I want to install frame sliders: Difference between revisions

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====What frame sliders are not====

Some people have the misconception that they're designed to protect fairings. Often, quite the opposite is true. If attached incorrectly, the frame slider's mount can shift, causing cracks in the fairing. The racers, who originally started using frame sliders are least concerned with appearance of their machines. Compared to custom-made hard parts that they use plastics are cheap.

Some people have the misconception that they're designed to protect fairings. Often, quite the opposite is true. If attached incorrectly, the frame slider's mount can shift, causing cracks in the fairing. The racers, who originally started using frame sliders, are least concerned with the appearance of their machines. Compared to custom-made hard parts that they use, plastics are cheap.

====So, does the EX250 need frame sliders?====

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====They look cool, and I still want them!====

If you really want frame sliders on ~~the~~ EX250, they CAN Be installed. Their usefulness is unproven, and are considered by many as purely cosmetic.

If you really want frame sliders on your EX250, they CAN Be installed. Their usefulness is unproven, and they are considered by many as purely cosmetic.

Someone posting under the nom de plume "Mibgebert" appears to be the only person who ~~had~~ gone through the trouble of installing frame sliders on an EX250. His design has some obvious flaws, though. The sliders are manufactured from solid steel and have sharp edges. They will not absorb any shock, and will transfer all the energy directly to the frame, potentially doing more harm than protection. Also, the sharp edges may not slide well, "biting" into asphalt and acting as pivots, again, causing damage. To some extent these two issues can be corrected by adding plastic(?) tips for better energy absorption and sliding.

Someone posting under the nom de plume "Mibgebert" appears to be the only person who has gone through the trouble of installing frame sliders on an EX250. His design has some obvious flaws, though. The sliders are manufactured from solid steel and have sharp edges. They will not absorb any shock, and will transfer all the energy directly to the frame, potentially doing more harm than protection. Also, the sharp edges may not slide well, "biting" into asphalt and acting as pivots, again causing damage. To some extent these two issues can be corrected by adding plastic(?) tips for better energy absorption and sliding.

Here are some photos of Mibgebert's frame sliders:

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[[Image:cage_1.jpg|150px]]

====I absolutely hate frame sliders====

Forum regular [http://www.ninja250.org/Craig Craig], who is a long-term racer and track day teacher, has a few opinions on the subject:

There are times when sliders do help. In driveway tip-overs and low speed crashes, frame sliders can reduce the amount of damage. But even with sliders in place, bars still get bent/broken and bodywork still gets scratched. To me, less-scratched-up bodywork is not a big bonus.

The downside is if the bike has any momentum and that slider catches on a curb, pothole, dirt, etc... then it can start flipping, doing major damage.

Plus, if I am taking a tumble, there are already enough sharp parts sticking out without adding two big solid spears. I'd rather have a nice big plastic panel land on top of me than one with a firmly mounted spear sticking out of it.

Here are a few photos I took of a bike that had an easy low side and then slid off the track into a big, smooth, flat dirt runoff area.

[[image:hatesliders-1a.jpg|150px]]

[[image:hatesliders-2.jpg|150px]]

[[image:hatesliders-3.jpg|150px]]

[[image:hatesliders-4.jpg|90px]]

Everything was fine until the frame slider dug into the dirt and started the bike flipping. The frame slider broke the case as it tore off. Also notice the bent forks and shattered rear wheel. Another bike crashed in the same turn and only needed a new rearset and clutch lever to be back out later in the day.

The rider was actually in good spirits after the crash. It was an easy lowside, and he didn't even get a bruise. He seemed to enjoy all the attention his bike was getting, but that might not be the kind of attention you'd like.

We have been keeping statistics on bike crashes at the track for the last few years, and bikes with frame sliders are more than 3 times as likely to suffer major damage than bikes without.

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 ====What frame sliders are not====
-Some people have the misconception that they're designed to protect fairings.  Often, quite the opposite is true.  If attached incorrectly, the frame slider's mount can shift, causing cracks in the fairing.  The racers, who originally started using frame sliders are least concerned with appearance of their machines.  Compared to custom-made hard parts that they use plastics are cheap.
+Some people have the misconception that they're designed to protect fairings.  Often, quite the opposite is true.  If attached incorrectly, the frame slider's mount can shift, causing cracks in the fairing.  The racers, who originally started using frame sliders, are least concerned with the appearance of their machines.  Compared to custom-made hard parts that they use, plastics are cheap.
 ====So, does the EX250 need frame sliders?====
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ====They look cool, and I still want them!====
-If you really want frame sliders on the EX250, they CAN Be installed.  Their usefulness is unproven, and are considered by many as purely cosmetic.
+If you really want frame sliders on your EX250, they CAN Be installed.  Their usefulness is unproven, and they are considered by many as purely cosmetic.
-Someone posting under the nom de plume "Mibgebert" appears to be the only person who had gone through the trouble of installing frame sliders on an EX250.  His design has some obvious flaws, though.  The sliders are manufactured from solid steel and have sharp edges.  They will not absorb any shock, and will transfer all the energy directly to the frame, potentially doing more harm than protection.  Also, the sharp edges may not slide well, "biting" into asphalt and acting as pivots, again, causing damage. To some extent these two issues can be corrected by adding plastic(?) tips for better energy absorption and sliding.
+Someone posting under the nom de plume "Mibgebert" appears to be the only person who has gone through the trouble of installing frame sliders on an EX250.  His design has some obvious flaws, though.  The sliders are manufactured from solid steel and have sharp edges.  They will not absorb any shock, and will transfer all the energy directly to the frame, potentially doing more harm than protection.  Also, the sharp edges may not slide well, "biting" into asphalt and acting as pivots, again causing damage. To some extent these two issues can be corrected by adding plastic(?) tips for better energy absorption and sliding.
 Here are some photos of Mibgebert's frame sliders:
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 [[Image:cage_1.jpg|150px]]
+====I absolutely hate frame sliders====
+Forum regular [http://www.ninja250.org/Craig Craig], who is a long-term racer and track day teacher, has a few opinions on the subject:
+There are times when sliders do help. In driveway tip-overs and low speed crashes, frame sliders can reduce the amount of damage. But even with sliders in place, bars still get bent/broken and bodywork still gets scratched. To me, less-scratched-up bodywork is not a big bonus.
+The downside is if the bike has any momentum and that slider catches on a curb, pothole, dirt, etc... then it can start flipping, doing major damage.
+Plus, if I am taking a tumble, there are already enough sharp parts sticking out without adding two big solid spears. I'd rather have a nice big plastic panel land on top of me than one with a firmly mounted spear sticking out of it.
+Here are a few photos I took of a bike that had an easy low side and then slid off the track into a big, smooth, flat dirt runoff area.
+[[image:hatesliders-1a.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:hatesliders-2.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:hatesliders-3.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:hatesliders-4.jpg|90px]]
+Everything was fine until the frame slider dug into the dirt and started the bike flipping. The frame slider broke the case as it tore off. Also notice the bent forks and shattered rear wheel. Another bike crashed in the same turn and only needed a new rearset and clutch lever to be back out later in the day.
+The rider was actually in good spirits after the crash. It was an easy lowside, and he didn't even get a bruise. He seemed to enjoy all the attention his bike was getting, but that might not be the kind of attention you'd like.
+We have been keeping statistics on bike crashes at the track for the last few years, and bikes with frame sliders are more than 3 times as likely to suffer major damage than bikes without.