Pretty sure I'd like some Barkbusters. Probably the Storms, 2-point mount version, so as to protect my levers from drops better than the factory plastic handguards.

For various reasons, I've had to rotate the throttle housing down on the handlebar, so that the cables go under the handguard rather than over. Is that going to be a problem?

Every picture I've found of Barkbusters installed on a DL1000 shows the throttle cables in stock (over-the-handguard) position, so I wasn't sure.

You can purchase a set of these which helps avoid cable interference:

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p...d-bar-clamps-p

what are the best handlebar protection, just dropped the vee at slow speed and lost the end of the clutch handle.

I also broke of the gear shifter in the process, looking to upgrade it, any thoughts

I don't know of any such thing as a ready-made, aftermarket shift lever for the Vee. However, I know a guy who adapted a shifter from a dirt bike to work on his Vee. I'll ask for details.

For the broken clutch lever - I feel ya. The very end of the clutch lever is designed to snap off, so as to avoid more serious damage to where the lever attaches. But you're still left with a sharp broken end. A cheap and quick fix is the Lee Parks Lever Saver:

Lever Saver

The Lever Saver is a lot less expensive than a new factory lever, and can be re-used many times if needed. Also no waiting on backordered factory parts.

Touratech used to sell a replacement shift lever for the DL1000 that bolted directly to the shifter, eliminating the linkage and all the slop found in the linkage. It was arse-crampingly expensive (around $75, which is just ricockulous), but I finally gave up and bought one a while back and I love it. The tip ends up in exactly the stock position (although you do lose the adjustability of the stock linkage.)

I don't see it on their site now, so it might be out of production. Perhaps you could scare up something on fleaBay eventually.

A common alternative is a DR650 shift lever, also mounted directly to the shift shaft. The problem is this is pretty long, so it places the toe at least two inches farther forward. I wear size 12 boots, and have never felt the stock lever needed to be any longer, even with heavy dual-sport boots. But I guess if you have size 17 feet, then it's just the ticket. Or you could cut and re-weld it.

Vstroma sells one $49.97 when you have a broken shift lever, it's worth it.

V-Stroma.com - Suzuki V-Strom Parts and Accessories

Vstroma sells a broken shift lever. I didn't get it in the post.

I think that's more or less what the local guy did. Not sure how he has it set up - maybe he'll be kind enough to take pictures for me.

I kinda like the slop in the stock Vee shift setup. That brave little aluminum linkage rod acts as a buffer between my stupidity/bad luck and the transmission. I'm glad I only bent that rod slightly and broke off the peg at the end of the shifter, vs. tweaking something in the transmission, when one of our mountain roads did its best to kill me last fall.

Ah, the famous Studebaker Mfg. shift lever.

I'll pass. It's made of forged steel, which to me is a mistake. I think Suzuki had the right idea, making the stock foot controls out of bendable aluminum. I'd rather bend an easily-replaced lever than snap off part of the footpeg mount, or bend who knows what in the transmission, when I go down.