|
SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1232138214 Message started by firetruckredbike on 01/16/09 at 12:36:54 |
|
Title: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by firetruckredbike on 01/16/09 at 12:36:54 I hope you don't all think I've gone mad(der). As you may know, I dearly love my Savage and have been commuting since July (until the last two snowy, icy weeks). I am also interested in trail riding - nothing too extreme, just dirt trails and gravel roads, through the woods, and so on - no climbing up sheer cliffs. So, it occurred to me - has anyone ever tried this with their Savage? I wondered particularly if anyone had tried knobbies on these bikes. If this is a nutty idea, I know you will let me know. 8-) Best wishes and ride safe, Amy |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by verslagen1 on 01/16/09 at 12:39:45 You probably won't find knobbies for a 15" rim. I've been looking for dual sport and the smallest is 16" |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by Paladin. on 01/16/09 at 14:35:12 ditto. not a nutty idea. Have even considered lacing up a 16" rim on the rear (I have a spare rear wheel!) |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by WebsterMark on 01/16/09 at 17:30:37 My project for the winter is to 'supemoto' my 07 out a little. going to put on longer shocks, a high front fender, hand guards and see how it looks. |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by Charon on 01/16/09 at 17:50:25 A couple of thoughts, for what they are worth: The Savage/S40 doesn't have an awful lot of ground clearance, so you might want to be cautious on rough terrain. The "feet forward" riding position makes it more difficult to stand up on the pegs to help absorb bumps. This is characteristic of cruisers. Trouble is, the typically short suspension travel of cruisers makes that ability to stand up more desirable at the same time the seating position makes it more difficult. It the terrain includes roads or paths with rocks on them, it might be possible for one of those rocks to get into the belt and be carried to the rear pulley, where belt damage might ensue. |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by clueless on 01/16/09 at 18:05:18 I have taken mine off road. Nothing too severe, but the weight makes it manageable. Again, I don't ride like I used to, and extreme stuff is definitely out. But easing down a trail is not hard on a Savage! |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by rigidchop on 01/16/09 at 18:06:45 i have had mine off road, on a logging road and it didn't do too bad. i even have forward controls. i got rid of the belt awhile ago. i rode alot of dirtbikes in my youth (and some streetbikes with dirt tires :o) so experience never hurts. |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by Paladin. on 01/16/09 at 19:48:56 Back in the '70's I had a '72 Pinto, snazzy special edition red white and blue. Had wide four spoke wheels, white enamel centers, chrome rims, sporting BR70-13 Bridgestone street tires. Twin CB whips off the rear corners. Took it through what is now the Hungry Valley Off Road Recreation Area, across a creek and up a jeep trail climbing a mountain. Got the strangest looks from the dirt bikers and jeep drivers. Several miles in I asked one of the bikers if the road went through -- he said no. YUK!! Make a u-turn and go on back down. About 10 years or so ago we were camping around Great Basin Nat. Momument, went for a drive, ended up going down a road marked "high clearance vehicles only" in a '78 Ford LTD. Just 'cause we haven't got the ground clearance of a dirt bike doesn't mean we can't put on dirt tires and go playing. All you have to do is make sure you avoid high centering. |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by verslagen1 on 01/16/09 at 22:55:37 I don't know how off road you want to go, but I've done a little dirt roadin' and the only parts that worried me were deep sand. A dual sport tire up front might be all I need. One thing they all told me is watch your belt. I can pick up rocks. And it they're big enough will push thru the belt. |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by Stimpy on 01/17/09 at 02:49:44 Rocks? Whatcha talkin bout Willis ...little rocks get stuck in the where now!? ...What, who, huh?! hello. Yup, I know ALL about that. :D http://w2.bikepics.com/pics/2007%5C06%5C10%5Cbikepics-927236-full.jpg Band is fine 5,000mi later, I'll keep you posted IF it snaps, but I doubt it. Look: "nasty" got new shoes! http://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2007%5C10%5C21%5Cbikepics-1062017-full.jpg |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by firetruckredbike on 01/17/09 at 03:08:28 So this is very encouraging. We had in mind just dirt trails, gravel roads, fields, and trails in the woods. We live in the country and there are lots of places like this. No going off of cliffs and down goat paths on the sides of mountains, which does look like a lot of fun, but is probably unwise given our lack of experience and the ground clearance on the Savage. I've ridden around in the beanfield in the back, and Thump did fine, but he does slip a little in the grass. This is why I was thinking about the knobbies. Can a 16" rim be put on our bikes? Stimpy - what tire is that? |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by LANCER on 01/17/09 at 05:23:49 When I put 12.5" Progressive shocks on the back of mine it jacked it up noticeably, improving ground clearance. I have seen tires in ad's with a block-type tread, made for vintage bikes, that might do well for dirt roads. |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by Paladin. on 01/17/09 at 05:36:07 646B70677670776169706766606B6967020 wrote:
|
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by WebsterMark on 01/17/09 at 05:54:03 Lancer; when you put on the 12.5" rears; did it force the seat to slant to far forward? I've put spacers on the front of my seat and it made a big difference. Now I'm worried longer shocks will negate that benefit too much. The extra ground clearance should work great for gravel roads and dirt path now and then. I'm not doing this to my bike to ride in the dirt. I've got a YZ250 for that. But it seems you can do almost anything to a Savage/S40 so I thought I'd give this a try. In my minds eye, it looks as good as a BMW, weighs half as much, cost a third of what a BMW does and there won't be a dozen of them looking exactly the same every square mile. |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by serowbot on 01/17/09 at 18:26:32 mine has 12.5" Intruder shocks and a 2" lift on the front of the seat... http://w4.bikepics.com/pics/2008%5C11%5C27%5Cbikepics-1494345-full.jpg |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by Stimpy on 01/18/09 at 00:54:20 nice serowbot! Stimpy - what tire is that? They're Kenda "challengers" it's not really a cruiser tire but more of a track tire, pretty cheap too; handles very nice and bike has a quicker feel to it now when cornering and changing lanes. BTW its a 140/90/15, fits fine. |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by klx650sm2002 on 01/18/09 at 02:33:30 Hey serowbot, that's one cool lookin' ride. Clive W :) |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by WebsterMark on 01/18/09 at 07:09:48 I've seen your bike before Serowbot and it is one of the reason's I wanted to change mine. My 07 S40 is pearl white. I like your chrome rear fender but can't picture how it would look with my white tank. |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by gsJack on 01/18/09 at 07:40:58 That Kenda K657 tire on Stimpy's bike is classified as a sport touring tire by Kenda, their K671 is their sport tire even though they named it a Cruiser tire, and their newer K673 Kruz tires are their cruiser/touring tires. I put a K671 rear on my old CM400 the last winter I used it and my 02 GS came with a K657 rear and I agree with Kenda's classification of their tires. The K671 was the better handling of the two but the K657 was a good all around sport touring tire and nicely priced. http://www.kendausa.com/motorcycle/street.html |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by firetruckredbike on 01/18/09 at 10:11:55 Serowbot - your bike looks fantastic. Thanks all for the tire info - the Kenda descriptors are helpful. I was also looking at Metzeler tires, not sure if their 15" is the right rim width, still investigating. On a side note - dusting of snow yesterday made the gravel drive pretty slick, so I rode the Thumpinator down our hill through some scrubby field grasses. Very solid on the stock tires. He will be dual-purpose yet! |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by 87SavageBobber on 01/18/09 at 10:19:44 Serowbot, nice bike! I've grown really fond of the bobbed-out look, but your bike looks really nice. I see you bought the same handlebar risers that I did... Whoops.... Ohh well, at least we clear the tank now! |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by serowbot on 01/18/09 at 11:07:10 Kenda makes some nice looking tires,.... I might try one next time, thanks for the info.... Wish somebody made a 80/20 DP tire in 15".... I'd jump on that.... PS. thanks for the nice words on my bike,... hope to see some more "scramblers" here soon.... The Savage has the torque, and is light fairly light weight, making it a good candidate for a little trailing... Plus a low seat, compared to modern DP bikes,... footpegs aren't ideal, and belt drive don't like rocks, but if you're just toolin', and not goin' berm-busting, rooster-tailin' crazy... and you can't beat the scrambler setup for the paved twisties... |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by serowbot on 01/18/09 at 12:59:21 You know,...You could always just buy a decent tire, say a Kenda or Dunlop,... and hand cut extra grooves in the tread, or maybe do it with a router for a cleaner look... Super-Moto guys do it... It's the old,...if I can't find what I want, I'll make one..... Grrr!,....cutting tread,...with my bare hands!,...Arrh!.... ;D |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by Max_Morley on 01/18/09 at 13:29:10 If you want to enter the "darkside", look for a old air cooled VW sized snow tire. Seems to me years ago someone was using a LS for off road and did that. Max |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by serowbot on 01/18/09 at 16:20:18 Just posted this over in the cafe, but .... Hey,!....Is this a semi-Savage?..... Scrambler?..... more info on it in the cafe, .... leave related comments there.. link; http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1232324181 http://www.bikez.com/pictures/borile/2005/21796_0_1_2_b651%20scrambler_Image%20credits%20-%20Borile.jpg |
|
Title: Re: Has anyone tried knobby tires on the Savage? Post by firetruckredbike on 01/18/09 at 16:30:01 2234233E26333E25510 wrote:
My husband and I just read that and cracked up. ;D Jumping over to the Cafe to read about the Savage Scrambler! |
|
SuzukiSavage.com » Powered by YaBB 2.2! YaBB © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved. |