Suzuki V-Strom 650 Bash Plate Review: Why I Chose B&B Off Road

A rougher-than-expected ride into Hampton State Forest exposed just how vulnerable the V-Strom’s oil filter and underside really are. Here’s why proper protection became one of my first priorities.

Disclosure: I independently researched the bash plate options available for my V-Strom 650XT and had already decided the B&B Off Road bash plate was the one I wanted for this build. I then approached B&B Off Road, told them about the Two Day Escape V-Strom project, and they offered to supply the bash plate at no cost. B&B has had no input into how I install or test the product, or what I publish about it. Everything in this article reflects my own experience and opinions. ##In short The B&B Off Road bash plate is already one of the best upgrades I’ve made to my V-Strom 650XT. It’s made from 5 mm 5083 aluminium and uses a substantial mounting system to provide proper protection around an area of the V-Strom that I think is far too vulnerable in standard form, particularly the oil filter. The fit on my 2020 650XT was excellent, the fabrication and black textured finish are first rate, and so far I’ve noticed no additional noise, vibration or other unwanted side effects. I haven’t yet subjected it to the kind of off-road riding that will properly test its protection, so this is the first stage of the review. I’ll update this article as the kilometres and real-world use accumulate. Initial verdict: It delivers exactly the level of protection I wanted and, based on its construction, fit and design, I already rate it as one of the best upgrades I’ve made to the bike. ##The ride that changed my V-Strom build I hadn’t planned on testing the limits of the V-Strom that day. I’d headed west from Sydney towards Oberon, encountered a decent stretch of gravel through roadworks between Sodwalls and Tarana, and eventually found myself exploring Hampton State Forest. I’d been enjoying the V-Strom on the gravel, so I continued further into the forest. Then the track started getting rougher. The rocks became larger, and I became increasingly conscious of what was sitting underneath the front of the engine: the oil filter. I’d only recently returned to this sort of riding after a long break, so there was already an element of assessing my own ability. But the bigger concern was the bike. I was enjoying exploring, but I couldn’t see much sense in turning a good day’s riding into a recovery exercise because I’d damaged something underneath the engine. So I turned around. https://youtu.be/nRWDjo-Hza4?si=X3TsdNvWcruO1za1 That ride…