AltRider

This Seattle based company is a great place to shop for adventure and touring oriented motorcycle parts and accessories. From hosting rides, to helping you install parts on your motorcycle, the guys and gals here are friendly and helpful. The design of their components is top notch and the range of selection continues to expand. It’s nice to know the owner is a rider himself and most competent on two wheels, not just a suit trying to sell you something. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer a fellow rider here for their aftermarket needs.

I bought my first farkle from AltRider, a side stand footprint, back in December of 2011 and that was the first of many more purchases and rides I’ve participated in with them. My orders are always processed quickly and have even had special parts and accessories sent to me at no charge once when there wAs a mix up. AltRider’s really been a big part of the adventure riding community. They take that very seriously.

These guys rock. What we have here is a highly competent company, that has the skills and dedication to compare favorably with other, much larger companies, but that still retains its «small business» attitude. This review is going to sound gushy, and it is, but AltRider is just that good.
Their products are outstanding. They don’t necessarily have everything but the kitchen sink (they still have plenty, though), but what they do have is done right, in detail, and with great care. It is obvious when you use their products that they are anal retentive and particular, and aren’t going to rush to be the first to market with a product. No, they will take their time, and do it right, and it shows. If you want an idea of the level of anal-​retentiveness these guys have, there’s a video on YouTube where a motorcycle review site visits AltRider HQ to get some crash bars, and talk to the head honcho (Jeremy) about what went into designing parts for that bike. The man spends about three minutes talking about the lengths he went to design a single bolt that met his standards. Talk about attention to detail and doing what is right vs. what is easy or cheap.
Now, as for the people. This is one of the most approachable group of guys and company in general that I’ve ever met. Their headquarters is up in Seattle, and I’m not sure I would really call it a «store» (at least when I went up there about a year ago). It’s just where the guys work, and they happen to have a catalog on a table by the door and you can talk to a receptionist and buy things from them. But even though they don’t operate a store-​front, they are totally welcoming to a customer randomly walking through the door looking for things, which is basically what I did. A friend and I decided to go see what was up, and it turns out that since it was during holiday vacation time, Jeremy was the person that greeted us at the door. We kind of did the whole «Oh, I’m sorry man, we thought there was a store, didn’t mean to intrude on your operation,» dance, but Jeremy wouldn’t have any of it, and gave us a tour of the place, talked about what went into designing their products, and basically just shot the bull with us for about a half hour, then told us if/​when we bought anything, we were free to come up anytime and they’d give us a hand putting the stuff on our bikes if we needed it.
They also put on group rides throughout the year, and I’ve attended a few of those, and gotten to know a bunch of the folks that work for Jeremy, and they all have the same super-​friendly, laid-​back attitude. When you come back for your second ride with them, they remember who you are and welcome you like an old friend. They listen to their customers, and I mean like on a person-​to-​person one-​on-​one basis, and if you have an issue, they can always be counted on to do their best to make things right, even if that means making a design change to a product because a single customer had a less-​than-​stellar experience with that product (I’ve witnessed it). If they don’t make something you’d like to have on your bike, ask them. They’re the type to make a new product just because someone asked for it.
There’s other companies that make similar products, but none of them have the combination of quality and customer service that you get from AltRider. Seriously, check these guys out.

Yes, as good as it gets! They make the best protection for your ADV motorcycle, and host some of the best rides all over the country. Customer service is stellar, never had a problem w/​them. Venture on!

I have bought my share of AltRider accessories for my VStrom 650 over the years. The most recent one being a set of frame sliders I picked up from another VStrom owner whose legs were too big for these to fit him. Who says being shorter is a bad thing… ’ not I ’ … I did find the person had not given me the mounting hardware but a quick call to these guys they provided me the necessary hardware with no problems whatsoever…
The guards were a great addition to my AltRider crash guards and they have been on my bike for a few years now and yes I have had dropped my bike really hard on them a few times when riding in the gravel and you cannot even tell the spills did anything to them at all. They even provide me a nice leg rest when I am on the road traveling for any long distances. Good quality stuff all around and made in america what else do you need to know goto these guys and see what stuff they got for your Adventure Bike you’ll be glad you did.
I know I will be coming back as there are still a few goodies I need to get for my wee…

I now have every part AltRider makes for my BMW R1200GS. I couldn’t be happier with the build quality and the service I received when placing orders. I have also attended the 2014 Taste of Dakar event. These guys not only know how to build the best protection parts for your motorbike but they know how to throw a party. This is a company that knows what adventure riders want and need to keep your bike in one piece out in the wilderness when things get a little sideways. They also understand what community is. (I really hope I can make it to the Hoh rainforest ride this year.) Every one of my GS riding friends has Altrider parts on their bikes after seeing how they have saved my bike when it finds «extra gravity». Thank you for making such amazing products in the USA.

Spoke with Matt on the phone, was looking for a new rubber fuel line for my china scooter, but they’ve only got aftermarket stuff, weird that they showed up when I searched «motorcycle repair.»
They were able to direct me to some other spots that I could get my part, cool beans.

I ordered a top luggage rack for my Triumph Explorer XC and they sent me a rack for a 650 t Huskavarna, so since they can’t get my order right the first time I didn’t think they where competent enough to get it right the second time so I sent it back and asked for a refund, two weeks later still no refund so I had to email them again and they said it takes a couple of days to process (over two weeks). I think they are sitting around in there flannel shirts, looking out at the clouds licking the paint off the window sills. If I could give them zero stars I would. If you need luggage racks and crash bars for your bike go somewhere else like SW-​MOTECH, or Happy trails.