you can use tubeless tires with tubes...it's totally fine....and, ride quality on the shinko 705 on the freeway is actually quite excellent....it's okay on the dirt and can get through rocks, but handling sucks (but, i got some wide 150 frankenstein tires)

 

I didn't know that. I'll have to go back and take another look at a few tires I excluded thinking they wouldn't work. Thanks!

 

I ride on Kenda K270 4.50x18 & 3.00x21 tires. While the 3.00x21 is the correct front tire size, I found out that the 4.50x18 is a heavier and taller tire than the 4.60x18 stock size. I can't really complain since I have been riding with those tire sizes for 9k miles. Gas mileage has always been about 65MPG. It was only after I did the DynoJet kit that my mileage dropped to 60MPG & lower, but picked up better mid-range torque. And the Kenda K270 last about 7k miles or longer, even with 80% pavement riding.

 

kenda 270 tire sizing is all goofy as you found out, if you want a lighter smaller rear for the klx the 130/80 size is about right. I'm towing a 5.10 on mine right now LOL. One thing to consider is though the klx isn't a powerful bike, it is heavy, so a bigger tire can help traction in certain conditions. As the OP pointed out you don't want to be riding steep extreme stuff in the 1-2 gear gap, better to be sprocket'd so you can use 2nd and fall back on 1 if need be.

 

ahnh666, I think your change in fuel economy is mostly speedo error changes. A taller tire should get you better fuel economy.

 

yeah, compare miles on the speedo vs. miles on a GPS for 10 miles and see where you net out.

 

Thanks for the report, TNC. I've been wondering how those tires would work out.

Could it be that the tire was hooking up better (less wheel spin) that was causing the performance difference rather than the larger size?

Ron

 

No, that little 100/100 Trakmaster seems to stick like glue with the lowly power output of the KLX. I'm just thinking this bike doesn't need a nasty rear tire. The Parker has worked well in tubeless mode too, just like the Trakmaster has. I'd love to have this Parker on something like a 250 race level off road bike. I've got a front Parker which I'm pretty sure will work just fine on my KLX.

 

Scott, could you refresh my memory on how you feel your 13/49 or was it 13/50 gearing is/was working for you off road? How did it work on pavement stretches?

 

I had 13/49 installed soon after getting the bike and finding I couldn't ride the stock gearing where the PBR fellers were going. And I put on that huge MT21 130 series tire. 13/49 and that big tire (probably closer to a 14/49 with a stock tire, or even higher) worked just fine off road, except that the tire was just too big and robbed power. Pavement was okay up to around 55 or 60. I generally ran 15/49 except when we were doing steep, tight stuff where I'd bump down to the 13. Then I put on the little 3.5 x 18 Golden Boy trials tire, and the 13/49 setup became silly low. Talk about a mule. I'd usually start in 2nd, and do 2nd/4th/6th commuting around town with 13/49. The 15/49 was the only way to go until we hit some really steep stuff last fall and the 13/49 "mule" setup, although silly low, was quite fun to trail up stuff with ease.

I changed to a 45 rear with the 351 kit and haven't yet had a chance to hit much steep and tight stuff yet. Running 15/45 (essentially stock ratio) and on the 2nd little 3.5 x 18 trials tire (so probably closer to 14/45 or lower). Not bad for running up the foothills and easier dual sporting. Hoping to hit some tougher stuff over Labor Day and into fall and will run 13/45. Also have a TMII to install once this trials tire is gone.

The 49 sprocket is too large for the chain guard. I think someone here once said the guard will fit with a 48.

On the stock 250, I'm a proponent of 49 rear and 13/14/15 up front depending on conditions. It fits for the type of riding that I do, for my lack of skills and interest in riding "***** out", and for the technical trails we have here. I'm hoping that with the 351, torque will be sufficient that the 13/45 setup will do what I need it to. If not, I'll put the 49 back on.