I purchased a pair of frame sliders from T-Rex Racing, and they look very nice (in the box). However, before I could put them on, my son sent me a link to this thread.

I haven't installed them yet, and may not. Best not to fall down, I guess .

Any opinions here on this? -bg

I am against them for two reasons. One being that many designs the bolt can leverage the frame and cylinder head to break as they are the mounting point for the sliders. Two the frame attach point is critical for the integrity of the bike frame and who claims their bolt is the same quality as the original. Here is a photo I have posted of a damaged cylinder head 1600 price.

I have a set of Puig sliders installed on my bike,is more for accidental tip overs or maybe low speed lowsides.If I crashed I know by experience that the insurance prefers to totalled the bike and pay for it than paying to fixed it, been there done that.

Keep 'em in the box. Click both heels together; Say... "I will never crash' 'I will never crash."

Keep 'em in the box. Click both heels together; Say... "I will never crash' 'I will never crash."

I think I will. Thanks, Hub! -bg

I use an insurance policy as protection. I'm not trying to be a smartar$e, I've just heard stories of insurance companies being hard to deal with when these sliders are involved, even refusing to cover the sliders when they are damaged in a small fall that protects the fairing from large scale damage.

Bugger it, let them deal with it. Better yet, don't fall down ;) Easy

For the reason kawnow said, I would toss em!

At one time I considered them, but then, after seeing the damage caused by sliders (in place) and considering what may have happened without them, I abandoned the idea. Hence, my 14 is sliderless.

+ 1 ... NO SLIDERS

Bob

Sliders can save you a ton of money in a accidental fall over. If its a crash it wont matter and you will want to total the bike anyways.

Problem is frame sliders on a ZX-14 are known to brake off the attachment eyes on the engine block during simple tip-over.

I look at it from a different stand point. I used a pair of KR tuned frame sliders. and the company porously sells them with soft aluminum bolts. so they bend. when I went down they did just that. they bent and did not break the frame. but what they did do was prevent my leg from getting pined under the bike. the fairings were toast but i got out from under the bike before major damage was done to my leg. Hell even if the head had broke it can be replaced. I can't buy a new leg. and after all thats what full coverage is for. just my 2 cents

Wow , Good read . I have T-Rex frame sliders on my bike right now . Mind now spinning . That photo did not do me any good . Great info .

zxtwitch. thanks im going with your idea. preciate it

Was at a California Super Bike School this week and noticed their rental bikes all have sliders.
When the people running the school were asked about them, they said they are not convinced and may take them all back off as they aften do more damage than they save.
Then wandering along I saw a bike that went down with sliders - made a hell of a mess of the frame (like the photo sort of)- would rather not thanks.

they aften do more damage than they save

hercsz:

Thanks for sharing that. It pretty much seals the deal for me... -bg

Mine make good highway peg inserts!

has anyone used frame sliders with fairing screens. i was going to use some sliders to protect the paint im shooting on my bike now, but id also like to put some screens on my fairings. i dont know how good theyd look with holes in em and after reading this thread, im already on the fence about even getting sliders.

I had already purchased a set of sliders from T-Rex, and after the comments here, I decided not to install them. If anybody wants them, let me know... -bg

After reading and seeing photos like the ones above this is what I choose. Felt I needed something for track days.
They have their own brackets that I believe strengthens the whole engine mount.

http://www.spieglerusa.com/cfm/framesliders.cfm

* Last updated by: OldGuy on 3/25/2009 @ 11:44 AM *

they've worked well on my 6r. gone down twice at low speeds. glad they were on there. made me put some on the 14. to each his own.

It will (likely) break your motor mount if you tip it over.

But on the brightside, you don't have to replace the fairing! lol

My bike was "totalled" by an insurance company (before i bought it). Guy i bought it from was a good friend, who ran a fab shop. He tig'd a new mount to the head and frame, got a "rebuilt" title for it.

Just fyi for everybody ;)

Well I guess I was wrong,you guys saw what happened to me last week(08 crashed tread),I would never again install any frame sliders... leason learned

But did they help save your leg which is worth more than a totaled bike and a few weeks with out one to me

This is actually a topic I have some strong feelings about. About a month ago I was cruising down the road at 40mph (I know cause there were cops in the area and I was in "compliance" mode). There are no cars in front of me, maybe some on comming way up there and maybe some trailing me but a ways back there... All of the sudden a deer comes running out from the side of the road - looked to me like a big one - I didn't see him until he was already in the road way; I didn't even have a chance to think about brakes I was so totally not ready (maybe that was my fault) but... I T-Boned the deer at full speed - 40 mph.

I remember hearing all the plastic breaking, I remember feeling a rather sharp jolt at the stopping impact. I don't actually remember going down or how far we slid before comming to a stop - though I don't think we slid much. My helmit shows slight scraping impact. Next thing I remember is being up and groaning because shoulder hurt. I didn't realize something was more seriously wrong until I tried to move my arm and felt something moving around in there, turns out my collar bone was broken (5 or 6 places).

The key for me was a few days later when I went to look at the bike at the impound lot where it had been towed. The frame slider on the right side was ground down maybe a half inch or more. My knee suffered some rather deep scrapes but nothing like I would have had if the slider hadn't been there. As far as I know the frame held it's integrity and it looks like they're going to fix my bike. Based on what I saw those sliders saved me from having some REALLY serious issues w/ my knee, might even have saved my leg. I will always try to get sliders put on any bike I ride after this.

BTW, had to get surgery and now have a metal plate bolted to my collar bone - in another 3 or 4 months I'll get the plate removed and have a reasonably strait and healed collar bone.

I think in the end it depends on the kind of impact you have - which is something you can never predict - strong lateral forces while dragging the slider on the ground will have a strongly negative impact on the engine mounts. I don't think mine slid very far, nevertheless I would rather waste the frame or the slider than my knee.

But of course to each their own - just don't call me a whoose for wearing sliders I know why I have them now. :)

-Dennis