Another frame slider question...

[Trouble]

I low sided my bike last weekend at the track. It was maybe a 35mph slide in the rain on a wet track. I was geared up and just tumbled. The bike slid on maybe 15 feet of track before hitting the grass. I had a set of the delrin frame sliders from T-Rex. After all was said and done I was surprised at the amount of damage. The fairing and left side pod were broken. The bar end, front fork, clutch handle, crankcase cover, side stand, frames slider, rear cover, and seat handle were all badly scratched and shaved down.

I installed the frames sliders according to the directions - clearly labelling the left side (drivers side if it was a cage) as being the shorter slider. After the slide I re-assessed the logic and it doesn't make any sense to have the shorter slider on the left. The crankcase cover sticks out much further on the left side than anything on the right. Were the directions backwards? Has anyone else experienced this?

[VEGASRIDER]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, glad you're okay. We had a member go down not too long ago and he posted a thread. Apparently he had a pair of Uncaged sliders and they protected the bike very well. Here's the thread.

http://www.fz6-forum.com/forum/fz6-g...reck-list.html (Add another spring wreck to the list)

[Trouble]

2-stroke went down on the right side. I bet I would have had similar results if I touched down on that side because of the longer slider. That slider sticks out way beyond all of my hard parts.

[Elm]

Originally Posted by Trouble

...Were the directions backwards? Has anyone else experienced this?

Oh dear....

As a matter of fact, I've read in a forum that the T-REX sliders were the wrong way! OH NO!

At least, that's what I read here (CanadianFZ6 point):

http://www.fz6-forum.com/forum/fz6-g...sliders-2.html (Need some help from guys with Frame Sliders)

[Tailgate]

Originally Posted by Trouble

Were the directions backwards? Has anyone else experienced this?

Whaaaat? Get out! You mean T-rex slider instructions have it backassbackwards? Ahhh, geez. I JUST installed my T-rex sliders the other day. I used medium strength thread locker so I imagine it won't be too much of a pain. I've already had to improvise on the left side after having been supplied wrong-length bolts that ended up stripping part of left-side engine mount threads. I did wonder about the left side and right side...trying to figure out how it was decided to have one longer than other. I'm going to have look up other brand sliders on ebay to compare the longer side issue. Well, how about FZ Forum feedback? Which side slider do you have that is the longest? Or, do some of you have sliders that are both same length? Gawd, if this is true, that frame slider instructions are backassbackwards this would make now three (3) things that I found to be wrong with T-rex sliders/instructions. 1) Length of originally supplied slider bolts, 2) stated length in instructions (said they were 80 mm length but were actually 90mm..and should have been 100mm!) of slider bolts; and 3) now, possibly wrong directions again about what side different length sliders go in? Even just two wrong-ass things is too much. Reminds me of a travel company that I used to work for. Things were exceedingly sloppy, unscientific and shabby. It was a daytime nightmare to sort out the mess. (thankfully, I no longer work with this company set up by---get this---my brother) On a side note: T-rex did come back with great customer service and fixed me up. I was impresed with follow-up t-Rex customer service---it was outstanding. But when purchasing frame sliders: "Caveat emptor!"

[Trouble]

I emailed T-Rex this morning with my story, the bike pics (including some others), and a copy of their instructions. I'll let everyone know the feedback - I really don't want this unnecessary damage to happen to anyone else's ride.

[DefyInertia]

Glad you're ok. Seems like your bike came out ok to me...afterall, you did slam it down and slide it across the pavement at 35MPH.

So how was the rest of the track day??? What caused the crash?

EDIT - I'd recommend removing your peg feelers and your sidestand before your next track day so that you can safely lean the bike a little bit.

[Trouble]

The extent of the damage surprised me - I expected the frame sliders to reduce or eliminate the damage to some of the more vulnerable parts (my crank case cover specifically surprised me).

You are right though - there wasn't much damage. I rode the bike off the track, was checked out by the medics (track protocol), ran the bike straight back through tech, and was back on the track for the next session. It took about 15 minutes of riding to get my nerves back straight and then I was back to really riding again.

On the way home (the track was 3 1/2 hours away) I was pretty bummed about the whole day. It rained hard all day long and I didn't feel I got as much out of it as I had hoped. I have since talked to the lead instructor for my group and some other guys who have been to other track days and learned the rain made a pretty big difference as to how the instructors were able to teach. I've ridden on the roads again, and I'm already looking forward to another track day. Probably later this summer...

[Hellgate]

Sorry to hear about your spill, I'm glad you're okay. For track days I think that something like the Woodcraft engine covers are the way to go. Frame sliders are good, however in a good spill you could crack, damage your covers. The Woodcraft have a replaceable slider. They ain't cheap but neighter is your engine or the cost of a lost track day.

Woodcraft-CFM :: Engine Covers

[Zebratounge]

I have the Uncaged sliders. Long one definitely goes on the left side.