Changed the front tire on my KLR650, any ideas on why the weird tire wear?
Only thing I can think of is, cheap rubber that cured uneven?
Every 3rd knobby is worn flat, around the complete tire, low or high pressure shouldn’t cause this?
The knobbies on each side of the worn flat are at least 1/4” taller.

What are you running for air pressure?

It's a trail bike, so FSM calls for 21lbs.
I only ride 10miles to and from work, paved roads, so I run 25lbs.
The every 3rd knobby wear is the weird part.
Too much air, and I'd expect the center to wear first, but why not every knobby.
And it's not a slight difference, big difference between 2 knobbies right next to each other.

Not a big deal, these tires are cheap, I'll just keep a better eye on it.

Out of balance tire or forks could need servicing.

Some say that too low of an air pressure with a knob pattern like that where you have one knob in the center for every other or two knob rows can push that single knob in and put the wear on the multi knob row. From my experience that wear looks more like wear from braking and on a front tire (rear wheel drive of course) and that with weight transfer to the front during braking and lower than owner's manual air pressure could cause that kind of wear. No big deal those tires can be found for a reasonable replacement price.

If that wear pattern is the same 360 around the tire than it's not a balance or suspension issue IMO.

If you want a good dual purpose set of tires look into Pirelli MT 21's they are DOT Approved and great wearing tires with great off-road traction and flat resistant too.

I was leaning that way at first, but being the wear is consistent on every third lug, I think not.

Not sure what is causing it, but it is a head scratchier for sure.

Harmonic (out of round)? Could be tire, could be wheel, could be assembly. Sometimes they vibrate, sometimes they don't.

I agree with out of round tire, wheel or assembly.

Knobby tires do strange things on pavement, they slip, bounce, bunch up and skip knobs. Once they start doing the weird things, it tends to amplify the wear because it then causes the tire to bounce as it rotates on the pavement.

You either need a more street friendly tire, or maybe having higher pressure will help.

IMO Braking.