.Hi all,

After several months of looking for the 'right' bike I have decided to go for a 2012 model Vstrom 650. I looked at a used one with less than 6000 kms on it and will buy it this week!

A bit about my riding background - Been riding for 10 odd years. 27 year old new dad!

Previous bikes - Kawasaki ZZR250 (sold), Kawasaki ZX6 (written off) and Kawasaki ZX6 (currently own and ride)

After several years of riding supersport motorcycles, I am looking for a bit of a change. I consider myself a very capable road rider and have done many track days also. i am a super noob off road though. I am looking to do a combination of touring as well as exploring those unsealed roads that I've always wanted to check out.

On my zx6 i always wondered where those roads end up!

Looking to add some farkles to the bike i get. Its fairly stock standard right now.

I am looking to get the following. Any recommendations are very much appreciated.

1. Bash plate / engine guard.
2. Crash bars.



PS - I hail from the glorious lands of Australia

Weclome to the forum.

Lots of good info here on crash bars and skid plates.

I have the SW-Motech crash bars and skid plates and like them.

You can do a search, using the Google Custom Search box, and find several threads with other opinions and lots of other choices.

__________________

2006 Suzuki V-Strom DL650K
1986 Honda Shadow VT700C
1974 Suzuki TM-250
1966 Triumph Bonneville T-120R
1965 Suzuki 80

I got crash bars on Ebay. They came from the Netherlands and were pretty simple to install. Good piece of kit. I'd also seriously consider a radiator guard. If you are going off road, or even on the tar one stray stone hitting your rad and you are toast mate. I got mine from Dan Vessel somewhere in the U.S. reasonable price, easy to fit and very good quality. Great choice with the bike. You will have the best fun on it.
Stay safe and shiny side up mate!


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If you're interested in Dan Vessel products they can be found here: My V-Strom Accessories and Motorcycle Memories It's a home business and Dan's great guy and easy to work with.

I have his radiator guard too and really like it.

__________________

2006 Suzuki V-Strom DL650K
1986 Honda Shadow VT700C
1974 Suzuki TM-250
1966 Triumph Bonneville T-120R
1965 Suzuki 80

Looking for ideas on must have add-ons; I believe you call them farkles. Folks, I thinking that the first thing that really strikes me is that the oil filter seems to be looking for a fight if one is to take this bike off the pavement for any length of time. Heard about the mototech skid plate, but also hear of an Adventure Gardian (Yann). My first question is whether one needs to install engine guards as a prerequisite to installing the skid plate. Any comments would be very much appreciated. DdC

Depends on the type of skid plate. I believe the SW Motech requires the SW Motech crash bars to mount the plate correctly. I got crash bars on ebay and then bought skid plate separately also on eBay. Neither requires the other for mounting!


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