions is "no". While it's perfectly doable,you'd be pushing the bike all the time. That means you'd not be 100% comfortable, while having to concentrate harder to keep the bike stable at the top end of its performance. It's a light bike, so you'll feel every bump in the road. Doing this day in and day out would, I think, eventually stress you out. I reckon a bigger bike, such as the Vulcan 500 would suit your needs better. :2tup:

[Water Warrior 2]

What Alantf said. You would be pushing the limits of the bike and yourself. A bigger bike with more muscle would be a better bike for your purposes.

[JWR]

The hills and wind are the main downfall of the GZ.

The GZ is a good 60-65 mph bike all day, every day on flat ground.
Anything over that and you are working you and the bike harder than need be.

[Water Warrior 2]

The hills and wind are the main downfall of the GZ.

The GZ is a good 60-65 mph bike all day, every day on flat ground.
Anything over that and you are working you and the bike harder than need be.
Yup, that's about the gist of it. When Lynda rode her GZ fully loaded on the highway it performed very well but add a slight grade to the road and a slight headwind and there was just not quite enough engine to do the job. She could take a run at a hill and do very well but the gradual long grades were the turning point with the power availability. Now with the M-50 and it's much larger engine by comparison there is no such thing as a hill that causes and concern.
We have one hill here that was quite a challenge without a good run with the GZ. Wide open and almost top speed at the bottom ended with a speed of 50 MPH at the top. With the M Lynda starts at 50 MPH and just cranks the throttle slowly. Not even at full throttle and at least 100 MPH at the top. I'm sure a 500/600 cc bike would do much the same with little effort.
In the end you have the GZ with it's forgiving manners and ease of riding. Accept it with it's limitations and it is a great and reliable friend on 2 wheels. Does Lynda miss the GZ........yes. Would she trade back down.........not likely. Power corrupts.

[sankethm7]

OOh. wow.. Those were quick responses....

Thank you alantf, Water Warrior and JWR for your advice...

based on all your suggestions,,,, Now I have started looking at 500 cc cruiser bikes such as Vulcan 500, Boulevard s40.. I will read few reviews for them as well. By looking at prize, I like Boulevard s40 as it is cheaper than others and fuel efficient.. I do not want to spend more money on motorcycle..... what do u suggest guys????

[JWR]

Vulcan 500 is a very smooth ride.
2009 was the last production year, and used ones can be found cheap.

The 2005 that I bought Dec.31st had 1462 miles on it.
I traded a 2006 Virago 250 with 10,000 miles and 1250 OTD.
The Vulcan had almost that much money in windshield, engine bars, backrest and luggage rack.

The dealer had 4 Vulcans, but no 250 cruisers...expecting gas to go up, and new riders.
He sold the 250 within 10 days.

I tried a S40, and it was not for me. Too low of a top end.

[attachment=0:2f72zfrv]gap 500.JPG[/attachment:2f72zfrv]

[Water Warrior 2]

The S-40 is a big thumper and I know I would not want it as a commuter bike. The Vulcan is a 2 cylinder and probably a much smoother running engine with not harsh vibs. Spend your money on a smoother ride and life will be a lot smoother and less fatiguing.

[BillInGA]

I considered the S-40 when I was looking to move up. What ultimately turned me away from it was the small (2.8 gal) fuel tank - smaller than the GZ250. I knew I wanted to do some long distance riding and the S-40's range was just to limited for me.

I ended up going with the Vulcan 500 and I'm very pleased with it.

[davidc83]

I have the C50 (since 2007). I have 36,000+ miles on it. Great cruiser. I have made many 800+ one day trips to Florida from Indiana (and back). Cruise all day long at 80-85mph and hit 95mph going up Monteagle pass (I-24 west of Chattanooga TN) many times. The OEM seat does get uncomfortable after many hours, so I bought a Corbin seat (placed a sheepskin cover on it) and the only thing that doesnt ache after 800 miles is my behind :-). Great bike, very good throttle response, FI, floorboards, many accessories available for the bike. As of this posting, there are 28 for sale on Eb@y. Check local craiglists, you may find a good deal (I may even be convinced to sell mine :-)).

Here is an example of Eb@y:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-C ... 33669661b5 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-C50-Boulevard-Cruiser-Sale-Beautiful-Bike-/220764463541?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item33669661b5)

[Water Warrior 2]

Ah yes, you have confirmed my one suspicion. During my test ride of the C-50 I had to wonder how well the OEM seat would do. Other than that the bike was a fairly comfy fit and I surprised myself by adapting to the heel/toe shift very quickly.

[Pete7874]

By looking at prize, I like Boulevard s40 as it is cheaper than others and fuel efficient..
Looking at people's MPG figures on fuelly.com, the S40 achieves similar fuel economy to Vulcan 500.

I moved up from GZ250 to Vulcan 500 LTD myself and consider it a great step forward. The engine on the Vulcan 500 is a re-tuned version of the engine from Ninja 500. It has more usable low and mid range torque. It handles highway riding at 70-75 mph very well with room to spare. it's a solid performer. I highly recommend it.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d102/escape2music/500/P1050739_sm.jpg

[sankethm7]

Thanks Pete7874.
I will keep my eye on this bike as well. It looks good as well..