A lot of riders have had some good service out of some different Shinko tires from the ADV site, and I've heard that "Golden Boy" mentioned...but it's a funky name for a tire, isn't it...LOL! While I'm not a big rear tire guy, I'm not sure I'd want smaller than my 100/100. I wonder where ground clearance on our already "low rider" KLX's might become an issue...LOL! I don't know. You may just have to try one and see.

 

For comparison, here are some pics of the tire mentioned in this thread...it's the narrow one...a 3.5 x 18 Trials Tire by Shinko / Golden Boy. The one on the left was on the bike when I bought it (is that the stock tire?). The one in the middle is the MT21 130/90R18. You can tell from the other photos it is significantly taller than the new trials tire.

It's on the bike now and I'm enjoying it. Took a good long trail ride on it to Loon Lake and am impressed. Rides fine on the street too. The bike certainly feels more responsive, and it cut through the narrow rocky trail much better than the 130 that was on there before. At $40 for two of them off CL, I can't complain.







I need some better pics of it on the bike...but this is what I have for now:

 

Looks like the old 50/50 tires that they used to put on enduros (as they were called back in the day) and lasted forever!

 

Same tire that is on my 09 sf (3.5x17 if I remember right), 5k miles and still plenty of tread. good traction except in snow

 

Might be named after the neighbor's dog's 'opinion' of their value!


As for using the narrower tires... If ya got 'em use 'em. Sure they aren't as wide as what is most commonly used, but the 250 street bike ran the 3.50-18 in the 70s.

 

After running the tire for a year and not quite wearing it out after lots of hard pavement running this spring after the 351 kit, I installed the second one in late June. The tire has performed very well. It hooks up great in everything but deeper sands, silts and muds, but otherwise performs great on most everything I ride. It grips great even on the snow and ice. I have a TMII setting in the garage that probably won't go on until next year when the trials tire wears out.