Unfortunately, in 130/90-17, there are few tyres that can meet those requirements and give good mileage.  So the choice for this bike has to depend very much on your priorities and the sort of riding you do -- and how much sliding you're willing to accept when you roll on the throttle.

On a motorcycle that's basically a sporting standard, it's hard to go wrong with the classic ME-33/ME-55A combination from Metzeler.  They should provide reasonable traction -- once the front ME-33 is warmed up properly -- but while the ME-55A is known as the Perfect Rear Tyre for BMW riders, it has been known to wear fairly rapidly on some high-torque shaft-drive motorcycles.  Although this combination is attractive, I think there are better ones in the selections below.

Now that Bridgestone's new BT45 is available in the correct sizes for this bike, and now that the price has dropped on them, they're an obvious pick.  They'll last quite well, and provide good wet and dry traction.  They're a good choice for all sorts of riding.  The remarkably low price makes them an excellent choice.  The only down-side is that the front seems quite prone to cupping and uneven wear, but it's still a very good set of tyres.

The only way to put an acceptable pair on this bike for less money would be to go for a value-priced tyre on the rear, and of the really cheap ones I'd have to suggest the IRC RS-310 Durotour; if you can afford the extra $20, though, the Bridgestone is a much superior choice.

If you want long life from the tyres, and to spend days on the Interstate, this is the classic combination.  The downside is that you'll probably be able to spin the rear with a careless throttle application, and they'll slide a good bit in the twisties.  Really this bike deserves better traction, but if touring's your thing, this is the way to go.

Sacrificing tread life for traction in the twisties, I'd pick the Avon Super Venoms.  The other good choice would be the more well-known Dunlop K591, but I prefer the Avon.  They'll work well on a bike of the Sabre's characteristics, and give very good traction and handling.  The AM20 provides excellent straightline stability as well, better even than the Dunlops, and in my mind this is what to have on the bike when you need to stick to the road.

If you want to experiment with radials on this bike, there is absolutely no question that this is the way to go.  The stickier Z1 on the front will complement the longer-wearing Z2 on the rear, and the better real-world traction of radials will instill more confidence to roll on the throttle earlier in the corner.  The comfort benefits of radials, though, will be compromised because they're only available in 80-series; that will also change the speedometer reading, lower the gearing, and lower the bike and reduce ground clearance.  I'm not convinced that the Sabre is a bike that can really make use of radials well, especially considering the sizing problem, but if you want to try them, this is the pair to try.

The low price of the Bridgestone BT45 makes it an unbeatable choice, and it's a tyre that I really like.  Now I'm not too fond of the tendency to cupping and uneven wear on the front -- so I'd put something else on there.  The Avon Super Venom has excellent traction, and a profile that goes very well with the BT45 rear.  Good traction at both ends, a softer tyre on the front to balance the wear, and you have a very fine pair of tyres.

Avon

Bridgestone

Continental

Dunlop

IRC

Kenda

Metzeler

Michelin

Pirelli

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