Ducati Monster Forum

2000 M900ie

What are the pro's and con's of sliders?

I'm not considering installing them, but would if they are a worthwhile deal.

I've seen some front and rear axle sliders (or at least they look like short sliders) that have a groove for a stand.  I like - seems like a solid way to hold the bike.  My stand has a piece of angle that supports the swing arm - seems a little "shaky", but also seems to hold the bike nicely. 

Thanks, Danny

Personally I am a fan of all sliders. Frame, swingarm and axle. I know there are folks who say frame sliders might snag on something during a slide and flip the bike causing more damage than they prevent. I guess I could see that happening but it may be a like a headache to a drowning man. You're in the middle of a damn wreck anyway with all sorts of crap happening! I just see them as a way to maybe cut down on damage to hard parts in a garage, parking lot or low speed drop. Bodywork is going to get buggered up either way but possibly slightly less with frame sliders.

Point is, I have frame sliders on almost all of my bikes. Ducs and Jap sbks. My 999 and Tamburini bikes have Speedy Moto under body sliders as I am not a fan of cutting holes in my fairings... which I know i would screw up. :P And I have Rhino Moto axle sliders on all my bikes they make sliders for.

So I guess that makes me pro slider. ;D Just my long winded two cents.

I've had sliders prevet a LOT more damage 3 times now...

In the case I didnt have swing arm pegs I had to replace a swing arm.

I've seen a whole lot of bikes that would have been better off with them and hardly any where damage was blamed on the slider.



DONT buy junk sliders...  but do buy sliders would be my advice.

I'm picking up some Baracuda sliders this week.  I was never a fan of the typical looking sliders but these have a nice look about them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Barracuda-FRAME-SLIDERS-DUCATI-MONSTER-696-/280362547627 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Barracuda-FRAME-SLIDERS-DUCATI-MONSTER-696-/280362547627)

I just put speedymoto frame sliders on my 696 and plan to do rhino moto (I think) on the axles.  Might try to pick some up at the Chicago IMS show.  If not, I'll order when I get back.  I don't have any protection at all on my harley, but the way I plan to ride my duc and especially for taking to the track 7 times this coming season, I decided sliders were a worthy investment.

frame sliders are the one thing that kept my bike from being totalled. Ill put them on every bike I ever own. 

My advice would be to get the highest functioning ones you can. the "bling" frame sliders look cheesy as hell and my personal belief as they dont function as well as the ones that look more simple speedymoto, rhinomoto...anything thats full delrin is A+

 [puke]
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hoBb4veYL._SS400_.jpg)
 [thumbsup]
(http://www.oppracing.com/image.php?image=pr7705_1_09-02puc.jpg)

I don't use them on either bike.

Forgive me asking the same question in 2 different threads... but I'm new to the sportbike world.

We're picking up a new M696 in the upcoming weeks and the ONE thing I'm thinking we should add are a pair of sliders.

Would most of you agree that frame sliders are sufficient? (i.e. how much do we need axle sliders too?). At this stage I'm just thinking about a low speed or standing tip over?

Any of you have pics of your 696 with em?

The More protection you have the better.  I used to be of the belief that the possible damage they could cause was higher than the protection they provided.  After some thought...if the damage is going to be that bad I have far more damage on the way.

These are what i have now and I am getting the rest soon

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5686710897_3863d8eafa.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/grandpanate/5686710897/)
monster sliders (http://www.flickr.com/photos/grandpanate/5686710897/#)

Speedymoto frame, front and rear sliders saved my bike from real damage on a lowside (gravel) and a drop (parking lot).

Sliders = Good - Check. I was leaning that way (we've got some sort of engine guards on all our other bikes).

Still wondering if frame is/should be enough for minor drops?

And of course, which brand to go with.

Do you guys have a favorite vendor? (I checked a bunch of the links) or should I just go with OEM from our dealer?

Good.

Axle/swingarm sliders are cheap insurance.  Unless you dislike how they look, I see no reason not to get them.  Avoiding them to save money seems to me like penny wise, pound foolish.

Lots of love for the SpeedyMoto ones.  R&G also makes 'em.  For the frame sliders, I'd look for one that replaces the motor mount bolt that goes through the frame (both speedy & R&G ones do this).  I went with R&G to support a local supplier that I like to give business to, and I think they were a bit cheaper.  Also, they have a sexy-looking euro phone number on the end. :)

Jeff at Monster Parts is awesome.  Have a look here (http://www.monsterparts.com/c/Protection/Protection.html) and/or give him a call.

Sooooo does the silence mean everyone agrees with SYS? Or this isn't a highly traffic'd area?  [evil]

pretty much... i have the speedymoto frame sliders and the motovation front/rear sliders... rears were important for me because i dont have a SSS rear stand so i needed some kind of bobbin back there to use for my DSS pitbull.

sliders are the condoms of the biking world.  sure, you might not like them, but it's better to have it on as opposed to the result of not having them on.

I'm partial to the Speedymoto because they worked well for me when I crashed. However, I'm sure others work well also.

For future reference, that's what silence ALWAYS means. ;)

 [cheeky] [beer]

Any luck with the pic request,  Jenn's a visual kinda gal...

Can see all three Speedymoto if you zoom lol

(http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p73/Stage2BlackSRT4/3bfb653e.jpg)

Muchos grassy ass  [thumbsup]

Awesome quote

since my original post in this thread, I've added Rizoma Front Axle Sliders and Rhinomoto Rear Axle Sliders to the Speedymoto Frame Sliders on my 696.  I don't mind the look at all. 

Any chance of more pics?

I don't have any right now, but maybe tonight I can take some. 

It would be much appreciated!  [bow_down]


So follow-up question on sliders as they pertain to front or rear stands - can you use a spool type stand to pick up either end with the sliders?

And if so, can you get one stand for front and rear?

you have to use specific front/rear stands... a rear stand wont work for a front to my knowledge.  front stands normally lift from the forks or the triple tree.

here are some pics of speedymoto frame sliders and motovation front and rear sliders.  i liked the way the fronts for motovation looked better than speedymoto's and rizomas front/rear sliders didnt look interesting enough to be worth the premium.  the rizome frame sliders look really cool though... but i was unsure of how much protection it give and again, they cost a lot more.

(http://gallery.me.com/vinny.ip/100118/IMG_0931/web.jpg?ver=13046102640001)

(http://gallery.me.com/vinny.ip/100118/IMG_0932/web.jpg?ver=13046102650001)

(http://gallery.me.com/vinny.ip/100118/IMG_0936/web.jpg?ver=13046103040001)

Some rear sliders have a spool machined in.  Some don't.

Nope.  And nor should you even if you could somehow make it work.  You should always have the back on a stand before you lift the front.

Just tell me if I'm overstaying my welcome with newbie questions - but on my other bikes I could normally lift via the center (motor on the GuzziS, Frame on the Harleys or BMWs), but I HAVE used a floor jack to lift the front or rear of a bike sufficiently to pull a tire without placing the other end in a stand (usually I use 3 points - jack, wheel and kickstand or alternatively I run a come-along from the ceiling). Any reason why this same fort of method wouldn't work for pulling a Monster wheel for occassional service?

So related question - what type of rear stands are available that allow for us to lift an M696 AND remove the rear wheel. Unless I'm missing something we can't use one with a pin through the axle or with one that uses axle sliders as spools?

It'll work fine - the reason to not lift just the front with a stand is because the bike is unstable in that condition.  Be careful and accept the blame if the bike falls over. :)  I've done it several times and it's not like instant death or anything, but it's also some risk for basically no reward.

That's why so many bikes are set up with spools on the swingarm.  If your bike has the bungs for that, then use 'em.  Otherwise, your spool/slider through the axle is great for chain maintenance but not for rear wheel changes.

LOL, I gotcha - you're just warning me to use another form of bracing - like a come along through the trellis to the rafters or something right?

And I'm starting to get the paddock stand thing.

You wouldn't happen to know if the swingarm on the new M696s have threaded holes for spools already? (My guess is no)?

You don' need spools for a rear stand.

With and without spools:
http://www.kneedraggers.com/product/53-PBULL-SSR/Pit-Bull-Standard/Spooled-Rear-Stand (http://www.kneedraggers.com/product/53-PBULL-SSR/Pit-Bull-Standard/Spooled-Rear-Stand)

Yeah, I finally realized that last night talking with some buds on gigabikes. Makes sense, so I can use a stand with "lifting pads" that grab the underside of the swingarm!

Guess I'll order one of these (and those frame sliders) asap.

THANKS GUYS!

 [clap]

keep in mind that using spools makes lifting with the rear stand a lot more stable.  i would suggest getting some if you can.

Yeah, I had a lift with the pads and disliked it.  Luckily it got stolen so I switched to spools.

I still don't know if the M696 swingarm is drilled/tapped for spools?

(EDIT - ok, now we finally have the bike and I don't see anywhere that might be drilled/tapped - so pad type stand for sure - or like I was saying both in case I want to lift using axle sliders with spools on em too).

I'll probably order that pitbull stand that can accept both just in case.

Speedymoto sells a rear slider that doubles as a spool (thats what i got).

LOL, yeah, thanks I'm sure that works great for chain maintenance. Problem is that doesn't help when it's time to remove the rear wheel.

Ha! Ya, i take it to the dealer for anything other then oil, just don't have the time to hassle with it. Do all our auto repairs and it always seems to get pushed out because I don't have time, don't want to do that with the Duc.

I write repair manuals for a living.

I've been in the trade for about 2 decades now, started when I worked my way through college as an auto tech.

When I was with Chilton I interviewed/hired/trained dozens of techs to write books.

If I hadn't seen enough crap while working as a tech, listening to my staff talk about the crap they pulled working in the industry would have been enough to scare me away from trusting others to work on my rides.

So MOST of the time, the only work that is performed by others on our rides is warranty work. Though I do admit I do sometimes get lazy with a job I don't want to do anymore and will once in a while let someone else touch a car (RARELY a bike). We'll see how lazy I feel when we get to our first desmo adjustment.

I figure even if they screw up my car I'll likely survive the crash.

I REALLY don't trust people touching our bikes.

YMMV and all that  [beer]

Here is what our data showed and this is based on Cycle Cat sliders and about a thousand customer crash reports.
80% of the time the sliders would help to reduce damage to some degree.
15% of the time sliders would do nothing to reduce the damage.
5% of the time sliders would cause damage either by flipping the bike or by bending or tearing the frame bosses on the Duc trellis frame.
Take it for what it is. Roll the dice. These are the odds.

My guess is that in a crash where a slider ends up flipping the bike or bending/tearing frame bosses, other damage would happen to the frame if the sliders weren't there.  At least on the street.  At the track where you may have grassy runoff it's a bit different.

I ordered the Motovation Frame Sliders!

Will report back after installation.

Thanks for all the info and help guys!

Kev

Sorry I forgot about pics, BUT I was reminded yesterday as I lowsided my monster on the left side.  I AM a FIRM believer in both frame sliders AND at least front axle sliders now.  Both my frame and front sliders saved what would have been significant damage and likely would have kept my monster in the garage for a long time.   As it stands now, my frame and front sliders are worn, but still usable (I'll just rotate them), I have a broken shift lever and broken mirror, but that's it!  I'll go take some pics. 

Just installed bar end sliders as well on mine. Ryno deigned to work with my hindsight mirrors.

dgm-the fuelly link in your sig is cool.
I ordered speedymoto front sliders about a week ago

Installed front axle and engine T-rex sliders on my S2R1K
later I installed the rear axle ones as well.
Bike went sliding down the road yesterday resulting in NO DAMAGE
other than a small graze on a bar end mirror tiny mark
under the gearbox case slight bend in the gear lever and cracked front fender.
I am certain that without them I would not of been able to ride the bike
home and I would of  destroyed most of the left side of my bike,
I had been wondering if the rear axle sliders were necessary and it was a bit
tedious removing them every time using the SSS stand.
Without them my swingarm would of been trashed foot peg would not of survived
and gear lever the same.  [thumbsup]

Sorry to hear but thanks for the testimonial.

So it only took almost 2 months but the Motovation Frame Sliders just arrived today from Pro Italia.

They look well made and (using my bike jack to support the motor with a block of wood just to be sure nothing fell out of alignment) they installed in about 10 minutes.

Glad to finally have them.

Now to purchase some axle sliders....