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View Full Version : Advice on Frame Sliders & Swing Arm Spools



dgoldan
Fri Jun 6th, 2003, 09:18 PM
Looking for some recommendations on frame sliders and swing arm spools. Are they worth putting on an R1? Do they really protect as much as they claim? How about the standard vs. extended sliders?

I'm not a racer, at least not yet. Enjoy canyon carving and just starting on occasional track days. I'm looking to help prevent unnecessary damage in the event that I OOPS at the track.

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Dan

Anonymous
Sat Jun 7th, 2003, 12:29 AM
Get the sliders! Get the sliders! Get the sliders! Get the sliders! Get the sliders! Get the sliders! Get the sliders!

Get the message? :lol:

Get all of them - bar-end, frame, swing-arm & clutch protector (I just got this one recently - wish I would have had it a couple of months ago! :oops: ).

Frame sliders saved my R1 on 3 seperate occations:

1st time - bike was 6 weeks old, Harry & I were carving up the canyons early one morning when I came into a left-hand sweeper too hot. I stood her up and jumped on the brakes, and almost stopped before the edge of the road, except there was gravel (on the edge of the road). The front end washed out, bike fell on the left side and slid about 5 - 10 feet. Damage was minimal. See below for some pics I just dug up.

2nd time - at IMI last fall, low-sided in the left-hand hairpin coming off the straight (tires were too cold + air pressure was too high). Bike slid about 25 feet. Only damage was a to the engine cover and a bit of scuffing to the plastic on the left mirror.

3rd time - at PPIR this spring, high-sided coming out of turn 3 (hairpin off the back straight - ambient temp was pretty cool and air pressure was probably too high). I let go on the low-side and watched the bike stand up and flip over to the high-side. It stayed that way until it came to a stop in the grass (it probably slid about 50 feet, if not more). The exhaust got the worst of it, footpeg got ground-down a bit, lower fairing got road rash almost all the way through (some bolts started to poke through), the brake lever got ground down a bit, and the bar-end sliders and frame sliders had to be replaced. See below for pics.

If I would have had a clutch protector, my lower would probably still be okay, or at least have less damage. I now have one.

I have Intuitive sliders (
www.inturace.com (http://www.inturace.com/)). If you order from them, you can re-order just the slider if you need to replace them (otherwise you'll have to buy a whole new kit). The clutch slider I just got is from Motovation (www.motovationusa.com (http://www.motovationusa.com/)) - I bought it on eBay (it was cheaper than the Intuitive clutch slider - I had a hard time shelling out $70 for one slider - I paid about $52 for the Motovation slider, shipped).

As far as swingarm spools sliders, definately. Since I've had them on since nearly day 1 (and crashed with them 3 times) I hadn't realized what they've already done for me until I saw Nate's CBR600F4i after he low-sided at Second Creek - his swingarm was all scratched up near the back - very noticeable with the black powder-coated finish.

Re: "standard vs. extended" sliders. If you're referring to street vs. race, I'd go for the race ones - they'll protect more and last longer.

BTW, I'm not a racer either (yet :lol: ) - this is my commuter - gotta protect my investment! :D

Pics - 1st crash - lowside in the canyons - bike was 6 weeks old
http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/Crash6WeekOldBike/Spidey1.jpg http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/Crash6WeekOldBike/Spidey2.jpg
http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/Crash6WeekOldBike/Spidey4.jpg http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/Crash6WeekOldBike/Spidey6.jpg
http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/Crash6WeekOldBike/Spidey7.jpg

Pics - 3rd crash - high-side at PPIR
http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/CrashPPIR/small/02_Upper.jpg http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/CrashPPIR/small/04_BrakeLeverGrind.jpg
http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/CrashPPIR/small/05_FrameSliderGrind.jpg http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/CrashPPIR/small/06_Lower.jpg
http://www.cosportbikeclub.org/images/Spidey/CrashPPIR/small/09_MuddyPipe.jpg

UglyDogRacing
Sat Jun 7th, 2003, 09:22 AM
If you decide to buy sliders, make sure you buy the hard rubber type like Intuitive. Do not buy the hard plastic type with the metal caps like Lockhart Phillips sells. These are for looks only. If you go down on these, the will actually catch the pavement and bend or break the bolts off into your engine or frame.....and sometimes bending your frame.

dgoldan
Sat Jun 7th, 2003, 09:41 AM
That was my concern with the "extended" ones I have seen. Do they just create a longer lever arm to break bolts instead of providing more protection? Here are some of the extended ones:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2417573533&category=34284

Dan

Anonymous
Sat Jun 7th, 2003, 09:57 AM
Wow, I've never seen Stunter Sliders before! I don't know how those would do. Believe it or not, frame sliders can bend (mine did in the last crash - even bent the bolt that holds them on to the frame). My only concern would be that they are too long, and would bend more, putting more stress on the bolt, or maybe even break, leaving you without any protection at all.

But without any personal experience or testimonials, it's really hard to say.

They would make good legrests, though - I have a hard time keeping my legs up on my "puny little sliders" (spoken with Schwartzenager accent). :lol:

Got your PM's - hope to see you out on the track one of these days. :up:

yakuza
Sat Jun 7th, 2003, 10:33 AM
I've lowsided twice, with Intuitive frame sliders on the bike. Both times it bent the plastic slider a little bit, and also bent the engine bolt somewhat. If you ever ride fast, I'd recommend having frame sliders.

Some people don't like them, they say it can bend the frame if you highside and it lands directly on the slider. My thought is that if you're in that scenario, you've probably got big problems already. :)

Big-J
Sat Jun 7th, 2003, 12:38 PM
If it wasnt for the frame sliders, my bike would have prolly been toast! The only thing is, I wish they made sliders for the tail section.


GET THE SLIDERS!!![/b]

jontflesh
Sat Jun 7th, 2003, 02:11 PM
If it wasnt for the frame sliders, my bike would have prolly been toast! The only thing is, I wish they made sliders for the tail section.


GET THE SLIDERS!!![/b]
Yup me too, I got hit in a parking lot and all that happened was one engine cover got a couple small scratches.
Intuitive or Pro-Tek sliders are my reccomendations.
Stay away from the Polished Alluminum ones, they look trick as hell but can cause way more damage if you go down.

Flesh

NineTwoFour
Mon Jun 9th, 2003, 07:54 AM
Over on the R6 board most people have gone with the Graves sliders. They make them for the R1 as well.

Just thought I would throw that out there.

Graves Motorsports (http://www.gravesport.com/index.html)