In this case, it's not as much a question of mileage as it is age.  The bike has less than 3000 miles on it but is a '98 and I think the rubber is original.  I just keep inspecting for signs of cracking, etc. and expect to see them sometime in the next 6-12 months.  Even if I don't, older rubber seems to wear away faster than new rubber.  I assume it's due to drying and the reduction of elasticity.  My mantra for bikes has always been one of timely oil changes and good rubber.

I know that several manufacturers have age recomendations on Tires. And I believe they are wise to do this. They normaly are five years when they recommend changing them requardless of tread. I also note that most of us RVer's change our trailer tires every five years as well. Or there- a - bouts..... Since we rarely wear them out at that point tread wise. We change for sidewall flex issues and general rubber degradation.

I have seen tube type tires go longer with new tubes put into them. But our tires are more subject to catastrophic inner tube failure because they do have tubes as the only thing holding air in them. I should think it wise to replace at least tubes every five years. And while your at it I would very seriously think about the tires then too. They sort of work together in this case.

Also I normaly look to get 10K off a set of Motorcycle tires. If I get more than that I get worried about the "stickyness" of the compounds that were in them. And at my rate I normaly don't go five years with a set thats for certain.

This Winter I'm making room in my garage so I can get a playmate for my Savage. I'm looking at a used Volusia to buy next Spring. I won't ever get rid of my Savage, I like it to much, but a little more room and weight on a bike will be nice for the longer trips I'm planning. With having a Volusia as a work horse I can chop my Savage even more since I won't have to worry about carrying anything on it. I can customize it all I want!

i've thought long and hard on this subject, and here's my list

1. fix baseball sized dent in tank do to a "high ho silver away" incident.

2. use my snowmobile suit to ride whenever there is no frost on the roadway..    8)

3. do all the things my better half wanted me to do all summer because i blew them off putting 4000 miles on my thumper between mid july and now.

savagethumper wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


Changing them yourself isn't that hard.  Tire tools are cheaper than shop labor, and you'll have a whole winter to practice NOT pinching the tube

klx650sm2002 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


How did you do that?

klx650sm2002 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


Hammers are good tools  

I didn't know that barns wanted to be or even needed to be tuckpointed  ???