Gear: AltRider Crash Bars and Skid Plate

We’re huge fans of crash protection. Learning to ride fast, either on the track or off-road, requires you to push your motorcycle to its limits. These parts give you the confidence to do just that while protecting your bike should something go wrong.

The Gear

The AltRider Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Crash Bars are designed so that, should you crash, the impact will be transferred to the crash bar’s frame instead of your motorcycle.

They’re made from one-inch, stainless steel tubes and bolt directly to the frame of your V-Strom. They attach without any modifications, using the included stainless steel hardware.

They’re offered in either black or silver, fit perfectly with the AltRider Skid Plate, and retail for $304.28.

Specs:

- Height: 15 inches

- Width: 16 inches

- Depth: 9 inches

- Weight: 10 lbs

The AltRider Suzuki V-Strom DL650 Skid Plate protects the (very exposed) engine cases, oil sump, and exhaust headers on your V-Strom from rocks or debris while riding off-road.

It’s constructed from 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) anodized aluminum, and features cut outs so your oil cooler and headers still receive optimum airflow.

The AltRider Crash Bars are required for installation.

---

---

They retail for $302.19 and come with all necessary hardware.

Specs:

- Height: 10"

- Width: 13"

- Depth: 20"

- Weight: 5.85lbs

The Good

Even during the short amount of off-road riding we did to our first campsite on the way to Yosemite, I could hear rocks pinging off the bottom of the skid plate and was glad for the protection. I was able to negotiate the route without having to test the crash bars, but I’ve dropped enough adventure bikes to know how valuable they are.

AltRider make some of the finest gear in this segment and we trust all of their protection parts completely.

The black finish looks fantastic and as if they were intended to come with the bike in its stock form. V-Stroms now look naked without them.

These fit all models 2004-2013 unlike the set offered from Touratech (another brand we love), which say they only fit through model year 2011.

The Bad

They aren’t free and AltRider hasn’t found a way to produce weightless protective parts.

The Verdict

I wouldn’t take anything nicer than a dedicated dirt bike off-road without crash protection gear. We’re huge fans of AltRider and their protective parts and highly recommend them to help make your adventure mobile more adventure-ready.

Additional Product Informtion:

AltRider Crash Bars for the Suzuki V-Strom DL 650

AltRider Skid Plate for Suzuki V-Strom DL 650 - Black

Related Links:

Gear: Garmin zumo 390LM Motorcycle Navigation System

Comparison: 2013 Suzuki V-Strom 650 Adventure vs 2013 Honda CB500X

Roundup: Eight Adventure Bikes You Can Actually Take Off-Road

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Rideapart.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The RideApart Team