Ok, long story short, I did the Dragon yesterday with my friend from MO (I skipped the savage run last weekend so I could see my old friend). We had a blast and that's another story to be told another time, but I am wondering if it's time to step up to a slightly bigger bike?  I rode about 250 miles yesterday all over the area up there and had a blast. I was able to keep up with the group on their bigger bikes and never felt like they were getting away from me, but boy did my arse and such hurt afterwards.  Yeah, my ailments are not necessarily the bike's fault because it was a looooong day, but I also felt like I was just punishing my little S40 barreling up and down all of those mountains as well as stretching it out when I could. She did great and ran like a champ, but I could tell she was a tired little girl when we were done.

So, the questions are:
a) If I am loosely considering stepping up to a larger bike, why would I NOT want to do that?
b) I am 5'6", ~165lbs.  I have been eyeballing the C50 and the Honda Shadow as potential upgrades.
C50 pros and cons?
Shadow pros and cons?

Note that my forte is not do do the Dragon every weekend, but still want to be able to tackle a good curvy road when the opportunity permits.    

Thanks!!!!

What is the current condition of your Savage ?
What mod's have been done if any ?
What don't you like about it other than the seat ?

I dare say your Savage is not tired unless you have mega-miles on it and it has not been cared for properly by a previous owner.

If you just need a more comfortable seat then change it out.
If you are simply looking for justification to buy a bigger bike, then just go buy one.  Then you can have 2 bikes and use them for different purposes.  
I have multiples and I do.
There are many on this site who have multiple bikes and use them accordingly.

What is the current condition of your Savage ?
Excellent IMO

What mod's have been done if any ?
2008 LS650 - Dyna Muffler Conversion - Air Mix Screw 3/4 Turn Out - Rotella T6 w/Redline ZDDP - Seat Lift Mod - Speedo Rattle Mod - 140/90-15 Rear Tire

What don't you like about it other than the seat ?
Nothing else ergonomically. I just feel like when I am running it steady at 60-65mph for 10+ minutes that it's just wearing the poor thing out. And I am hoping to start easing into some short weekend trips where I may want to ride out versus truck the bike.

I dare say your Savage is not tired unless you have mega-miles on it and it has not been cared for properly by a previous owner.
4700 easy miles, except for the 250 yesterday. Those were pretty hard. Got the bike with 408 miles on it in mint condition.

If you just need a more comfortable seat then change it out.
I might consider that. Maybe being around my buddy and all of the big bikes got me excited and it'll wear off in a few weeks?  

If you are simply looking for justification to buy a bigger bike, then just go buy one.  Then you can have 2 bikes and use them for different purposes.
No way the wife will let me keep both.  It's going to be one or the other or I'll be in trouble and moving in with one of you guys. 

stewmills wrote on 06/22/15 at 12:51:47:

Yeah, did the same and have plans to better the seat which is currently a solo bobber seat.  Of course the stock seat wouldn't have been any better.  You can get it reupholstered, there are air hawk pads and any number of seats from donor bikes that have been done.

Quote:

There, fixed it for you.

Kept to within the speed limits around the dragon, there's not many bikes that'll beat it for fun or money.

Stew

I met a feller in Texas back in April that has over 130,000 miles on his Savage.  

I put a modified Harley Soft-tail seat on my S-40.   Between the Dragon run we just finished and a CMA long weekend the same week me and the S-40 did almost 3000 miles together in 10 days.   Some of them running down the super-slab at 75mph  and some of them put-puting the N.C. back roads.
Some tank-fulls were 50 mpg and some were 65 mpg.  

Keep the S-40  --- I've had and rode lots of bike over the last 45+ years and I'll tell ya "The S-40 is as good as any of them."     I went through 4 seats on my Sortster before I found one I liked ... but it still ain't as comfortable as my S-40.   One of the guys ridding with us was on a Harley 1430 cc bike and we all kept-up with each other just fine. ... he allmost could keep-up on the Dragon even  

If some rider on a larger bike ever give ya grief : "Just turn the conversation toward MPG and watch them curl-up in a corner and HIDE !  

If ya go to a two-piece seat you can modify the connector between the seats easier than you can modify one big seat pan.  

If you're not wanting to cruise over 70mph, or travel 2 up... I don't see any advantage to bigger...
Get a sheepskin seat pad... Mine's faux sheepskin, homemade (buddies wife sews)... makes the seat 100% more comfy...
Speeds under 70,.. you aren't straining or hurting your Savage a bit...
... 75+ all day,... you might want a bigger bike...

Seat cover also keeps it cool in summer and warm in winter...
...(you wouldn't believe how hot black vinyl gets in 100'f+ sun)... ...

Serowbot wrote on 06/22/15 at 14:19:12:





buddies wife sews)...


That is just lame. Everybody knows Muppets have a personal seamstress.
Somebody has to keep elbows and knees from leaking polyester.

Serowbot wrote on 06/22/15 at 14:19:12:



That's just what beast needs... a little fur.  does it come w/out the bottle?