[MrSciTrek]

I could not think of a better Subject title (assistance welcome).

Car's have bumpers and side mouldings that work against door dings & more.
It seems like their could be some sort of motorcycle protection that isn't as "jungle gym" as crash bars.

Something like curved teflon or aluminum (?) pucks that clamp onto strong but vulnerable portions of the muffler(s). Or clear polycarbonate strips for body panels and mirror edges.

Certainly there are likely to be better materials, and no doubt many ways of attaching "protection."
Yet, it seems like there oughta be simple & effective possibilities that would protect the bikes from daily-type mini-hazards.

Any brainstorms starting out there: Ideas? Critiques?

 

[jakew129]

The problem with that, is i dont want a bike with door trim all over it, thats not sexy...or cool...and besides, its not only bad juju to anticipate crashes all the time...and if ur that accident prone on ur cycle than u probably shouldnt be riding...personally when i go down, i want to have some time alone to think about things while i wait for the parts i will order or the new bike i get...my $.02

 

[MrSciTrek]

The problem with that, is i dont want a bike with door trim all over it, thats not sexy...or cool...and besides, its not only bad juju to anticipate crashes all the time...and if ur that accident prone on ur cycle than u probably shouldnt be riding...personally when i go down, i want to have some time alone to think about things while i wait for the parts i will order or the new bike i get...my $.02

I hear ya. I wouldn't want anything ugly on the bike, so I'm looking for ideas that are visually neutral or hardly noticeable. If they help protect the bike from garage & parking lot dings, or low speed tip overs that can save some bucks as well as protecting the looks.

I wear my bike-jacket, boots, gloves & helmet to protect my bod, so I'm looking for ideas to protect the bike bod... that look decent or better. So point is well taken. Thanks!

 

[knightslugger]

how about frame sliders, fork sliders, and a swingarm slider?

 

[Guest]

Frame sliders are your best bet. Put on a tank-bra to prevent your zipper from scratching the gas tank...other than that, not too much I can think of. Other than parking it away from high traffic areas, and just playing it safe!

 

[MrSciTrek]

Frame sliders are your best bet. Put on a tank-bra to prevent your zipper from scratching the gas tank...other than that, not too much I can think of. Other than parking it away from high traffic areas, and just playing it safe!

DO they already make frame sliders?
What would they be made out of? To "grabby" and the bike might not slide away from you when you need it to; to hard/smooth & it could slide way too far perhaps putting more people at risk.

nothing would work for every situation. I just figure that some materials will be better than others. Especially when you want acceptable appearance, functionality when you need it, and (I hope) low cost & maintenance.

 

[knightslugger]

the "Plastic" sliders are actually made out of Delrin, and they slide just fine. enough to get the bike to stop. they absorb quite a bit of shock too. but remember, they are FRAME sliders, not fairing savers.

 

[MrSciTrek]

I found some on line. Expensive, eh?

http://www.brgracing.com/ex500Sliders.html

 

[knightslugger]

i donno about that... sliders can be rather expensive.

 

[Nick D]

If you don't want to spend the cash on those sliders you could get a set of non-folding pegs and possibly get healthier bar ends. They'll take the brunt of the hit in a slide.

 

[MrSciTrek]

If you don't want to spend the cash on those sliders you could get a set of non-folding pegs and possibly get healthier bar ends. They'll take the brunt of the hit in a slide.

It just seems that the bike factories could build in little slider holders on the most vulnerable points.

Maybe they'd lose some $$ on selling repair parts, but I bet a lot of new riders (or their parents?) would be more willing to stay with cycling if their first few falls didn't screw up their shiny new ride.

I bet there is a decent sized community of potential riders who just look at the early falls & costs of learning and decide against getting a bike. If the bikes stood up to learner-type falls better more people might opt in.

 

[Nick D]

It just seems that the bike factories could build in little slider holders on the most vulnerable points.

Maybe they'd lose some $$ on selling repair parts, but I bet a lot of new riders (or their parents?) would be more willing to stay with cycling if their first few falls didn't screw up their shiny new ride.

I bet there is a decent sized community of potential riders who just look at the early falls & costs of learning and decide against getting a bike. If the bikes stood up to learner-type falls better more people might opt in.

That line of thinking is exactly why myself and a great many others will always recommend buying a used bike over any new bike. It hurts way more when a new bike hits the ground, even if the damage is minimal.

Really, if it weren't for the huge (probably required by D.O.T.) turn signals on the bikes there wouldn't be near as much damage inflicted when one of these fall over. The bar ends can take a pretty decent hit if they actually get to the ground. I have my fairing removed right now because there's a hole in the side I can fit my fist through thanks to a p.o. drop. I was having so much fun riding I just used some sheet metal and black duct tape to get me by, but I figure I ought to fix it this winter .

 

[MrSciTrek]

I just got this 2005 used & w/ the crunched fairing.

It's funny that they haven't come up with fold-away (w/spring) or flexible turn signal stalks.
Somebody could make some money w/ a universal retrofit stem that'd work.

OK... who wants to start a business?

 

[bastard child]

the problem with the brg sliders besides price is they dont work there to low. that was from fog when ex500riders was still around. you just have to use your imagination and retro fit something up. or yuou can just learn how to fiberglass. it saved me a fortune when i highsided the bike earlier this year. glassed the inside and used bodyfiller on the outside. coat of paint from the trusty rattle can and it was ride time.

 

[MrSciTrek]

Here's a place that has front & rear slider kits for the ex500.
Got this info from: http://www.sportbikes.ws/archive/index.php/t-21383.html

http://brgracing.com/ex500Sliders.html

 

[AntiAndy]

200 bucks is a -bit- pricey for something you may never even use, but chances are, you will, and fairings go for way more when replacing them.

 

[MrSciTrek]

200 bucks is a -bit- pricey for something you may never even use, but chances are, you will, and fairings go for way more when replacing them.

The local motorcycle shop has pairs of misc sliders at $25 pair. None are made for our 500s.
So it'd be a metter of estimating which might be adaptable.

The pics at the site, looks like some are attached just inside the bottom-front of the frame near the wheel.
http://brgracing.com/ex500Sliders.html

Are the other ones attached at the passenger footpegs?

 

[AntiAndy]

200 bucks is a -bit- pricey for something you may never even use, but chances are, you will, and fairings go for way more when replacing them.

The local motorcycle shop has pairs of misc sliders at $25 pair. None are made for our 500s.
So it'd be a metter of estimating which might be adaptable.

The pics at the site, looks like some are attached just inside the bottom-front of the frame near the wheel.
http://brgracing.com/ex500Sliders.html

Are the other ones attached at the passenger footpegs?

looks like it, isnt that the bolt that holdes the pipes/passenger pegs in place?

 

[maverick9611]

yup on back pegs bolt

 

[AntiAndy]

yup on back pegs bolt

worth it for anyone who has aftermarket cans...