6000 miles just doesn't sound right. Riding in the mountains should increase wear on the sides but you should be getting better than 6000. The sides of my tires look like new and I'm almost at the indicator in the center (16,000 miles), but I live in Florida. What tire pressures do you run?
P.S. North Carolina sure is a beautiful place to ride. Took my bike up there for a week last year (Linville). We rode from Ashville to Virginia on the Blue Ridge and did the "Snake" between NC and TN on 421. My next trip up there will definitely include the Cherohala Skyway. I really like the mountain scenic roads better than turns for the sake of turns although I'll probably ride the "Dragon" when over that way.
I'm running 31 psi front, 33 psi rear. I'm a wide body carrying about 250 pounds so that might have some effect on mileage.
Yes, western NC is beautiful...probably more so than east TN. The Parkway around Linville Viaduct is a great ride. I much prefer the Cherohala rather than the Dragon...better scenery and not as many kids on their crotch rockets. The Dragon is a must ride though to fill the square and get the t-shirt.
Used to live in Ft Walton and now spend the winters in Pensacola Beach, but the roads there aren't so good for riding so I leave the bike in TN.
Lee
