Question from an ST noob

[ragrep]

Picked up my new ST today. 72 degrees in Boulder so just had to ride. Rode Left Hand Canyon up to the Peak to Peak highway and down South St Vrain. Finished up on some dirt in the plains coming back home. Gotta say the bike feels amazing, so easy and comfortable to ride. Confidence inspiring for sure. Ordered a set of Jesse cases today. Looking at a tank bag, Engine guards and skid plate. Found some decent deals on Fleabay and would love some guidance on these two parts. Love the look and burly-ness of the Alt Rider stuff but dropped too much coin on the machine and looking to spend as little as possible while protecting the bike.

SW Motec Crash Bars? What do you think.

Yamaha accessories Skid Plate? Found one for around $200 new in the box. Picture looks good but wondering how it is?

Thanks,
-ss

 

[clint64]

Not sure about the bars, maybe someone else will chime in there. As for the yamaha skid plate, it attaches to the sump and will most likely not offer much protection for riding anything more than maintained gravel roads. I have the Altrider skid plate and crash bars. There are many threads here on both skid plates and crash bars.

 

[trikepilot]

Lotsa info here at the forum on armor - use the search feature. AFAIK there are only three skid plates that do not connect to the sump - Rumbux, ACD, and Jaxon's (someone correct me if I am wrong). Any armor is better than none at all if you are on a budget. I bought the Rumbux but have seen the Altrider and RideOnADV stuff. All three are good.

 

[merchant]

Shredahead, welcome to the forum and congrats on the bike. It only gets better.

I started off with an Altrider skid plate and it performed well. I beat the living dogwater out of it in Colorado and the bike just asked for more. Having said that, I was worried about it deforming and being a b*tch to take off/put back on for oil changes. So I switchd to Jaxon's vault. Glad I did. In Arkansas, bottomed out on a few rocks that put some minor scratches/dents in the bottom of the RideOnADV plate. Not sure the Altrider plate would have protected, but that's only conjecture.

Also swear by Altrider crash bars. I had to get my re-powder coated cuz I had scratched off so much paint. But they protected all my plastic bits without fail. I've seen Givi bars turned to twizzlers after one unscheduled lay over.

I understand budgets get in the way of a lot of things. But these are one time expenses intended to save you from replacing a busted motor and/or plastic.

 

[hANNAbONE]

get with Tabasco on this board - he'll fix ya up.!!!

 

[HoebSTer]

Get at least ALTRIDER stuff if you are gonna be bouncing off rocks on the passes in CO. Old saying used to go:" pay me now, or pay me later".
Good luck.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Feel free to call or write anytime, be happy to answer your questions. Jaxon

 

[coastie]

Shredahead, welcome to the forum and congrats on the bike. It only gets better.

I started off with an Altrider skid plate and it performed well. I beat the living dogwater out of it in Colorado and the bike just asked for more. Having said that, I was worried about it deforming and being a b*tch to take off/put back on for oil changes. So I switchd to Jaxon's vault. Glad I did. In Arkansas, bottomed out on a few rocks that put some minor scratches/dents in the bottom of the RideOnADV plate. Not sure the Altrider plate would have protected, but that's only conjecture.

Also swear by Altrider crash bars. I had to get my re-powder coated cuz I had scratched off so much paint. But they protected all my plastic bits without fail. I've seen Givi bars turned to twizzlers after one unscheduled lay over.

I understand budgets get in the way of a lot of things. But these are one time expenses intended to save you from replacing a busted motor and/or plastic.

Lol...that thing looked like it was hit by a bomb!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[merchant]

Lol...that thing looked like it was hit by a bomb!

Too funny! Yup. It was Frankenbike.

But you should see it now. Has the crash bars, Jaxon skid plate and luggage racks all powder coated gun metal grey. Looking sweet!

 

[cb0802]

No complaints with the SW motech bars. There've been a few slow speed drops and the hold up well. Plus they are close to even. I know altriders are rugged but I can't get past the fact that one side is noticeable different than the other.
Wish I spent my money on a different skid plate. OEM works but I am not confident it'll hold up so that holds me back from some routes I'd like to take.

 

[jiml53]

Got the Alt Rider crash bars and skid plate from Tabasco today. Went on easy peasy.

::021::

Jim

 

[patrickg450]

I have the OEM bars and skid plate, been from Arkansas to Middle NC and back. It will hold up, I grew up in Douglas County the roads you ride you will be ok. Are you going to do 7 miles of hell of it or a 450?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I'm not a fan of the SW Motech crash bars. My wife had a slow speed drop in to the mud, and they were done. Yes they protected the bike, but I was not impressed with their ability to survive what I considered to be a minor incident. I've been much more satisfied with the durability of the Givi bars.

Every impact is different, and the results will vary by countless factors.