I wondered if anyone had installed or even had reason to test these on the F800GT. Sold as a no cut fitment, they look quite a neat addition. I did wonder if the front indicator projected so far out, that it would strike the ground first perhaps damaging the mounting point in the fairing. http://t-rex-racing.com/catalog.php?item=796
I guess the whole concept of frame sliders is controversial. Some say that they can bend the frame in a hard fall, totaling the bike. Others say improperly designed ones can catch on pavement during a low side and flip the bike. Many say that they are only helpful in a tipover.
I have, unfortunately, had my bike tipped over on the right side when someone backed into it. Damage was surprisingly minimal. The worst scratches were on the side case and bar end. Everything else was minimal...tiny knicks on the mirror, turn signal, brake pedal end, bottom rear corner of belt guard, peg scraper, and two on the tumblehome underside of the engine case.
All in all, I think the GT is pretty well designed to take a fall with minimal damage. I think I would not install frame sliders.
When I tipped over in a Starbuck's parking lot, my toe was broken but the bike took one tiny chip in the plastic body work, which I was able to fix with a Valencia Orange touch-up kit. Instead of frame-sliders, perhaps you could find a way to attach an old riding boot to each side of the fairing, carefully placed to receive the most likely impacts.
From my understanding frame sliders are not designed for drop protection. They are designed to prevent a high side slide where you would be tossed over a downed bike and suffer major injuries while minimizing damage to the bike. Think slide on a track, riding the twisties, rain, etc. for primary use. If you want drop protection buy engine/case guards with rear luggage guards. That will generally protect the bike more on a drop.
If you decide to buy sliders I prefervthe Wunderluch design myself. They have pucks for from & rear tires plus the frame. You can see them here ...
From my understanding frame sliders are not designed for drop protection. They are designed to prevent a high side slide where you would be tossed over a downed bike and suffer major injuries while minimizing damage to the bike. Think slide on a track, riding the twisties, rain, etc. for primary use. If you want drop protection buy engine/case guards with rear luggage guards. That will generally protect the bike more on a drop.
That's the first time I have read that sliders are meant to prevent a high side. I searched high and low and just about every reference I found pointed to damage protection for the motorcycle, usually the frame, but also other hard parts and plastic panels. One exception is this statement on the Wunderlich link you provided: These protectors were developed in racing activities and feature a wide surface area, designed to allow the bike to slide in the event of a fall, much preferred over a flip and tumble!
I read about sliders a long while back in regard to racing and safety concerns. I thought it was public knowledge. Particularly since they are referred to as sliders. But I guess not.
Revival of an old thread! I've looked at other threads, but since this is the most recent, I'll post here.
I realize that sliders won't protect like crash bars. Even then, we don't know how much the various crash bars protect!
Between Wunderlich, GSG, R&G and T-rex, does anyone know which ones stick out the farthest from the fairing?? Supposedly providing a little more protection to the fairing? They all seem to mount similarly to the frame as far as I can tell. I'm mainly interested in minor tip-over protection. The turn signals seem particularly vulnerable.
The frame sliders from T Rex apparently don't require any modification to the inner panel to fit them. They are advertised as 'no cut'. I've ordered them from the States, so will see when they arrive.
Hi, I have T Rex sliders installed on my 2014 GT. They don’t require any drilling in the fairings. On the right side it’s quite tight, but if you follow instruction everything will fit.
I accidentally tested them just 3 days after installation (lucky me!). It was a stupid mistake on the parking lot - after almost 30 years of riding motorcycles and using disc lock, I forgot to take it off (I could blame my coworker, for distracting me, but I will not). Anyways, 1st gear, throttle and the next thing I know me and bike are on the ground (right side). After putting the bike back on wheels I checked everything and I found only scratches on the slider itself and on the tip of the handlebar and mirror (but I damaged my pride!). The rest of the bike was untouched: turn signals, fairings, etc. T Rex mount didn’t bend at all, it’s very solid. I can say T Rex saved me a lot of money.
I can’t comment on how it will work at higher speed crash and I hope I’ll never have a chance to test it. Also, I’m not sure if the exhaust will be protected completely if bike drops on the left side.
If you want to see them on the bike I can take a couple of photos this weekend, if weather will be nice here in Ontario.
I fitted T-Rex sliders to my '19 GT last year. Fortunately I have not tested them for their prime purpose thus far but I have found they are a great place to install a ball mount for a Gopro camera. Rigid and very little vibration.
I fitted T-Rex sliders to my '19 GT last year. Fortunately I have not tested them for their prime purpose thus far but I have found they are a great place to install a the ball mount for a Gopro camera. Rigid and very little vibration.
Hi Kedz. I drilled through the T-Rex and installed the Ram mount with 5mm stainless screws and Nyloc nuts. Solid! I had to mill a little bit out of the slider to get the mount sit flat but otherwise, it wasn't a difficult job and the positioning for the Gopro worked out beautifully. I use a 100 mm (I think) double ball extension leg which pokes the camera out on the left (we drive on the left here) but would allow it to swing inwards if I dropped it on that side. Easy to reach the camera controls on the run, also.
I also thought the front indicators stuck out too far (even for walking past the bike in a crowded garage!) so I replaced them with a set of "bubble" type ones (also LED) that fit into the same hole on the fairing. Easy to reverse when it comes time to sell the bike.
I have them on my ST. I got them primarily for low speed drops. I have never had a wreck, but I have dropped it a couple of times and there are still no scratches on my paint,so I'm a happy camper[]
Randy
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