I have the klx250sf, but I do enjoy riding in the dirt. I put on the avon distanzia 130/80/17 rear after the PO took the bike's original rear to 9k miles . I've been thinking, since the distanzia's 120/70/17 front is only available in the super sticky compound, I will be burning through the front in like 4k miles vs 8kmiles. So i was thinking I could go with the tkc80 for more grip in the dirt and have it last at LEAST 7000 miles.


So do I go with a more street oriented tire in the front that will wear much sooner. Or do I go with a knobby that will last me a while and provide me with traction in the dirt?

I am by no means experienced at motorcycling and live in Vegas with pretty much no twisties. How much grip will I be giving up with the tkc80 in the front on the street? Most of the thread I have read about the tkc80 have been large touring bike such as the vstrom 1000 and the gs1200, not much info for the lighter bikes. Thanks

 

If you are going to do anything in the dirt i would go more aggressive, for me the worst is when the front looses traction and washes out. Id rather have more aggressive. When you dont have traction in the rear its pretty easy to tell and use body english to compensate. Loose traction in the front and just plan on picking it up alot.

 

True. And you notice that many riders who like and use a quality trials tire on the rear of their dirt bike for trail riding will almost always still use a full knobby for the front. Trying to ride in the dirt with a sketchy front tire is nerve wracking.

 

Tell me about it, yesterday I ripped through some house lots at about 25mph with the bridgestone bt45 front. Quite an experience, kind of like riding a bmx bike on a mountain bike trail haha. Is there any problems with the super knobbies on the street? My chicken strips are about 1" or so, I don't lean farther than that.

 

I have the trackmaster on the front. I haven't leaned it too far over, but it sticks pretty good on the pavement. The loss of front braking on the street is a fair trade for not having my front end wash out in the dirt.

 

I'm running pirelli MT21's on my 09 sf, street handleing is pretty good.

 

Cool perfect answers I was looking for. i just didn't want to get a knobby on the sumo and have the handling be scary to drive. Thanks

 

Guess I should qualify "not too far". This was after my first ride on them. I was impressed to still see some nipples in the center of the tire.

 

I have the Trackmasters as well. Only one ride on them, and I'm lovin it.

 

I have a kenda parker Dt tire my klx and its fine on the street.