stewmills wrote on Today at 21:06:29:
BTW, my butt breathes pretty well, it's just that it exhales only.


Just an FYI, but the truth be told, there are many people so equipped.
Some people, I dunno if they are more advanced or what, but some are equipped with vocal cords near the end of the large intestine.
They are also ventriloquists,throwing that voice and able to lip sync, making it appear that they are actually speaking, but they are really just talkin outta their A55.
For proof, remember any presidential candidates speeches. Compare to the realities that followed.

methane, colourless odourless gas that occurs abundantly in nature and as a product of certain human activities.


Yeah, I'm not certain about the color, but, I Do know that, depending on the source, it might not be completely odorless. I'm pretty sure that the odor is directly proportional to the amount of potential embarrassment for farting.

For this "Trading Up"......does Stewmills have a budget in mind?  That makes a lot of difference in what could be available.

For me personally......I will never buy a new bike and have found a lot of used bikes with low miles, good condition, and great prices.  I do believe the used bike market is pretty well saturated and on Craigslist in Cincinnati there are always 5-20 bikes for sale of any model you are looking for....and it changes weekly.

I have a personal limit of about $ 5,000 for a used bike.....and there is a huge selection of good bikes to choose from.  The Honda ST1100 is well below that limit, the ST1300 is just barely in that limit, good BMW K and RT models, the Suzuki 650 V-Strom, older Honda Goldwings, the older style Kawasaki Concours, the Yamaha FJR....I mostly know the Sport Touring market and don't know what Cruiser style bikes are in the sub-$5,000 range. However.....any bike I listed is not as nimble and fun to ride around on the back roads as the Savage is!  

My budget is about $3000, but the more I think about it, talk to you folks, and stare at the S40 all nice and shiny in the garage, I think I am going to hold off on trading "up" and go for the Spencer seat mod and see if that solves my "ailment".  

I appreciate all of the feedback, seriously, as that's what we're all here for.  I think you all have helped me not rush out and make a bad impulse decision.

sometimes I rest my ankles on the pegs, it makes a difference, highway pegs would likely be a good idea

Ya' know.....we will be heading back to the Dragon for another trip at the beginning of September.

Good way to try out that revised seat!

I have a neighbor who is in his 70's and looking for a new bike.  He has a very nice Volusia 800, a Suzuki Burghman Scooter that he has put 100,000 miles on, and a very early Gold Wing.  He doesn't like the sound and vibration of the Volusia on long trips....he is not a V-twin fan.  The Burghman scooter has a tiny front wheel/tire that just isn't good on potholes or big bumps, and the Goldwing is jut a bit old and heavy for him to load down with luggage.

He has been looking for the perfect new bike for him....and he believes the Kawasaki Vulcan S might be just the ticket.  It is a bit out of your price range....but maybe in a few years this could be your bike upgrade to a used Vulcan S.  It has twice the HP of the Savage, and the pegs, seat and handlebars are all adjustable to fit to the rider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibv4_vFQfVM

If I was to go out today and buy a midsized replacement, it would be a VN900. The "Custom", which is a fuel injected version of the old VN800A, with a belt drive instead of a chain. Proper tire sizes (21/16) on tubeless cast wheels, tolerable seat, more horsepower, better gearing and better fuel economy than my current Savage (averaging mid 30s to low 40s mpg, something is seriously wrong with it).

I put 44 thousand miles on my VN800A in 18 months. I've put around 30 thousand on the 2003 Savage I bought from Pine. Needs a new timing chain, on the second hole and just about maxed out already in under a year. Second drive tire is just about shot as well, and I bought the bike in April 2014 with a fairly decent rear on it already, swapped that out when the cord started showing.

If I didn't loathe shaft drive so much (had a BMW lock up and spiit in half under me, and that includes the chassis) I'd be on a VN1500 or a C90T. I like the Savage as a backroads toy, but... it leaves a lot to be desired as a highway motorcycle. Too little, even with extensive changes.