Suzuki Savage

The Suzuki Savage was a dual-purpose machine of a different nature from the previously discussed Allstate Cheyenne. Although the Savage was a much later and better designed dirt bike, it was far from the best of its day. Whereas the Cheyenne was far too spindly and weak to be effective in the dirt, the Savage was a deluxe porker of the opposite persuasion.

When Yamaha set the trail riding world on fire with the introduction of its DT-1 in 1968, all the competing brands scrambled to copy it. Suzuki joined the trail revolution with the Savage in 1969. The brochure shown here is the 1970 model in red. The Savage came in two colors, red and green, and only the tank was painted either color. The TS-250 would continue in the Suzi lineup for over a decade, but the Savage name was applied only to the early models. Suzuki sought to chase the high-sales models of Honda and Yamaha with additional features, flashy styling and finishes, and more than acceptable prices. The Savage was no exception to this marketing ploy, showing off polished engine cases, chrome fenders, and turn signals. The enduro model had 23 horsepower, but a kit was a available to up that to 31 hp. Residing in a muddy area in those heady days, I always liked the really high front fender and wished a lot more brands would raise the front fenders on all their enduro models. The 3:25 x 19 front tire gives the bike a chunky look.

A Savage of this vintage has always been relatively rare. I have seen only a few in my lifetime. Yamaha pretty much owned the two-stroke market in enduro-type machines in those days. Of course Honda sold a zillion of its early, heavy, and slow, but very quiet and very reliable, Motosports and XL singles. However, the wide array of enduro models designed and sold by Kawasaki and Suzuki produced only moderate fires out the showroom doors. Many motocrossers from Suzuki became exceedingly popular in wild spurts of dirt-throwing competition, but the Kaws were rarely able to meet the Suzis head to head on the track or the showroom floor. The word on the trail was that the trim and agile Yamaha Enduros generally left the heavier Kaws and Suzis in their dust. Kawasaki was destined to be more successful with its high performance street bikes. Suzuki would put a lot of effort into the development of their TM, and later RM, motocrossers, eleminating trail-hugging weight and improving suspensions. Just looking at a photo of one of these early Savage models takes me back to an era of trail riding innocence. The Savage will always be overlooked in the motorcycle history books, sandwiched between the exquisitely designed Yamaha Enduros that unleashed the explosion and the ponderous, but likable, Honda Motosports.

See also: Suzuki Sport 80
Allstate Cheyenne
Yamaha DT-1
Honda Motosport
Suzuki TS-250 Model History