The Suzuki Boulevard S40, sold as the LS650 Savage from 1986 to 2004, is a lightweight cruiser built around one of the largest single-cylinder engines in production. Suzuki renamed it in 2005, but the motorcycle itself barely changed.
Suzuki Boulevard S40 at a glance
| Built | Savage 1986–2004, Boulevard S40 from 2005 |
|---|---|
| Type | lightweight cruiser |
| Engine | 652 cc air-cooled single overhead camshaft single |
| Cylinder head | Twin-Swirl Combustion Chamber, from Suzuki GSX engines |
| Power | 31 hp |
| Gearbox | four speeds, five from 1993 |
| Weight | 173 kg (381 lb) |
| Seat height | 28 inches |
| Final drive | belt |
| Quarter mile | 15.3 seconds at 81 mph in a 1996 test |
History of the Suzuki Boulevard S40
The first Suzuki cruiser
The LS650 Savage of 1986 was Suzuki’s first cruiser. It was a deliberately simple machine: a big single, a low seat and flat handlebars that suited shorter riders, and a belt drive. The engine was a 652 cc air-cooled single overhead camshaft unit with a Twin-Swirl Combustion Chamber head, a design first used on Suzuki GSX engines, plus a balance shaft to keep vibration in check. It made 31 hp and turned at a relaxed 3,940 rpm at 60 mph.
A long, quiet life
The model stayed in production with only cosmetic changes and a fifth gear added in 1993. In 2005 it was renamed Boulevard S40 as Suzuki regrouped its cruisers under the Boulevard name. Suzuki markets it as the entry point to the cruiser line: at 173 kg with a 28-inch seat it is easy to manage, and it fills the gap between 250 cc starter cruisers and larger twins.
How it performs
Motorcycle Consumer News measured 31 hp at the rear wheel of a 1996 Savage, with 30.5 lb-ft of torque, a 15.3-second quarter mile at 81.1 mph and 55 mpg. A 2006 Motorcycle Cruiser test recorded 16.35 seconds at 77.2 mph and 52.9 mpg. Its single is among the largest production single-cylinder motorcycle engines, alongside the Suzuki DR650SE and the KTM 690 Duke.
Design and features
- Big thumper: a 652 cc single with a balance shaft.
- Low and light: 173 kg and a 28-inch seat height for shorter riders.
- Belt drive: unusual among small cruisers.
- Longevity: essentially unchanged from 1986 to the present.
Suzuki Boulevard S40 versions
- LS650 Savage (1986–2004): the original name, four-speed until 1993.
- Boulevard S40 (2005 onwards): the same motorcycle under the Boulevard badge.
The S40 is the smallest Boulevard cruiser, and its engine is related in layout to the big single of the DR350. More Suzukis are in the Suzuki collection.
Video: Suzuki Savage ls650 bobber conversion low budget
Video by Dunklerlord on YouTube.
Sources
- Suzuki Boulevard S40, English Wikipedia: history, engine, performance
