Savage Roar.. The Unmatched Road-Legal Power of Single-Cylinder Engine

When it comes to Suzuki, this manufacturer has produced many unique and distinctive motorcycles. One such bike we'll discuss today is the Suzuki Boulevard S40, also known as the Suzuki Savage LS650. Initially named the Suzuki Savage LS650, it was first released in 1984. The term Savage likely refers to its raw power, as it boasts a 652 cubic centimeter single cylinder engine, known for its distinctive vibrations and roaring sound. This engine features a bore and stroke of 94 millimeters, a single overhead camshaft four valve configuration, and a 40 millimeter carburetor for fuel delivery. What's even more remarkable is that this large engine relies solely on air cooling, with no additional radiator or oil cooler. The first version of this bike came with a four speed transmission, however due to many users riding it for long distances, the transmission was upgraded to a five speed in 1993. While its styling resembles a Harley-Davidson, Suzuki's cruiser has its unique characteristics, especially in the engine department. This single cylinder engine was chosen to avoid being seen as a copy of Harley-Davidson's V-twin engines. In 2005, Suzuki renamed the Savage LS650 to the Suzuki Boulevard S40. However, the bike remained largely unchanged, except for the cylinder color turning black. The engine specifications also stayed the same, still relying on a carburetor for fuel delivery. The Suzuki Boulevard S40 produces 31 horsepower at 5,400 RPM, and a peak torque of 50 Newton meters at 3,400 RPM. While its power isn't greater than modern 250cc bikes, its torque is double that of a 250cc bike, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 400 meters in 15.3 seconds, which is close to the average time for modern 250cc sports bikes. However, the main focus of the Suzuki Boulevard S40 isn't speed, but strong torque and comfort for long distance riding. It's no surprise that at 100 kilometers per hour, the engine only revs at around 3,900 revolutions per minute. One of the interesting aspects of the Suzuki Boulevard S40 is its design, which leans towards a chopper style. The overall look is clean, with no messy cables or component placements disrupting its appearance. The classic features of its predecessors remain unchanged over the decades, evident in the front telescopic suspension and dual rear suspension, combined with 19-inch front and 15-inch rear spoked wheels, rear drum brakes, and front disc brakes. The front end features only a headlight and a pair of turn signals, while the speedometer is placed on the tank. Thanks to its compact and clean appearance, the Suzuki S40 has great potential as a base for custom bikes, especially chopper or bobber styles. Compared to other midsize cruisers, the Suzuki Boulevard S40 is relatively lightweight at just 160 kilograms dry, while 400cc to 600cc cruisers with V-twin engines typically weigh between 180 to 200 kilograms or more. Additionally, the seat height of this bike is quite low for its class, at just 700 millimeters. Therefore, it's no surprise that in Europe and America, this bike is often recommended as a mid-sized cruiser for beginners, especially for riders under 180 centimeters tall. Although this bike is loved by cruiser enthusiasts for its uniqueness and traditional details, the Boulevard S40 couldn't compete in sales, leading Suzuki to discontinue its production in 2019. However, the last units of this bike were still sold in the American and Australian markets until around 2022. Besides the Suzuki Boulevard S40 we've discussed earlier, there's also a single-cylinder trail bike with a roaring sound, the Honda XR650L. Let's dive into it a bit. The Honda XR650L can be considered an old-school trail bike and is the only 650cc single-cylinder motorcycle still produced by Honda today. Looking at its appearance, this trail bike seems out of place and might be better suited for the 80s or 90s. Its design and technology are no longer relevant compared to modern dual-sport trail bikes. However, it's these simple features that make the Honda XR650L still beloved by its fans. The Honda XR650L was first released in 1993, and as we can see, it hasn't changed much since its debut, except for the color and striping. The Honda XR650L was made as a dual-sport trail bike that's street-legal and can also handle off-road terrain. One of the things that makes this bike special is its engine. The Honda XR650L is equipped with a 644cc single-cylinder SOHC 4-valve RFVC twin-port engine with a 100mm bore and 82.6mm stroke, air-cooled with a 42.5mm carburetor for fuel delivery, and a 5-speed transmission. This engine can produce 43.6hp at 6,000rpm and a peak torque of 63.9Nm at 5,000rpm. Although its power isn't particularly impressive for a 650cc engine, the torque produced by this engine is something you won't find in modern dual-sport trail bikes. The XR650L engine tends to run at a relaxed rpm but has a torque that kicks in across the rpm range. This unique engine character makes the bike light when tackling uphill terrain without having to twist the throttle deeply. Thanks to its simple technology, the Honda XR650L is relatively easy to maintain, especially for a bike with over 600cc capacity. If ridden regularly, whether for off-road or daily use, the XR650L can last 50,000 to 80,000km without needing major service. So it's no wonder that, despite its plain appearance, Honda still maintains this bike because there are still some trail bike enthusiasts who want to buy it. For the chassis components, this bike relies on a double-cradle steel trellis frame with a 43mm telescopic front suspension with 16-step compression settings, while the rear suspension uses a fully adjustable Pro-Link monoshock. The wheels are spoked, with a 21-inch front wheel wrapped in a 300 tire and an 18-inch rear wheel with a 460 tire. Both wheels are paired with disc brakes, with a two-piston caliper at the front and a single piston caliper at the rear. Although known for its toughness and durability, this bike isn't suitable for everyone's stature because the Honda XR650L is quite tall, with a seat height of 940mm and a total weight of 157kg when fully fueled and oiled, making it a bit cumbersome for heavy off-road terrain. Currently, the Honda XR650L is only sold in the American market and is offered in a single color variant, white with red and black striping. The latest version of the Honda XR650L is priced at $6,999. So what do you think about the Suzuki Boulevard S40 and the Honda XR650L, both with strong torque and roaring sounds? Okay, that's all for our discussion in this video. Thanks for watching, and see you in the next video.