Let's Talk Sliders

[sacramentomike]

I'm looking for opinions on frame sliders. My last two FJRs had engine guards so I haven't thought about sliders for a few years, but in the very unlikely event (I wish) I someday drop my nice new '23, I'd rather not mess up my plastic--or worse yet snap that weak little internal bracket or "stay" that holds the mirrors in place. In fact, I haven't heard much about the stay problem for some time. Is it possible that that part that so many of us broke in simple drops has been improved or strengthened for more recent model years? There was a real rash of reports of that happening just a few years back.

But anyway, now I'm thinking about getting a set of sliders, and I'd like to hear thoughts about the best ones available now. I put a set on my first '05 where I had to drill a hole in the fairing and cut or Dremel a piece out of the plastic for the slider puck to pass through, but I'd rather not drill and cut again. I put a different type on my second '05 that didn't call for cutting the fairing. But the question is, do they really do much good? Will they keep the mirrors from hitting and/or breaking? Or offer much protection for the fairing plastic? I know they don't do much if the bike is in much of a crash, but for slow-speed or no-speed drops, what, if anything, is the benefit? Real engine guards/crash bars do offer some protection, but again, only for the right kind of drop, if I'm not mistaken.

So if you have and like your little puck-type frame sliders, what do you have and what do you like about them? I'd appreciate your thoughts.

[FJRoss]

Having sliders is better than not having sliders but even more so than with cages, you have to drop it "right" to have no damage.
Not dropping the bike is far more effective protection than either sliders or cages. I just have the typical bobbin type of sliders on my 2011, but I haven't tested them in the six years I had my bike.

[raYzerman]

You can only hope for a low speed drop, as an accident will be damaging (I know from experience). The problem with all of them....... they mount on the main engine mount bolt, which happens to be the right height to be a fulcrum point should the bike tip over. If there isn't much momentum, you can save it. If it has momentum, it will keep on rolling right on over and onto the mirrors. No that thin cast mirror stay has not been improved....

The best I had was a set of Racing 905 crash bars on my '07, but I had some sliders made that stuck out 3" past the bars (not available after Gen2). They worked even if you dropped it a bit hard. Next best was the Canyon Cages IF you also had the Garauld sliders that stuck out 3" (neither are available now). Next best is a good guess.. I suppose I'd rather have T-Rex crash bars and wish the sliders stuck out some more. The T-Rex sliders alone, stick out a fair bit, are beefy and look better than the bars depending on your definition of good looking.

Next up, some choices on the mirrors... make sure they aren't too stiff to pivot, yet not be sloppy. You'll have to perhaps rearrange some of those Belleville washers to adjust the tension. Still, the base of the mirror sticks out even if the mirrors fold, so....... Way better yet is get some 2001-2005 FZ1 mirrors or the Emgo version (much cheaper, just as good IMHO). In the event of a tipover, these will fold up closer to the bodywork/windshield and may save the mirror stay.

A crash is a different situation, it's likely going right over onto the mirrors. It also will gouge up the upper edge of the side fairing. Even if you have T-Rex saddlebag guards, the upper part of the saddlebag lid is likely to get rashed up....

[escapefjrtist]

SacMike, (IMHO) if the bike rolls over and tags a mirror with much force, you're likely breaking the front subframe. I've been a long time fan of GSG Moko sliders. They mount to the frame via two motor mount bolts, are nicely finished and solid. I have the original puck style, they also make the street-line version which resembles OE Yamaha.

Happy hunting!

~G

[BkerChuck]

I have the T-Rex sliders on my 2014 and a set of heavier Manic Salamander bar end weights. Installed them right after buying the bike in 2019. First big trip to SFO that year when we were on our way home to PA I pulled into a rest stop for an emergency bio break. Walked out of the rest room to see the bike laying on its left side. Apparently I didn't have the side stand down properly. Scratches on left saddlebag and mirror none on the side panels but was enough to break the front stay. I'm told the bike just slowly rolled forward as the stand retracted and the actual impact wasn't bad. That front stay might as well be made of balsa wood.

[chazglenn3]

I have the big round sliders that look like skateboards wheels or something. Coming home from work last week to our new place with the weird driveway angles, I managed a slow motion drop. It actually settled on the slider. Got lucky. I really need to figure out a strategy for this stupid driveway...