I like my new 2004 also. I´ve been riding for 30+ years and have owned everything from a Honda 90 through a GSXR 1100. The bike I had befor this Savage was an 800 Intruder. The Savage feels alot like the Intruder, only a little bit slower. The Big single delivers HARD and instant acceleration- much more than I expected. I does seem to peter out above 85 MPH though. I feel this bike may be a little too responsive for beginners. There is a lot of torque at low engine speed! To me at 53 years old, the bike feels like a motorcycle should! Suzuki does not advertize it in their literature as a beginner bike- that´s for the 250. I think many people that rate it subpar don´t own one or have never ridden one. They just look at it with it´s one cylinder and assume...,but we know better. By the way, the thing responds very well to free flow exhaust, air cleaners, and re-jetting.