Need advice on Bonneville/W650 vs S40

 Has anyone here ridden both a Suzuki S40 (aka LS650 Savage) as well as
a Triumph Bonneville and/or Kawasaki W650 and would comment on how
the rides compare?

There's an '00 W650 for sale near here with 14,000 km for $5000 Cdn.
I've always wanted a Meriden Bonneville (or look-sound-and-feel
equivalent. I dunno what to think of the Hinckley version).

However the W650 is pokey compared to a same-displacement
performance bike (44.7 hp at 7,050 rpm and 37.5 ft-lbs at 5,100 rpm
at the rear wheel) -- http://www.chuckhawks.com/w650.htm

This represents a higher top speed but only slightly more torque than
my S40 (aka LS650 Savage -- 34 ft lbs at 3400 rpm).

If wonder if it's worth paying $1000 more for a bike that's six years
older with more than double the mileage of my 650 thumper to get
a Japanese "improved" Bonneville.

ps. Last night I saw part of _To Sir With Love_ (1967). I didn't see any
bikes, but there was a double decker bus with a funky sounding motor.
How did the Brits make their engines sound so funky, and could I make
my bike sound anything like that? (Right now it sounds like a Singer
sewing machine).

Any help appreciated
TIA, Sean_Q_

 

Those double deckers were small diesel engines working their pistons off.

--
Bob Mann

Cap'n, ah need moor pow'r.

 
I wouldn't swap if I were you.  The new Bunnyvilles and W650s are 150 pounds
heavier than the original Triumphs so they don't ride or handle the same,
albiet they have more ponies.  Keep the Suzi and buy a real Bunnyville if
you want the 'Triumph' experience.  It's easier to get parts for an old
Triumph than for an out of production ricer now days.  Also consider a new
Enfield Bullet knockoff if you're into nostalgia and like thumpers but
understand up front - none are modern bikes.