I've got about $300.00 to spare and I plan on some after market protection for my F800GS. What are some recommendations for protecting my bike. Headlight protectors, engine guards, and so on. I don't have much experience off road. My main goal off road is to do mainly dirt roads, nothing to crazy, a little more than what you would take a car on, but nothing to technical. I could also use help on ordering a pump. I guess I'll need one of these along with a patch kit and an extra tube if I plan on going to far out of the way. Thanks
You didn't mention if you have them already, but I'd say crashbars should be the first thing to go for. Then look at a bashplate and/or some hand guards. These are regularly covered in the threads on here. There's probably an active one open now...
I think you should prioritize and try for the best value for money. The cheapest thing you need to do is get a headlight protector ... BMW headlights are very expensive! I have a clear plastic Ventura brand headlight protector, it wasn't expensive and is very light and easy to remove. The next thing you need to address if you ride on anything other than bitumen is the sump guard ... the standard plastic guard doesn't protect the oil cooler or filter and bad things can happen, even if the front wheel just flicks up a stone. If you have the BMW alloy guard then that's fine. Then it's either the engine guards or the handguards. The engine guards will protect the engine, plastics and radiator. The handguards will protect the bars, levers, and your hands. They help with the cold and wet as well. I have barkbusters, but the highway dirt bike ones do look good. With engine guards and bashplates I think the Hepco and Becker ones are probably the best value for money. If you ride your bike off road I think you need to eventually get all these farkles, if you drop the bike, or a rock hits the headlight you will save a lot of money straight away. Good luck and enjoy the new bike!
You might want to consider comfort and protection for you if you are only riding on good roads where you aren't as likely to crash. A better windshield is always a good investment. Hand protectors are also nice in cool or wet weather. A better seat always makes your butt happy, but they are expensive. Protective clothing should be on top of your list if you don't already have it. I'd go with a better skid plate and some crash bars for the bike. I've owned all kinds of bikes for over 40 years and I have never broke a headlight.
I agree headlights rarely get hit, but I have seen several cracked with some type of clear caulk/sealant covering the cracks. They are very expensive and a plastic cover, I got the aeroflow, is cheap insurance. Probably not on the top of my list, bash plate and engine guards would be first (in that order) but the headlight is something you will want covered. I have had my handguards hit pretty hard by rocks and bugs, but lots of people ride without them. I'm wondering about the brake fluid reservoir myself. I don't have it covered and have been wondering how fragile that thing is...