KLR650 Aluminum Skid Plate from Utah Sport Cycle

$87.95–$97.95

Order Code: KSP

The KLR650 Aluminum Skid Plate is an essential replacement for the wimpy factory-installed plastic belly pan. This skid plate is nicely crafted by American workers, from more than 3 pounds of beefy .160 inch thick aluminum so it will help protect your engine and water pump from serious impact damage.

It's a snap to install with all hardware included and it allows access to your oil drain plug so you won't need to remove it every few thousand miles for oil changes. Don't let a jagged rock punch a hole in your engine; install the KLR650 Skid Plate and ride with confidence. Made in the U.S.A.

This product fits all KLR650 motorcycles but the hardware is different for the A model KLR650 (1986 to 2007) and E model KLR650 (2008 and up). So choose the right skid plate kit for your machine. The E model skid plate includes new forward engine mounts to replace the factory "winged" mounts.

Note: If using the KLR650 Aluminum Skid Plate (KSP) with the Engine Guard with Highway Pegs (KEG) or (KEGH), then you may possibly need to cut two small notches in the top edge of the skid plate to allow the engine guard to mount to the frame of motorcycle. This is easily done with a file, hacksaw, Dremel tool, etc.

Customer & Editorial Reviews:

Reviewer: Mario Jalbert

Date Added: Friday 16 October, 2009

I think the thickness is really good. However, I had to drill the 2 front slot so that I could have more adjustment because the plate was rubbing on the left side. Don't know why, but the fit was nowhere near perfect.

But after a few modification, it looks good. I have a 2008 KLR650, E model.

Editor's Note: Mario didn't purchase this skid plate from us. He says it is from the same manufacturer, and of course, we believe him. Since the introduction of the Utah Sport Cycle skid plate kit specifically for the E model KLR, we've not personally encountered any fit issues. As far as we know, none of our customers have either.

Reviewer: William Tinsley

Date Added: Saturday 02 May, 2009

I fully agree with Don Fulton's review. It was a terrible experience trying to get this thing to fit on my 2009 KLR 650. I'm waiting for the upgrade install kit. When will it arrive?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Regarding the fit of our KLR 650 skid plate on the new E model KLR: As of May 5th, 2009, the above mentioned issues are now completely resolved. Utah Sport Cycle, (the manufacturer) is now shipping E model KLR 650 skid plates with new forward engine mounts and an alloy spacer block for a perfect fit and look. Utah Sport Cycle is the world’s largest (and best we think) maker of skid plates for motorcycles and ATVs. All future E model skid plates will be shipped with the revised hardware kit. Any customer who has purchased a skid plate for the E model KLR prior to this revision, will be provided updated hardware on request.

As for the matter of hex head screws vs. button socket heads: Button heads are the only correct choice for any skid plate application. Hex head screws on the bottom of a skid plate present flat, vertical surfaces to any object that might hang up on the bottom of the plate. Rocks, branches, etc. will tend to slide across a rounded button head but could completely shear off a hex head screw causing significant damage. The button head screws provided with our plates are high quality, hardened fasteners sourced specifically by Utah Sport Cycle for this application. These fasteners will not strip if installed carefully with a quality Allen tool. Using a worn out tool and/or only partially inserting the tool into the fastener while tightening, can strip any socket head screw in any application. Because the clamp nuts are self-locking it’s especially important to carefully tighten the button head screws. If you have Allen sockets as opposed to an Allen wrench the job will go faster and easier.

Reviewer: Don Fulton

Date Added: Tuesday 28 April, 2009

2009 KLR 650:
The quality, craftsmanship, thickness of the actual skid plate is fine however this product has a couple of problems I think makes it worth looking at other manufacturers. First of all: Whitehorse does not offer a replacement forward motor mount (like others)...when you take off the factory plastic skid, you'll see what I mean. The factory skid is mounted on brackets welded to the motor mounts...all the after-market skids mount lower, leaving you with the exposed factory skid plate flanges just hanging out there not doing anything. Looks stupid. Hence, the replacement motor-mounts. My fix was to grind off the factory skid-plate mounts and re-paint. Looks good, but a fix nonethelesss. Secondly: the allen-bolts for the bottom mounts are flimsey and weak, strips out easily...I hate allen bolts. You'll see what I mean when you try it. It takes a lot of wrenching to get the bolt clamped down flat against the plate otherwise the bolts are cock-eyed (not flat against the plate). I swapped out those for zinc-coated hex heads I got at HomeDepot. Nothing sinches down like a hex-head. All in all: a good quality skid plate...stupid hardware and not very well thought out if you ask me. Wish I had got the one that included the motor-mount. I wasnt that much more.

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