Hi all,

My girlfriend and I are soon to head on a motorbike trip across South America 2 up on a Suzuki DL650. I have done the standards mods- skid plate, engine guards, bark buster handguards.

We also have happy trails aluminium panniers.

What I'm wondering is, is it necessary to upgrade the handlebars to stronger alloy ones?

Has anyone have experience with the standard handlebars and how they hold up in a fall? I imagine there will be a few occasions where we will fall and I need the bars to manage the weight?

My current view is to start with the standards and if they bend a bit then upgrade while on the road.

I'm also taking spare brake/clutch levers in the event of a fall and the need to replace.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Cheers

Reece

Hi Reece,

I have the DL1000, the stock handlebars are fine and the bike has been tipped over at gas stations and on trails enough to have tested them

Couple of suggestions, a set of hand guards (Acerbis, etc.) is more common than carrying spare levers and will save your hands as well in case of a crash. In addition, in case you don't have them a set of crash bars will protect your bulbuous front end and skid plate will absorb many a large South American speed bump. Not sure about the DL650, but on the 1000 the front signal lights stick out and tend to get eventually broken, some people start off with flush ones to prevent this from happening.

For your handlebars, once you set up the bike for ergonomics, you may find that bar risers help in your positioning. It's a well travelled bike, so there are plenty of excellent suggestions for gear to get to make your ride more enjoyable. Safe trip.

Ive looked at changing my handlebars prior to my RWT 2012. theres lots of info on the vstrom boards.

Ive also fitted mini indicators on the front having smashed one in an off road drop despite having givi crash bars fitted.

Cheers
Geordie aka Will

Forget changing the handlebars, the only time you need to change these is if you need a better position that cannot be handles by risers.

'In the event of a fall" - Well, I can pretty much say you or the bike will have a fall, I have short legs so I had many

The only bits that break usually are the front indicators, my reccomendation is to upgrade these to Buells, which are very flexible and tough, the details and part numbers and how to do it are here

Buell turnsignal installation how to!

Handguards are a must and will protect your levers, just take one new one, it will do for both sides of the bike, don't forget unless you break it off flush, it is still useable

Take a paperclip This will come in handy when you drop the bike, break the clutch switch and need to bypass it, easy to do

These are the basic things to do

Cheers
TravellingStrom

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Thanks for the advice, especially about the indicators. I was looking for something similar.

Hi Reece,

Just wished to reiterate what Mountain Man said. I have a 08 DL650 with 30K on it, and have dropped it an embarassingly amount of times, and put 'er down once as well, and can attest that the Acerbis hand guards work very well. Before I had them one I went through a brake and clutch lever each. (Barkbusters are also an option, and I have a friend that had them on his bike). Can also confirm a few of the items Mountain Man touched on;

1) Crash Bars. I purchased a set from Touratech. I looked around quite a bit and picked them as they ride quite up high and protect the fairing in a put down very well. I also have the Touratech bash plate, but find it a bit annoying to remove and replace to change the oil filter, but it does the job, is aluminium, light, and strong, so will live with it.

2) Handlebars. The stock ones have stood up amazingly well. I have had a couple of tip overs in various compromising situations, and they have taken them all unscathed -- much to my surprise!

3) Acerbis. One thing. I originally had a Kaoko Throttle cruise control lock on my bike. It worked great, but found I was not using it. In case you should ever wish one, the BarkBusters can adapt to it, but with the Acerbis it (I found anyhow) was not possible. Suppose anything is possible, but I did not wish to pursue it further and did want the Kaoko on anyhow.

4) Signal lights. I picked up a set of four smaller ones from Touratech that work great. I only replaced the front two, as the back two are well protected, so carry one as a spare (just in case). Easy to change and they work great. One actually did get torn off a slide, and as it had quick clips, I just had to pop it back on and was off.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Zarks

I've got a DL650...

I've just changed my bars. The original ones are steel and VERY strong. They don't need changing for the sake of strength.

I put some Renthal Dakar 'high' bars on because I had them lying around and I prefer a wider 'enduro' feel on a bike.

The stock ones are more comfortable but I find them quite narrow and not great for low speeds etc.

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And the reason for a gixxer photo in a Vstrom thread is?

It would be better off placed in the HU bar area for general intrest?

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Richard,
Can I blame it on my Irish Ancestry !!!!

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You sure can No harm done

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