Yes, they are great tires, just more expensive.

 

The only tires I've run on the KLX are the Trakmaster II rear and Michelin S12 XC front (non-DOT?). For the places and way I ride (90% off-road with a lot of loose sugar) they have been awesome and I see no reason to change. Both actually do well on pavement, but the Trakmaster howls like a banshee. I don't do enough pavement miles to guess how well they wear (I suspect they would wear pretty fast).

S12 XC is a non-DOT tire, but it sticks like glue and I'll take the risk for the extra traction.



I used to run D606's on my old KLR, and also a set or two of Kenda 270's... Both did well for me, the difference being the KLR was more like 70/30 on-road/off-road and I stayed the hell out of the sugar sand on that heavy beast.

Honestly, I think the 270's are hard to beat for cheap on-road/mild off-road dual sport duty on a bike like the KLX.


PS: D606's if I remember correctly, have the stiffest sidewall known to man.... they require an extra beer or two on tire change day.