sliders? bad/good idea?

hey guys, i'm less than a week away, if all goes well, from picking up my new 04 SE, so i've been hanging out here killing some time..

my question is, i seem to be hearing mixed opinions about sliders, whether they're effective at all or if they can do more harm than good.. anyone have any advice or, gulp, experience to pass on???

thanks! hope to be out there with you guys soon!

[coastie]

My bike was kicked over about a week before I got my sliders. If they had been on before it would've prevented a broken footpeg and several small scratches on the can, bar end, frame and radiator. I haven't heard of how it can do more harm than good though. Maybe under the right circumstances. What negatives have you heard about them?

Congrats on the bike, solid black is the way to go.

I think I've heard at higher speeds they can rip part of the engine off where they mount.

[Windchill]

I put R&G sliders on mine. They look pretty cool amongst other things, but the major advantage I've found is that under heavy braking they are a brilliant knee rest, allowing my arms to stay "loose" and so not loading up the front end too much!!

[Knightshade]

I haven't had the misfortune of using the sliders on my Triple..but I've used them twice now......on my SV...with two lowsides..and NO TANK DAMAGE!!

I'd say they're a worthy investment.....

they were the plastic intuitive frame sliders for point of reference..

[ This message was edited by: Knightshade on 2004-06-16 09:05 ]

[Adamkel]

Alluminum frame sliders vs. plastic...which is better? The cheapest I found the plastic are $65 and $87.50 for the billet alluminum.

I'd be interested to know if they are any use, I recently threw my pride and joy down the road at about 40mph, stupid, stupid thing to do. I damaged the following:-
Handlebar end
Mirror
Footpeg
Gear change (can you guess which side went down yet?)
Passenger footpeg
Front indicator
Crank cover
Rear Axle
Rear Sprocket carrier
I was thinking that with sliders/crash bungs it may save some damage, it may have made the damage happen in different places, transferred the impact to the frame or concentrated damage. I was able to ride her home and have replaced most things now. Hopefully won't be doing it again for some time but still not decided weather to get sliders/crash bungs or not.
:???:

when i picked up my bike yesterday, the dealer frowned at the idea. said he'd just had a triple in with Sky King frame sliders and they ended up doing more harm than good... something about damaging cylender heads?

[Knightshade]

were they the plastic or polished metal ones? I've heard arguments..that the metal sliders..are more likely to dig into the asphalt and hence cause damage vs. the plastic ones..that truly slide.

My last lowside on my SV..I was in 4th gear when I went down...and they just slid..no jumping around or anything from what I saw..

I just ordered front and rear sliders. I want my brand new toy well protected. I've seen them on the front before on other bikes and I liked the look, but I've not seen them on the rear yet. I'm going to try them. I'd like to hear more about expreiences with others and sliders, good and bad.