Frame Sliders: Innies or Outies

[Marc R]

I've used mostly "through bodywork" frame sliders on the track bike. The pros and cons between "through bodywork" and "under bodywork" sliders, as I understand are:

Through bodywork:
- may save bodywork in a low side.
- might catch and change a slide into a tumble (more $$$)

Under bodywork:
- less likely to change a slide into a tumble. But aren't the rear-sets also likely to start a tumble?
- Bodywork looks great, until your first crash.

Your thoughts?

[BMMCBR]

This should be a good thread.


Depends on the bike and your preferences. Some allow for both to be applicable, but for those that aren't I guess it depends on what you want to save and what you are doing. If you're racing, its likely you don't care what the fairings look like (relatively). If you're riding on the street, maybe get the faring savers.

[Marc R]

Track days only, with Armor Bodies (or similar). "Like new" appearance is not a priority.

If I'm wanting to avoid a slide morphing into a tumble: is there any benefit to the "under bodywork" sliders, considering the rear-sets are just as likely to initiate a tumble?

[Danz19899]

I Doubt frame sliders have a large effect on causing a crashed bike to tumble. Most of the time what I've seen is the Armour bodies, R&G style tend to do the best they can to save more expensive components like engines and frames. I've crash tested 2 different sets of the R&G's and they worked both times.

[Jim]

I Doubt frame sliders have a large effect on causing a crashed bike to tumble.

T1 in NHMS, T10 in NJMP, and T9 at Summit leads me to believe you don't know what you're talking about.

[Marc R]

Danz19899: I've seen the curbing at Thunderbolt in two places change a bike from a slide to a tumble. Frame slider was bent, rear-set was worn down but straight. This is my limited experience, not sure if these tumbles are rare or likely.

[Paul_E_D]

I've never owned frame sliders. That's what race bodywork is for! Saving bodywork is the wrong idea.

[cdovego]

I take frame sliders off race bikes, 100%. I've seen too many tumbling race bikes and am jaded.

[Marc R]

I've never owned frame sliders. That's what race bodywork is for! Saving bodywork is the wrong idea.

Paul, if the slide is enough to wear through the bodywork, is there a disadvantage to the "under bodywork" frame sliders?

[Kurlon]

Paul, if the slide is enough to wear through the bodywork, is there a disadvantage to the "under bodywork" frame sliders?

You're taking out some of the 'crumple' from the bodywork which would normally dissipate some of the crash energy and instead transferring that force into the frame/motor.

[cdovego]

You're taking out some of the 'crumple' from the bodywork which would normally dissipate some of the crash energy and instead transferring that force into the frame/motor.

We see it the same way. If the manufacturer designed the frame to take force from that direction, they'd have sliders from the factory.

[Ductard]

Hmmm....I'm undecided in the issue of sliders.

One observation - I notice they had big honkin' frame sliders on the Ducati's that PRS used to rent out. Haven't paid enough attention to the Kawi's, to know. I'm just thinking that if anybody has experience minimizing the total $ damage of a trackbike in a variety of crashes, it's an organization that sells "crash insurance" where a customer pays $200 or so and doesn't have to worry about crashing a bike.

My 1199 tumbled from a fairly gentle low-side, but the "slider" on that side is really more like a case cover (T-Rex kit) - it was a rearset that caught and sent the bike tumbling.

I think in the end, they're more useful on street bikes that are tracked than dedicated race/track bikes... Street bikes where you want to minimize damage and keep things looking pretty, but once you are over that deductible...well, the chance of keeping the damage under a couple hundred bucks might be worth increasing the chance that an $800 crash becomes a $5K crash, because its all coming from insurance anyways.

[Marc R]

Good feedback guys. Engine case covers a must-have?

[Ductard]

Good feedback guys. Engine case covers a must-have?

If you want to race, I believe the rulebook calls for them on inline 4's...assuming because the engine is so much wider than a twin or a single cylinder.

If you don't want to race, they're probably a good idea. The only I4 I've had came with them. I believe I've seen I-4's crash without them without puking their oil all over the track. I guess it comes down to cost vs. risk of grinding down your engine case and being that guy that oils up the track. But then, during track days people will be running with antifreeze & stuff like that, so there are lots of people being "that guy." I'll probably get jumped on for not telling you you will go straight to hell without them, but if anybody else has input on how often unprotected cases get cracked, feel free to add.

[Marc R]

Track days only. I imagine without frame sliders, engine case covers would be a must-have for a bike gone sliding.

[Paul_E_D]

Yes to case covers.

[backinthesaddle]

I like my GB Racing case covers on my ZX. Probably R&G would be similar. One low side on the street and the cover got a bit scraped but more importantly kept the case intact. Sato frame slider bent a bit but protected the fairing.

[Pigman]

Woodcrafts on my race bike have saved way more than harm....