AltRider Skid Plate for Suzuki V-Strom DL 650

Reviews

• Wed 01 Jun, 2011 by Alan G

  Amazing design and quality - Follow-Up n my September 2010 review I was somewhat critical of the assembly requirements of the skid plate with the crash bars. Because of the limited amount of space to work in I encountered difficulty (and some pain) in making the final connection of the Skid Plate with the AltRider Crash Bars where they join at the front. Well, at that time I was working only with a set of standard small hex tools. Only after I acquired a set of Bondhus T-handle Hex Drivers (and shouldn't every bike owner have a set of these?) did I realize that the job would have been far easier and simpler to accomplish had I used these long-handled tools - the proper tools as it were. While I haven't had the misfortune of actually testing the strength of the skid plate out in the wild I can attest to the fact that they are very strong indeed. When I need to do front end work on my bike I can raise it clear off the floor using my moto jack placed under the skid plate. The skid plate is worthy of its five star rating. The products remain the best in the industry and return good value to those who choose to add them to their bikes.

• Sat 18 Sep, 2010 by Alan G

  Amazing design and quality. I am very pleased with these. Made of heavy duty aluminum with all the seams masterfully welded - as good as it gets. After mounting on my bike it is apparent that the designer was mindful of proper clearances around the vital bits of the engine and exhaust. That S/S cross brace that it attaches to at the back of the engine is pure genius. Room enough to remove and replace the oil filter. A large access hole for draining the oil too. The only challenge, and it is a major one, will come when you attempt to mate the front of the skid to the AltRider crash bars. For some reason, the designer felt it imperative that no bolts or screws should be visible from the top. This leads to a frustrating, profanity-filled adventure to complete the mating of the plate with the cross-bars by having to screw the flat-head bolts from inside the front of the plate up into the cross bar from below. A job better suited to a small child's hand just to try and get them started in their sockets. Remember, there are four of these suckers. Once in, they must be tightened down (up?) with a 5mm allen tool. Unfortunately, there isn't enough room to use this tool. It's either too big to use inside or it's too small to use outside through the vent holes. Sheesh! What's wrong with, instead, using larger bolts with heads on top and washers and nuts on the bottom. Infinitely less aggravating. Nevertheless, a terrific product.

• Sat 18 Sep, 2010 by Alan G

  Amazing design and quality. I am very pleased with these. Made of heavy duty aluminum with all the seams masterfully welded - as good as it gets. After mounting on my bike it is apparent that the designer was mindful of proper clearances around the vital bits of the engine and exhaust. That S/S cross brace that it attaches to at the back of the engine is pure genius. Room enough to remove and replace the oil filter. A large access hole for draining the oil too. The only challenge, and it is a major one, will come when you attempt to mate the front of the skid to the AltRider crash bars. For some reason, the designer felt it imperative that no bolts or screws should be visible from the top. This leads to a frustrating, profanity-filled adventure to complete the mating of the plate with the cross-bars by having to screw the flat-head bolts from inside the front of the plate up into the cross bar from below. A job better suited to a small child's hand just to try and get them started in their sockets. Remember, there are four of these suckers. Once in, they must be tightened down (up?) with a 5mm allen tool. Unfortunately, there isn't enough room to use this tool. It's either too big to use inside or it's too small to use outside through the vent holes. Sheesh! What's wrong with, instead, using larger bolts with heads on top and washers and nuts on the bottom. Infinitely less aggravating. Nevertheless, a terrific product.

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