Sliders/guards/protection for track
Discussion
For those of you who take your road bikes on track, do you all fit crash protectors?
And do you go the whole hog with fairing/swingarm/fork/bar end sliders?
I've also read that they can increase the chance of damaging the frame if they dig in, and the offset 'no-cut' protectors can be even worse.
I just like the idea of limiting the damage done if I eventually take my bike on track
And do you go the whole hog with fairing/swingarm/fork/bar end sliders?
I've also read that they can increase the chance of damaging the frame if they dig in, and the offset 'no-cut' protectors can be even worse.
I just like the idea of limiting the damage done if I eventually take my bike on track
Yeah I was thinking of going for some R&G aero protectors, with their fork and swingarm sliders.
I've read that the cotton reel ones are useless as they just snap the mountings off the swingarm.
I was tempted by the evotech gear but their protector is offset so you don't cut the fairing. Ideally I'd rather not cut the fairing but have read the offset ones are no good?
I've read that the cotton reel ones are useless as they just snap the mountings off the swingarm.
I was tempted by the evotech gear but their protector is offset so you don't cut the fairing. Ideally I'd rather not cut the fairing but have read the offset ones are no good?
Edited by clen666 on Wednesday 17th September 19:53
Worse crash protectors are the little nylon ones on a 6mm bolt into a stamped metal fairing stay. I think moanthebairns has these on his beloved ZX6G. Utter rubbish when a little low side writes the bike off when it spins round and marks the frame.
I'm not a fan of what you call offset protectors i.e. on a bracket to avoid cutting fairings. The bracket makes them weak with potentially similar consequences.
If you're going to use them go directly onto the strongest bolt so says the theory. R&G use deliberately soft bolts that bend - it will write the panel off just because of the movement of the bobbin itself BUT the bike is generally rideable. Often a bike shop job to get the thing out. Often puts a half moon mark on the frame around the bolt head. What have you actually saved though?
Harder protectors such as GSG Moko are slightly better IMO, particularly for faster crashes but ultimately can hurt the thread, particularly if you drop it on the brakes (i.e. from a greater height) - hello helicoil your engine mount.
Either would be okay with a low speed low side on tarmac. Dropping it on the the grass after a run on, or a slide that goes over those serrated kerbs can be made worse by bobbins.
When I raced we never bothered with crash protectors - the fairings are a big sacrificial ski but that doesn't help you with a road bike because you're also trying to stop the impact transfering into ram air tubes, fairing bracket, headlight mounting, instruments tabs etc etc and generally shagging the thing.
Don't crash it is the glib answer.
For someone to really recommend the best protectors they need to ask what accident you're expecting to have.
Again, not much help.
FWIW. I've got R&G on my bike because it came with them with GSG Moko clutch cover protector (a bike specific R1 thing that I bang my shin on) and I've got standard metal bobbins on the swing arm that I'm hoping keep it off the road should the worse happen.
I'm not a fan of what you call offset protectors i.e. on a bracket to avoid cutting fairings. The bracket makes them weak with potentially similar consequences.
If you're going to use them go directly onto the strongest bolt so says the theory. R&G use deliberately soft bolts that bend - it will write the panel off just because of the movement of the bobbin itself BUT the bike is generally rideable. Often a bike shop job to get the thing out. Often puts a half moon mark on the frame around the bolt head. What have you actually saved though?
Harder protectors such as GSG Moko are slightly better IMO, particularly for faster crashes but ultimately can hurt the thread, particularly if you drop it on the brakes (i.e. from a greater height) - hello helicoil your engine mount.
Either would be okay with a low speed low side on tarmac. Dropping it on the the grass after a run on, or a slide that goes over those serrated kerbs can be made worse by bobbins.
When I raced we never bothered with crash protectors - the fairings are a big sacrificial ski but that doesn't help you with a road bike because you're also trying to stop the impact transfering into ram air tubes, fairing bracket, headlight mounting, instruments tabs etc etc and generally shagging the thing.
Don't crash it is the glib answer.
For someone to really recommend the best protectors they need to ask what accident you're expecting to have.
Again, not much help.
FWIW. I've got R&G on my bike because it came with them with GSG Moko clutch cover protector (a bike specific R1 thing that I bang my shin on) and I've got standard metal bobbins on the swing arm that I'm hoping keep it off the road should the worse happen.
I had a mix of protection on my bike and after a 80 ish mph low side the bike only really suffered a broken foot peg! Loon and fleegle didn't even notice when I can back in the garage!
Crash at 6.20 http://youtu.be/9Aj7jBRV6Co
Crash at 6.20 http://youtu.be/9Aj7jBRV6Co
steve954 said:
I had a mix of protection on my bike and after a 80 ish mph low side the bike only really suffered a broken foot peg! Loon and fleegle didn't even notice when I can back in the garage!
Crash at 6.20 http://youtu.be/9Aj7jBRV6Co
Crash at 6.20 http://youtu.be/9Aj7jBRV6Co
I have those nipple looking ones on my ninja, I actually keep forgetting to take them off, I don't even see them now. They done a great job I assume when the previous owner dropped it standing, no fairing damage but in a crash, no chance.
I have engine casing on the Daytona, when I dug into the grass at croft it never flipped but it did sheer a foot hanger.
i'm weighing up if I go the next step to frame sliders or just leave it at engine casings.
I have engine casing on the Daytona, when I dug into the grass at croft it never flipped but it did sheer a foot hanger.
i'm weighing up if I go the next step to frame sliders or just leave it at engine casings.
moanthebairns said:
I have those nipple looking ones on my ninja, I actually keep forgetting to take them off, I don't even see them now. They done a great job I assume when the previous owner dropped it standing, no fairing damage but in a crash, no chance.
Only mentioned it as a mate and myself used to both have ZX7's and he put those poxy things on his, so I assume it's a similar pressed steel fairing bracket on the ZX6. He had a comedy 15mph tip off and it pulled the bracket out the fairing, whereupon itspun round 90' into the frame and wrote the bike off. I fell off mine a few weeks later at McCleans at Snetterton and it just scuffed the fairing despite a 25 yard slide - new indicator, Tcut and a big MOTUL sticker sorted it.Next trackday at Donington shows almost no damage to the left hand side. Picture whoring at its finest!
George29 said:
Get GB engine covers. Fantastic things, have saved my bike several times.
I don't use crash bobbins as I have seen them damage bikes from very minor lowsides before now.
I've seen them saved a few. But it is really the toss of the coin. The first thing down on my Bike is the bars and foot rests. These are sacrificial in a crash, especially On a track Bike. I don't use crash bobbins as I have seen them damage bikes from very minor lowsides before now.
The joys of the old 675 is your pricey exhaust sits under the seat and is almost impervious to a crash.
What benefits and cOns dones spindal protection offer.
Also manufactures rear sets are designed to.flip up.
With aftermarket ones do these essentially act as a crash bung. I've seen them take a fair wack but I've also seen them snap at the peg saving the frame. Do these sort of offer crash bung levels without as big a compromise
Not a track expert but do used mine on the track a few times.
I have crash bungs I can't remember the name of the company but they were about half the price of the R&G equivalent and, as far as I'm aware, they're identical. Only problem I find is my bike the position regardless of manufacturer means they can catch your knee sliders when you're moving about, that's again bike specific.
Also bike specific I can't envision any angle on my bike how cotton reels would touch down. So I'd probably best look into this for your specific bike as I'm not convinced they benefit everyone.
I would quite like an engine cover. Whilst I appreciate it's not just about being a sacrificial part they can be difficult to justify given their cost often is several times more than a 2nd hand part, and to fit it you often need new gaskets which can be quite expensive for what they are as well.
I have crash bungs I can't remember the name of the company but they were about half the price of the R&G equivalent and, as far as I'm aware, they're identical. Only problem I find is my bike the position regardless of manufacturer means they can catch your knee sliders when you're moving about, that's again bike specific.
Also bike specific I can't envision any angle on my bike how cotton reels would touch down. So I'd probably best look into this for your specific bike as I'm not convinced they benefit everyone.
I would quite like an engine cover. Whilst I appreciate it's not just about being a sacrificial part they can be difficult to justify given their cost often is several times more than a 2nd hand part, and to fit it you often need new gaskets which can be quite expensive for what they are as well.
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