Job wrote on 05/25/18 at 21:44:17:


That pretty much tells the story.......I am in the same situation and I only get 6,000 mile out of a tire.

I think I am only getting about 4,000 miles out of the front Bridgestone BT-45s on both the Ninja and my Cafe' bike.  (I won't buy them again as the little square tread blocks wear too quickly when you corner aggressively).  The rear tires will likely last twice as long as the front!

The Michelin Commander is a hard "cruiser" tire, and what it gains in long mileage it loses in wet weather traction.

I have ridden with Badwolf, and he obtains his high mileage numbers by being kind to his tires.  He does not punish them in the corners like I do, and he accelerates and brakes calmly - his tires and motorcycle appreciate his kindness and in return they will last a long time.

It has also been my experience that if you take a tire to the mountains that is nearing the end of it's tread life and is more than 5 years old and the afternoon temperatures are up around 90 - you can wear it out in 2 days!  My wife and I went to Suches last year and I thought I could get the rest of the summer out of the tire.....but in two days the tread was gone and the back of the motorcycle was covered in black rubber shavings! (We did have a lot of fun wearing it out!).

I don't darkside - but I have been impressed by the performance and life they provide.  Oldfeller and MMRanch made a believer out of me by proving they work just fine.  It does look a bit odd when you are following them and see the bike lean over onto a somewhat squarish shoulder and half of the tread is up in the air = but in reality our rounded motorcycle tires are doing the same thing and most of the tread is not in contact with the pavement....the round profile just doesn't look as weird.

That "GOOD YEAR EAGLE GT" IN 145/85-15 , was a Really good tire till I let the air pressure down and ripped the cords in it !    It had over 20,000 miles on it and was about 1/2 wore out .


………………….…………….

Avon is garenteering  15,000 miles out of some of their sport bike tires now.

MMRanch did that Goodyear Eagle GT  fit the Savage without any clearance issues. Each of the 145/90's I looked at online seemed to be too wide at the front of the swing arm. Thanks, Jeff.

MMRanch, sorry fat fingers it was a 145/85 Shinko that I had on and it would rub the bolt heads under the fender on big bumps.

Mike, Get a different wheel. Mine is a 15 x 3.5'' cast. Widens the sidewalls and I can run tubeless. Mine is from a 02' V800, was a little work to adapt, but nice now that it's on. Should be several wheels that will work, IF you don't mind a little work. Easy way, have your stock wheel re-laced with a wider rim, 3'' -3.5''.

Longer shocks change a lot of stuff , one of them being the angle of the front forks in relation to the ground.  
Longer shocks also make my floorboards  futher off the ground so I can have a greater lean angle .   Stiffer springs in the front would be good too , for the same reason.  
If you live in Flat-Land , then you may never know the difference.  

And yet it has absolutely no affect on the relationship between the seat and pegs which is why the long-legged comment makes no sense.  Oh well, this is the internet so carry on.  

Ohiomoto
You right , the legg room don't change , the seat angle changes a little but not much.   I have found Floorboards are easy to get Spoiled too .   I can slid my feet back almost to "Standard" seating position or slide my feet forward to "Cruiser" seating position … or anywhere in the middle !  

Any shocks longer than 12.5" makes the swingarm ride so low that the belt gives problems.    I've got an ebay bid on a 12" pair off a Sportster now.

There are so many things about the Savage that are easily changed , I can't help but love this bike !